1 Corinthians 2:14–The Natural Man

1 Corinthians 2:14–"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to Him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."

This is one of those verses that strikes at my heart.  In my life, I often get into conversations about faith and God.  It is at these times, when engaging in dialogue about the Divine, that this verse is brought to bear upon life in a very real way.  During these times of conversation, there is no amount of defense or rationality that will or even can convince someone the truth.

If, however, we remember the truth of this verse, we can avoid the consternation we might feel when the unspiritual man is struggling to understand.  In truth, as this verse conveys, the natural man will be unable to understand the things of God, because, quite frankly, he does not have eyes to see or ears to hear.

Our evangelistic tactic, then, is not necessarily to convince the unbeliever about God as much as it is to pray for them that God would transform their hearts so that they would be able to understand the things of God.  Let us then remember that this is the way it is and we need to respond in faith appropriately.

Are You Ready to Explain Jesus?

There is an overwhelming narrative point to be made by the New Testament Church.  They were singularly focused on preaching the Gospel to all who would hear.  They were wholly committed to proclaiming the good news about Christ Jesus, first to Jerusalem then to the world.  This attitude, this mission is to be further carried out by Christians today as well.  Truly, we are not off the hook.

While there are numerous verses that testify to this regard, perhaps none is so direct as is the Great Commission spoken by Jesus Himself: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."  (Matt 28:19-20).

It would be incorrect to think of this as merely a suggestion, like, if the moment suits you then say a bit or two about Christ Jesus.  God forbid!  This is a call, a commandment really.  This is a commandment to give our testimony "with gentleness and respect." (1 Pet 3:15).

Because of the seriousness of this call, we would do well to consider the Gospel; what is it? what does it mean to us?  how should we respond?  Not only would this simple exercise surly be an act of worship and praise but it will also prepare us to give the defense for the grace in which we stand.  This preparation is a good and right thing to do.  But praise be to God that He would use such vessels as us for His lovely grace and boundless majesty!

Preach the Word of God to See Him Move

Recently, and on previous occasions, I have found myself having to confront a certain type of theology that stirred my heart today.  The rudiments of this theology would state that the unbelieving world knows God by the actions and lives of Christians.  As in, the evidence of a person's Christianity to an unbelieving world is his/her lifestyle.  While on the surface this sort of theology jibes with underlying principles of the Christian faith, it neglects another, namely, the authority and power of the Word of God.

At the onset, a brief qualifying statement is in order.  Christianity is supported and, in a sense, evidenced by a life that adheres to the teachings and example of Christ Jesus.  Word and deed.  We need both of these.  However, being a Christian that expresses the love of Jesus to the stiff conviction of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20) requires a deep and ardent commitment to the Word of God.

The issue at hand is one of power and of authority.  The essential question for every believer to ask is: what has the power and authority to cause people to repent from sin and to sling to the Lord in a life-changing, transformational way?  The answer is two-fold, involving two equally-necessary forces: the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

Consider this from a logical standpoint for a moment.  If the Word of God is in fact Jesus (John 1:1-5), and becoming a Christian is a matter of faith in Christ Jesus, then how could anyone become Christian apart from them hearing, at the very least, the story of Christ?  Unequivocally, the appropriate response is that no one can come to Christ apart from encountering His Word.  For if anyone claims to know Christ apart from His Word, then their testimony is called into question as is the Christ they have chosen to worship.

It is the Word of God, inspired by and understood by the Holy Spirit, that is authoritative.  If we, as Christians, would like to "live by example" in order to express Christ to a fallen world, not only will we be ineffective in garnering the intended result of discipling people and bringing them to a transformational relationship with the Lord, but we will also fail to rely on the power of God to convict the hearts of those around us who we may actually be affecting.

Quite bluntly, to not preach the Word of God and to not make His Scripture be the very speech that falls from our lips is tantamount to not spreading the actual power of the Gospel.  I understand that this is challenging and convicting teaching, however, how we relate to and express the Word of God is at the very heart of how we relate to and express God Himself.

