Originally Posted by hdbdan
I suppose those who interpreted the Eph. 1.13 passage as they did in those quotes above tended, as we all do, to interpret Scriptures in the light of their own experiences. Owen and Spurgeon may have been guilty of a similar thing with regard to Romans 5.5 and 8.16, as in the following references. But I can forgive them and hope to follow in their footsteps to an experimental knowledge of God that gives a higher and additional testimony to faith and sanctification that I am a child of God.
1. Hopefully not all interpret Scripture in light of their own experiences but rather in light of the fact that it is the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God. That we all make mistakes in our understanding of it for various reasons is certainly true. But hopefully those errors are not due to our imposing our measly insignificant life's experiences upon the texts. Although everything occurs according to God's perfect will and providence, our perception and comprehension of them can also be misunderstood. The disciples of Jesus made such an error and the Holy Spirit recorded it for our edification in John 9:2. Attempts to discern God's will from experience is dangerous at best. And making our own experience a standard is more dangerous yet.

2. I can understand one's natural inclination to want more of an experience with God. And the Lord God by His Spirit does from time to time and to some of His children bring about the sense of nearness, comfort, strength, courage, boldness, etc. However, I do not find in Scripture where we are enjoined to seek these unusual manifestations. Rather, I do read in many places and in different ways that we are to walk by faith and not sight nor emotional experience. The Mystics never seem to grasp the significance of having the written promises of God to which true faith clings more and more waiting for the day when God shall bring us home and clothe us with our new incorruptible bodies and forever be with God in perfect holiness, peace and joy. I know that the heart is deceitful and cannot be trusted (Jer 17:9; Prov 28:26; Eccl 9:3) but the Word of God is sure (Ps 19:7; 119:96-100; Prov 1:4,22,23; Job 28:28; 2Tim 3:15-17). Thus, I shall call upon the Lord to give me more understanding of the Scriptures which are forever available to me and not seek after an elusive experience that may come on rare occasions and which I cannot be sure it is actually God, my own selfish heart, or the wiles of the Devil.

Peace

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simul iustus et peccator

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