Articles
A Spiritual Paradox
A paradox is, by definition, ‘a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.’ If I said, 'Everything I say is a lie,' that would be a paradox; if the statement is true, then it is, at the same time, a lie. That's a paradox.
With that in mind, we might say that the spiritual truths taught in God's word — to the world — make no sense at all and, to the world, a paradox. The apostle Paul understood the world's view of spiritual truths when he wrote to the brethren in Corinth, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:13, 14). Because man is generally focused on the physical and material things of this world, the teachings of God regarding spiritual matters will not make any sense, and will not as long as one thinks in physical terms, or only within the realms of what man knows, or this physical world allows.
It is that problem with the world's thinking that makes it seem, to them, that many spiritual teachings are paradoxical; that is, what God's word teaches just doesn't make sense, or has unexpected demands or results. Let's take a look at a few of these teachings to see the apparent paradox, and to make sure we understand why these things are nonetheless true.
Jesus Was God in the Flesh. John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1), and, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Since the context is speaking of Jesus (cf. John 1:15-17), the point is that God came in the flesh. Paul says much the same thing when he wrote of how Jesus humbled Himself, “taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7), and, “God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16).
Yet the Bible teaches us “God is Spirit” (John 4:24); how can Jesus be God and fleshly man at the same time? To the world, this is a paradox that cannot be solved! Man, in his limited physical body and with his physically-focused mind, cannot comprehend a being that is not physical, much less one whose nature
is spirit, but appears in the flesh! Such is the spiritual paradox of Jesus being God in the flesh!
Jesus Was Tempted. With the previous point in mind [primarily, that Jesus was both God and flesh], consider, too, the fact that Jesus was tempted. We are probably familiar with the account where the devil comes to Jesus personally and offers three temptations that are all met with His answer, “It is written” (Matt. 4:1-11), so it is clear Jesus was tempted.
Now, since we know Jesus was tempted, and we also know “God cannot be tempted by evil” (Jas. 1:13), how is that possible? Some have considered this apparent paradox and have wrongly concluded that Jesus must have surrendered His deity while in the flesh, but to make that argument would mean we would have to ignore or deny the Scriptures previously cited. Again, the limits of human understanding, paired with faulty human reasoning, will cause us to either come to an erroneous conclusion or simply disbelieve this apparent paradox. As long as we think in human terms, we will never understand it.
Humble Self To Be Exalted. This is one the world really cannot comprehend: “But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt. 23:11, 12). This is completely backwards to the way the world thinks and lives; man thinks if you want to be great, brag on yourself and self-promote. To the world, nice guys finish last and the meek are trampled and used and abused by the bold and glory-seekers.
Yet those words are still there. The truth of the statement is better understood when we consider the words of James: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (Jas. 4:10). And Peter echoes this: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Pet. 5:6). As long as we are thinking only in physical terms, we will see and understand only the here and now and only what is possible in this physical, earthly life — those things “under the sun” — and cannot grasp the unseen, eternal reward and blessings. Let us think in spiritual terms that we may truly understand the need for humility, and what it will ultimately bring us.
Love Your Enemies. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus even put it this way: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy’” (Matt. 5:43). He acknowledged that man had long thought that it only makes sense to love your neighbor and hate the one who is your enemy; after all, he's your enemy! But Jesus didn't stop there; He then said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matt. 5:44). He also tells us why: “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:45). Now this is some radical thinking!
And, today, it is just as difficult for the world to comprehend as it was when Jesus walked this Earth. Man's thinking has not changed in the almost 2000 years since Jesus spoke those words, and loving one's enemies makes just as much sense to the worldly thinker as it did then. It should make sense to the spiritual mind, however.
Since the follower of Jesus Christ strives to be like Him and the heavenly Father, we realize that our repentance means we have to also change our way of thinking. If we want to be like the Father, we have to love our enemies because He loved His enemies. As Paul put it, “when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10). And, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). God didn't love us when we were on His side and living a life pleasing to Him; He loved us while we were His enemies! If we are to be like Him, then we must also love our enemies.
We Must Die To Live. This paradox has both a physical and spiritual application. First, we must die to sin that we might live for Christ; as Paul wrote, “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:11). One cannot be alive in Christ while living for sin. Second, we must physically die if we are to have eternal life. Jesus once said, “unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24), and using this principle, Paul wrote, “what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain” (1 Cor. 15:37), and then made the application to the physical body: “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption” (1 Cor. 15:42). Eternal life awaits us after we die, and only if we die in Christ. When we think only in physical terms, we will never understand this.
—— Steven Harper