How we overcome such a deficient attempt at evangelism is simple but by no means easy: we need to speak the Word of God, share the verses that speak to that moment, and present the Scripture to those who may not be saved with grace and kindness.  This may sound like "Bible thumping," but what would be worse: being hit by God Almighty who reveals Himself through His Word for the purposes of humility and salvation, or eternal damnation because some believer was too afraid to share it?

Now, and this needs to be asserted clearly, this does require a fair bit of discernment and, frankly, Bible study on the part of the believer.  However, what could be more exciting for someone who claims to know God that digging into His Word in order to be obedient to His commandments?  Clearly, nothing is more important.  Although Christians must back up their beliefs by living them out, they must also acknowledge that their beliefs are dependent upon their reliance on the Holy Word of God, the Scriptures themselves.  Therefore, let us strive after the Word and be bold to preach it for in doing so we will see God move and transform lives!

Treating the Gospel like the Good News it is

A 17-year-old opens the mailbox everyday in hopes of finding that letter, that one letter that could change his very life.  Everyday he opens the box with eagerness and closes it with sorrow at another depressing day without the letter and without relief from his anticipation.  Then, one day, like the hundreds before, there it is.  He pulls the envelope out of the box and breaths it in, opening it with deliberation and exhaling a scream of jubilant release.  From the mailbox, he sprints to his home, almost falling through the threshold as he leaps into the kitchen to yell at his mother across the kitchen: "They accepted me! I'm going to Harvard!"

Good news, like finding out that you're going to Harvard, or going to have a baby, or you've finally been offered the dream job, or the reports are in that the cancer is gone.  This sort of news will always demand to be expressed.  Undoubtedly, the joy of genuine good news will cause us to tell everyone we know because truly good news is nto something to remain hidden, but something to be shared.

The Gospel, the Good News about our Lord Christ Jesus saving all of humanity from sin and restoring a broken relationship with God Almighty, is something that should prompt us to share with everyone.  This Good News is the best news because it means that by faith we can spend eternity in the presence of the Lord.  Therefore, we should be ever-compelled to think of the Gospel at least as amazing as any other possible good news, and should be treated accordingly with the same joyous vigor.

In new believers, those who have recently made a confession of faith in Jesus, this kind of joyful sharing of the Gospel comes naturally and with ease.  Unfortunately, because of stagnant comfortability, the Gospel seems to loose some of its luster and awesomeness in their hearts and they don't share it with as much joy and gladness as news of its kind demands.  Pray that we never cease to think of the Gospel as any less than it is because it is the very power of God.  May we never think of the Gospel as common for it is supernatural and amazing.  In this way, let us seek to praise God for the Good News of His Son to be quick and excited to share it with everyone we can!

Waking Up to God

Sometimes the warm cocoon of bedding is nearly impossible to leave.  When the alarm clock rings its obnoxious clatter in a concerted effort to either wake me up or just make me angry.  Often times it feels more like the latter, and I would rather just stay in bed, holed up against the world hidden behind a covering of blanketed bliss.  Unfortunately, as much as any of us would prefer to remain cuddled in a cocoon of covers, life persistently calls us to crawl out and meet the day.

This seems a most appropriate metaphor for belief.  Though we would rather hang around in the coma of comfort behind the veil of sinful slumber, God beckons the unbeliever to leave their state of eternal night and to step into the eternal light of His glory.  The fleshly, natural self is asleep (dead) to God because of sin.  But God calls for us to awaken.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, speaks to this regard.  He paraphrases Isaiah, "Awake, O Sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine upon you (Eph. 5:14)."  This is fundamental.  God desires to light our lives, to illuminate us with the glory of His majesty.  However, unless we, by faith, crawl out of our comatose cocoons of sinful slumber, we will be ever-unable to receive Him.

In a sense, we have an advocating heavenly alarm clock in the Holy Spirit who is ringing in an effort to prompt us to awaken from our sin.  And, like being awoken in the morning, we have a choice to make: will we either hit the snooze and pull the covers of unbelief over our heads to sleep for all eternity in hell, or will we heed to the prompting of God and awake to meet His day and His light?  These are the two choices, and they have everlasting consequences.  We should be compelled to awaken so as to embrace the day that the Lord has made, which is belief in the Son, Christ Jesus.

