Christians True or False.Only born again spirit filled Christians can understand and grasp Scripture?

Question

The Spirit’s presence within us enables us to understand and interpret the Word of God (Scripture). Jesus told His disciples “when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

Truth B Told. No, I do not have an answer for sure. The reason I am asking this question is because I have tried countless times to use the Bible to reason with non evangelical Christians with no success. It is like they have been blinded. I am looking for an explanation.

Born Again Catholic: I am assuming that you are a "born again" and spirit filled Christian by the name that you identify yourself as. The Christians that I am referring to are the ones who have not been born again. There are many Roman Catholics who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, but many have not.

Wow, I didn't expect so many great answers. I am impressed with both those in agreement and those who are not in agreement. It is going to be very difficult to choose best answer. They are all great answers. Keep them coming.

Only one arrogant insult out of forty two answers so far. Thanks for your "polite" answers.

Answer 1

Yes I believe this is true, infact read my last answer to Primoa's question for today- I explained this some. How the scriptures are twisted when the unsaved read them-- they come to their own conclusions, and the enemy CAN do this!
That is why the Bible says it is so important to be walking in the Spirit of truth. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us not to lean on our own understanding.
And the verse you gave above, is exactly right-- in explaining this, it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit we are led into all truth.
Of course some things in the Bible unbelievers MUST hear before they believe- such as the Laws of God, as it says in Romans that the law is a mirror to show sinners they have sinned against God- this helps them better understand WHY they need His salvation. It shows them according to God's standards we have all sinned and all need His forgiveness. So when it comes to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is simple enough for a child to understand....it is the milk of God's word.
And it is where one must start, for faith only comes from hearing and by hearing Gods word! (Romans 10:17)
After one is saved, it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us and keeps us on that narrow path (Matthew 13:14) We must always seek wisdom from God, when studying the scriptures, praying in the Spirit and relying on HIM to teach us!

Answer 2

By "non-evangelical", do you mean us, Kait?

Because I've been reading and studying Scripture as a believer nearly all of my adult life, first as an evangelical and now as a Catholic. And let me tell you -- the Spirit is still, after all these years, showing me more and more within the pages of the Word. I never begin reading without first praying that He shows me what He wants me to know -- and He does.

To insist that only a certain "type" of believer is capable of understanding God's Word, or entitled to call upon the Holy Spirit to be guided in the truth, is not only rather exclusivist but also seems to put limitations on the Spirit.

When Jesus told the disciples "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.", He was also speaking to us. What I could "not bear", or even grasp, 15 to 20 years ago or even last year, I can now. It is the same for every believer.

Just because you cannot convince a "non-evangelical" of your reasoning from Scripture doesn't mean evangelicals have an inside track that the rest of us missed; it means the Spirit is guiding each believer in truth, as he or she can bear it. You can paint pictures, draw diagrams, repeat a verse over and over again and say "can't you see it?", but -- and this goes for all believers -- if they don't, it probably means you weren't supposed to be the one to convince them.

I did not convert to Catholicism on a whim. For quite a long time I deliberately refused to "hear" what the Lord was obviously saying, but it was very clear that this was where He wanted me. And so I made His will mine, and here I am. Does that mean I have forfeited the guidance of the Holy Spirit in understanding Scripture? I think not.

Sorry, my sister; I respect you greatly but I think you're off the mark on this one.

Answer 3

Ok there is no way I could read all the answers that you got ,but I would like to give my input .Lets look at Nicodemus and Jesus conversation and it is kind of lengthy but it's prefect for this question.first in John 3:3 Jesus said to Nicodemus Except a man be born again he cannot SEE the kingdom of God.Wow what a statement !!I do you see the kingdom of God when you read the word now that you are born again? I do !! And it's the unbeliever who look into the word and and cannot see.nor understand what it's saying .Now look at verse 4. Nicodemus response is proof alone that he could not understand nor see what Jesus was saying.Read verse 12 and you will get even more confirmation on the fact that a non-believer cannot understand the word of God nor grasp it .Best Wishes

Answer 4

True. If they are living the lifestyle Jesus did then everything makes perfect sense. They understand the consequences of taking up their cross. Other people can have an intellectual knowledge of Scripture and can apply it to certain areas of their lives and yet have no real understanding of how and why they are doing it.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor. 2:14

The natural man is the man who isn't born again and therby can't submit himself to live the Christian life and has a really hard time of interpreting and living by Scripture.

