The Holy Spirit—Guide
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth…â€
(John 16:13)
“Lead me gently home Father, lead me gently home /
In life’s darkest hours, Father, When life’s troubles come /
Keep my feet from wandering, Lest from Thee I’ll roam /
Lest I fall upon the wayside, Lead me gently home.â€
(Will L. Thompson, Lead Me Gently Home, Father)
“Guide†is one of the terms used to convey and portray a function of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:13). The statement, “…he will guide you,†was made only to the apostles (Jn. 16:1,2,7,4,10,12; Acts 1:21-26; 22:14; 1 Cor. 15:8,9). That is to say, the apostles were to be the primary recipients of “all the truth†(see 1 Cor. 12:28,29). This body of truth would eventually be relayed to all the world as a constant and continuous resource of gospel information.
Ephesians 6:17 indicates that “the sword of the Spirit†is “the word of God.†It is precisely this medium of the word which provides continuity of apostolic doctrine into the 21st century. The apostle John wrote: “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error†(1 Jn. 4:6). The guidance of the Spirit is the guidance of the Lord, because—“ the Lord is the Spirit†(2 Cor. 3:17).
To be led by the Spirit of God is possible today (Gal. 5:18; Rom. 8:14; Lk. 1:79). And, the Holy Spirit’s presence is always with his truth: gospel guided and gospel given.
-Robert M. Housby