THE SPIRIT AND THE SOUL

"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Heb 4:12).

Devotion 15 of 16

DISCERNING ALL THINGS

The Word of God proclaims the glorious advantages of life in the Son. As might be expected, they go far beyond the capacity of the most productive imagination.

"But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man" (1 Cor 2:15). The NASB reads, "But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man." The NIV reads, "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment."

Formerly, it was stated that "the natural man" could not "receive" the things of the Spirit of God, for they ARE "foolishness" to him. Interestingly, the word "natural," coming from the word "psuchikos," can properly be translated "soulish." This part of us is wholly inadequate to take hold of the things of God, or identify delusions foisted upon men by Satan and his ministers (2 Cor 11:15). The things of God are too high for this lower part of our persons. Natural capacities are simply not adequate to receive or peruse the things of God. That is one of the reasons a person "must be born again" (John 3:3-6).

How different it is for "the spiritual man." The word "spiritual" accents the deeper part of man--the spirit--which has been made alive in Christ Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It is in this sense that we are "born of the Spirit," as well as "of the water" (John 3:5). The "spiritual man" receives "wisdom" from above (James 3:17), and is "illuminated" or "enlightened" (Heb 6:4; 10:32). In regeneration, the human spirit becomes capable of perceiving things to which it was formerly blinded. There is growth in this understanding, but the possibilities transcend anything we are capable of imagining.

The person in Christ is not at a disadvantage in any necessary area. He is equipped for conflict and spiritual advance. Not only have we been given "all things pertaining to life and godliness" (2 Pet 1:3), in Christ we are able to receive and enjoy them. The walk of faith does not lead you where you do not have resources available to you.

"He that is spiritual" is the person walking in and being led by the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16,25; Rom 8:14). Viewed from another perspective, it is the person who does not "quench," "grieve," or "resist" the Holy Spirit (1 Thess 5:19; Eph 4:30; Acts 7:51). Such a one is able to decipher both the lie and the truth, righteousness and unrighteousness. He is able to avoid delusion and embrace what God has revealed. He does it at the spiritual level, not the soulish level, and in the Holy Spirit.

The teachability of "the spiritual man" is accented by the petition that the eyes of our understanding be "enlightened" concerning the various aspects of our salvation (Eph 1:17-20). Thus "spiritual understanding" is an area in which advance is made. Little wonder Paul prayed believers might be "filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col 1:9). This discernment has more to do with what the Lord has purposed in Christ Jesus than the everyday affairs of life in this world. I know of nothing more desperately needed in the average church than this.

The Ephesians "left" their "First Love," yet meticulously tried those claiming to be Apostles, and found they were not (Rev 2:2-4). Their's was a soulish approach. It did not go deep enough. That is why they abandoned the Savior, even though remaining intensely active in His name! It is not that the testing of false Apostles was not good--it was not good enough. They did not "judge all things," which included their own "fallen" condition. Instead, they only judged SOME things. Their judgment, however, did not move them beyond the point where the Savior had something "against" them, even threatening to remove them.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I praise Your name through Jesus Christ for the learning and discerning capacity we receive in salvation. I ask for grace to bring You satisfaction by my appropriation and use of these things.

-- TOMORROW: THE DAY WILL DECLARE IT --