"Wherefore, I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed [or has anything evil to say or think against Him]: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord [can trust Him as your Lord], but by the Holy Ghost (I Cor 12:3)."
The Holy Spirit enables us to bow to Jesus as Lord by showing us that He is all our salvation. In Isaiah 59, God describes Himself intervening to save His wicked people. It is by this gospel revelation that we worship Him and serve Him among His people.
God has brought salvation unto Himself– (Is. 59:16) "And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him." Christ finds no righteousness in the earth; there is NONE that does good, no not one, none that understands, and none that even seeks after God. We are altogether corrupt and we have everyone gone our own way (Rom. 3:10-20).
Yet, being saved AS abominable sinners gives us great assurance. If my sins cannot drive Him away, then NOTHING can separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus – (Rom. 5:7-8) "… peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Our sins are like the roaring waves of the sea – they perplex us, and we cannot control them – but they all bow to the authority of the Lord Jesus. He says in Job 38:11, "… Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." He upholds all things by the word of His power, and does not let His saints commit any sin that won't ultimately advance His grace. While the wicked perish in their sin, the righteous learn from our transgressions. We learn to abhor ourselves, we learn to seek more obedience, we learn that we cannot obey in our own strength, and we learn the gracious character of our God. He overrules all things and subdues all things for His glory and our good.
Christ Jesus purchased this salvation as a Man – (Is. 59:17) "For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak." It was necessary for God to manifest Himself in the flesh, if He was going to give salvation to sinful men. And, while no one would have thought of imputation except God, it was unveiled from the very beginning. As soon as all died in Adam, it became evident that the deeds of one can stand for many. Why did nothing happen when Eve disobeyed? She was not a covenant head. But, when Adam ate, they BOTH died spiritually and were both ashamed. Therefore, it is evident, since everyone died in Adam, all the elect are made gloriously righteous in Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17-19).
Also, in Jesus Christ, God repaid us according to our deeds – (Is. 59:18) "According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense." (Read John 12:31) Our salvation is not the overlooking of sins; our salvation is the full punishment of sins according to what they deserve. By the blessed indescribable grace of God, Jesus Christ suffered until death for our every transgressing ACCORDING to the exact measurements of perfect justice (Is. 4:4).
Therefore, because of this glorious salvation, the elect shall fear the Name and glory of the Lord (Is. 59:19). Legal fear terrorized us, but now we bow to Christ through His gospel. We once ran from God and sought reconciliation by compromise, but now we wait at the foot of His throne while He exalts Himself. And, the Lord's promise is strong in Isaiah 59:19, "… When the enemy shall come in like a flood [ravaging the soul with doubts and half-truths], the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him [margin- shall put him to flight]." The Spirit of God Almighty shall put the tempter and accuser to flight when He reveals Christ Jesus enthroned for the salvation of every believing sinner. Every soul soothing revelation of Jesus Christ is actually a revelation of Him enthroned. It is only upon the throne that we see Christ Jesus victorious in the accomplishment of our redemption. And, seeing our enthroned Savior, we willingly bow down. Therefore, Paul determined not to know anything among the Corinthians, save Jesus Christ (who & where He is), and Him crucified (how He got to the throne) (I Cor. 2:2).
SECONDLY, THE SAME SPIRIT THAT BROUGHT YOU TO CHRIST HAS GIFTED YOU TO SERVE IN HIS CHURCH (I Cor 12:1-7). Our gifts are valuable by their ability to edify the church – (I Cor. 12:7) "… the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." God's teachers are recognized because we profit the brethren with the clear message of Christ. Likewise, the Holy Spirit moves a believing couple to exercise and thereby manifest your gift of hospitality. It's the Spirit who gifts men & women to joyfully give, and He manifests that your work is His work by making you abound and have all-sufficiency (II Cor. 9:7-8).
LASTLY, BRETHREN, USE YOUR GIFTS IN THE POWER OF HIS LOVE (I Cor. 12:31). Love makes the gifts that God has given you manifest themselves like flowers in full bloom. Leave every gospel sermon looking to Christ, and love will surely follow.
1. Love doesn't seek her own. She is concerned with the glory of Jesus Christ in His church (I Cor. 13:5). Selfishness makes us seek our own at the expense of our brethren. Love considers others, especially the church of God.
2. Love is not easily provoked to wrath (I Cor. 13:5). Love is ALREADY in a state of peace. When love is wronged, its reaction is "Yes, you wronged me, but look at how much I possess. Yes, you've tried to hurt me, but you haven't taken away my inheritance".
3. Love thinks no evil (I Cor. 13:5). Love doesn't think of how to get even; love thinks of how to help. 4. Love doesn't rejoice in the failures of the brethren (I Cor 13:6). Love doesn't wait to say, "Aha!" Love seeks to cover sins, and does not take pleasure in exposing them. Love thinks well of the brethren.
5. Love shall be the abode of Heaven (I Cor. 13:8-13)! The love that motivated the Son of God to die in our place will one day fill us from head to toe.
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