By: Thomas F. Booher, pastor of Heritage Reformed Presbyterian Church in Sanford, NC. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (Jn. 16:13), and Jesus prays to the Father that His 12 disciples, who would soon be sent out uniquely as His apostles, would be sanctified by the Truth, declaring God's Word is Truth (John 17:17). Christ then prays not only for those 12 Apostles, but all Christians, those who will believe in Jesus Christ through their (the 12 Apostles) word, John 17:20-21. The word of the Apostles is found in Scripture, the Bible, and nowhere else. This alone is the Word of the Apostles, the Word by which Christians are sanctified, the word which the Holy Spirit of Truth and holiness (Rom. 1:4) uses to save and sanctify sinners. This is not pitting Christ's words against the Apostles' words, for the Apostles' words are Christ's words, for He gave them His words, John 17:14. This is not pitting Christ's/the Apostles' words against the Spirit's word
Thoughts on the Reformed faith, preparation for ministry, and doing all to the glory of God.