Words of Christ

The Natural Man vs. the Spiritual Man: Unlocking Paul's Profound Divide In a world obsessed with self-help, intellect, and empirical proof, the Apostle Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2:14 hit like a thunderclap: "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." This isn't just ancient philosophy—it's a timeless diagnosis of the human condition, explaining why so many brilliant minds stumble over simple truths like forgiveness, healing, or eternal life. Paul draws a stark line between the natural man (the unregenerate soul driven by fleshly impulses) and the spiritual man (the Spirit-indwelt believer attuned to God's wisdom). Understanding this divide isn't academic; it's the key to breaking free from cycles of defeat, sickness, and death. Let's explore this truth through Scripture, history, an...

The Manifested Name: Jesus' Revelation in John 17 and Its Unleashed Power in Acts In the shadowed hush of Gethsemane's edge, Jesus lifts his eyes to heaven and prays one of the most intimate prayers in Scripture: "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word" (John 17:6, NKJV). This isn't a casual aside—it's a pivotal handover, a divine torch passed from the Son to his followers on the eve of his crucifixion. But what name did Jesus manifest? For centuries, theologians have wrestled with this, from ancient rabbis to modern commentators. Yet, as one keen observer notes, the answer snaps into focus when we zoom out to the Book of Acts: it's Jesus —the name that becomes the apostles' battle cry, igniting miracles, conversions, and a global movement. This revelation isn't abstract theology; it's explosive power, transforming timid disciples into w...