THE SIGN OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY

Contrary to some very popular beliefs one is not spiritual because they were born with a "gift", or will it to be so, or because you are "in tune with or one with a divine consciousness" or "higher frequency" or "higher power". Because 1st and foremost being spiritual is something that requires a literal birth. A spiritual birth made possible only by faith in the Jesus of the Bible who alone has the power to make men spiritual.

Through a birth that in one way is like the first birth when we were conceived in our mother's womb. In that something comes into existence that prior to that birth never existed before. A spirit in us that is "born of God" as John says in 1John3:9 so that we "can not sin". A birth that unlike the 1st birth which required no choice on our part, now requires us to make a choice.

Without this new birth a man remains only natural just as Adam was when he was made. Gen.2:7 and 7:15,22 tells us he is made from the same materials that all animals, birds, and creeping things are. From the elements or "dust of the ground", with the breath of life, which is air breathed from God into the nostrils that goes into the lungs. And from there into the blood which gives life to the body. Therefore this natural man is only equipped to relate to what is natural. To what has been made.

The difference between man and animal is found in Gen.1:26. Here God says He made man in His image and His likeness. This difference gives man dominion over what has been made on earth, and the same free will God has.

The natural man is not evil. He is simply natural. Oh, with his free will he can choose to do evil things if he wants to. But, with his free will he can just as easily choose not to as to choose to do evil. Because the fact that God says He made man in His image has equipped him with the free will to choose to do either what is good, or what is evil.

But, the ability to choose to do good or evil can not save a man from death's power. This is why blameless law keeping can not save a man from death. Salvation from death only God can provide. Because it is only God's power through the resurrection that makes a spiritual being from one who is only natural like Adam was when he was made. A being that through the spirit birth becomes a child of God. And heir to eternal life.

This new birth gives the "born again" man a hunger for the things of God. Because spiritual food, the word of God, is sustenance to the spirit man that has been born. Giving them an insatiable desire to soak up all they can from the Bible about who God is, who Jesus is, and what the atonement is for. The foundation for also learning the many other things the Bible teaches about who God is. And we must know Him because after all, knowing Him is eternal life. John17:3.

With this new birth comes a realization that it is this new birth that makes us righteous and justified before God. This is why it's our relationship with Jesus, not behavior or works or the keeping of the law, that is the righteousness that Paul said in Phil.3:6-9 has more value than all blameless law keeping.

Paul says in Rom.8:6 that being fleshly minded, that is living by works and the law, is death. Because works and law keeping can not save us. Because they can not rightly relate us to God. But, being spiritually minded is life and peace. Because God chose to make us rightly related to Him by a grace through faith that brings the spirit birth. A birth that makes men His children. And as His children heirs to His kingdom. Being spiritually minded is a sign of true spirituality.

This was God's plan so that works would have no more to do with our spirit birth than works had to do with our fleshly birth. The spirit birth brings us into a relationship with God. While the flesh birth simply makes us human. The fleshly birth has nothing to do with whether or not we had a relationship with anyone. So it is our free will choice for a relationship with God that is eternal life that makes the difference between the flesh birth and the spirit birth.

If works could give life then life and righteousness would come through the law. But, Paul says in Gal.3:21 that this is impossible. This is why the main sign that a person is spiritual is their confession that Jesus as Lord. And their belief that He has raised from the dead. Because His resurrection conquered death for us. And our confession that He is Lord joins us to Him and His resurrection.

But, such a confession is made meaningless if it is based on a lie like the doctrine of original sin and sin nature. What I mean by this is that just because a person says the right words regarding a person they may call Jesus by saying that he is lord and has raised from the dead. If what they have come to believe about Him and the atonement is clearly a description of someone and something else, then the word/the seed that was planted in their heart has been choked and made unfruitful. Because they have believed in a different Jesus and a different atonement. A false christ and a false way of salvation. A false spirituality. Which is really no spirituality at all.

This is why Paul instructs those who have professed a belief in Jesus in 2Cor.13:5 to "Examine yourselves to see whether you be in the faith. Lest you be reprobate." Reprobate because if you are not in the faith while claiming to be in the faith you are to be most pitied. Because believing you are saved while not truly being saved is a very hard thing to be convinced of. Having already been deceived.

It requires a humility that is hard for many to muster. Having come to believe something that is false it is hard to believe you have been deceived. Or as the saying goes, if you were deceived would you know it?

The answer to this question is no for most. Because they will not humble themselves before God to examine themselves for true faithfulness. But, if we will then we can recognize any deception. By humbly trusting in whatever the word of God plainly says. And making that the truth you stake your eternity on. To let the word of God be our final court of arbitration in the matter of faith. This is true spirituality.

So what is the sign of true spirituality? It is knowing that we are born again, born from above, by faith in the Jesus Christ that Paul preached. With our hearts set on the things that are above. And not on the things on the earth. Keeping Jesus in the forefront of our thinking and not allowing the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, or the desire for other things to choke the word that has been planted in our hearts and make it unfruitful.

John said in John1:12,13 that this does not happen because we were born into a certain bloodline in this life. And not because we will it to be so, no matter how much of a role free will plays in our receiving God's gift of faith. Nor is it by the will or works of the flesh through blameless law keeping. But, we are spiritual because we are born of the Spirit of God by the Spirit of God so that we can not sin after we say yes to the message of Jesus and His resurrection.

After this spiritual maturity is attained through the exercise of our senses to discern between good and evil as Heb.5:14 says. The good is that which is by grace through faith and not of works. The evil is any confidence we may have that is a result of the will of man, the will of the flesh, or the bloodline we are born into from our mother's womb.

The spiritual man recognizes that he is so only because of the spiritual birth. And nothing else. This is the true sign of spirituality. He also recognizes that anyone who says they are spiritual by any other means than through a saving faith in Jesus as Jesus taught in John3:1-8 is not spiritual. But, is really only natural as Paul said in 1Cor.15:45-49. Saying also in 1Cor.2:14 that as natural men they have not even begun to perceive what spirituality is.

If you have never trusted in Jesus for eternal life but have been deceived to believe you have some level of spirituality. Or if you have been deceived by doctrines of salvation by works like the doctrine of original sin and sin nature. Then it is time that you turn from those to trust in Jesus now. Confess Him as Lord. And believe He has raised from the dead. Come to know the Jesus Paul preached and you will have true spirituality. And eternal life that comes from knowing Him.

Do this, and I will see you there or in the air!