3.9 The Spiritual Believer Exhorted to "Judge All Things"

from

Chapter 3. Deception by Evil Spirits in Modern Times

from War On the Saints
by Jesse Penn-Lewis

Scriptures Referenced in This Section:
          (Follow the Scripture links if you want to study the Scriptures for yourself.)
1 Cor. 2:14 π 1 Cor. 2:15 π 1 Cor. 11:31 π 1 Cor. 14:20 π Phlp. 1:10 π 1 Ths. 5:21 π 2 Tim. 4:2

The duty of this examination of spiritual things is strongly urged by the Apostle Paul, again and again. "He that is spiritual judgeth (margin, examineth, or, as in the Greek, investigates and decides), all things." ( 1 Cor. 2:15 ) The "spiritual" believer is to use his "judgment," which is a renewed faculty if he is a "spiritual man," and this spiritual examination, or judging, is mentioned as operative in connection with "things of the Spirit of God" ( 1 Cor. 2:14; top ), showing how God Himself honours the intelligent personality of the man He re-creates in Christ, by inviting the "judging" and "examining" of His own workings by His Spirit; so that even "the things of the Spirit" are not to be received as of Him, without being examined, and "spiritually discerned" as of God. When, therefore, it is said in connection with the supernatural, and abnormal manifestations of the present time, that it is not necessary, nor even according to the will of God, for believers to understand, or explain all the workings of God, it is out of accord with the Apostle's statement that, "he that is spiritual, judgeth all things," and consequently should reject all things which his spiritual judgment is unable to accept, until such a time as he is able to discern with clearness what are the things of God.

And not only is the believer to discern, or judge the things of the spirit - i.e., all things in the spiritual realm - but he is also to judge himself. For "if we discriminated ourselves" - the Greek word means a thorough investigation - we should not need the dealing of the Lord, to bring to light the things in ourselves which we have failed to discern by discrimination. ( 1 Cor. 11:31 , m.; top)

"Brethren, be not children in mind, howbeit in malice be ye babes, but in MIND BE MEN" (Gr., of full, or mature age, 1 Cor. 14:20; top ), wrote the Apostle again to the Corinthians, as he explained to them the way of the working of the Spirit among them. The believer is in "mind" to be of "full age"; that is, able to examine, "bring to the proof" (Gr., to prove, demonstrate, examine - 2 Tim. 4:2 , R.V. m.), and "prove all things." ( 1 Ths. 5:21 ) He is to abound in knowledge, and "all discernment," so as to "prove the things that differ," that he may be "sincere and void of offence" until the day of Christ. ( Phlp. 1:10 , m.; top)


[3.8] The Need for Examinatton of Theories
π
[3.10] Expressions, "Views," Doctrines, Need To Be Examined
3. Deception by Evil Spirits in Modern Times - Table of Contents
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