2022-08-23 “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost”

I Corinthians 12:3  “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.

Here are two extreme contrasts controlled by “the Spirit of God”, “the Holy Ghost”.  First, “no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed”; that is, those who deny the Divine Person, Deity, Perfect Holiness, Eternal Place in the Godhead, Sovereign Sonship of Jesus Christ is not “speaking by the Spirit of God”!  Some religious teachers come quite close to calling Him “accursed” when they teach a Christ with limited power and authority; that is, that He simply rendered people eternally savable, but didn’t actually “finish” (John 19:30) what He came to do; that is, everything necessary to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21); thus, “save” them to Eternal Heaven.  Second, “no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost”; that is, the only way a person can know, believe, and declare such a blessed truth is by inspiration, revelation “by the Holy Ghost”.  For example, when the Lord asked His Apostles “But whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15); Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16).  Then our Lord explains to Peter and to us how he came to know such a thing; “flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17)!  Those who ‘know the Lord’, know Him because of the work of “the Spirit of God” in their heart-mind; so that we may say, “I know that my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25)!  This foundational knowledge of Jesus Christ cannot be communicated from person to person, even from Preachers to person; for, we are plainly told “And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.” (Hebrews 8:11).  All the Children of God “shall know” “the Lord” for He “shall” communicate Himself to them Himself; directly, and independently of all others.  This is the basic benefit of “faith”; for in giving us “faith”, He implants within us the “substance” and “evidence” to “Know” that He is “the Lord” (Hebrews 11:1)!  Then, our Lord’s preachers are gifted by “the same Spirit” to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; thus, we worshipfully rejoice and learn more and more about Him and His Holy Word and His Blessed Church-Kingdom and the Eternal “kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34)!