QUESTION: If the Holy Spirit is one and is truth, why are there so many Protestant denominations all believing they know the truth?
ANSWER: The question needs to include the Catholic Church, which also claims to “know the truth.” The statement in the question (the Holy Spirit is not divided and is truth) is without doubt accurate and scriptural (I Corinthians 1:10; John 16:13; John 17:17), thus showing clearly that, because each of these teach and practice doctrines different from the others, all of them cannot have the truth. Such would be sensibly impossible! Since each is different, it follows logically that, at best, only one of them could have the truth; perhaps none of them! Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth” (John 17:17)! It must then follow that only those people who practice in their lives and worship what God’s Word teaches can scripturally be called His church and His people.
Many falsely claim that the Bible promotes denominationalism, because, according to them, men today cannot understand the scriptures alike! They foolishly charge God with giving us a book that we cannot understand. Paul speaks to the contrary in Ephesians 3:3, saying that when we read the mystery of Christ (the Bible) we may understand it! Jesus said in John 17:17 that God’s Word is truth. In John 8:32, He said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Denominational confusion then does not come from God or His Word (I Corinthians 14:33). In fact, the Bible clearly condemns denominationalism (John 17:20-23; I Corinthians 1:10-14). Denominations usually originate with the presupposed doctrines and commandments of men that result in vain (empty) worship (Matthew 15:3, 6, 9).
Many often attempt to force God’s Word into what they want the Bible to say or what they have been taught from childhood. The differences and confusion in religion today come from man’s own desires and ideas: his own manuals; his creeds; his church laws, e.g., the Catholic Catechism, Baptist Manual, Methodist Manual of Discipline, Presbyterian confession of Faith, Book of Mormon, Rules of Faith and Practice, Church Bylaws, etc.
Only one thing can erase the differences and confusion in the religious world today and that is the rejection of the commandments of men while at the same time receiving with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save our souls (James 1:21); the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). Jesus said in John 12:48 that His words will judge us. The creeds that we have mentioned above (and others like them) will not stand in Judgment Day; nor will they who follow them!