DR. FOWLER: Soul Rest (Part 2)

The exchange that allows for "spirit-union" with Christ is an exchange from spiritual death to eternal spiritual life. This "eternal life" that we receive in Jesus Christ is permanent.

Dr. James Fowler is one of the leading authors on the believer’s union with Christ. He has written 20+ books on the topic. He is a theologian, Board Member of IOM America, and dear friend of Dr. Stephen Phinney. He is the founder of Christ in You Ministries. We hope you are blessed by his series, “Soul Rest.”

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Since the word "spirituality" is such a buzzword in our society today, we should probably consider how this word relates to "spirit-union," as we are using the term. Religiously, "spirituality" refers to everything from conformity to moral standards, amassing doctrinal knowledge, faithful participation in church activities, speaking in tongues, ecstatic flights of mystical fancy, and so on. On the other hand, the world around us views almost anything as "spiritual" today.

Enthusiasm is "spiritual," and so is coincidence, the unintelligible, environmentalism, evolution, drugs, music, art, running, sobriety, sensitivity, and myriad other things (even selfishness and sinfulness).

            What is the biblical understanding of "spiritual"? In I Cor. 2:15, Paul wrote, "He who is spiritual appraises all things." In the context, a "spiritual" person is contrasted to the "natural man" in the previous verse (2:14), who cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. The "natural man" is the unregenerate person. The "spiritual person" is one who has received the Spirit of Christ and been regenerated.  A few verses earlier (2:12) Paul had explained, "we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God." A "spiritual person" is one who has experienced "spirit-union" with the Spirit of Christ in spiritual regeneration. Such a spiritual condition of "spirit-union" is not an end in itself, but the character of the Spirit of God who lives within is to be expressed in psychological and physical behavior. That is why Paul went on to write, "I could not speak to you as to (those acting as) spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ" (I Cor. 3:1). And to the Galatians, Paul explained that those "who are spiritual" should restore one who is caught in a trespass with gentleness (6:1). Biblical spirituality involves the presence and function of the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the triune God in an individual. In other words, what we are calling "spirit-union" and "soul-rest."