The spiritual man

It has been claimed by some that, at least in "the west", we are living in the most "spiritual" age in the history of mankind. That may well be so - but "spiritual", I would suggest, can be a very vague word! For example, the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as: "relating to deep feelings and beliefs, especially (not solely!) to religious beliefs."

In the Second (New) Testament, the word rendered "spiritual" is the Greek word pneumatikos, from which theologians have coined the term "pneumatology," the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Thus, from a Biblical perspective, a "spiritual" person is one who is not only born again spiritually through faith in Christ and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, but also tries diligently to follow the leading of the indwelling Spirit and to understand and obey the precepts of the Bible inspired by Him.

A spiritual person will have "the mind of Christ" (I Corinthians 2:16), able to judge all things by spiritual standards and Biblical revelation. He or she will "walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." knowing that "to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." (Romans 8:4, 6). As such, spiritual believers prayerfully make decisions seeking God's will, they are "led by the Spirit of God" (Romans 8:14). And since they "walk by the Spirit," they "do not gratify the desires of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16).

 

They will often and repeatedly be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18) for Christian service. Furthermore, they will manifest "the fruit of the Spirit" in their lives and personalities — that is, "love,[expressed in] joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;" (Galatians 5:22-23).

 

Yet while "The spiritual man" is thereby able to discern and evaluate all things by such divine standards, he will find himself often misunderstood by unsaved relatives and acquaintances, for " The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, ...... because they are spiritually discerned." (I Corinthians 2:14).

 

However, "he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:8).