Spiritual People5/8/2021 Spirituality is in vogue right now. People are fascinated with the spiritual dimension, seeking unity with their “inner beings,” enjoying meditation exercises that completely empty the brain of all conscious thought, and then claim to be spiritual. Thankfully, they don’t claim the title Christian, but prefer to be known as spiritual people. But what does “spiritual” mean? In the context I was referring to, people often use it to signify the fact that they are seeking an experience that takes them outside of themselves and into a different realm of awareness. But is that what spirituality really is? The first century Roman culture was also filled with much religiosity and a desire to be “spiritual;” however, Paul makes it clear in 1 Corinthians that only those who have been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit can claim to truly be spiritual people. “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. … ‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ.” ~1 Corinthians 2:14, 16 Throughout the first and second chapters of this letter, Paul has discussed the differences between the world’s idea of wisdom and God’s definition. He’s made it abundantly clear that in the world’s eyes God’s wisdom is utter foolishness. Now in this passage Paul explains why this is the case. Without the Holy Spirit, mankind cannot and will not understand the things of God. It is simply impossible because the natural man cannot begin to comprehend what is spiritual, no matter how much yoga, meditation, or other forms of “spirituality” one tries to subject themselves to.
Biblical spirituality is defined as being Holy Spirit filled, which requires faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ and spiritual rebirth. Once we have placed our faith and trust in Jesus, then we are born again and given a new heart and a new mind to accept the things the Holy Spirit wants to show us. We are made alive and given insight into the things of God because of this new birth. As Paul so simply but eloquently stated, we have the mind of Christ. Think about that: you have the mind of Jesus Christ. No longer do you need to try and claim human wisdom or man’s limited understanding, but you have been given the very mind of Jesus, the Son of the living God and Creator of the earth. Take a moment to ponder that truth. Therefore, as redeemed children of God, we have been given the Holy Spirit and are, therefore, spiritual people who can begin to understand the things of God. We can know the wisdom that is so contrary to the world’s ways. We can also discern spiritual matters because we have been given the Holy Spirit who teaches and reveals to us the things of God. So let us live and walk as true spiritual people who know the truth and understand the things of God as redeemed sons and daughters of the King of Kings, who are filled with the Holy Spirit and possess the mind of Christ in a dark and blinded world lost in sin.
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Kristin RenferView the About page for more info on the author. Receive Posts via EmailArchives
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