The Role of the Holy Spirit in Understanding Scripture

Charles Simeon of Cambridge used the following illustration to explain the role of the Holy Spirit in understanding Scripture: it is like a sundial in a garden. On a cloudy day, it shows nothing because there is no sun. But as soon as the sun appears, we immediately see the hand pointing to the exact time. So it is with our understanding of Scripture. If there are clouds of doubt, busyness, sin, or unbelief between us and God, then Scripture is merely paper and ink. But when the Holy Spirit comes into our lives and dispels all doubt, His light illuminates both the pages of Scripture and our minds, enabling us to hear and understand the voice of God.
We depend on God in understanding Scripture because He is not only its author, but also the one who reveals the value of truth and the true meaning of His Word. Without His help, we are unable either to appreciate or to perceive the practical significance of truth.
Taking this into account, we must also not forget the human role in studying, understanding, and interpreting Scripture.
First, our starting point must be a clear awareness and acknowledgment of the supreme (absolute) authority of Scripture over all other sources. If we do not accept this fundamental truth, we will inevitably rely on other authorities—such as church traditions, personal opinions, or contemporary cultural values—and ultimately see in Scripture only what we want to see.
Second, we must remember that the proclamation of forgiveness, salvation, and redemption in Jesus Christ is the main and ultimate purpose of Scripture. The gospel occupies a central place in it. Secondary issues, though important, still allow for some disagreement. Let this not serve as a justification for differences, but rather as a confirmation of the need for the next aspect of reading and interpreting Scripture.
Third, it is necessary to have consistent, unchanging principles of interpreting Scripture (hermeneutics). The historical-grammatical method of interpretation seeks the plain meaning (whether literal or figurative), the original intent of the author (the purpose the author pursued and how it was understood by the original readers), and the overall meaning (harmony with the rest of Scripture).
Fourth, we should practice collective hermeneutics. In other words, the Church is a hermeneutical community where my personal conclusions are tested and refined. Interpreting Scripture alone is dangerous; therefore, we must remain in constant fellowship with one another.
Fifth, a spirit of humility is necessary. If we do not approach Scripture with the attitude of a learner, we will only search for and pull out of context what our hearts strongly desire. In that case, we will hear only what we want to hear—and it will merely be the echo of our own assumptions or prejudices.
Therefore, without the work of the Holy Spirit, our study of Scripture is doomed to be unfruitful. Although we are called to diligence and responsibility in studying God’s Word and to follow sound principles, the decisive and ultimate factor remains the work of the Holy Spirit, who enlightens our minds and reveals the truth.

Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine.

"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed"
Romans 6:11-17