1 Corinthians 12:2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, even as you were led. I. THE STATEMENT IN THE TEXT NEEDS EXPLANATION. It does not mean that a person cannot repeat the words, "Jesus is the Lord," but by the Holy Ghost. What, then, is the true meaning, of the text? It is that none can without the Holy Spirit make this confession — 1. With a firm belief of its truth. 2. With a firm reliance on Him for salvation. In order to our relying on Jesus Christ for salvation two things are necessary. (1) We must feel our need of such a salvation. (2) We must believe that there is such a provision made for our salvation in Christ Jesus, neither of which we can do without the influence of the Holy Spirit. 3. With a full purpose of living to His glory. II. WE ARE HERE INSTRUCTED — 1. In the nature of true religion. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ lies at the foundation of all true religion. That glorious truth, "Jesus is the Lord," that He who died upon the Cross for our sins is "the Lord," this truth is the great turning point of salvation, and whoever truly believes it is brought into a state of salvation. By the belief of this glorious truth he is also prepared for God's service, to confess Him before men, and to maintain a conduct, according to His will, in the face of all difficulties from within and from without. 2. In the need of the Holy Spirit. We cannot know and believe that "Jesus is the Lord" so as to have our hearts savingly affected by it, so as to depend on Jesus as our Saviour, so as to be renewed thereby after His image in righteousness and true holiness. To attain this faith the special operation of the Holy Ghost is needful. 3. The peculiar office of the Holy Ghost. How He works, and by what means. (G. Maxwell, B.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. |
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