Comparing Spiritual with Spiritual*

      The phrase "comparing spiritual (things) with spiritual," comes from 1 Corinthians 2:13, describing, not the teaching of man' words, but the teaching of the Holy Spirit. The message today will be from the Book of Ephesians, comparing the contents of that Book with other scriptures therefore comparing spiritual with spiritual. When studying scripture, it is good to begin with what scripture says about itself: "All scripture is given by inspiration (theopneustos - divinely breathed in) of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof (elegchos - a proof, evidence, that by which a thing is proved or tested), for correction (epanorthosis - restoration to an upright or right state), for instruction (paideia - instruction, training, nurturing, chastening, correction) in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished (exartizo - equip fully [as a teacher], complete) unto all good works." (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

     The Church is being equipped through the inspired scriptures "to teach others to teach others to teach."

     In Revelation 2:1-7, Jesus sent words of encouragement and correction to the church at Ephesus through the prophetic message to John. Jesus said, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent...He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." They had left behind the agape love of God, the God-kind of love.

     Acts 19:1-10 tells us how Paul started the church at Ephesus in the beginning with twelve men. He spent three years in Ephesus teaching and preaching in order to convert and strengthen this new church. They had come a long way from these small beginnings by the time Jesus was addressing them in the Book of Revelation above, but they had evidently lost something very important along the way.

     Paul did not abandon that church after three years when he traveled on to other places to preach the Gospel, but continued to teach and correct them by letter, which we have in the Book of Ephesians. 

     Paul had written to the believers at Ephesus about the overwhelming love and power by which they had been saved: "...God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved: In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace...In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (title deed) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Eph. 1:3-7, 13-14). 

     Paul wrote above of the believers of Ephesus, and all believers, who were known to God and chosen before the foundation of the world to receive the Gospel of the path to salvation and redemption by the blood of Christ, and to be accepted into the beloved. Paul had also heard of the faith and love of this church at Ephesus, he prayed always for them, giving thanks for them. (v. 15-16).

     If we compare these words of Paul's to Romans 1:16-17, we can see the common message of the Spirit of God: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Faith is a free gift from God for all who believe in His Son for salvation, for both the Jew and the Gentile. Salvation from sin and death through Jesus Christ is a choice open to all who hear and believe. Hell is also a choice accomplished through the rejection of God's mercy and grace.

     Paul continued to write the Ephesians of the greatness of our inheritance in Christ and "the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe He raised Christ from the dead and is seated at the Father's right hand in the heavenly places above all other powers and might and dominion..."and gave him (Jesus Christ) to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." (v. 18-23, excerpt). These exceedingly great things have come to all who believe our redemption by the blood of Christ for our sins. Comparing this great inheritance in Christ and the redemption price paid by His blood as written by Paul above, Peter also wrote: "For as much as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." (1 Pet. 1:18-19). We are redeemed by blood, not of the traditions of men, but of the Son of God, perfect and innocent.

     The Book of Revelation, the prophetic vision revealed by Christ to John, also confirms all that was purchased for us by the redeeming blood of Christ as worshippers in heaven sang a new song to the Lamb of God, Jesus: "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Rev. 5:9-10). As we saw in Romans, the redemption by His blood is for both Jew and Gentile, every kindred and nation, making a lie out of doctrines that proclaim otherwise. It is the blood that redeems and also elevates us into the spiritual realms of power and authority in Christ.

     In Ephesus Chapter 2, Paul writes of the new life we have in Christ through this redemption of blood with love: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins...in lusts of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind...even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (see also Rev. 3:21):...For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (v. 1-10, excerpt). Our nature has been changed, our lives have been changed, our destiny has been changed through this great redemption. We were dead but have been made alive. 

     Paul wrote in Galatians: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Gal. 2:20).

     Paul wrote to Ephesus that previously there had been a separation between Israel in covenant with God, and foreigners and strangers who had no hope and were without God. But now, Jesus, who is our peace, has made the two one in Himself. He has brought the stranger close, reconciling both to God "in one body by the cross...For through him (Jesus) we both (Israel and Gentile) have access by one Spirit unto the Father...fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: In whom you are also builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.," (Eph. 2:12-22, excerpt). Again Paul wrote here as he wrote in Rom. 1:16-17, above, regarding the unity of Jew and Gentile through Christ.

     Ezekiel also wrote the prophetic promise of God that after opening the graves and raising the dead, two separate branches or sticks would be brought together as one in His hand. One stick would represent Judah and Israel, and the other stick would represent Ephraim and Israel. Ephraim was the son of Joseph by a Gentile mother. No longer would there be a separation between the two. (Ezek. 37:16). Again we can see scripture confirming scripture and Spiritual with Spiritual.

     Comparing spiritual precepts to spiritual, Paul also wrote to the church at Corinth about the temple of God that is being built from those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, saying: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him God shall destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are...Flee fornication...What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price...Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers...what agreement hath the temple of God with idols...Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate...let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (1 Cor. 3, 1 Cor. 6, 2 Cor. 6 and 7).

     Although we are often tempted to respond in the flesh and in the natural mind, we overcome those things by remembering, "I am crucified with Christ..." The Church is to become the holy temple of God and His Spirit, fit for His habitation. We have been bought with a price - the blood of Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us out of sin and death, and brought us into the Beloved.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 11/16/25 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.