WildB
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Member # 2917
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posted
by C. R. Stam
"He that is spiritual judgeth [discerneth] all things, yet he himself is judged [discerned] of no man" (I Cor. 2:15).
The truly spiritual man is so far above the wisest sages of this world, yes, so far above the mass of Christians with whom he comes into contact, that he can understand them, but they can never quite understand him.
We should all long to be truly spiritual, but what is true spirituality?
In the Pauline Epistles the human race is divided, by the Spirit, into four classes: the natural man, the babe in Christ, the carnal Christian, and the spiritual Christian.
All four of these are referred to in one passage of Scripture (I Cor. 2:14--3:4) and it should be noted that they are classified according to their ability to appreciate and assimilate "the things of God" as revealed in His Word.
Through diligent, prayerful study of the Word, and with a sincere desire to obey it, the spiritual man has come to know God and the Lord Jesus Christ more and more intimately. Babes in Christ and carnal believers about him cannot "discern" him, simply because they have not come to know God as he. But he, having grown to spiritual maturity, quite understands them. He is among those of whom it is written:
"But strong meat [solid food] 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" (Heb. 5:14).
Further study.
From,
Notes & Outlines
1 CORINTHIANS
WRITER: Paul
DATE: A.D. 55-57 (more likely 57)
PLACE: Ephesus
SUBJECT: The Lordship of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2, 3, 7-10)
BACKGROUND:
Carnal Corinth was the sin center of the Roman Empire in Paul’s day.
It was labeled “Vanity Fair.” Its location was about 40 miles west of
Athens on a narrow isthmus between Peloponnesus and the mainland.
It was the great commercial center of the Roman Empire with 3 harbors, of which two were important — Lechaeum, about 1 1/2 miles
to the west, and Cenchreae, about 8 1/2 miles to the east.
196 B.C. Rome declared it a free city.
146 B.C. It rebelled and was totally destroyed by Mummius,
the consul.
46 B.C. Julius Caesar rebuilt the city in great elegance, re-
storing it to its former prominence.
However, even its ruins were lost to history for many years, and a
fishing village was built over them. In 1928, an earthquake uncovered
them, and now much of the city has been excavated.
The temple of Aphrodite, built on the Acrocorinthus, was attended
by 1,000 priestesses of vice, actually nothing more than prostitutes.
The city was given over to licentiousness and pleasure. The Isthmian games were conducted here.
Against this corrupt background, Paul preached the gospel in
Corinth, founded the church, and wrote two epistles to the church at
Corinth: 1 and 2 Corinthians.
Read Acts 18:1-18 for the account of Paul’s visit to Corinth.
For more prayerful study,
http://www.thruthebible.org/atf/cf/%7B91E2424C-636C-40C2-9C55-890588E90ECE%7D/1%20Corinthians.pdf
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That is all.....
Posts: 8775 | From: USA, MICHIGAN | Registered: Mar 2004
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