Howbeit that is not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; then that which is spiritual [1 Corinthians 15:46].
This Scripture has bothered me for a very long time. I knew that this verse was wrong and that the Bible must be inerrant because I knew for a fact that God created man in His image [Genesis 1:27], which was spirit [John 4:24]. Man was first, a spirit (little “s”).
Today, this verse resurfaced as it does from time to time, but this time, the Lord began to show me what it all meant. I love it when He does that. I am elated this morning that God would take time out of running a universe to give me rhema about His Word.
After the Lord told me of the Corinthian’s meaning, He presented me with a picture in my mind of the difference between logos and rhema. Now I already knew the meaning of both but the analogous picture given to me was perfect (and why not, it came from God), so I felt led to share. I hope this helps somebody out there.
The picture was this: Christ is standing in front of a huge crowd of people reciting Scripture to them. While He speaks, His focus is about two feet above their head, which in and of itself, is cool because it appears that He is covering them all with His Word. This is logos, God covering us all with His Word.
Today, as I stood in that crowd, the Lord gave me the meaning of a puzzling Scripture by looking me straight in the eye. That word was for me. This is rhema. When the Lord gives us a rhema word, it is Him looking us straight in the eye and sharing.
Logos is for everybody and rhema is for an individual.
Oh, and for those who do not know the meaning of the 1 Corinthians Scripture or are just interested in what God said, here is a paraphrase of what He told me.
God DID create man in His image. . .Adam. He then created Eve from Adam’s rib. Adam was perfect in every way. All other men and women after Adam and Eve came from them, which was flesh (natural). However, because of the sin nature inherited by all mankind, we are first all flesh but we are all also still spirit, and in God’s image. Image means copy. The real Spirit of God comes at salvation. We are all still triune beings.
After our salvation it is our perfecting [Romans 12:2] that we return to the perfection afforded us in the Garden of Eden. Christ was even born first from flesh (Mary and Joseph), and then became spiritual.
Read 1 Corinthians 15:46-49.
Well, it looks like the Bible was right -- again.
God = 31, 102 [Number of verses in the original Bible KJV.]
Jim = 0
LOL
Lord, thank you for your logos Word that you cover us daily with wisdom, healing, and salvation. Thank you for the perfecting works of the Cross and Lord, I thank you for your rhema word and time spent with me this morning. I pray God’s wisdom, healing, rhema, and salvation over each and every one of you in the name of Jesus, amen.
