Episode 173 - Spiritual things are spiritually discerned - 1 Corinthians 2:12-16

12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

1Cor. 2:14 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. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

If you were thinking to yourself, “That sounds familiar,” it’s because we also included verses 12-13 in last week's study. We always want to interpret text within its context, and I felt that backing up a little would help us interpret verses 14-16 this week.

The theme has been God’s wisdom compared to mankind’s so-called wisdom. Paul is explaining that God’s wisdom is greatly superior to that of the human race and that we need God’s wisdom even though mankind thinks it is foolishness. The natural, sinful man rejects the idea that God would send his own son into the world in human flesh and bones and willingly die for the sins of the human race. Many people reject the need for having their sin forgiven before a Holy God because, in their mind, they’ve been a “good person.”

It is the Holy Spirit who moves within us to help us understand and receive this wisdom and understanding from God. When we receive the good news of Jesus’ death on the cross on our behalf, we receive the Holy Spirit. That’s what Paul is saying in verse 12. Because we now have God’s Spirit, we can begin to understand spiritual things. (v. 13)

Verse 14 continues to explain that no one on their own can truly understand spiritual truths of God. We need God’s Spirit to help us discern those spiritual truths.

Paul makes two statements in verse 15 that some have interpreted to justify their religious arrogance and elitism. The statement, “The spiritual person judges all things,” seems pretty absolute, not to mention contradictory to Jesus’ teaching in his Sermon on the Mount. “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matt. 7:1) So, what is it? This is where we not only look within our immediate context but also to the greater biblical context to see what the Scriptures say about “judging.”

Later in 1 Corinthians, Paul insists that this group of believers are to judge their own. People who have trusted in the good news of Jesus and have received the Holy Spirit are expected to reflect the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Their thoughts, words, and actions should not reflect those of the world around them, but the character of God the Holy Spirit wants to work in them. Paul explains that the world will act from its own fleshly desires, and you can’t avoid the world. But Christians are supposed to act differently. If they blatantly live in contradiction to the Scriptures and are no different from the world, they are to be held accountable by their brothers and sisters in the faith. ( 1 Cor. 5:9-12) Notice that this action is out of love and not out of some elitist arrogance. This is what Jesus was teaching as well. It’s all about the heart and our motives.

The point of Paul’s comment, “The spiritual person judges all things,” speaks of the enablement to discern spiritual and other things in life offered by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Having the Holy Spirit and following God’s leading in the Holy Spirit changing our lives helps us discern what is good or bad, what is wise or foolish. The Bible is not a comprehensive list of do’s and don’ts. We need the Holy Spirit to lead and convict us in matters of our day-to-day decisions in life. Becoming a Christian and receiving the Holy Spirit does not make us omniscient or give us the right to go around telling everybody what they ought to do.

The next statement in verse 15 says, “but is himself to be judged by no one,” can also be distorted without appropriate consideration of the immediate context of this letter as well as the rest of Paul’s teaching and that of the Scriptures. Can I say to my fellow Christians, “You cannot judge me because I am a spiritual person?” I don’t think that’s what Paul is saying at all. The point of this saying is that since the natural ability of humans is not able to discern God’s wisdom, then it cannot effectively discern and “judge” someone who is spiritual. God is not judging based on what humans see and assess in the life of a spiritual person. But God does. He is our true judge. We should humbled in this knowledge and not puffed up with pride.

The first statement in verse 16, “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” is a quotation from Isaiah 40:13 and is Paul’s way of reemphasizing the superiority of the Lord’s wisdom. Paul’s statement does not allow any Christian to be arrogant and think they are better. However, he follows with, “But we have the mind of Christ.” (v. 16b) What’s the point? The point is that God is sharing his wisdom with us through the Holy Spirit in order that we think and act more like Christ.

Think back on chapter one and Paul’s indicting accusations toward some of them. Paul is judging, isn’t he? But Paul is doing so to correct them and encourage them to conduct themselves more consistently with Christ.

If we have received God’s gift of forgiveness of our sins through the cross of Christ and have received his Spirit, we are to judge ourselves first. As the psalmist said, we can pray:

Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24)

If we are truly spiritual and have the mind of Christ, there is no room for arrogance in our life. Instead, our thoughts, words, and actions reflect love, compassion, humility, and wisdom in conducting ourselves.

Prayer: Lord, may your Spirit quell our pride when provoked. Make us the spiritual people you want us to be in order that we can be a living testimony of your wisdom and power.

Episode 106 - Our Advocate, the Holy Spirit - John 15:26-27

John 15:26   “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

In the previous chapter of this book, Jesus made two promises of sending the “parakletos” which is translated in the English Standard Version as “Helper.” Jesus explained in John 14:17 that this is the “Spirit of Truth.” Shortly after in John 14:26 and following he qualifies this “Helper” as the Holy Spirit; the third person of the Trinity. I had also noted that the Greek word “parakletos” could be translated as “Advocate.” I argued that this word better communicates the role of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus explains that the Advocate will always be with Jesus’ disciples. 

