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Four Marks of a spiritual man:
1. He is submissive to the Word of God.
2. He will seek the unity of the saints of God and not division.
3. He will be eager and able to restore the erring.
4. He will manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
Every true-hearted child of God, without doubt, desires to be spiritual, and yet it is evidently possible to be self-deceived in this matter for the Apostle Paul, writing to the saints at Corinth, says, “If any man think himself to be … spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37). That some were presumptuous enough to call in question the teaching of the apostle—doubtless claiming to be spiritual—is evident from the epistle.
Then there were those who made an outward show of piety, but lacked that which was inward, for James says, “If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” (James 1:26).
It is plain from our first quotation, that he who is spiritual will acknowledge the authority of the apostolic writings, so that if we meet one who sits in judgment on the Word of God, we may at once conclude that he cannot be spiritual, though he may claim greater light and intelligence than others.
Then if we turn to 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, we find the Apostle Paul has to speak in plain terms, saying, “I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but unto carnal. For,” says he, “whereas there is among you envying and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal and walk as men?” Their sectarian spirit, party strife, and schools of opinions were the evidences of carnality.
How sad it is to find some, who have a good knowledge of the Word and a correct outline of the truth, who yet are characterized by envy and strife, and who are ready to sacrifice the peace of God’s saints, and spoil and break up the work of God to maintain a party position. We have known some who have even so forgotten what should be the effect of the truth, that they have angrily contended for some point or line of doctrine, as to which they believed themselves to be correct (and perhaps were correct), denying by their conduct the very truth which they wished to affirm, and so have exposed to others if not to themselves, the sad fact that they are not spiritual.
Others, again, in matters of dif-ficulty, have taken up a strong party attitude, showing themselves to be carnal, according to the Word already quoted, though in taking up such an attitude, they themselves assumed that they were spiritual. Is it not well to remember the word in Romans 8:6, “to be spiritually minded is life and peace,” which surely means that the great concern of a spiritually minded man is that he should manifest in his body the life of Jesus and should be known as one that seeks peace, remembering the exhortation of Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”?
That we should “contend for the faith” is evident from Jude 3, but not in any spirit of strife, “for the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle … patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” (1 Timothy 2:24).
Thus peace and edification would be the great desire of those who are spiritual.
Is it not also instructive to note that the only exhortation addressed to those who are spiritual, as such, in regard to the service of God, has respect to the work of restoration? The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians (chapter 6:1) writes, “If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.” Some in their ardour have apparently thought that zeal in acts of discipline is an evident token of spirituality, but do we not get here that which indicates that restoration should rather be the happy work of one who is spiritual? Indeed, if the word of 1 Corinthians 14:37 is borne in mind, where Paul says, “If any man think himself to be spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord,” then the exhortation of Galatians 6:1 becomes a positive command. Consequently one who fails to devote himself to such ministry is not in submission to the Word of God and has good reason to doubt that he is of the number of the spiritual. Is it that there are so few spiritual men, or is it their failure to do the work to which the Word of God calls them, that the number of those restored is not greater?
Yet, of course, Scripture indicates that discipline must be exercised in certain circumstances when every possible effort to restore has failed, and then, of necessity, the spiritual man must sadly take his part; but, surely, he will always take up with greater alacrity the blessed work of seeking the restoration of those who have erred. And may we add, that a greater measure of spirituality is called for in converting one from the error of his way than in acts of discipline. On the other hand, apathy in that which is due to the honour of the Lord’s name must always indicate a lack of spirituality. How well it will be if we, through grace, respond to the Master’s loving invitation, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me: for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matthew 11:29), for it is only in His blessed company that we shall catch His spirit and learn how to serve Him according to grace and truth.
Finally, will there not be produced in the lives of those who are spiritual, the blessed “fruit of the Spirit, which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22)? We do well to notice that it does not say “fruits” but “fruit,” so that he who walks in the Spirit will manifest all these beautiful traits; which were perfectly displayed by our adorable Lord and Master in His life here below.
Then may we not say that those who are truly spiritual will be characterized by:
1. Submission to the Word of God.
2. Efforts after unity and not division, which is carnal.
3. Eagerness to seek the restoration of the erring.
4. Manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit.
Surely, then, we have before us here that by which we can test ourselves as to whether we are truly spiritual, and let no one “think himself … to be spiritual” (one who is spiritual would never claim to be such) unless he has these aspirations, which the Scriptures that we have considered indicate that the Holy Spirit of God would produce in him. Let us not be guided by our own treacherous hearts, but ever let the Word of the Christ dwell in us richly, in all wisdom (Colossians 3:16, N. Tr.) knowing that the only infallible guide is the Holy Word of God, and by it, “the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:17).
A.F. Pollock
Scripture Truth, 1925
Editor’s Notes:
1. A further comment regarding the second characteristic listed above may be ap-propriate here: The unity to be desired by a spiritual man is not a humanly contrived unity—neither a mere union nor an arranged accomodating association, but certainly nothing less than the holy, unique, and divinely ordained “unity of the Spirit” (Ephesians 4:3). “The Unity of the Spirit” (a short article by J. N. Darby, BTP #2269) is very helpful and is highly recommended in this connection.
2. The purpose of the above article, the author, and the editor is that we may be exercised as to what characterizes a spiritual man—not that any reader should merely regard the four points as a checklist for self-approval.