Friendly Theology – Barclay’s Catechism Chapter 2 (part 1)

CHAP. II

Of the Rule and Guide of Christians, and of the Scriptures.

Q. Seeing it is by the Spirit that Christ reveals the Knowledge of God in things spiritual, is it by the Spirit that we must be led under the Gospel?

A. But ye are not in the Flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his [Rom. 8:9].

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God [Rom. 8:14].

Q. It is an Inward Principle then, that is to be the Guide and Rule of Christians?

A. But the Anointing, which ye have received of him, abideth in you; and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same Anointing teacheth you of all things, and is Truth, and is no Lye, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him [1 John 2:27].

But as touching Brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you; for ye your selves are taught of God to love one another [1 Thess. 4:9].

Q. I perceive by this, that it is by an inward Anointing and Rule that Christians are to be taught; Is this the very tenor of the new Covenant Dispensation?

A. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the House of Israel, after those Days, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws into their Mind, and write them in their Hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a People: And they shall not teach every Man his Neighbour, and every Man his Brother, saying, Know the Lord; for all shall know me, from the Least to the Greatest [Heb. 8:10-11].

And they shall all be taught of God [John 6:45].

Q. Did Christ then promise, that the Spirit should both abide with his Disciples, and be in them?

A. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the World cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you [John 14:16,17].

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Barclay spends a great deal of time establishing the necessity of the Holy Spirit in our comprehension of God. It is by the Holy Spirit that we know God; it is by the Holy Spirit that we become children of God. This is an inward activity and does not have an external manifestation other than the changing of the human heart to be more aligned with God.

Further we all have the opportunity to be taught directly by God through the Holy Spirit. We are not dependent on an intermediary to teach us of God; we have been empowered to know, love, and worship God.

The Holy Spirit, which Christ sent, will remain with the disciples of Christ forever. The difference between a Christian and a non-Christian is that the Christian is led daily by the Holy Spirit; a non-Christian ignores the Holy Spirit speaking to his or her heart.

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