Spiritual Life
1) Revelation of Jesus Christ comes from God.
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My
Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:16-17
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not
of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of
God. John 1:12-13
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and
called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might
preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh
and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles
before me; but I went to Arabia and returned again to Damascus. Then
after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with
him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James,
the Lord’s brother. Galatians 1:15-19
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His
servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and
signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the
word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that
he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this
prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is
near. Revelation 1:1-3
2) The Holy Spirit gives spiritual rebirth and knowledge.
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is
born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”
John 3:5-7
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
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but
which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with
spiritual. 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. But he who is spiritual judges
all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has
known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the
mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:13-16
3) Religious people will not be spiritual.
The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself;
Your witness is not true.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I
bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came
from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and
where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And
yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am
with the Father who sent Me. It is also written in your law that the
testimony of two men is true. I am One who bears witness of Myself, and
the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.” John 8:13-18
For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that
which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and
circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter;
whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:28-29
As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would
compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution
for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep
the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in
your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of
our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and
I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor
uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. Galatians 6:12-15
4) Salvation by faith is spiritual.
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came
from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to
herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But
Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer,
daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well
from that hour. Matthew 9:20-22
Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman?
I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has
washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet
since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this
woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore, I say to you,
her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom
little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your
sins are forgiven.” And those who sat at the table with Him began to
say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Then He said
to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:44-50
So, I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to
you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the
things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to
you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the
Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn
them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that
they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who
are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:15-18
What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to
the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to
boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say?
“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also
describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness
apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall
not impute sin.” Romans 4:1-8
But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of
the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live
in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel
Gentiles to live as Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of
the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ
Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the
works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be
justified. Galatians 2:14-16
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which
you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of
disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But
God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together
with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together,
and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that
in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in
His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand
that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man
appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but
according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His
grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:4-7
5) Believers have peace with God through Jesus Christ.
“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But
the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He
will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that
I said to you. Peace, I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as
the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.” John 14:25-27
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In
the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have
overcome the world.” John 16:33
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by
faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations,
knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance,
character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because
the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit
who was given to us. Romans 5:1-5
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans
15:13
For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down
the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the
enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as
to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and
that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross,
thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to
you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we
both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:14-18
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things
on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of
His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by
wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh
through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach
in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and
steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you
heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I,
Paul, became a minister. Colossians 1:19-23
Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead,
that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working
in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to
whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
6) Believers will serve in love by the Holy Spirit.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have
loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that
you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused
by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death. But now
we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held
by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the
oldness of the letter. Romans 7:5-6
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty
as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another,
beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the
Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh
lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these
are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you
wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:13-18
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he
will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap
corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap
everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in
due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have
opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the
household of faith. Galatians 6:7-10
Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord
is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be
filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:17-21
7) Only Jesus Christ delivers you from sin.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I
said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was
before me.’" John 1:29-30
Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that
it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so
that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. For
we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For
what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do
not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will
not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no
longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me
(that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with
me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I
will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I
practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do
it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present
with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God
according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members,
warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to
the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who
will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus
Christ our Lord! Romans 7:13-25
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the
truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you
as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the
Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so
foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by
the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in
vain? Galatians 3:1-4
Therefore, remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called
Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by
hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the
commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus
you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of
Christ. Ephesians 2:11-13
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to
pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of
His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk
worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good
work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all
might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and
longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified
us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He
has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the
kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9-14
8) Abiding in Jesus Christ produces evidence of the Holy Spirit.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in
Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears
fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean
because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the
vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are
the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is
cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw
them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My
words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done
for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so,
you will be My disciples.” John 15:1-8
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ
Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the
Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me
free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in
that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in
the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in
the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled
in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the
Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on
the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit,
the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be
spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity
against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can
be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are
not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells
in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not
His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who
raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who
dwells in you. Romans 8:1-11
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the
like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time
past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom
of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long
suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified
the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let
us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:19-25
9) Spiritual believers restore other believers in gentleness.
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest
you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law
of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is
nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work,
and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
For each one shall bear his own load. Galatians 6:1-5
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of
the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and
gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender
mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one
another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against
another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all
these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the
peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one
body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in
all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And
whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:12-17
10) Spiritual believers will glory in the Lord Jesus Christ.
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they
gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit,
gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the
right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the
Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Then they cried out with
a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and
they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid
down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they
stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice,
“Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he
fell asleep. Acts 7:54-60
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the
flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen
the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has
chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which
are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are
despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to
nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His
presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom
from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as
it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” 1
Corinthians 1:26-31
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same
things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs,
beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the
circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus,
and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have
confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence
in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of
Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning
the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church;
concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what
things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet
indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found
in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but
that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from
God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if,
by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:1-11
11) Spiritual believers will know that evil spiritual powers exist.
Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness
of Christ—who in presence am lowly among you but being absent am bold
toward you. But I beg you that when I am present, I may not be bold
with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some who
think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk
in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of
our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down
strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into
captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all
disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:1-6
Finally, my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of His
might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in
the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that
you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand. Ephesians 6:10-13
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses
that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit
that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of
God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was
coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little
children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater
than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore, they
speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who
knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we
know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 John 4:1-6
12) God may use our physical infirmities for His glory.
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His
disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his
parents, that he was born blind?”
Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the
works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him
who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:1-5
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and
her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant
oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
Therefore, the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You
love is sick.” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not
unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be
glorified through it.” John 11:1-4
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the
revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan
to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing, I
pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He
said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made
perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I
take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions,
in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. You have
not injured me at all. You know that because of physical infirmity I
preached the gospel to you at the first. And my trial which was in my
flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of
God, even as Christ Jesus. What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For
I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your
own eyes and given them to me. Galatians 4:12-15