***But I thought that the Reformed teach that only true believers can be happy with the Word of God.
I’ve never heard of that, but it only makes sense that if there is such a thing as false belief there must also be false happiness. Whoever is saying what you said must be talking about a true happiness coming from a Godly happiness. Surely sin, for example, can result in temporary false happiness.***
But the WCF Chapter 7; IV says that:
From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.
Therefore unless the Reformed God changes the sinner, and the WCF says that we are made opposite to all good and wholly inclined to do all evil, nobody who is not saved can be happy with the Word of God, so your point appears lost.
***With all due respect, sir, this is rather weak. If you have the Holy Spirit indwelling and guiding you, why would you need the exhortations of men?
It is ONE method of communication. Holy Spirit COULD handle it all by Himself, but God chose to also communicate with us through the scriptures. The scriptures are also an excellent witnessing tool to those who do not yet have Holy Spirit.***
That is true, yet the Reformed say that the Holy Spirit does provide all guidance (a rather Manicheaen variation), so therefore Scripture, as well as the exhortations of men, should become irrelevant. Since men understand imperfectly and pass on imperfect information, shouldn’t one rely on the perfect guidance of the Reformed Holy Spirit?
Therefore unless the Reformed God changes the sinner, and the WCF says that we are made opposite to all good and wholly inclined to do all evil, nobody who is not saved can be happy with the Word of God, so your point appears lost.
False believers can have false happiness in a false God. I think we need to be clear on what you mean by "Word of God". As a stand alone, I would take that for Christ Himself because of the capitalization. My (NIV) Bible makes a distinction between "word" and "Word". But in Luke 8:13 I think it is talking about the Gospel. So I think the idea is that some hear the Gospel and say "that's great, it sounds wonderful, I am so happy". But they don't really understand because God hasn't revealed the real truth to them.
We all know lost people who appear to be very happy in their lives and would say so if asked. I don't think the WCF misses that reality. The lost who say they are happy with/in the Gospel don't REALLY know what the Gospel is or means. They are deluded, with a false happiness.
FK: It is ONE method of communication. Holy Spirit COULD handle it all by Himself, but God chose to also communicate with us through the scriptures. The scriptures are also an excellent witnessing tool to those who do not yet have Holy Spirit.***
That is true, yet the Reformed say that the Holy Spirit does provide all guidance (a rather Manicheaen variation), so therefore Scripture, as well as the exhortations of men, should become irrelevant. Since men understand imperfectly and pass on imperfect information, shouldn’t one rely on the perfect guidance of the Reformed Holy Spirit?
The Bible says the Holy Spirit does teach us "all things", but He uses different tools to do that. Before I had read the Bible all the way through I never woke up one morning quoting a verse I had never read. Holy Spirit LED me to read it. Now, He CAN certainly put the essence of a teaching into the mind of a believer, that has happened to me, and as a reminder we always have the scripture we can refer to and memorize.