A Spirit Made Alive

A Spirit Made Alive

“Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, ‘He jealously desires the spirit He let dwell in us’? But He gives more grace.”

God wants our human spirit—which He let dwell in us—back, undefiled by sin in the flesh. Gen. 2:7. Through the fall we were permeated by sin, and consequently we have lost contact with God. We were dead in trespasses and sins. Eph. 2:1. He has made us alive by forgiving us all our trespasses (Col. 2:13), enabling us to come into contact with God again. Even though we are born again and have been made alive, our connection and fellowship with God is very minimal in the beginning. We can see that with newborn children in the natural. But if there is life, there is also the possibility of growth and development.

James writes to those who were born again. He calls them brothers and speaks to them about their faith, but they were children. They did not understand where all the strife among them came from. They prayed to God in order to consume it upon their lusts, and in the midst of all this misery they laughed and rejoiced. They were not aware of their need. The connection they had with God was that of newborn children. James had to work with them so that they could receive light and develop. If their spirit was to become more alive, Jesus’ death had to have a greater effect on the lusts that waged war in their members. 2 Cor. 4:10-11. A development in life means a better connection with Jesus as the head; He can impart Himself more to us—He can say more to us.

Reading 1 Corinthians 1 we see that the Corinthians had been enriched in all doctrine and all knowledge and that they had all the gifts; nevertheless, they were carnal and babes in Christ. Consequently, Paul had to speak to them as to babes. Of course they did not understand it themselves—not at all! They believed they were spiritual, they were rich, and they were lords. Ch. 4:8. Their spirits were so permeated by sin in the flesh that they understood very little. However, Paul worked with them so they could grow; in other words, so they could receive light and put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit so their spirits could be cleansed and liberated from sin in the flesh. Then their connection with the Head and all the members would be furthered. Rom. 8:13. That would also put an end to envy and strife.

When we read, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry,” it is obvious that these things, if they are not put to death, will affect our spirit. Then we will not see clearly. Most people fail to realize that they are covetous. And when they are plagued by fornication and impure thoughts they should also realize that they are not spiritual. But there will be growth if the death of Christ is working.

Generally speaking, most people are children. When the trials come, it is just as if they have not heard anything or known anything. They are unable, in the trial, to keep up their connection with God. Therefore all of God’s Word is just as if it were blown away, and sin in the flesh affects them so powerfully that they behave like ordinary people. Paul asked, “Are you not behaving like mere men?”

Reading in 1 Corinthians 6, we are not left with the impression that the Corinthians were rich in all doctrine and in all knowledge. In this chapter Paul asks them six times: “Do you not know?” They knew it just as well as Paul did. They also had great orators among them; but when you consider how they reacted in daily life it was just as if they did not know anything. Children act the same way. It doesn’t mean that they are hypocrites or unwilling. They are babes in Christ, and they have not advanced far on this way: “For the word of God is . . . piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Heb. 4:12.

Instead of holding on to God’s Word in the hour of trial, people use their human reasoning and act like natural people. The evidence for being spiritual is that a person is free from earthly things and from his human reasoning when he comes into difficulties, so he can hear the Spirit’s voice. This is what it means to walk by faith, and on this way we receive exercised senses to discern between good and evil. Heb. 5:14. Then life—fellowship—unfolds. On this way we go from light to light. Jesus’ death works as the light increases, and our spirit is being set free from sin in the flesh and is filled with the virtues of Christ. Then we will also become fellow workers of Christ.