The Christian and His Intellect

Heb. 5: 11-14: The Christian and His Intellect

Itarsi, 27 November 2005

Domenic Marbaniang

Background

Man is constituted of three

Body - Instinct, Sensation, and Reflexes (World-consciousness)

Soul - Intellect, Emotion, and Volition (Self-consciousness)

Spirit - Intuition, Conscience, and Communion (God-consciousness)

Faculty of Knowledge: Body (Senses), Soul (Intellect), Spirit (Intuition)

The Intellect receives data from the senses and intuition. It then orders them and places them in the memory of knowledge, as well as informs the various elements regarding necessary action. Elements: emotion, will, reflexes, communion.

Two kinds of Intelligences:

Rational Intelligence: Logical and Analytical ability, right reasoning, thinking.

Emotional Intelligence: Self-control, zeal, persistence, and the ability to motivate oneself in accordance to Truth and the Good.

Both kinds of intelligence are important and are developed through experience by study and practice. Emotional intelligence must depend on rational intelligence for consistency and propriety.

1. The Intellect and Salvation

Spiritual – Reconciliation (communion), Regeneration and purification of conscience (Hb. 9: 14)

Intellectual – Renewal of mind through study and practice. Progressive

Physical – Transformation of body. Future

All the three relate to the image of Christ.

The Spiritual and the Intellectual of the Inner man: 2 Cor. 4:16; 2Cor 4:4; 3:18; Col. 3:10
The Physical- 1Cor. 15:49; 1 Jn.3:2; Phil. 3:21

2. The Intellect and Knowledge. Eph. 1:18

a. Knowledge of Spiritual Truths. 1 Cor. 2:10, 12-14

Comes by study of Word – 2 Tim. 3: 16-17, Jn. 5:39 (Search- Investigate)

Hermeneutical Problems: 2 Pt. 3: 15,16 (Linguistic: Russel & Branham; Historical: Mohammed)

b. Knowledge of Spiritual Events. Lk. 24:25,26; 2Cor.2:11; Mt.7:16; 2 Tim. 3:1

(Pastor’s handling of spiritual errors in gifts among youths), Prophetic events; Good,evil

c. Knowledge of Spiritual Conditions

of Self – 1 Cor. 10.12, 2Cor 13.5

of Others – Col. 4.8, Acts 13.9,10 (Demon-possessed tactics)

d. Knowledge of Spiritual Work

words – Col 4.6

work – Acts 13.2, 1 Chr. 12: 32

Any work must be second to God’s work – Bring your firstfruits

Jer. 3:15, 1 Tim. 5: 17,18

A Tale of Something, or Nothing, and God

In the beginning was God and nothing. Then, God created something out of nothing. But, soon that something forgot she was once a nothing. And, forgetting herself and God, she assumed herself to be everything. And, assuming herself to be everything, she died to everything else and God. After many days, when this something had run out of everything she got, She came to her senses and "Who am I? Where am I?" she thought. Then, she realized she was a nothing without her God, And so returned to her original place in God. In the end was God and something.

Not I but Grace

I worked...yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. (1Cor. 15:10) I get tired and weary most times; grace, never. I feel weak sometimes; grace, never. I get confused at times; grace, never. I see darkness at times; grace, never. I wish to give up sometimes; grace, never. I fail many times; grace, never. I have misunderstandings at times; grace, never. I am afraid at times; grace, never. I feel broken sometimes; grace comes to heal. I feel estranged sometimes; grace comes to comfort. I feel purposeless sometimes; grace comes to guide. I feel powerless sometimes; grave comes to strengthen. I feel I am that I am because of what I am; grace departs.... For God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

August 15 Speech - School

Honorable Director, Respected Chief Guest, Principal, Teachers, and Dear Friends: It gives me great honor to speak on the occasion of the 66th Independence Day Celebration of India. As we know, our country went through various phases of foreign domination, finally falling subject to the British Crown, before we saw the Sun of Freedom rise over our nation. But we were never slaves to anyone. In our minds we were always a free spirit. Mahatma Gandhi said, "The moment the slave resolves that he will no longer be a slave, his fetters fall. Freedom and slavery are mental states." Freedom begins within, first, then comes in action externally. The Austrian psychologist Viktor Frankl said, "Forces beyond control can take away everything you possess except one thing, your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation." This sense and life of freedom, subject only to the Law of God, to the Law of Justice, Equality, Liberty, and Fraternity, is the spring and fountain...

Marbaniang, Domenic

Search This Blog