Sunday, February 28, 2016

Subject: Spiritual Judgment - 1 Corinthians 1-2

1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (ESV Strong's)

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.
“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Subject:  Spiritual Knowledge

Paul is the master at persuading and using persuasive language to convince his audience to follow his arguments and accept them.  You can read his letters without seeing the skill and craftsmanship of how he puts words and phrases and arguments together.   However, he is spiritually understanding enough to know that it is not him who is doing this, but the Spirit of God.   He has already told them, earlier in this letter, that his words are not the power of the content:

1 Corinthians 2:3-4 (ESV Strong's)

And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

In this world, persuasive speech is glorified.  It is even rewarded with speeches and honorariums and book deals.   Our world, as well as the ancient world, is impressed with word of wisdom and words of persuasion.   We still quote Socrates, Aristotle and Plato, all men who's words were immortalized in Paul's day.  The world is quick to make men with great sounding words our idols and teachers.    Yet, Paul, perhaps one of the most persuasive writers and speakers of all time, knows that spiritual wisdom is imparted through him by the Spirit of God and not by him.   That is an amazing distinction.  In SPITE of Paul, God can work.  That was Paul's mantra.   Many preachers today believe it is their words that are so convincing, rather than that the Spirit of God has chosen to work through them.   When we allow God to speak through us we enjoy such great freedom.   The last part of the above verses tell us that those who are "spiritual" are "judged by no one."   When we speak truth in the Spirit and by the Spirit, we are not in the realm of being judged by man.    It is when we are speaking on our own behalf that we can be judged.  In Christ, we are not!

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