A brief note is in order for those who have already chosen the latter.  For those of who have already made our choice to awake from our sinful slumbers and to leave the ignorant envelop of our walking death, there is a sincere and distinct task to wake up those who are still asleep.  It is our obligation to the world to, by the empowering of the Holy Spirit, announce that the day has come in Christ Jesus and that everyone should be made awake in order to leave the darkness of death and to live in the light of the Lord.  Let us then take seriously the call to awaken to the Lord and to wake others up too!

Necessary Boldness for the Gospel

The story goes something like this:

Michael, a father of three, decides to take his kids to the County Fair for a good time.  Once there the family goes on a few rides, plays a couple of carnival games, sees the animal exhibits, and after awhile is ready to leave.  On the way out Michael and his family are walking next to a dad and his son.  The son is, presumably, misbehaving and the father seems to be reprimanding him for it.  As they continue walking the dad becomes increasingly physical with his son.  In fact, not after long the physicality has moved beyond a reasonable reprimand to something more akin to abuse.

Michael has been watching the scene unfold and can no longer sit idly by as this young boy is being beaten by his dad.  Michael walks over to the dad as he is reeling back for another swing at his son.  He grabs the dad's forearm and sternly says, "That's more than enough.  I'd thank you to stop doing that.  But if you have to hit someone to feel like a man, you're more than welcome to hit someone your own size, like me."  The father, in utter shock at the scenario, staggers back and sizes up Michael before yelling, "What makes you so bold to think that you have the right to tell me how to discipline my son?!"

The issue is boldness.  The question is: at what point do we, as believers, stand up and boldly proclaim, "Jesus is Lord!"?  Many evangelicals hold to a theology of evangelism that is so focused on living out the Christian lifestyle that it neglects the necessity of proclaiming the Gospel too.  Certainly, both things are important.  And we should not easily excuse ourselves from either of the two.  Nor should we so overvalue one that we neglect the other.

In this case, boldness refers to a dynamic proclamation of the truth of Christ Jesus that may make others uncomfortable.  Although this may strike some as obstructive or offensive, because it is our reliance on the Gospel that ensures our very life, we should be only-too eager to share the Gospel.  Therefore, if we truly love others we need to preach the Gospel to those who would otherwise never know of it.

The common response to such boldness is to make a case for living it out or walking the walk, as in, people will know the Gospel by the way we live.  And while there is merit to this proposition it is useless unless we accompany that lifestyle with a sincere Gospel presentation.  Consider that there are many unbelievers who live far more moral and far more Christian lifestyles than most Christians themselves do.  What is the difference then?  Although "walking the talk" is necessary and valuable, living like a Christian is not enough on its own to encourage others to learn about Christ.  Nor is the Christian lifestyle salvific in itself apart from the content of Christ.

In reality, the Gospel is not primarily a lifestyle.  It is a theology that encourages a lifestyle; it is a relationship with the Holy Lord who, by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit, informs our lifestyle.  However, the lifestyle is not enough.  In truth, living the Christian lifestyle without holding on to Christ will end up in eternal damnation just as surely as living a sinner's lifestyle without Christ will too.  The Gospel is the good news about Christ Jesus, that He has, by His blood shed upon the cross, reconciled the severed relationship between God and man, and now, by faith, believers can enter into that restored relationship.

The content of the Gospel needs to be proclaimed.  Not just by those who may have the spiritual gift of evangelism but by every believers whose salvation is made sure and secure in the blood of the spotless lamb, Christ Jesus.  Paul, Jesus, and John all point to the necessity for believers to boldly proclaim the Gospel (Matt. 10:33, 28:18-20; Mark 8:38; Rom 1:16; 2 Tim 1:8-16; Heb 3:6, 11:16; 1 John 2:28).  This is not just a suggestion, this is a requirement of faith in Him.

