Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 66:262 (Apr 1909)
Article: The Seat Of Authority In The Christian Religion
Author: Jerome D. Davis

BSac 66:262 (April 1909) p. 243

The Seat Of Authority In The Christian Religion

Rev. Jerome D. Davis

The Holy Spirit is the great teacher. God does all external work through the Son — creation, sustentation, revelation of God to men in the theophanies of the olden time and in the final great revelation nineteen hundred years ago. Christ is the Revealer of God, the Saviour from sin, and the great and final Judge.

But God does all internal work through the Holy Spirit, influencing and leading the heart, convincing of sin, regenerating, teaching and guiding into all truth. The Holy Spirit is the great teacher and revealer of truth. The prophecy of the olden time came not “by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow “(1 Pet. 1:10-11. “Every scripture inspired of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17. Christ so revealed God, as a real personality, that the way was prepared for men to open their hearts and receive the Holy

BSac 66:262 (April 1909) p. 244

Spirit, as never before. The great prophetic promise of this was given by Joel: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit” (Joel 2:28-29.

The great and oft-repeated promise of this was given by Christ, as we have it in the Synoptic Gospels, and especially in the last words of our Saviour as we have them in the Gospel by John. Christ sent another Comforter to abide with his disciples and his followers forever; “to teach them all things,” “to bring all things to their remembrance “which Christ had said unto them,” “to testify of Christ,” “to guide them into all truth/’ “to show them things to come, to glorify Christ, to receive of Christ and show it unto them.” These are the promises which Christ gave. Through this Holy Spirit, who was to dwell with and in his followers, Christ still dwells with his people. He is the great Guide and...