Our doctrine is spiritual and makes us spiritual

Our doctrine is spiritual and makes us spiritual

Our doctrine is a SPIRITUAL curriculum that must be studied IN A SET ORDER. In this post, I’d like to delve deeper into the ‘spiritual’ aspect of the curriculum and investigate what ‘spiritual’ really means in this regard. 

Rom_1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;  [12]  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 

‘Spirit’ and ‘spiritual’ in the context of Paul’s epistles has a few meanings, including the spiritual dimension and its entities and spiritual gifts. However, the predominant meaning, which may come as a surprise to many, is that it refers to the Word of God. It is Jesus Himself that revealed to us that the words He spoke ARE SPIRIT and life, Jn6:63.

As you read the following verses in Paul’s epistles, take note that the word ‘spiritual’ bears reference to the written or verbalized words of God shared by the apostle, or to the knowledge gained and applied from the Word of God, or to the individual who has matured in wisdom by the Word of God.

Rom_7:14  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Rom_8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

1Cor.2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  [13]  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. … [15]  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 

1Co_3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

Gal_6:1  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Col_1:9  For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

There are many people, and denominations, that believe that the word “spiritual” refers to the Holy Spirit, and that to be spiritual, or have the spirit, or speak in the spirit, is to have received the Holy Spirit by prayer or by some ethereal moment of baptism or outpouring of the Spirit. Being baptised with the Holy Spirit is absolutely a scriptural truth, as seen in the Pentecost account in Acts 2, however, people and denominations today fail to rightly divide the scriptures and thus fail to recognise this specific context as part of Israel’s prophetic “Kingdom” program, specifically in Ezek.36:24-28 and Jer.31:31-34.

So then, how are we to understand these scriptures in the “Grace” dispensation today? What is meant by such terms as “he that is spiritual” (1Cor.2:15), and “could not speak unto you as unto spiritual” (1Cor.3:1), and “ye which are spiritual” (Gal. 6:1) in the Scriptures? Furthermore, in the opening passage, we are to “compare spiritual things with spiritual” (1Cor.2:13), and Paul also talks about “spiritual understanding” (Col.1:9). What are these references referring to? Well, simply put, it is the words of God, or more appropriately, the Spirit in the words of God or the Spirit conveyed by the words of God.

Whereas the Jewish believers at Pentecost were instantaneously filled with the Spirit of God and were enabled by the power of God to do miraculous things, to discern and understand the scriptures (Jer.31:34), and do God’s will (Ezek.36:27), our dispensation is different. God never promised that we would have an outpouring of His Spirit as at Pentecost. In our dispensation of faith (2Cor.5:7), we are filled with the Spirit by studying God’s written word and having it renew our minds (2Tim.2:15. We grow in knowledge of the Word and walk in the Spirit by obeying the influence of the Word of God in our minds. This takes time and effort and is our responsibility as we grope for God, seeking to know Him and His will and judgements (1Tim.2:4).

As one becomes renewed by this understanding, one will start to clearly see the proper context of many other verses. There are so many words and concepts that can be clarified by the rightly divided truth, but as an example, carefully read through the passages below that deal with words and concepts about, “Spirit, Word, Truth, Inspiration, Knowledge, Sanctify”. These are a selection of words that reflect the necessity of spending time in God’s Word, gaining in faith and knowledge in the Word in order to increase in the Spirit of God and spiritual maturity. Read them slowly and with consideration, and you will find the context become clear when you affiliate it to the written Word of God and the knowledge gained by the Word of God.

John 1:1-4: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men."

2 Timothy 3:16-17: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

2 Corinthians 3:17: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

1 Corinthians 2:14: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Ephesians 5:25-26: "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."

Psalm 119:9: "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word."

Romans 8:8-9: "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

John 4:24: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

Galatians 5:16-17: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

John 15:3: "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you."

1 Corinthians 2:9-10: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

John 17:17: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."

It is not the Pentecost experience that makes us spiritual. It is not the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us that causes spirituality in a believer. It is the inspiration of God’s living words within us that truly reveal God intimately to us. The only way we can learn the deeper things of God, (like: know His nature and character, understand of his will and plans, and hope to reach out to Him), is through faith in His written Word (Rom.10:17). His Word produces the faith to receive these spiritual truths and ultimately makes us ‘spiritual’, because we become filled with the essence of God’s nature and character through His words. We become more ‘spiritual’ by spending time in the source of God’s Spirit in this world today: His written Word.