HE THAT IS SPIRITUAL
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).
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