Does the Presence of the Holy Spirit Ensure Understanding?

Unfortunately, some folks are under the mistaken impression that the presence of the Holy Spirit ensures understanding and prevents deception. For these folks, the presence of the Holy Spirit explains why some folks understand certain doctrinal "truths" and others don't. Where did they get such a notion?

They derive this notion from something Paul wrote to the saints of Corinth long ago. In the second chapter of his first epistle to the Corinthians, we read: "these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things but is himself to be judged by no one. 'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ." (Verses 10-16) And didn't Christ say that he would give his disciples a Comforter, who would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance everything which he had taught them (John 14:26)?

But do these passages indicate that the Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual understanding? OR Do they indicate that the presence of the Holy Spirit ensures understanding? And, make no mistake, those are two very different questions! And what if we can demonstrate from Scripture that the presence of the Holy Spirit does NOT ensure understanding or prevent deception? Wouldn't that make the answer to our first question YES? And the answer to our second question an emphatic NO?

First, we should note that there are a great many passages in Scripture which indicate that it is possible to resist and grieve the Holy Spirit. Stephen told the Jews that they and their ancestors had resisted the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51). The Apostle Paul warned the Ephesians not to grieve the Holy Spirit (4:30). Likewise, Paul warned the Thessalonians not to quench the Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19).

Moreover, we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira in the fifth chapter of Acts. This Christian couple lied about a donation which they had made to the Church. The Holy Spirit, however, revealed what they had done to the Apostle Peter. We read that he confronted the man and said: “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” (Verses 3-4) Later, when the wife entered, Peter said: "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?" (Verse 9) So, we have two Christians (people who had God's Spirit) who were deceived by Satan and subsequently lied to (and tested) the Holy Spirit!

Also, in the book of Acts, we read that Apollos (who was fervent in the Spirit) was apparently preaching an imperfect version of the gospel. We read there that: "He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." (18:26)

Likewise, among the Christians of Corinth, Paul's remarks make clear that there were people with God's Holy Spirit who were organizing themselves into competing factions! Also, Paul had to reprimand the entire congregation for tolerating one of their members who was carrying on an openly incestuous and adulterous relationship with a woman! (I Corinthians 1-5) Even more seriously, from the tenor of his letter to the Christians of Galatia, it appears that the saints there had accepted a different gospel and had become confused about grace and the role of the Law in the Christian life! Remember, in both of these instances, Paul was writing to folks WITH God's Spirit!

Indeed, we could provide numerous other Scriptural examples of Christians (people with God's Holy Spirit) going seriously astray in their understanding and practice of Christian doctrine. Not to mention, the example of David in the Old Testament - a man who once pleaded with God not to take his Holy Spirit away from him because he had strayed so far away from God (Psalm 51:11). For me, however, the "clincher" is something that Paul wrote to the saints at Corinth. In his great love chapter, he wrote: "For now we <Christians> see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I <Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ> know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." So, the Holy Spirit does not make us infallible in matters related to our faith! It does NOT ensure our understanding or prevent us from being deceived! While the Holy Spirit can certainly guide us into truth, the degree to which we yield to its leadership determines just how much of that truth we absorb!