Comparing Spiritual Things With Spiritual
Pr Edi Giudetti
1 Corinthians
Commentary
Introduction
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. 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. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
As we conclude the second chapter of 1st Corinthians, we come to see with plainness a theme from the middle of chapter 1 through all of chapter 2 related to a distinction between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God.
We saw it most especially related to the Gospel itself.
Paul made clear first of all that he did not come in his own wisdom nor preach with the wisdom of words (1 Cor 1:17-19 )
He identified the gospel as a “Stumbling block” to the Jews and as “Foolishness” to the Gentiles, for one seeks after signs and the other after wisdom (1 Cor 1:21-23).
But from that point in the first chapter and all through the 2nd, Paul brings clarity, that only through the wisdom of God can man gain understanding of life and especially understanding of that which brings eternal life, that which “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” (2 Cor 2:9)
People in the world struggle to understand life and how the world works.
Multitudes around the world today are confused about the very basics of reality. Even the first principals of life are being called into question. As a result, an enormous gap in understanding the world has taken place.
In these last five verses 1 Cor 2 however, Paul is emphasizing the difference between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom that comes from God and he speaks to the priority of receiving the Spirit of God that we may have HIS wisdom in understanding the world, COMPARING SPIRITUAL THINGS WITH SPIRITUAL.
As we consider this, we also consider the context from which he addresses the Corinthian Church, and the beginning of chapter three shows us that the Corinthians, though having received the Spirit of God, are yet living carnal lives and as a result may be blind to spiritual truths;
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Paul testifies to the reality that both sin and wilful ignorance closes us off to spiritual truths. Our entanglement and love for the world places a limit on our understanding of the world and of this life.
But the Bible teaches saying;
Romans 12:2 “… be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
The more you trust in this world and the more you give yourself over to sin, the more you will be like the world and the less you will understand your place in it!
This final passage in 1 Corinthians 2, begins by bringing understanding of the value of “Comparing Spiritual Things with Spiritual”.
Received The Spirit of God
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.
The “spirit of the world” is the natural state of the world that is absent from the Spirit of God. As a result, the understanding of the people in the world is limited to the nature of the world that is far from God. Therefore the people of the world CANNOT making sense of the very world they are a part of.
Multitudes of philosophers have overtaken one another to make sense of this world APART from God. They have given thought to life and have done all they can to employ philosophy and REASON to make sense of the world. Now while we think that REASON is reasonable, you must understand that REASON needs a starting point to begin REASONING with, and that starting point is a GUESS that is made an AXIOM for everything that goes AFTER it.
For example, PLATO began his book The Republic by believing that a people ought to be governed by PHILOSOPHERS and EXPERTS, the balance of his volume REASONS logically from that AXIOM, that underlining principal.
EVOLUTION begins with the AXIOM that all life arose by spontaneous regeneration from natural selection, and every aspect of evolutionary biology is taken REASONABLY from that starting point. Richard Dawkins once said of the Origin of Life, “we dont know exactly how it happened, but we know evolution is true because here we are. In a speech delivered to the Washington University, referring to evolution, Dawkins said “We don’t need evidence, We know it to be true”./
REASON needs a starting point, an underlying absolute, an AXIOM to begin reasonably building upon. BUT, if REASON begins with an underlying error, it CANNOT reveal the truth of anything.
From the ancient greeks that are referred to here by Paul, to the modern day philosophers and intellectuals, none are able to properly make sense of the world, though not without trying. WHY?
Because the world ONLY makes sense through a Biblical framework.
And ONLY those who have believed the gospel of Christ have received the Spirit of God to KNOW the Bible.
We are warned that the philosophy of the natural man is “vain”,
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
And so Paul rightly reminds the Church in verse 12,
“Now we have received, NOT the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God”
It is the Spirit of God that indwells each one of us that we may “compare spiritual things with spiritual”.
Something miraculous happens to a person the moment they are born again, the very moment they are saved. They may not realise it at that moment, it may take a few days or weeks, but they realise that their EYES HAVE BEEN OPENED. Suddenly they can see, not ONLY can they see, but they also come to realise that they were once BLIND.
Now, suddenly their eyes have been opened to a world that is itself completely BLIND.
There is a saying that has long gone around that goes, “we are not humans beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience”.
This is not far from the truth. In fact, it may bring to us a greater appreciation of the statement that Titles this sermon, “Comparing Spiritual Things With Spiritual”.
Everything that is driving this world is spiritual.
