BY Argie Simonis
In today's message I will begin with the words of the apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians:
" Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8)
Greece has been a global cradle of civilization. Greece is also the homeland of philosophy, which is why I would like to examine the term philosophy under the prism of the word of God.
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Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language. It is a rational and critical inquiry that reflects on its own methods and assumptions.
~Source: Wikipedia.
Philosophy as a science is a tool given to human hands by God, and as it should be for every science, its credibility depends on whether its findings are in harmony with the revelation that the Lord gives us through His word. In other words, science must stand as a collaborator of God and not against Him.
We are at war and we must be on guard:
" For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)
The devil will come in every way and trick to confuse us, to offend us, to distract our attention from God, turning it to insignificant and meaningless things.
Philosophy and human traditions are weapons that the devil uses against us and many people do not recognize them in order to resist and fight.
Let me not be misunderstood, I like traditions only as long as they do not oppose the word of God. Jesus gives us a serious warning about this:
" Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:13)
Paul writes to Titus:
" But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." (Titus 3:9)
and to Timothy:
" Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." (1 Timothy 1:4)
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By definition, philosophy is a way of thinking.
Every person has their own philosophy, that is, their own way of thinking. Some typical examples:
There are people who are optimists, pessimists and realists.
- The first group includes people who tend to look on the bright side of life. They are gullible and dreamy, constantly thinking positive thoughts, even when these thoughts have no basis.
- Realists do not take risks easily. They are cautious and always grounded in reality, but a reality as they perceive it with their square logic.
Another example is rich people who, without real need, are excessively frugal and live in constant deprivation with a poverty mentality, even though they know that the word of God says:
" But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
" For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)
There are people whose knowledge of the Scriptures is not enough to change their philosophy. The way they think, right or wrong, determines exclusively how they act or react to their environment.
For example, if you have been hurt by people and have not surrendered it to the Lord to heal you so that you can forgive them and peace can come to your heart, then every rejection and every negative behavior you experience, even if it is something small, will always seem like a mountain to you. But what does the word of God tell us?
" There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18)
When we understand how much God loves us, fear has no place in our hearts. Fear basically works the same way as faith. When we are afraid, we believe in something negative. People who live in constant fear are the ones who always believe the worst that can happen, and let them know that
" The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Psalms 34:7)
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---- THE MIND OF CHRIST ----
Being a Christian does not necessarily mean you have the right mindset. Your spirit has been born again, but your mind needs to be refined and renewed, and that is something you must do:
" And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
When we get born-again, our spirit is completely changed:
" Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
" But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (1 Corinthians 6:17)
" For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16)
The mind of Christ that we have in our born-again spirit is the one that must be formed in our natural mind according to Rom. 12:2 that we read. Those of us who are in the Lord today, have our own biography. Some were born and raised in a Christian environment, but some come from completely different backgrounds:
" For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:" (Ephesians 5:8)
Everyone wants a better life, but as soon as you talk to them about change, they back down. You read the Scriptures but you don't let it change your philosophy and the way you were taught to do certain things. So what kind of change do you expect to see?
Another typical example:
You know that by the stripes of Jesus you have been healed (1 Pet. 2:24) and that the Lord
" Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence." (Psalms 91:3)
But because you have been taught that every spring and fall is the season for viruses, you prepare and expect to get sick once or twice a year.
But God's word tells us:
As you think in your heart, so are you... (Proverbs 23:7)
Everyone's philosophy is shaped by the way they were raised, the experiences they had, and the theological influences they received. Whatever has happened to you, however, Paul writes:
" ... let God be true, but every man a liar..." (Romans 3:4)
This means that we must put what the Lord says above what our family, our background, or our doctrinal position says.
We must put what the Lord says above what our personal experiences, our culture, or the traditions of the place we live tell us. It is obvious that our society is going from bad to worse, and God warns us:
" Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)
But even if this is so, the word of God encourages us:
" Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1)
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---- THE JOY ----
" Rejoice evermore." (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
" Pray without ceasing." (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
" In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Paul even repeats it twice in his letter to the Philippians, in case we didn't get it the first time:
" Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4)
Large and expensive scientific studies have concluded that the person who smiles more becomes happier, while the sullen person is more unhappy.
" ... let God be true, but every man a liar..." (Romans 3:4)
But God’s word tells us that the exact opposite is true. Joy is not just a feeling. It is the fruit of the Spirit that lives within us (Galatians 5:22). It is a decision we make that regardless of what is happening around us we will rejoice in the Lord and give thanks to Him. If we do this we create a channel and the joy that is stored in our spirit will also manifest in the physical. So smiling does not make you happier, but our joy in the Lord and our thanksgiving to Him paints a smile on our lips, makes us happy and increases our faith:
" Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:7)
Just as happiness works, so does unhappiness or depression. The ungrateful person who is away from God will be constantly gloomy and unhappy.
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---- THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS ----
Let's move on to another equally important and at the same time controversial topic:
" And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (1 Timothy 3:16)
The mystery of godliness is great not because it is an mystery that cannot be known, but because it is hidden in the natural man and is known only to the faithful hearts in whom God is revealed:
See what Paul tells us:
" Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:" (Colossians 1:26)
" To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:27)
Christ is a mystery. He is not discovered, but revealed, made manifest to us by the Spirit of God. Many attempts have been made to interpret this mystery, and it often becomes a subject of controversy among Christians. Many theories have emerged, which only cause divisions and strife within the body of Christ.
- Is God one or many?
- Is He two in one?
- Is He three in one?
People of other religions mock us Christians and call us polytheists.
Of course we know that God is one, and in the Bible He reveals Himself to us as Father, as Son and as the Comforter, the Holy Spirit.
