But the natural man
does not receive
the things of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness to him;
nor can he know them,
because they are spiritually discerned
1 Corinthians 2:14
It is saving faith that is discussed and differentiated from other forms of faith. Saving faith is all important as it does for us what other forms of faith cannot do; it gives to those who have received this faith eternal life with God. This blog is about the Scripture heading, 1 Corinthians 2:14, with supporting verses and must be taken fully in context and understand that saving faith is faith spiritually discerned. Allow me to recite the next verse (vs. 15); "but he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one? (1 Corinthians 2:15). This Scripture clearly with all clearness teaches that Spiritual things are the things that are revealed by the Holy Spirit; therefore to be one who has come to spiritual discernment that discernment came by means of the testimony of the Holy Spirit. Paul writes of the "natural man" who is the unrenewed man and does not receive this "spiritual discernment for he cannot "οὐ δύναται," he has not the power as the Greek plainly states; to know is not from man himself for he cannot know and they are "foolishness" to him; therefore to have this discernment, it must come from outside of the natural man. This "flys" in the face of those holding to the Arminian theology and the subject of "free will" which will be written about in future blogs in full examination. The natural man cannot receive Spiritual discernment but the spiritual man can and he is spiritual by means of the Spirit that dwells in him, and give to him the testimony of faith. Having the Spirit dwell within man and due to his spiritual enlightenment, receives what the Holy Spirit dispenses, spiritual discernment and he apprehends the truth and the excellence of that spiritual discernment. It is spiritual due to the fact that the Holy Spirit operates in him and because of the conformity of the truths that he has discerned and that by the nature of the Holy Spirit. It can be said that he apprehends this spiritual discernment of faith, and that only by the operation of the Holy Spirit for he the natural man, cannot conjure up in any way this discernment.
Allow me to add illumination from the Scriptures. Peter, confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). Were there not other men in close proximity to Jesus? Why then did they not confess this truth as did Peter? Some might point to the fact of evidence, that evidence being Jesus and the signs and wonders performed by Jesus. Even the Pharisee wanted to see a sign from Jesus, so that they could believe but Jesus answered: But He answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah" (Matthew 12:39). This and other occasions people wanted to see a sign but still did not believe, in fact some walked away even after having been a disciple of Jesus. So a sign is not the single evidence on which to put your faith, so then what? it is by the testimony of the Holy Spirit injected, so to speak, inwardly, to the heart and soul of man. In fact, God will hide these things from some: "At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes" (Matthew 11:25). Everyone received the revelation(s) but beside those revelations it was those called "babes" that received the inward testimony which made them believers. Antecedent to belief is faith and that faith is not of yourselves but that which is of the Holy Spirit. Try as one might he cannot have faith simply because he sees the good in it and desires it, there is something outside of man, separate from him that enables him to have faith: "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' " therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me" (John 6:44-45). The Apostle tells us about the external evidence, the rational evidence all which was an offense to the Jews and to the Gentiles, but was called the wisdom and the power of God. Why did one have faith and the other did not? Was it because one had superior knowledge? NO! It was due to the inward testimony of divine influence, they are the "κλῆσιν." the called, and are the subjects of that calling.
Another example is that of the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus. Was not his conversion instantaneous? Was not his heart changed? this was not due to some moral susceptibility to the truth on his part, there to was no visible manifestation of Christ that changed him! He was transformed in a moment, How? Let Paul answer this: "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son to me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:15-16). This change in Saul's (Paul's) character was caused by nothing less than the testimony of the Holy Spirit, this inward grace of God. It was inward and supernatural that enabled him to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Why then would Paul pray for the saints in Ephesus to give them the Holy Spirit if this spiritual discernment could come be other means that by the testimony inward of the person by the Holy Spirit? Paul states: "...that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:17-18).
In examining the Bible it is clear and evident throughout its pages; any one who believes does not do so because of his subjective state; rather it is due to the work of the Spirit on his heart. You might have faith in objects seen externally or in your mind, but saving faith comes on by the influence and by the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit. We still need to add some proofs of this fact and this is the subject of the next blog.
Give ear to my weords, O LORD,
Consider my meditation,
Give heed to the voice of my
cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
Psalm 5:1
God Bless You
Richard L. Crumb
Allow me to add illumination from the Scriptures. Peter, confessed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17). Were there not other men in close proximity to Jesus? Why then did they not confess this truth as did Peter? Some might point to the fact of evidence, that evidence being Jesus and the signs and wonders performed by Jesus. Even the Pharisee wanted to see a sign from Jesus, so that they could believe but Jesus answered: But He answered and said to them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah" (Matthew 12:39). This and other occasions people wanted to see a sign but still did not believe, in fact some walked away even after having been a disciple of Jesus. So a sign is not the single evidence on which to put your faith, so then what? it is by the testimony of the Holy Spirit injected, so to speak, inwardly, to the heart and soul of man. In fact, God will hide these things from some: "At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes" (Matthew 11:25). Everyone received the revelation(s) but beside those revelations it was those called "babes" that received the inward testimony which made them believers. Antecedent to belief is faith and that faith is not of yourselves but that which is of the Holy Spirit. Try as one might he cannot have faith simply because he sees the good in it and desires it, there is something outside of man, separate from him that enables him to have faith: "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' " therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me" (John 6:44-45). The Apostle tells us about the external evidence, the rational evidence all which was an offense to the Jews and to the Gentiles, but was called the wisdom and the power of God. Why did one have faith and the other did not? Was it because one had superior knowledge? NO! It was due to the inward testimony of divine influence, they are the "κλῆσιν." the called, and are the subjects of that calling.
Another example is that of the conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus. Was not his conversion instantaneous? Was not his heart changed? this was not due to some moral susceptibility to the truth on his part, there to was no visible manifestation of Christ that changed him! He was transformed in a moment, How? Let Paul answer this: "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son to me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood" (Galatians 1:15-16). This change in Saul's (Paul's) character was caused by nothing less than the testimony of the Holy Spirit, this inward grace of God. It was inward and supernatural that enabled him to see the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Why then would Paul pray for the saints in Ephesus to give them the Holy Spirit if this spiritual discernment could come be other means that by the testimony inward of the person by the Holy Spirit? Paul states: "...that the god of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:17-18).
In examining the Bible it is clear and evident throughout its pages; any one who believes does not do so because of his subjective state; rather it is due to the work of the Spirit on his heart. You might have faith in objects seen externally or in your mind, but saving faith comes on by the influence and by the inward testimony of the Holy Spirit. We still need to add some proofs of this fact and this is the subject of the next blog.
Give ear to my weords, O LORD,
Consider my meditation,
Give heed to the voice of my
cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
Psalm 5:1
God Bless You
Richard L. Crumb
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