"And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, 'Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day'" - Luke 24:45-46
Why did Jesus have to do that? Because the Spirit had not been sent yet and it was not possible for the disciples to comprehend spiritual truth without some help. Specifically that Jesus would die and then be raised on the 3rd day. One of the most significant spiritual truths in eternity.
"But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." - Romans 10:8-10
The only way that a person can confess and believe is if the truth is revealed by the Spirit in faith.
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.... but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness " 1 Corinthians 1:18,24
Without the Spirit, the message - any statement of spiritual truth is foolishness. Rejected by the world. - even the Jews.
"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
Spiritual truth cannot be understood by the "natural man" - people who are not born again by faith. Like Nicodemus - a man educated in the Word of God but he could not understand the single most important, life changing truth - without spiritual revelation. Jesus told him, "You must be born again" and Nicodemus tried to reason it out and could not.
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
As a Christian you have a unique ability to know and understand deep truths. You can understand the spiritual truth found in the Bible. To the natural man the words in the Bible are just that - words. But for the Christian - they are the source of life.
"How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way." Psalm 119:103-104
Do not forsake the reading and hearing of the Word of God. Treasure it for what it is. Do not let your hunger for the Word to be dulled by the things of the world.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
No comments:
Post a Comment