I don’t know about you, but I like being with the people I love and who love me. To me, Jesus’ assurance the Holy Spirit would always be with us reminds us that God’s love is always with us. Because of that love, we can understand why he advocates for us. 

Jesus also says in 14:26 that this Advocate “will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” It’s important to understand this promise within its context. One has no grounds to argue that we do not need to study the Bible because the Holy Spirit will teach us everything we need to know. If this were the case, why would Jesus have called these disciples to live and hang out with him for a few years? Why didn’t He just send the Holy Spirit upon them if everything they needed to know would just be put into them by the Holy Spirit? The answer lies in the second part of that promise. Jesus told them the Holy Spirit would remind them of what Jesus had taught them. 

In this brief section in view today, Jesus repeats that this Advocate is the Spirit of truth. I love that Jesus repeats this. In this world of not knowing who to believe for anything, we can trust that God wants to reveal His truth to us by the Spirit of truth who will always be with us. Jesus explains that the first and most important truth the Advocate will communicate is concerning Jesus; “he will bear witness about me.” (v. 26) Then he adds, “And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (v. 27) This is why Jesus called these first disciples to follow him and be with him for a few years. In following Jesus, they got to hear his teaching and watch him work the miracles he performed. Whenever the Spirit came, He would take all of that teaching and experience they had with Jesus and teach them by helping them understand the significance of Jesus’ words and works. It was God’s will for them to witness Jesus and learn his teaching (which came from the Father) but for the Holy Spirit to form the deeper understanding and significance of it all. The first and foremost thing I believe they grasped was that this Jesus, this amazing guy they had been following the past few years, was truly God. 

As a side note, I believe it was this awareness that led John the Apostle to not directly name himself in this book and to also magnify the work of John the Baptist who said of Jesus, “He must increase. But, I must decrease.” I think John the Apostle spent the rest of his life in wonder and awe of Jesus, pondering why Jesus chose him.  John does not want to highlight himself in his own account of Jesus’ ministry. So, he speaks of himself simply as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” 

The fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit would bear witness concerning him and that the disciples would also bear witness first came in Acts 2 at the Feast of Pentecost. Read that and ask yourself if these people seem different than they did less than two months earlier when they were running away from Jesus and denying him.

The important lesson I believe we can learn is that while we do not get the privilege of seeing Jesus with our physical eyes and listen to him speak with our ears, we do get the privilege of “listening” and “observing”  him through the Scriptures. We also have the witnesses that were with him. So,  the Spirit of truth, our Advocate who is always with us, can illumine our understanding of Jesus’ words and actions so that it will help us have the same kind of wonder and awe that God has chosen us to be with Him. Then, we should bear witness to others so they can believe.

Do you know what the Bible calls this? Faith.

Episode 99 - "He will give you another Helper" - John 14:15-17

John 14:15   “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

In the previous episode, Jesus made two promises that are rather amazing. The first was that Jesus’ disciples would do the works Jesus was doing and even greater works. The second was that they could ask him anything in his name and he would do it. The big question in light of both of these promises is, How is this possible? The answer lies in the text of these verses.

Back in chapter seven, John gives an account of Jesus teaching at the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles,  “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39, ESV) Back then Jesus was promising to give the Holy Spirit to those who believed in him. But, it would only occur after Jesus had been glorified.

Now Jesus is making this promise again to his disciples because that time was drawing very near. Here Jesus is giving them more information about the Holy Spirit for the purpose of encouraging them that he was not abandoning them. Jesus’ statement in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” is not disconnected with everything else he has told them. Jesus had been teaching them and showing them how he expected them to serve each other. The idea of them being able to work the works Jesus did and for him to hear their requests and answer those requests is connected with their love for him and their love for him is demonstrated by keeping the commandments he gave them. 

Jesus then told them that the Father would answer his request and send “another Helper” who would “be with them forever.” (v. 16) This Helper is the “Spirit of truth.” I can’t help but stop and ponder this. In our present age and culture, people at large don’t believe in truth. In some ways I cannot blame them. During this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, information is continually disseminated from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and other experts that contradict the information from the others or even are contradictory to their earlier statements. People are weary of not knowing who or what to believe. But, concerning what God wants us to know, the Spirit will truthfully lead us when our love for Christ is manifest and we are dependent and focused upon his will and on of our own self-centered ways. 

We should not be surprised when people do not understand or believe the same things we do about Jesus and God. Why? Jesus explains that the “world” cannot receive the Spirit of truth because the world neither sees or knows him. 

How can we know the Spirit and his leading? Jesus explains to the disciples that “he dwells with you and will be with you.” (v. 17) Here again is the idea that God wants to dwell and be with His people. John had said of “the Word” (Jesus) who was with God and was God “became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us.” (John 1:14) 

Just as God had dwelt with the Israelites in the tabernacle and the temple and God dwelled with people through the Incarnation of His Son Jesus, now God would dwell forever with His people through the third person of the Trinity. He is our Helper. He is the living water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)

Trust in Jesus. God will never abandon you. 

