QUESTION: In John 16:12-13, is Jesus telling only His disciples that they will be guided into all truth by the Spirit of truth or is He saying that He will guide people today into all truth?

ANSWER: This promise was only for His disciples; those to whom He spoke on this occasion! He sent them the Holy Spirit as He promised on the day of Pentecost and as recorded in the second chapter of Acts! The writers of the New Testament, being inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16), were guided into “all truth” (John 16:13) and given “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Since we have the completed New Testament today, it follows that we, too, have “all truth” and, therefore, “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” This being true, what need would there be of direct Holy Spirit guidance today? What additional truths could He give us, if we already have “all” of it? Obviously none! There is, therefore, no need of further direct guidance today! All of the guidance and truth that people need today is to be found “indirectly” in God’s Word! This is why each is commanded to “study” (2 Timothy 2:15). Certainly, if it were the case that individuals were directly guided into “all truth” by the Holy Spirit today, there would be no need for study, bibles, preaching, preachers, or missionary work of any kind! Those who claim the direct guidance of the Holy Spirit today are always those who propose religious doctrines and activities foreign to, and outside of, God’s Word! From such sinful foolishness comes the God-opposing and self-opposing denominational system of religion that has filled the world today! Most of its groups are claiming to be directed by the Holy Spirit and yet they contradict; they fight and war against each other. Can any sensibly believe that the Holy Spirit is so divided? Since Christ prayed that His followers would all be one (John 17:21- 23), can any sensibly blame the Holy Spirit of Christ for the religious division among these today? Surely not!