1 Corinthians 12:3 KJV
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man
speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say
that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Keeping in mind that the context has to
do with spiritual gifts and that this passage has a supporting text in 1 John[1], we
find here two tests to prove a word is given by the Holy Spirit
No
man who is filled with the Holy Ghost will curse Christ.
This is reasonably easy to implement. If
a man or woman curses any aspect of Christ or His doctrine as given in the Word
of God, they have not the Spirit regardless of what they may insist is true.
No
man can say Jesus is Lord except that he is filled with the Holy Ghost.
This becomes much more challenging
because
·
Countless numbers have
said those words having full knowledge and freely professing they do not
believe it
·
Multitudes more have
said those words in feigned sincerity but have after proven not to be believers
and
· Still more continue to
say those words while espousing doctrines that are contrary to the message of
God's Word
We must be misunderstanding that test.
Gill writes,
"though a man may historically say
all this, as the devils may, and hypocritically, as formal professors and
foolish virgins do now, and will at the last day; and as all men then will by
force, whether they will or not, confess that Jesus is Lord, who have not the
Spirit of God; yet no man can call him his Lord, can appropriate him to himself
truly and really, as his Lord, Saviour, and Redeemer, like David, Thomas, the
Apostle Paul and others have done, but by the Spirit; since such an
appropriation includes spiritual knowledge of Christ, strong affection to him;
faith of interest in him, a hearty profession of him, and sincere subjection
to him; all which cannot be without the Spirit of God"
Simply put, a man may not be born again
by the mere expression of the words but by a work of the Holy Ghost in his
soul.
Modern soul winners need to more
carefully consider what is their duty as witnesses for Jesus Christ. A man is
not saved except that the Holy Spirit has worked. It is not ours to merely
elicit a profession but to be tools of the Holy Spirit until He transforms the
heart so that it must confess Jesus is Lord.
[1] 1 John 4:1-3 KJV
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether
they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And
every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not
of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it
should come; and even now already is it in the world.
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