LIVING WATERS
For the proclamation of the Gospel and the edification of the Body of Christ
Distinguishing Spirit from Letter
What is “letter”? And what is “spirit”? What, too, is the difference between mental sense and spiritual sense? “Letter” in Scripture is not something bad. The “letter” to which Paul made reference in II Corinthians 3:6 speaks of the Old Testament.
Even though the Old Testament is part of the Bible, if we do not touch the spirit in its text, the Bible words therein are nothing more than letter. Hence, such an excellent object as the Bible has the possibility of becoming merely letter. The true meaning of the word “letter” here is that if – once it has been spoken by the Holy Spirit as recorded for us in the Bible – we touch it again but fail to touch the Spirit, God's word turns to be only letter.
A person can read the book of Romans for 365 days and understand all the doctrines therein objectively; nonetheless, it can happen that there will not be a single day in which he will be touched inwardly by the speaking or moving of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, to that person the book of Romans has become nothing but letter.
Let us say, for example, that we rise up in the morning to read the Bible and pray regularly; but if this becomes merely a routine, we shall tend to fall into the letter of God's word. Though there is present the shell of outward spirituality, even so, the inward spirit has not been touched. The result, then, is only letter. (Watchman Nee).