“…The gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11,12
The day and hour of one’s conversion to Christ, and his new birth by the Spirit, was the moment in his history when he entered into God’s school, there to learn the essentials, and more, of this life of faith to which he has been called. This school, designed and operated from heaven, is Divine in its origin, ways, and provision. It is a holy endeavor by the Master Teacher to bring a saved sinner to a knowledge of certain truths by which the eternal Life which he has received in Christ, should be formed in him, and manifested to the world. What then are the basis conditions and principles by which this school operates, and who in this school advances best?
The first thing that we need to learn about this school is that the new arrival must be teachable, willing to learn the truth by which the Spirit of God will always work and move. For this, he must be open and receptive to “unlearn” the mindset of the world’s system of thought, to embrace the “mind of Christ” which he now has. Simply put, he must be willing to lay aside, and put behind him, the “ways and thoughts” of this world, with its man-made traditions, philosophies, its speculations and imaginations concerning God. This is essential if he would be able to receive the knowledge of the truth to embrace and live by it.
The second thing to consider is that not only is this education always based upon the eternal truth of God, in its objective form, the word of God, but also upon the living Word, Christ Himself. The principle by which Christ teaches the believer is that of revelation. Paul made this clear in one of his prayers for the Ephesian believers: “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (Christ).” (1:17) God provides the believer with the objective knowledge of the truth of Himself, sometimes even before coming to Christ. When the believer receives the blessed anointing of the Holy Spirit at the time of conversion, the Spirit begins to take the objective truth and reveals the depths of its meaning, and how it applies to the worship of God, and thus, to faith. The more the believer reads and studies the word of God, deliberately depending upon the Holy Spirit alone to teach him, the unveiling of the meaning and power of that word strengthens the heart and soul. The revelation of the truth of God in Christ, now in the believer, on this side of Pentecost, is the platform and basis for faith. The Blessed Author and Finisher of faith, the Lord Jesus, will always teach the individual truly seeking Him.
Practically speaking, how does this work? What must the believer do, trusting the Spirit to guide him, in order for the revelation of the meaning of the truth and the person of Christ to be a living thing to him? In coming to the Scriptures with a teachable heart, the believer must learn first he definition of the terms of Scripture. What do the words mean? Second, he seeks to learn the “exposition of the text.” This means that he is seeking the objective, Biblical meaning that Christ sought to convey in the context in which it was given. The third step in this educational process is the “application of the truth to the life.” How does this knowledge practically apply to the walk and life of the believer? And fourthly, there must be “the appropriation of the blessing.” This is nothing less than the appropriation, or partaking of Christ, by faith according to this knowledge. For example, Christ commands us to love with His love and power. It is in partaking of Him by faith that this is realized.
Dear Father, Make us teachable, receptive disciples. In Jesus’ name, Amen.