But the born again man is taught personally by the Holy Spirit. Once a person is Biblically born again, the blinders come off and it's like a light bulb went off. It makes sense.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14:26

Answer 5

True.

Apart from the Holy Spirit there is no life transforming Biblical discernment. One maybe able to recognize some of the simpler truths found in the Word but even those are impossible to fully and or properly employ without the Holy Spirit. Reading the Bible without the Holy Spirit is like reading a love letter in a foreign language.

Answer 6

False. Because, so many Christians don't know the history of their religion? How many Christians are aware that more Gospels were excluded from the Canon of the New Testament than were included by Early Church leaders so they could adjust the word of God to serve their purpose? Read some of the Gospels that they decided are not for your eyes. In the Gospel of Thomas, who was Jesus half-brother, because Joseph had children from a previous marriage, Thomas wrote, "Salvation comes from knowledge of yourself not only through the death and resurrection of Jesus. If you don't know yourself, you live in poverty and you become that poverty". Early Church Leaders choose to leave this and many other Gospels out. Ignorance of Christianity is never the correct answer.

Answer 7

False. If this were true, then we never would have been commanded by Jesus to go to all nations and teach it to them. We preach the word of God because it has the power to make the simple wise. It has the ability to allow the spirit to convict the hearts of the lost and provoke them to understand thier need of Jesus. True, the Holy Spirit can illuminate the Word of God so that you can understand parts of it DEEPER by being spirit filled, but not only spirit filled people can understand it's simple truths.

Answer 8

I believe if the non believer would read with an open mind God will provide some understanding...how else will a non believer become a believer if he can't understand the general meaning of John 3:16...BUT...when you become a Spirit filled believer God starts this miraculous understanding that is hard to explain..I can read the same passage in the bible on many different times and get something new from that same passage each time I read it...that is hard to explain to a non believer, but its totally amazing to me....

Answer 9

1 Cor 2:14-16
14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment:
16"For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

People say I believe, but James says "Even the Demons believe and shudder." Is this belief saving faith, NO!

Salvation is a gift. faith is a gift. Understanding Scripture through enlightened eyes is the only way. Sure unbelievers could understand this or that but they will not see it as a whole unless the Spirit teaches them

Answer 10

being baptist, or reformed, or charismatic, or even catholic does not give you an automatic entrance into the kingdom of God. Neither does lacking membership in any organization preclude one from heaven. A major red flag in any religious organization is any claim however presented to make it more palatable, that "They are, the sole arbiter of truth in this age" If you are not an adherent to their framework of beliefs or world view, then you 'cannot' possibly make it into heaven, nirvana, ..a place of spiritual, emotional harmony. Ok folks God did not make us the judge and jury of who goes into heaven, it is his heaven he can let whomever he wants. It surprises me, folks sometimes think they are the landlord of heaven and want to start collecting rent while they are here on earth..lol. So goes the interpretation of the word of God. Yes the spirit will lead you into all truth, the bible also state “we go from glory to glory”, revelation to revelation as
we live out the light we have been given. Truth once revealed is available to all, it does take the holy spirit to draw us nigh to Christ, to build an appetite and hunger for truth.
It was said that it was not possible for a human to run a sub four minute mile, it became a holy grail that runners chased after with little hope. One year a runner shocked the world by setting the world record BELOW four minutes. That year many, many runner suddenly started breaking the four minute mile barrier, truth had been revealed to them and they believed. So it is with foundational scriptural truth reveled by the Holy Spirt, once that truth is spread abroad, it stands on its own, anyone can receive it. Hope this helps.
Yours in Christ.
C.