The Spirit of God, Part 3

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Let us now take a look at 1 Cor 2:9-14

Verse 9Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man (the natural man), the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Verse 10But God hath revealed [them] to us (The New Creation) by his Spirit; for the Spirit (the mind of God in us) searches all things (revealing the hidden things), even the deep things (the secrets) of God (that is those things which He so chooses to reveal).”

Verse 11For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit (the mind) of (that) man, which is in him? (Your own mind knows your own mind, its will and plans) even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.”

Verse 12Now we have received, not the spirit (the mind) of the world, but the spirit (Mind, and plan), which is from God; that we may know the things that are freely given to us by God. (No man can know anothers mind and plan, except as they are revealed to him, so no one can understand the divine mind and plan, except he come into harmony with the divine mind, and receive the Holy Spirit).”

Verse 13Which things also we speak (teach, discuss, explain and etc., but) not in the words which man's wisdom teaches (not in their matter or way of discernment, which is but the use of vain theories and philosophies through which they “profess to be wise, but become fools” Rom 1:22), but (no, we speak or teach in the way in) which the Holy Spirit teaches (us, by) comparing spiritual things with spiritual (something which only the spirit begotten can properly do).”

Verse 14For the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.”

Thus we conclude that it is the holy spirit (the mind of God) in us as His child, which enables us to comprehend his plans, etc., even the deep things of God, and this only by coming into full harmony with him through his Word.

It is designated the Holy Spirit, because it originates from the one who epitomizes holiness, whose mind is pure, holy.

Noticed where Paul in Verse 12, in explaining the subject, tries to make it plain by comparing "the SPIRIT (the mind), which is of [from] God," in us, with "the SPIRIT (the mind) of the world," which influences "the natural man."

It is clear that the spirit of the world IS NOT A PERSON, but a worldly mind. The spirit or mind of God in his children is no more a person than is the spirit of the world with which it is here contrasted.

See Rom 8:16 "The Spirit (the mind of God) itself bears witness with our spirit (our mind) that we are the children of God."

If the Spirit is a person then by rights our spirit must likewise be a person, so then we are not one individual, but two, how foolish.

Nothing in this text teaches that the holy spirit is a person, but the contrary; it indicates that as each man has a spirit or mind, so God has a spirit or mind. Read this text in the light of 1 Corinthians verses 11 and 12 above, thus comparing Scripture with Scripture, and it is easily seen that even this scripture does not teach a personal Holy Spirit.

The fact that the Father sends the holy spirit shows that it is under his authority, just as your powers are under your control.

Compare 1 Cor 14:32: “And the spirits (the minds) of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”

As for Matt 3:16, 17

And Jesus, when He had been baptized (symbolizing the full consecration of his life even unto death), came up immediately from the water (symbolizing his resurrection from death, after Calvary); and behold, the heavens were opened to Him…

The word heavens in both the Greek and Hebrew signify "higher things." In this case, spiritual truths, the higher things that he had not seen before. As a natural man he could not receive these, for it is a scriptural fact that no matter how perfect a man may be he cannot receive spiritual things. "The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God."

His enlightenment came by the receiving of the holy spirit (the mind of God) just as when following our consecration we received the spirit (the mind), which is from God. (1 Cor 2:12)

…And He (John the Baptist) saw the Spirit of God (A manifestation representing the invisible) descending like a dove (John was granted this privilege of seeing the dove and hearing the voice to the intent that he might bear witness to the fact. This was an outward representation of God's power coming on Jesus. The dove is an emblem of peace and purity, representing the fullness of Jehovah's spirit of love in Jesus), and alighting upon Him (Anointing him. Jesus was not the Messiah, the Christ, until this anointing took place.)

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son (after his baptism unto death, the Spirit bore witness of his still being the well-beloved Son, in raising him from death and highly exalting him to the right hand of power), in whom I am well pleased (The words, deeds and character of our Lord Jesus illustrate to us what pleases God).”

For further insight on the holy spirit please see our blog post entitled, The Holy Spirit.

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