Thinking back to the story of Michael.  It was not enough for him to be an example of a loving father, for when push came to shove he had to proclaim the truth to the abusive dad at the threat of being offensive.  In a similar manner, it is not enough to exemplify Christianity in lifestyle, we also need to be bold in declaring the reason for our confidence.  Let us then be bold in proclaiming Christ Jesus, because we know the goodness of the Lord is for all people to hear!

The Only Salvation

In an age of rampant religious pluralism and post-modern neo-gnosticism, claiming objective and absolute truth takes courage and confidence.  But the Gospel is just that, objective and absolute.  Moreover, the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, is exclusive in that only through Christ may anyone receive salvation.

John's first epistle speaks directly to the necessity of personally claiming Christ Jesus in the reception of salvation (1 John 5:11-12).  The key to eternal life is only Christ Jesus.  There is no way to God but through the torn flesh of Christ.  In fact, only through Christ may anyone enter the presence of the Holy Lord (Heb. 10:19-22).  Only through Jesus and only by faith is salvation appropriated (Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8-10).  Scripture is more than unified about how salvation is received and through whom it comes, it is concrete.  The real question is: do we agree? to what degree?

Are we willing to stake friendships, comfortability, status, or seeming close-minded for the sakes of the Gospel?  Really, this is important.  How far are we truly willing to go in defense of the Gospel?  Honestly, believers are outnumbered in this world.  There are a lot more unbelievers than believers.  And unbelievers will always despise and revile believers because we are not of the world, we are not like them (John 15:19).

The reality is that the Gospel is both exclusive and inclusive.  It is exclusive because only through  Christ Jesus is salvation possible and only by faith is it applied.  But the Gospel is also inclusive because it is for everyone who has faith.  We should not forget the Gospel's inclusivity in light of its exclusivity, as in, we should never cease spreading the Gospel for it is truly meant for everyone.  However, we should also not neglect the Gospel's exclusivity, as in, salvation is by no name other than Jesus.

In reality, the Gospel needs to be preached because it is true.  We, believers, are to be the ones who preach it.  We have a responsibility to present the Gospel, not only because it is true but, more importantly, people's lives depend on it.  If we do not preach it no one will hear it (Rom. 10:14)!  Let us then take this call seriously as we engage the world with the Gospel because only Christ Jesus saves!

Everyday Evangelism

Evangelism, for the believer, is not an option.  It is a divine mandate commanded by Jesus Himself (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).  Additionally, this mandate coincides with believers' expressions of obedience and faith, meaning that our willingness and commitment to evangelize is directly tied to our level of faith and devotion.

Part of the consistent and widespread struggle to get believers to evangelize is a faulty understanding of what is termed by evangelism.  Evangelism is most-accurately and simply defined as proclaiming the Gospel.  The Gospel is to be understood as the Good News of Jesus.  Thus evangelism is proclaiming Jesus.  Sincerely relaying the story of Jesus and His relevance for us personally is what evangelism is all about.

There is a distinct challenge to evangelism in regards to the spiritual gift of evangelism that has been the cause for no small tensions in the Church.  God has gifted some members of the body of Christ with His anointing specifically for the task of evangelism (Eph. 4:11-14).  Although all of the spiritual gifts are purposed for the growth and health of the body of Christ, they can also be a source of division and dissension amongst believers.

The cause of this tension is two-fold.  First, those charged with the call and gifted for the evangelist's task, can become so enamored with the Great Commission's mandate that they overlook conversion's follow-up work that is done by teachers, pastors, etc.  When this occurs, evangelists can feel embittered and isolated, believing themselves to be the only ones truly doing the work of Christ.  Obviously this is not true, but it can be a thorn of frustration and relational discord.

Another reason for the tension in regards to evangelism, that evangelists are often keen to observe and note, is the reluctance on the part of "average" believers to evangelize.  To be sure, all believers are called to the task of evangelism, though only some are especially gifted for it.  The definition of evangelism is the key to overcoming this.  If we understand that evangelism is not a matter of proving the worth of the Gospel, but is in fact simply presenting the Good News of Jesus, then evangelism becomes accessible for every believer to do.

