Originally posted by Scott Bushey
Fred,
This is why I wanted a distinction made in regards to how the spirit reveals Gods word........If the distinction was made, I haven't gotten it.
The Spirit does not reveal God's Word - the Spirit uses God's Word to reveal something, namely the truth of God (which includes our knowledge of our own sin and need for a savior), and His will for our salvation.
The Word is not a "thing" to be revealed. It is an instrument, an expression (indeed THE paramount expression) of the will of God brought to man.
So the Confession:
Therefore it pleased the Lord, at sundry times, and in divers manners, to reveal Himself, and to declare that His will unto His Church; and afterwards, for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the Church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing: which maketh the Holy Scripture to be most necessary; those former ways of God´s revealing His will unto His people being now ceased (WCF 1.1)
[Edited on 12/7/2004 by fredtgreco]