Answering Doctrinal
Questions (Part 7)
But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready to give a
defense to everyone who asks you a
reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear; (1 Pet 3:15 NKJV)
Stan Crowley
18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?
 No.
 Some teach that God (perhaps through the
Holy Spirit) works directly on all Christian’s
hearts today:



to impart information/illumination,
provide an understanding of the Scriptures,
or
provide guidance.
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18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?
We must carefully note:



Any information revealed directly to man by
God involves “prophecy,” implying that there
are miracles today (II Pet. 1:21).
Providing a better understanding of a
passage is providing information that
changes what a person will think or do.
Any information from God that supplements
what has previously been provided is new
revelation—it should be recorded and shared
as “Scripture” (II Pet. 1:20-21).
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18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?
 Except for the miraculous gift of prophecy,
to prophets, God has always worked on
man’s “heart” (man’s mind) indirectly
through the things God has told man or
shown to man.
 Sometime, such teaching uses the term
heart … teaching that the Holy Spirit
directly affects “man’s heart.”
 We need to understand “heart” as the
Bible uses the word “heart.”
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18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?
 In the Scriptures, “heart” is:
“The inner self that thinks, feels, and
decides. In the Bible the word heart has a
much broader meaning than it does to the
modern mind.” (Nelson’s Bible Dictionary via
PC Study Bible Software)
 Examples:



Thinking (Pr. 23:7)
Rejoicing (Ez. 25:6)
Concluding (Ps. 14:1)
Thinking
Feeling
Deciding
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18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?
This is
God
Influence
the
process
found
in
Scripture.
Senses
Thinking
Mind
Feeling
affects
man’s
will by
what He
says
and
shows
to man.
Deciding
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18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?
The
Creation
The Words of
Revelation
The
Miracles
Hear / See / Smell / Touch / Taste
Man’s intellectual
capabilities: mind
God has always influenced man in
general through his five senses.
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18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?
This is
Never
Influence
the
process
found
in
Scripture.
Senses
Thinking
Mind
Feeling
X
do we
find God
directly
affecting
man’s
thinking,
feeling,
or will.
Deciding
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18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?

If He directly affects our
Thinking
thoughts, why are we told
to bring every thought into
captivity (II Cor. 10:5)?
Feeling
Deciding
 If He directly affects our
feelings, we should listen to
those who “feel” something
is wrong.
 If He directly affects our
decisions, then to the extent
that He does we are not
responsible.
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18. Does the Holy Spirit operate on
the souls/wills of men separate
from the Word of God?
Except for miracles, God’s has always
influenced man’s through man’s senses.
We do not find examples of:



Directly implanting thoughts,
Directly causing feelings, or
Directly affecting the decision-making
powers of man.
Those who teach that God operates directly
on man’s mind (e.g., through a direct
operation of the Holy Spirit) are teaching a
method nowhere found in the Scriptures.10
21. Should those who teach
doctrine contrary to the New
Testament be marked (noted,
ASV) and avoided?
 SAVE FOR ANOTHER TIME
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22. How can we know whether or
not we are doing God’s will?
By comparing our heart and our actions
to the standards set forth in the Word
of God.
(2 Tim 3:16 NKJV) All Scripture is given by
inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness,
(2 Tim 3:17 NKJV) that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good
work.
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22. How can we know whether or
not we are doing God’s will?
Neither our feelings nor our conscience
is a reliable guide.
(Prov 14:12 NKJV) There is a way that seems
right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
(Jer 10:23 NKJV) O LORD, I know the way of
man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks
to direct his own steps.
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22. How can we know whether or
not we are doing God’s will?
Neither our feelings nor our conscience
is a reliable guide.
(Acts 23:1 NKJV) Then Paul, looking earnestly at
the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived
in all good conscience before God until this day."
(1 Tim 1:15 NKJV) This is a faithful saying and
worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
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