Ultimately, evangelism is the task for every believer.  Luckily, this task does not require any advanced degrees or dense theological understandings.  The only requirement of transformational evangelism is a deep and Spirit-filled personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.  Outside of this, a basic technique is in order: a willingness to talk about Jesus.  Obviously, we need to be living out the Gospel, but if we do not speak the Gospel, how will anyone know the reason for the light which illuminates our lives, which is Jesus Christ?  Let us then sieze every possible opportunity to proclaim the Gospel and evangelize the Good News about our Lord Jesus!

Acts of Conversion

In the book of Acts, Luke chronicles the beginnings of the Church being birthed at Pentecost (Acts 2).  Because of the immense significance that is the moment in history that deals with the gifting of the Holy Spirit, the preaching that immediately follows offers the truest evangelism ever preached.  At this point, Peter stood up among the disciples and preached a rousing and convicting sermon, the apex being Acts 2:38-39, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."


In lieu of the historical importance of this moment, Peter offers the first post-resurrection Gospel presentation in all of salvation history.  In essence, Peter diagramed conversion, understood as repentance and baptism in the name of  Jesus for the forgiveness of sin, resulting in the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The reality of this picture of conversion and belief still rings true today.  


Salvation still demands repentance, literally meaning turning away from self and to God.  Repentance is thus the first step of belief and conversion.  When we turn away from self and towards the Lord, we are able to see truthfully how pitiful our righteousness is in the light of His holiness.  Additionally, repentance is a personal action of humility which allows for the Holy Spirit to indwell us.  Think of it in physical terms: if we are full of the junk of ourselves, then there is no room within for the Holy Spirit to fill our lives.


Following repentance is the baptism into the name of Jesus.  Names represent the essence of the person whom the name refers.  When we are baptized into the name of Jesus, we are actively recognizing that
we no longer belong to ourselves but we belong to Him.  In this way, the name of Jesus rests upon us.  Just after Pentecost, Peter sharpens this point to a razor's edge: " And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).”


The Last part of the conversion equation is the gifting of the Holy Spirit.  The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the evidence of true repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus.  Repentance and transformational faith is the soil by which the Holy Spirit takes root in our hearts.  In reality, these necessary conditions refer not to a once-for-all-time requisite, but rather are to be understood as a constant posture, a way of life.  Let us then strive to live lives of repentance, baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus and filled with the Holy Spirit!

Effective Evangelism

Matthew's Gospel ends with Jesus' final words of commissioning for the disciples and for future Christians to go and to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded them (Matt. 28:18-20; see also Mark 16:15-16).  This is one of the most direct references that Jesus made in reference to His commandment for Christians to evangelize.

Many believers never take their Christianity outside the doors of their church.  This is not what Jesus asks of us.  If we Jesus' commissioning seriously, then we will evangelize.  More directly, if we do not evangelize, we are acting in disobedience because those who wish to belong to Jesus must adhere to His commandments (John 15).

But what does this mean in regards to evangelism?  Many devout believers respond to Jesus call to evangelism with an air of derision or a tinge of doubt.  The question then to ask is what stands at the irreducible core of evangelism: love, more specifically, the love of God through Jesus.  Evangelism is all about transmitting the love of God, supremely expressed in the life and work of Jesus, to unbelievers.

Because evangelism is truly about love, proselytizing requires sincere relationship.  Evangelism takes more than simply handing out tracts and explaining the gospel.  Instead, investing in relationships with love and sincerity overtime to build up relational equity and credibility stands at the heart of evangelism.

The truth is that all believers are required to evangelize, meaning that all of us our called to express the love of Jesus to people.  Living the love of God out is the key to affective evangelism; however, at some point our actions have to be met with sincere preaching the Word of God, which is Christ crucified.  The preaching of the Word is paramount to evangelism.  If we do not vocalize the love that we express, the connection between the two might be overlooked or wholly neglected.  Let us then press on the walk the walk and to talk the talk of evangelism!