We Have Received of His Spirit

Paul speaks of the most remarkable gift to the believer having reminded his audience that the world by its own wisdom could not find out God. To those who have believed the gospel, he assures them “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God (I Corinthians 2:12, emphasis added). Think of that – God has given us of his Spirit. The Creator of the universe, the Redeemer of mankind has given us his Spirit to make himself fully known to his children.

Paul explains “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God” (I Corinthians 2:11). Who can tell the inner thoughts of a man but that man’s own spirit within him. So it is with God. In fact, Paul goes on to relate that the “Spirit searcheth all things, yea the deep things of God” (I Corinthians 2:10). These “things” the Spirit reveals to the children of God. If man is to know God as God would have him to know, God must reveal himself to man. Consequently, the Father gives his Spirit to his children to accomplish this.

This gift is essential for our spiritual understanding. We cannot discern or comprehend the things of God by our senses. Paul writes, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit” (I Corinthians 2:9-10). The things of God are not received through our normal cognitive abilities but are revealed – made known to us – by his indwelling Spirit.

This is why the message of the Bible is veiled to the unbeliever. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned” (I Corinthians 2:14). The natural man, i.e. the unregenerate man or the unbeliever, does not have the Spirit of God to give understanding to the word. Surely, he can read it like any book and understand the facts of the text, but he is blinded to the spiritual importance of that text because of unbelief.

What could be plainer? God is a spiritual Being. “God is a Spirit. They that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Man is spiritually dead and needs spiritual life to commune with God. As Paul has related to the Corinthians, such communion cannot occur by man’s own ability or initiative. But, through the message of the gospel and the gift of his Spirit, God gives spiritual life to man and enables him to receive those things that pertain to that new relationship. Do you know this God? Have you believed the gospel? If so, trust his Spirit to guide you into his word.

Randy Livingston serves as a chaplain for a local police department. He writes devotionals for his ministry which also appear at his blog, From the Chaplain. We republish this post by permission.