1 Corinthians 12:2-3

Scripture: 1 Cor. 12:2 You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led.

1 Cor. 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Teaching: Picking up from last week, Paul is beginning to teach on spiritual gifts in the Church and these opening verses hold great importance. Last week, we understood that one of Paul’s points in these verses is that the Corinthians could not trust their own zeal for the Lord as evidence of their faith, as they formerly held the same zeal for pagan idolatry before coming to faith. Zeal and religious fervor is not inherently evidence of faith. 

Now, furthermore, Paul says in verse 3 that no one speaking “in the Spirit of God” can say that “Jesus is accursed” nor “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. This is key to understand. We are given the Holy Spirit at the moment we come to faith in Jesus Christ; the Bible says that we are indwelled by the Spirit, meaning the Spirit of God lives inside of us. It is what makes us “born again” and as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:22 seals us and is given as a pledge. Here’s how to understand this: the Holy Spirit is given to us as a pledge, or down payment, marking us as God’s own child. He, the Holy Spirit, is the mark of a believer. In a similar way to how we buy houses today, we put a down payment upon the house, not the whole sum. Over time, we pay more and more, and the house slowly becomes more and more ours (financially). But that down payment marked the house as ours. In a similar way, God marks us as His own with a down payment of the Holy Spirit, which we then grow to know, listen to, and heed over time, becoming more and more like Christ. As Paul says in Romans 8:14, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”

This understanding underpins Paul’s point in verse 3, that without the Holy Spirit, no one says Jesus is Lord — that is a statement prompted by the Holy Spirit moving upon one’s heart. In the same way, no one being led by the Holy Spirit says “Jesus is accursed” (or denies Jesus) because of the Holy Spirit’s leading. Thus, the Holy Spirit is the defining element, known to God, that marks a believer and child of God. It is not one’s religious zeal or outward commitment to Christ. It is belief, which is prompted, led, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. 

Takeaway: The Holy Spirit is a gift that leads believers in all righteousness. One who is Spirit-led is led into the ways of Christ and away from their own ways. What an incredible gift to be given someone who not only guides us but lives inside of us, going wherever we go, never leaving us alone, and helping us to live this life more like Christ and to Christ’s glory. Today, pause and meditate on verse 3. It is not by our own will that we truly say, with all our heart, that Jesus is Lord. The Holy Spirit moved upon us to prompt that, which means that God moved to elicit faith in us. What’s more, God bends our will to His by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In this life, our own will comes into contest with God’s for us. Who should we listen to? Think on this today. God calls us to Himself and leads us where He wants us to go — will we heed His call?