SPIRIT LED

Paul, an apostle, wrote to the Roman church, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (8:9). By the time this was written it had become quite obvious that no one calling themselves disciples of Jesus could possibly make the claim if they had not been filled with Holy Spirit baptism.

I believe it is very much the same today: “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” The disciple who only had a head full knowledge, doctrine and practices, could also still ‘be in the flesh.’ It is important to have both; but the Spirit is essential.

Karl Rahner’s (1904-1984) the great German theologian made this comment concerning faith in the modern world: “The devout Christian of the future will either be a ‘mystic’—someone who has ‘experienced something’—or will cease to be anything at all.” Either led by the Spirit or led by religion or led by nothing.

I’m several hat sizes too small to be reading much of Rahner, but I have stumbled through some of his writing and to see this conclusion by him that we need to ‘experience something’ is his spiritual language for walking in the Spirit. (See Romans 8:12-17)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” Jesus