Everything from the decisions we make on a day to day basis, to the workings of governing principals over nations.
Turn to
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
So we see there are spiritual forces working upon the world. But there are also spiritual forces working within us.
When James and John spoke to Jesus against the Samaritans and said, “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”
How did Jesus respond? “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of”. (Luke 9:53-54)
So it is with the natural tendencies of the flesh, our behaviour and decisions and actions, all of this can only come to be understood through a Biblical worldview and spiritual framework.
If we could appreciate the incredible truth of this passage in 1 Cor 2, then and only then can we appreciate what it is to ‘Compare Spiritual Things With Spiritual” and why it is so valuable to remember that … 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.
Revealed By The Spirit of God
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. 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.
The first comparison we see in the passage is that related to the spirit of the world in v12;
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God
The second comparison is that related to a distinction of wisdom, that of man to that of the Holy Ghost;
not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth
It is fair to say that the distinctions offered are not those which vary by degree, but by opposition.
The spirit of the world is diametrically opposed to the Spirit of God and just as naturally the wisdom of man is in complete opposition to the wisdom of God.
This is not a level of wisdom, but one is in complete opposition to the other, in other words, ONE IS WRONG AND THE OTHER IS RIGHT!
How often we run the risk of claiming that the world and the wisdom of man varies only by degree when it comes to that which is true. We want to give credit where the Bible teaches credit is NOT DUE; we forget that “the world by wisdom knew not God”? (1 Cor 1:21).
Turn to
To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this word, It is because there is no light in them.
If the wisdom of the world cant even get us to know the reality of God and show the way to gain eternal life and avoid eternal damnation, what on earth makes us think there is any light in it?
That which is not in accord with the Spirit of God, that which is not in accord with what the Holy Ghost Teaches is not PARTIALY WRONG, it does not vary by degree, it is in opposition to TRUTH and ought to be rejected.
The Corinthian Church, beloved, we shall see, was a church of COMPROMISE; it was a CARNAL church, not evil, but carnal, it attended to things which were of the flesh and not of the Spirit.
It was like you and I on a bad day!
It would justify its sin. It would neglect the spirit of God. It would make decisions that gratified the flesh and prefer to hear of MANS WISDOM rather than that which “the Holy Ghost teacheth”.
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.
WE have received the spirit which is of God and “WE” ought to be “Comparing spiritual things with spiritual”.
Beloved, IF you have received the Spirit of God, if you are saved, born again, you already have within you that Spirit that will lead you into all truth.
Jesus spoke to his disciples saying;
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: …
John wrote saying, 1 John 4:6 “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
Even though we accept this as certain, it is also clearly not AUTOMATIC! If it AUTOMATIC the apostle would have no need to correct the Corinthian Church.
It must be exercised.
Take a look at the next chapter;
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
We could see the same in the book of Hebrews among them who have been long saved, and yet in that passage is given to us the key that works together with the Holy Ghost Teaching, turn with me;
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Listen Carefully,
It is the Spirit of God that teaches us THROUGH the Word of God, equipping us, or helping us to discern both good and evil.
If you have not scheduled daily the reading of your Bible and have let much come in the way of it, it is certain that such discernment will not be yours to avail yourself of.
Christians can often find themselves just as confused as those in the world and ONLY because they have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, they have replaced the Word of God with whatever it is that gratifies the flesh, and so they are as troubled as others, and sometimes WORSE.
Paul states something fascinating with respect to living life as if Christ was not raised from the dead;
he says;
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. ..… If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
If we, being saved by the Spirit of God and have the spirit dwelling with in us, are risen with Christ but live as if Christ has affected nothing in us, we can indeed become of all men most miserable.
We have ACCESS to the TRUTH, BUT WE will not apply any time “Comparing spiritual things with spiritual”, comparing things of this life with what the Bible says of it, that we might have both answers for ourselves, AND answers to those who ask us of the hope that is in us (1 Pet 3:15).
Therefore, consciously spend time with the Lord each day and learn directly from the Spirit of God in you, trust that he is able to bring to light the spiritual truths found in the Bible, even if it takes a lifetime.
And watch the changes in your life!
Resistance Of The Natural Man
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.
Im sure its happened to you before, or you have seen it happen. A conversation ensues that become irrational, the person being addressed continues to contradict himself and moves from one straw-man argument to another, but cannot see that which is plain to see.
They RESIST THE TRUTH, and so choose to believe a lie.
