The 'Spiritual Things' Syndrome - Part 1
'....As discussed in our previous postings, the Corinthians kept losing sight of Jesus in their beliefs even though He was preached to them continuously (2 Corinthians 4:5; 1 Corinthians 15:11). But how could such a thing happen? The answer may be found in three parts, beginning with something we have called the ‘spiritual things’ syndrome. Allow us explain this through a parable:
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.... If we were to ask, "What is Medicare?" one might answer, "That’s a program to meet some medical needs in our society." Or, "What is Social Security?" "That’s a program to meet some retirement needs." Or, "What is Welfare? Or what is Unemployment?" "Those are programs we've established through our government to meet some other needs in our society." Now let's use those concepts to demonstrate the spiritual things syndrome: .
.... If we were to ask, "What is Medicare?" one might answer, "That’s a program to meet some medical needs in our society." Or, "What is Social Security?" "That’s a program to meet some retirement needs." Or, "What is Welfare? Or what is Unemployment?" "Those are programs we've established through our government to meet some other needs in our society." Now let's use those concepts to demonstrate the spiritual things syndrome: .
.... "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."
(Romans 1:16)
.... If we were to ask, "What is salvation?" Most Christians would answer something like: "Salvation? That’s where Jesus died on the cross and He was raised from the dead, and we've believed, so now we’re forgiven of our sins." But there’s an unspoken addition that would go something like this:. .... "Well, let’s see. When Jesus died on the cross, that was like passing the legislation to establish a provision for God's people. It set up a spiritual program – a provision, an arrangement – that we call ‘salvation’."
.... But In Luke chapter 2 we find the truth of salvation. As the baby Jesus was brought into the temple, along came a man of God named Simeon, a prophet, who was led by the Holy Spirit, for it had been revealed to him that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 
And coming in that hour he took the Baby Jesus up into his arms and lifted his eyes to the Father, saying:.
And coming in that hour he took the Baby Jesus up into his arms and lifted his eyes to the Father, saying:. .... "Lord, now you are letting Your servant depart in peace according to Your word. For my eyes have seen Your salvation . . ."
(Luke 2:29-30)
.... . . . Salvation is not found in a spiritual provision, a government, or a program; salvation is a Person, Jesus Christ the righteous. At this point in His life, He had not yet uttered a word of teaching so that our salvation could be found through adherence to a system of beliefs. (In fact, He did not yet even have knowledge ‘to refuse the evil and choose the good.’ -- Isaiah 7:16; and He would "increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." -- Luke 2:52).
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.... So it's not about a plan of salvation, it's about a Person of salvation, in whom we abide; not a system, but a Savior. Salvation isn’t through adherence to doctrines or spiritual programs, but through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and clinging to Him in a very personal way. Jesus is the salvation of God, and those who are in Christ are saved. In other words, Christ in you is the essence of your salvation.
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.... We'll continue this discussion in our next lesson, but there’s a little more in the ‘comments’ section to round out the points that were made in this posting.
To proceed to the next lesson, click here
Daily Bible Reading: John 3
posted by loren at 12:15 AM
6 Comments:
What is the wisdom of God? The things God knows? What is the power of God? The things God does?
“Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” ( 1 Corinthians 1:24)
Wisdom and power aren’t simply ‘things’ at His disposal, they’re not simply ‘aspects’. Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God; He’s the embodiment of God’s wisdom; He’s the wisdom of God personified: He’s the Word become flesh (John 1:14). And Jesus has become the wisdom of God in our lives (1 Cor 1:30).
Jesus Christ is also the embodiment of God’s power. It’s not simply something He does; it’s His very essence, His own being, which is why God “created all things through Jesus Christ,” (Eph 3:9). Power is not simply a spiritual ‘thing’ – it’s the manifestation of the person of Jesus Christ.
By
loren, at 8/05/2005 12:27 AM
Awesome post!
But it amazes me how you can take literally what so many would take metaphorically here (though I would say you are more than right to do so--and since the Church has always seen passages such as Proverbs 8 as prophetic of Christ, I'd say it agrees as well!), I find it astonishing that you refuse to take equally straightforward statements, such as, "This is My body," metaphorically.
Honestly, what sounds like it should be taken more literally--"Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God," or "My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink" (John 6:55)?
Some (like yourself) would say the first one. Others might say the second. Personally, I'm gonna go with both.
By
Gregory, at 8/05/2005 3:00 AM
Can you please send a message of hope to this site- I occasionally browse the blogs and always make a point of reading your posts but today I happened on this when I hit "next blog." It is strange and anti-Christian but I am thinking that somehow this woman can be reached but I do not know how.
http://doyoulikewords.blogspot.com/
Robert Abdulavitch
By
Anonymous, at 8/05/2005 10:21 AM
Hi Robert,
I've actually seen that blog before, and looked over some of the articles to see if I could find an open door, but could never find one. Unfortunately that persons seems motivated by contempt and strife:
"He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
"Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you."
(Prov 9:7-8)
I did take another look, and still saw nothing that looked like an opening. But if it comes up again I'll look again.
By
loren, at 8/05/2005 12:44 PM
Hi Gregory,
I believe the end time church would accept metaphors where they are intended, and literal equivalancies where they are intended.
When Jesus said, for example, "I am the way, the truth, and the life", this is an exact statment of equivalency, and the whole of Scripture bears it out (Ps 119:160). But John 6:55 does not meet that sort of criteria since, form the beginning, it was merely intended as metaphoric (v 35).
When Jesus said "My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink" (John 6:55), He was contrasting Himself, as the true bread of heaven, to the manna that the Israelites ate in the wilderness, and they are dead (v 49). He, not the manna, is the true bread that came down from heaven, and this is the sense in which He speaks.
But the true reason for calling this a metaphor is that Jesus Himself, in the same passage, said it was to be understood metaphorically:
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life."
(John 6:63)
So even if we were to eat His flesh in the literal sense, Jesus Himself is saying that it would profit us nothing. That is what everyone thought He meant, and He's telling them no, He intended a different meaning.
As any metaphor, it should have a type and an anti-type, and Jesus explained this as well:
And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)
In other words He is harking back to an understanding such as Psalm 34:8:
"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
The unique doctrine of transubstantiation, taught only by the Catholic church, teaches that the elements of communion change substance into the literal flesh of Jesus once the priests puts it into their mouth, and they are literally eating His flesh. Thus, (no matter their claims to the contrary), He suffers often since the foundation of the world (see Hebrews 9:25-28).
For further reading in the same type of metaphor, you might consider 2 Samuel 23:15-17
"And David said with longing, "Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!"
So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the LORD.
And he said, "Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?" Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men."
Thanks for your comments, they are always interesting and thought provoking!
By
loren, at 8/05/2005 1:21 PM
Loren,
You are a sound believer my dear friend. Blessed are your ears for they hear. How blessed you are indeed.
Also Yeshua referred to himself as a door and us as sheep.Literal or metaphoric? Good thoughts. May Holy Spirit use them to quicken.
I will be praying that your work increases and that men will come to trust in Yeshua alone instead of plans and methods.
Believe in Greek is Pisteuo- It means relience, dependance, leaning and clinging to Him alone for salvation.
Pray for this does not come by persuasion but by Spirit alone.
Flesh and blood cannot reveal only the Abba.
I like your above post as well.
By
Bhedr, at 8/06/2005 9:11 AM
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