Is there such a thing as spiritual understanding taught in the New Testament? And if so, is it necessary for those of us who trust in God’s word to search for it? Do we have any instruction from Jesus Christ and his apostles about spiritual understanding?
Multitudes in religion claim the title, “born again Christian.” But saying the words alone does not make them true. We must all examine ourselves in the light of the gospel of Christ, and see if our claim measures up to his words.
Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
Why can he not see the kingdom of God if he is not truly born again? Because it is a spiritual kingdom of the soul, as Jesus said, “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21) But like so many things, the worldly church stumbles over these words of Jesus and sets their minds toward the future, looking for a natural kingdom.
We can’t see the wind with our natural eye. We can’t hold it in our hand. We don’t know where it comes from or where it goes. But no reasonable person can deny that it exists. Our Lord said, “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
What evidence is shown to prove that the spirit of God has moved upon us and that we have been truly born again, and that the comforter abides in us? Listen to the plain words of Jesus.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:15-17)
When “the Spirit of truth,” which is the spirit of Jesus Christ, is come to us by the power of the Holy Ghost, we can truly say that we are born again. And we know that we have been made partakers with him, because his promise is fulfilled in us. This is the promise that Jesus made.
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14:26)
He will teach us all things? What things? He will teach us the unseen things of spirit that are hid from the eyes of the world. But first, “ye must be born again” by the renewing of your mind.
The apostle Paul wrote, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery.” (1 Corinthians 2:7) Things that can only be understood by the revelation of the spirit.
The world has not seen nor heard these mysteries, because they look for something natural somewhere in the future. But to all who are born again by the spirit the word says, “But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10)
Jesus said plainly, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63) They are words of spirit about spiritual things that the world cannot see. “Ye must be born again.“
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world” (which sees all things natural) “but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things” (the mysteries of God’s word) “that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-13)
The apostle Paul offered words of praise and heart felt prayer for those who hear and keep the words of the gospel. And he said, “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” (Colossians 1:9)
Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost. He wrote most of the New Testament. He was mighty in word and deed toward God. If ever a man knew what was needed to establish a believer, Paul did. He well knew that without spiritual understanding, the words of the gospel would not be seen in their full richness. This is why he earnestly prayed for the early believers and for us, that we may receive this very special gift of God.
He also offered this prayer for us. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:17-18)
Meat and drink that satisfy the hungry soul come from the Lord by way of spiritual revelations. That hidden manna. (Revelation 2:17)
Speaking of the followers of Moses, Paul wrote, “And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4)
The Lord spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets that he would withdraw his light from the earth. Speaking of the “day of the Lord” as a day of darkness, and not a day of light. (Amos 5:18, 5:20) Meaning, a day of spiritual darkness when the light of truth is withheld from earth’s inhabitants because of their sin and unbelief. The suffocating darkness of confusion, division, commandments of men, worldly churches, perverted “translations” of the Bible, smooth talking deceivers who use God’s word and gullible congregations to enrich themselves, and a world full of ungodly sinners that are slaves to the lusts of the flesh, make up this day of spiritual darkness.
Spiritual understanding is the handiwork of God, by which he separates those that are wise and prudent in their own eyes, from those that humble themselves as babes before him. One group doesn’t feel a need for anything more. But the babes in Christ clearly recognize that they are totally dependent upon the Lord, and have need of all things. These are taken into the confidence of God, and he reveals his word to them by opening their understanding so they can see the spiritual teaching of his word. (Matthew 11:25)
Remember, Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
Spiritual words require spiritual understanding; without it, you will never understand the mysteries of God’s word.
The phrase “born again” has become meaningless words in most congregations. Because if you truly are born again, Jesus said that he would teach you all things. And he also said, “For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.” (Mark 4:22)
A tree needs light so that it can grow and bring forth fruit. A soul needs spiritual light so that it can grow and bring forth fruit in the kingdom of God.
Where do you find yourself?