This is true when it comes to basic arguments of logic, where a person has taken an antithetical position and has sold himself to it no matter how ill conceived or contrived his position is. No matter how well the truth counters it, he RESISTS it.
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.
Sadly, there is no benefit in believing that is false no matter how well framed the argument is in the heart.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
If this is true of a natural man when it comes to natural arguments of logic, how much more when it comes to spiritual matters of eternity?
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.
PAUL WROTE OF SUCH MEN TO TIMOTHY
Turn to
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Spiritual things can only be spiritually discerned.
There is a famous example of this in the Bible, the man being addressed is no fool, Jesus refers to him as “a master of Israel” and yet he knew not these things.
The passage is the primary example of the nature of the Gospel in the Bible when addressing “the natural man”, it is the primary example that we ought to also employ when it comes to sharing the Gospel, we ought to do so as Jesus did.
Jesus gave to us perfect instruction through his own words as he addressed a “Natural Man”.
Turn to John 3:1-21, what we shall read will be part of a conversation Jesus had with a Pharisee named Nicodemus, it is the most famous passage of the Bible and reflects perfectly the incomprehensibility of “Spiritual things” to the “Natural man”.
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Interestingly, this conversation continues with a monologue from Jesus all the way down to verse 21.
We see no response again from “the natural man”, no continuation of the conversation, just an abrupt ending in a statement of fact by Jesus saying;
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
The next verse simply begins, “After these things….”
So what has become of Nicodemus? Why did Jesus not remain to see the end of the matter? Why did he not diligently stay to ensure “the natural man” received the things of the Spirit of God?
Jesus understood that passage of the Bible teaching; that one man plants, another waters, but it is God that giveth the increase (see 1 Cor 3:3).
Nicodemus is next seen defending Jesus to the Pharisees in John 7:50-51, and we last see him come together with Joseph of Arimathaea, to both take and anoint the body of Jesus in John 19:39.
What are we to learn of this?
The gospel is a spiritual truth, we cant know how the gospel impacts an individual, but we can know that it does.
The gospel, like a sharp two edged sword, is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12), it does its work in the heart of man to turn him toward the Lord or away from him.
Our work is not to convince the MIND, but to convict the heart.
We do so “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” and we trust the Lord for the outcome.
In John 6:63 Jesus said;
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”
We cant save a single soul, but God can and he has given us his words to accomplish it.
This truth both relieves us of the responsibility of the OUTCOME, but it also gives us a NO EXCUSE responsibility for sharing the Gospel.
Jesus was our example, do as he did!
Comparing Spiritual Things With Spiritual.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
There is a comparison being considered in these last two verses and it is identified with the first word of verse 15, “But”.
He that is spiritual is compared with the natural man (v14), and with “the spirit of the world” (v12).
He that is spiritual is able to judge, to discern, to understand all things in comparison to the natural man and the natural man has no ability to judge him, “yet he himself is judged of no man”.
Beloved, those who are spiritual are not averse to the trials of life. God sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Mt 5:45), he makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good (same verse).
But the distinction is that those who know Christ are the only ones able to understand it, to discern it, to “Judge”. And all the more as we read the word of God and apply it to our lives.
That does not mean we will not go through “Job” moments in life, but it does mean that we can understand God has a purpose. We trust that most wonderful passage of
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
We compare spiritual things with spiritual and trust the Lord is doing his work in us.
“he that is spiritual” is able to judge all things, while he that is not cannot discern anything.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
The mind of Christ is beyond all worldly wisdom, it seeks the truth of situations and actions from the word of God directly. The Bible becomes the final authority for all matters and those with the mind of Christ seek the answers directly from the lips of the father, the WORD of God.
How many are the times when I have been stuck for an answer to the problems, looked through my mind for examples that I might have read in the Bible and God wonderfully provides the passages of the Bible that leads and guides me.
NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.
Jesus, at the most stressful period of his mortal life, sought the Father to deliver him from that which was to come.
…… My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: ….he…. fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, ….42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
There are going to be times when no answer comes. Times when simply trusting and waiting on the Lord is the only answer.
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, And in his word do I hope.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: Fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: Fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: But those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.
Such is the mind of Christ, to seek after God and his counsel and to rest in the power of his might. If you belong to him you have both answer and safety, if you do not belong to him you have neither answer nor safety.
Comparing spiritual things with spiritual, this is the mind that understands that everything in our life has eternal significance, and so we look to the book and pray to him who knows everything.
Until he comes.
Maranatha.
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