1 Corinthians 2:13

”And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who possess the Spirit.”

There is a suggestion or an idea that runs throughout the Catholic Church that man cannot interpret the Holy Writ of his own accord, whereby he would need some higher council to display unto him the words of truth; that man cannot be so possessed by the Holy Spirit wherefore he could have power of interpretation to his mind; they suggest that the only way for these things to be made known to the sons of men is by and through a council or the Pope speaking ex cathedra.  However, this is found to lend itself to desperate plights of corruption and deceit and if when one claims the only way of salvation to be through the truth displayed through the Church, then this power is fraught with corruption and selfish men seeking their own glory.  By the restriction of the Holy Writ in the Middle Ages, we received such heresies as paid indulgences, purgatory and payment for getting souls released therefrom, the idea that salvation is bound by works, not by grace, among yet many others.  This is the level to which the papists descended in order to control the truth of the Gospel; and I am sure that many current members of the Catholic faith would denounce these vile actions for the indecency and wretchedness in which they were borne.  For there are several ideas whereby the sons of men might have consideration and theological understanding of their own accord: firstly, the way unto salvation is so incredibly simple and easy to understand that it needs no interpretation: we are to “repent and believe in the Gospel,” thereby suggesting that, as it is written in Romans 10, “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  It is found herein the suggestion that the Gospel is contained therein, and once belief is espoused in Christ, repentance is the natural consequence thereof.

This would naturally lead to man coming to and understanding of salvation without the power of a Church to hide him, wherefore no man is bound by such an entity, but rather to Christ.  Repentance is simple enough, as a base understanding and common knowledge of what is commanded in the Scriptures is all that remains required for this action to be completed to perfection.  Indeed, even the finer points of theological thought can be understood and comprehended by the sons of men because the Holy Spirit has given us not a spirit of stupor, but one of understanding.  The papists presuppose that man is idiotic and the situation is not rectified no matter the amount of the Holy Spirit that is delved upon a man, wherefore they are bound to their Church and the doctrines thereof; this may lead down some rather dangerous paths, suggesting that no matter what the Pope might say ex cathedra, they are required to believe and obey.  This is found to be dangerous as we have noted before in the heresies contrived in the Middle Ages unto greed and wealth, whereby it should be noted that protesting against these heinous and wretched doctrines is the only manner in which one should act.  

I say not that the Catholic faith is entirely devoid of wisdom or that the parishioners thereof are idiotic for obeying the Pope, and indeed, I can witness that having such a structure — which is entirely removed from the Protestant confession — would remain rather effectual for those who desire to rely not upon their own understanding.  I condemn these not, and I shall demonstrate later in this commentary how those within this faith might work salvation unto themselves; however, as one that desires to know the depths and the glories of the Almighty, I want to work out the theological concepts in the Holy Writ according to the understanding provided for me by the Holy Spirit, I cannot imagine submitting to a Church that promotes false doctrine and does not renege thereupon until some time after.  Indeed, I have spoken with a true papist who declared that indulgences were a good thing actually and that the Church should bring them back; I see not how this remains in accordance with the free gift of grace that has been offered to all men, but perhaps my understanding is limited because I do not subscribe to the Catholic confession.  However, I intend this paper not to be entirely disparaging of that confession, but rather to elucidate the depths and wonders of the understanding that might be donated upon the sons of men.

For you see, the Holy Spirit has come upon all men who thereby believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; how exactly this looks in practicality I know not, and it is found to be different in accordance with each Christian, but the truths remains that the Holy Spirit has given us the power and insight to understand the truths unto salvation.  We are not automatons as the Calvinists presuppose, but rather must come to an understanding thereof in order for salvation to be effected upon us; faith is found to be a choice made by each and every man, and one cannot love if he knows not how that love is to be applied.  Therefore, dear Christian, when someone declares that we are in need of a church or an elder to declare the truth of the Gospel unto our minds, it should be noted that the simplicity thereof comes easily to the understanding of every man.  By this understanding, we are able to receive unto us the gift of the Holy Spirit, and proceeding from that blessing might a greater understanding of the deeper theological concepts purported within the Holy Writ be demonstrated.  Indeed, there are things that our finite human minds cannot comprehend about the infinitude of the Lord, but the ideas unto theologicalism and the finer points of His character and actions might be made known to our minds.  Things will still be hidden therefrom, for our comprehension will not extend to everything, but the Holy Spirit has provided a way for us to know the Lord of Hosts by endowing our thoughts with blessed wisdom.  Indeed, the Lord may not answer all prayers to the affirmative, but, as in the case of Solomon, He is always willing and joyous to deliver unto our minds wisdom and insight into both actions that we should take in this life and a greater understanding of Him.  Therefore, dear Christian, pray that the Lord God Almighty might come unto your mind and bless you with greater and ever greater understanding from the Holy Spirit; by this we might know things in accordance with theology and the Most High, by this we might ascend to knowledge thereof and draw ever closer to the Almighty.