Episode 98 - "Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it." - John 14:12-14

John 14:12   “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Jesus seems to have a way of saying things that cause us to stop and say, “Really?” In these short three verses, he makes at least two of these “Really” statements. The first is his promise the disciples will do the works that Jesus himself has done and will do even greater works.  The second is “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it.” 

I don’t know about you, but my thoughts in response to these promises are more like Sarah laughing when the divine visitors told Abraham that Sarah would have a child in her old age. To be quite frank, my faith is tested when reading these promises. I have difficulty fully accepting that these are true for me. 

Some folks have suggested that these promises were to the apostles and do not extend to believers beyond the apostles. But, I find myself convicted when tempted to rationalize that they don’t really apply to me or other believers around me. I get this voice in my head that says, “No. Take it for what it says.” So, as I examine it, I notice that if we read it and take it for what it all says, there is a great encouragement to be found in these verses.

First, Jesus begins by saying, “Truly, truly.” It’s his way of getting their attention so that what follows is emphasized to them and they cannot reason it away even if they don’t understand it. They know he means what he says. 

Secondly, it’s important to see that this promise is to “whoever believes in” Jesus. That’s us as well as the apostles. But, what does it really mean to “believe in” Jesus? Think about when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and John recorded that many believed in him. But some returned to the Pharisees. The implication is that the latter group did NOT believe in Jesus. Wait a minute! People who knew that Lazarus had really died and that heard Jesus call him by name and watched Lazarus walk out of the tomb alive didn’t believe that really happened? No, I don’t think so. I think they understood all of that. But, they weren’t responding by placing their faith in Jesus. There’s a difference between understanding with our brain and responding by valuing the reality of those facts and realigning your whole way of thinking in light of this revelation. 

So, if this promise is only true for true believers in Jesus Christ, then our hearts, our values are going to be informed by following Jesus and seeking to do what God wants us to do. That’s what Jesus did, right? He only did what he saw the Father doing. Likewise, Jesus was about to return to the Father, and he wants his followers to continue the works that he did. 

How is it possible that we could do works greater than what Jesus did? Stop for a moment and consider what that could possibly be. Can we do something that would be greater than restoring life to a dead person? I cannot think of what that might be. So, how could our works be greater? I suspect that they are greater in the sense that none of us are perfect. None of us are God-incarnate. Furthermore, we are broken through our sin. Therein lies the answer. I think that Jesus is saying that our works are greater relatively speaking because we are simply creatures who “believe in” Jesus. He says the believer will work greater works “because I am going to the Father.” (v. 12) In other words, he would no longer be physically present for everyone to look to when they wanted a miracle. His antagonists would initially think that they got rid of their problem. But, now his followers would be performing miracles and it would make a profound impact on the world. How would they do this? As the Gospel of John reveals when Jesus would soon return to the Father, he would send the Holy Spirit to be with them and be the power that would work the miracles. This sending of the Holy Spirit would occur on the Day of Pentecost as we read in the first chapter of Acts. In the New Testament Scriptures there are numerous accounts of miracles performed by Jesus’ followers through the power of Jesus’ name and the Holy Spirit. Perhaps there is no greater miracle however than a person receiving eternal life when believing in the good news of Jesus. They have moved from a state of death even though their physical heart may be beating to receiving eternal life when they believe the gospel. We do not have the power within ourselves to make people believe it. But, we have the responsibility and privilege to share the gospel and pray that people will believe it and receive eternal life. That is a great miracle when it happens.

Moving onto the next promise Jesus gave his followers, Jesus twice promised in verses 13-14, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do.” Between the repeated promise he explains the reason why he will do what we ask in his name: “that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” This is important because the priority is not about us getting what we want. The priority is that the Father is glorified in the Son. Do you think “anything” includes that which does not glorify the Father? I don’t think so. There is a strong connection between asking something in Jesus’ name and what honors the Father. What is important is that truly having faith in Jesus will keep our minds focused upon doing what the Father wants as Jesus did. Furthermore, we can have confidence that as God leads us, we can make requests in keeping with that, desiring that the Father and the Son are glorified in answering that prayer. This means that we have divine power available to us. We are not alone. God is with us and hears us and desires to answer our requests that will lead to His glory. 

What about when we feel God is not answering our prayers? Perhaps we are not truly asking in Jesus’ name. Perhaps we’re just using the words hoping to get what we want or think is right. Perhaps what we are asking for would not bring glory to God. Perhaps God has answered the prayer, but not exactly as you might expect or maybe we are just not aware that the prayer has been answered.

The primary thing is to accept these promises at face value and trust Jesus that he can and will hear us and answer our prayers for the glory of the Father.