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---- THE MYSTERY OF MAN ----
I will take a different approach to explaining some things, and I believe it will help you to settle this matter in your heart. Furthermore, there will be a better understanding of the Bible, even in places that are difficult to understand or seeming contradictions that some claim to exist in the Bible.
With our limited minds it is impossible to explain an infinite and eternal God. So before we enter the sanctuaries of God, why not start with something more tangible? So let's start with man first:
" So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)
I will begin by analyzing the nature of man. Through the word of God we will see the characteristics of our being as humans, and what happens when a person functions with, or without God.
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In 1 Thessalonians we read:
" And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
Here we clearly see that as humans we are an entity consisting of spirit, soul and body. These are parts of ourselves, separate in one aspect, but also in perfect unity with each other. My spirit is not the same as my soul, my soul is not the same as my body, nor is my spirit the same as my body. Spirit, soul and body, however, coexist in perfect harmony and unity.
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----BODY ----
Our physical body is easy to perceive. It is the part of ourselves that we can see in the mirror. With it we perceive our physical environment. We see, hear, smell, feel and taste. With it we move, work, sleep and wake up. Our physical body is what gives us access to this world.
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----SOUL ----
Our soul is made up of our mind (thoughts, desires, dreams), our will and our emotions. I can use physical violence on you and hurt you with a blow, but I can also hurt you without even touching you, if I use harsh words against you for example. In the first case I hurt you physically, in the second case I hurt you mentally.
Some equate the soul with the spirit as being the same, but the Word of our God refutes this:
" For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)
There is a distinction between spirit and soul, but they are inextricably linked to each other like the marrow to the ligaments.
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---- SPIRIT ----
The definitions of body and soul have been given and we saw the difference between the soul and spirit. Let's define what our spirit is.
Our spirit is the core of our being, the part of us that has life and is inextricably linked to both the soul and the body:
" And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)
What we have just read is our soul that was given the spirit by the breath of God and the earthen man became a living soul.
The spirit gives life to both the soul as we have just seen, and to our physical body:
" For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:26)
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---- BEING BORN-AGAIN ----
These are some very important things that the Word of God teaches us and we need to know them. Let's see some more practical matters.
In John chapter 3, we see Nicodemus, a Pharisee teacher, visiting Jesus at night. This was because he was afraid that someone would catch his eye and put him out of their synagogue,
" These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue." (John 9:22)
" Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5)
" That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:6)
Here Jesus explains that only those who are born in a natural body (the fetus is in water in its mother’s womb) and those who are born from above, that is, of the Spirit, can enter the kingdom of God. Both conditions are necessary.
What does Jesus mean when he said:
" Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
This rebirth occurs by accepting Jesus into our lives. Christ becomes Lord in our lives when we repent of our sins and with a sincere heart we receive Him. He is waiting for us to invite Him into our hearts:
" Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)
This is how we receive salvation. Paul explains this in his letter to the Romans:
" But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;" (Romans 10:8)
" That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)
" For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)
So the Lord comes and dwells within us and we become His temple:
" Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Now, because
" God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)
In which part of us do you believe God resides? In our spirit of course:
" But he that is joined unto the Lord is ONE spirit." (1 Corinthians 6:17)
Do we now understand Paul's words?
" Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Let's use a mathematical proof to see what this brand new creation we become when we get born-again. It is a method used by Aristotle and Euclid.
With this method, I will show you the truth of something, based on the fact that its opposite is false or incorrect.
- During our born-again experience, our body remains the same. If we were men before, we continue to be men after. Our physical characteristics remain the same. Our age, the color of our hair and eyes remain the same. If we had some extra pounds before, we will continue to have them, unless of course we start a diet :). So this new creation does not refer to our body.
- Our soul (mind, thoughts, desires, dreams, will, emotions) also remain the same, until they are changed and renewed through the Word of God:
" And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
Can you see now that this new creation does not refer to either our body or our soul?
- So which part is left? Our spirit. That is exactly where this new birth takes place. We cannot see our spirit, but that is what becomes a brand new creation as we read in 2 Cor. 5:17. We are a new creation because the Spirit of God comes and becomes one with our own spirit (1 Cor. 6:17) and all the wisdom and knowledge of God, this mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) are stored in our spirit.
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---- THE RENEWAL OF THE MIND ----
Let's look at something else here:
" Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)
Those of us who have accepted Christ the Lord into our lives have received salvation. What does Paul mean here?
First of all, you cannot work something you do not have. This salvation that we have received in our spirit, we are called to work it out in our soul and in our body through the renewal of our mind:
" And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)
To do this requires time and effort on our part. By studying the Bible, this indestructible seed of God's word takes root in our heart and begins to bear fruit. It becomes the channel through which all this mind of Christ that is stored in our spirit begins to flow into our soul, our mind and our thoughts. So we begin to be transformed first in our mind and the first thing we experience is healing in our emotions.
We become happy, we love more easily, we forget the harm that has been done to us more quickly, we forgive more easily, we get angry less, we uproot roots of bitterness from within us, and do you know what the result of all this is? We experience healing in our body as well. The Bible is full of examples of how healing the way we think is for our health:
" For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." (Proverbs 23:7)
" A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." (Proverbs 15:13)
" A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." (Proverbs 17:22)
And of course the way we think will also affect the way we speak:
" O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:34)
" A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." (Matthew 12:35)
" Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24)
I hope this message has helped you understand some things and see them with new eyes. In future messages I will dive deeper into the mind of Christ, where and how the devil has access to our lives, and how we can, with the authority and power given to us, resist and fight, so that we can experience a victorious life.
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