Paul
the apostle declared to the church members in Corinth how, “the
first man Adam was made a living soul” and
he added how, “the last Adam was made
a quickening spirit”.
In chapter fifteen and verse forty-six of
First Corinthians, Paul told the church members how the body is,
“first...natural”
and
“afterward that which is
spiritual”, where we read:
Howbeit
that was
not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural;
and
afterward that which is spiritual.
The
verse begins, “Howbeit
that was
not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural;”
Paul began
with the word, “Howbeit” or
“nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover” “that
was not first”
which means “it was not first in rank, place, succession, influence
and honor” “which is spiritual”
or “belonging to a spirit or as a being higher than man but
inferior to God”, “but”
which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be
written takes precedence over that which was previously stated “that
which is natural”
or “breathing, sensuous and subject to appetite and passion”.
Paul declared the “spiritual”
body “not first”,
but the “natural”.
The
verse goes on to say, “and
afterward that which is spiritual.”
Paul added
the words, “and afterward” which
means “thereupon, thereafter and then” “that
which is spiritual”
or “belonging to a spirit or as a being higher than man but
inferior to God”. The “natural
body” came
“first”, and the “spiritual body”
came thereafter.
When
we think through these words from Paul, we see how he desires for the
church members to know the order of the state of the “body”.
First, a person is born in the “natural”
state, and afterwards they experience the “spiritual”
one. Jesus Christ desires to “save” people from their sinful
“natural” state,
and this is why there is a need for “rebirth” which means being
“born again”
or “reborn”. Jesus said to Nicodemus in the gospel of John
chapter three and verse three, “except
a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.
Let us know the value of a relationship with Jesus Christ that shall
allows us to experience the “spiritual”
state that gives us access to God and His heaven.
Next
time Paul shares with
the church members how,
“the
first man is of the earth, earthy”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
No comments:
Post a Comment