Topical Encyclopedia Definition and Nature: In the Christian context, "spiritual things" refer to matters pertaining to the spirit, as opposed to the physical or material realm. These include the workings of the Holy Spirit, the gifts and fruits of the Spirit, and the eternal truths and realities revealed by God. Spiritual things are often contrasted with worldly or fleshly concerns, emphasizing the believer's focus on the divine and eternal. Biblical Foundation: The Bible frequently addresses the concept of spiritual things, urging believers to prioritize them over earthly matters. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, the Apostle Paul writes, "The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned" . This highlights the distinction between the spiritual and the natural, underscoring the necessity of spiritual discernment. The Role of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in revealing spiritual things to believers. In John 16:13, Jesus promises, "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth" . The Holy Spirit illuminates the Scriptures, convicts of sin, and empowers believers to live according to God's will. Through the Spirit, Christians receive spiritual gifts, as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12, which are given for the edification of the church. Spiritual Gifts and Fruits: Spiritual gifts are special abilities granted by the Holy Spirit to believers for the purpose of building up the body of Christ. These include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, and more (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). In addition to gifts, the Holy Spirit cultivates spiritual fruits in the lives of believers, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The Eternal Perspective: Believers are encouraged to set their minds on spiritual things, which are eternal, rather than on temporal, earthly matters. Colossians 3:2 instructs, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" . This eternal perspective is further emphasized in 2 Corinthians 4:18, where Paul writes, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" . Spiritual Warfare: The Bible also speaks of spiritual warfare, the battle between the forces of good and evil. Ephesians 6:12 states, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world's darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" . Believers are called to put on the full armor of God to stand firm against these spiritual adversaries (Ephesians 6:13-17). Living by the Spirit: Living by the Spirit involves walking in obedience to God's commands and being led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:5-6 explains, "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace" . This passage underscores the transformative power of focusing on spiritual things, resulting in a life characterized by peace and righteousness. Conclusion: While the Bible does not provide an exhaustive list of spiritual things, it consistently emphasizes their importance in the life of a believer. By prioritizing spiritual matters, Christians align themselves with God's purposes and experience the fullness of life in the Spirit. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Spiritual ThingsSPIRITUAL THINGS (ta pneumatika): Things proceeding from the Holy Spirit and pertaining to man's spiritual life, worship, service. Contrasted in 1 Corinthians 9:11 and in Romans 15:27 with ta sarkika, things fleshly, physical, which have to do with man's sensuous, corporeal nature, such as food, raiment, money. By "spiritual things" Paul signifies the benefits accompanying salvation, the gifts of the Spirit-faith, hope, love, justification, sanctification, peace-all the fruits and blessings and aids of the regenerate life. Greek 4152. pneumatikos -- spiritual ... Word Origin from pneuma Definition spiritual NASB Word Usage spiritual (23), spiritual men (1), spiritual things (2). spiritual. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4152.htm - 7k 2032. epouranios -- of heaven 4487. rhema -- a word, by impl. a matter 5172. truphe -- softness, daintiness, luxuriousness 4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness 145. aistheterion -- organ of perception 1919. epigeios -- of the earth Library In the Love of Spiritual Things the Word Born is the Same as the ... Whether it is Lawful to Grant Spiritual Things in Return for an ... Whether it is Lawful to Receive Money for Things Annexed to ... On Grasping the Knowledge of Spiritual Things. Whether the Word "Light" is Used in Its Proper Sense in Speaking ... What are those Carnal Things which Beget Death, and what are the ... That He who Has Attained to Trust, Having Put Off the Former Man ... Life on the Top Floor Look at Things Spiritual, and Things Temporal, and Say if You Can. ... Ignatius Leaves his Native Land --What He did at Montserrat and at ... Resources What is spiritual direction? What is a spiritual director? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is spiritual awareness? | GotQuestions.org What is a spiritual awakening? | GotQuestions.org Spiritual: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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