“We have received (Christians, baptized by the Holy Spirit) not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 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. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people (that is, Christians), but as to carnal (pagans, at best catechumens preparing for baptism by the Holy Spirit), as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 2:12–3:4). And further, the apostle Paul says to the carnal (non-Christians): “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant…” (see 1 Corinthians 12). And after describing various spiritual gifts given for ministry (apostle, teacher, prophet…), which the Corinthians had, he says: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love (that is, I am not a Christian), I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love (= am not a Christian), I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love (= am not a Christian), it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away… And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Pursue love…” (see 1 Corinthians 13). The apostle Paul says that one can have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and not have love, that is, not be a Christian (we have proven above that Christians cannot help but love: to love = to be a Christian, spiritual), as the Apostle testifies to the carnal Corinthians, who have various gifts (gifts of the Holy Spirit), but are still pagans, and if they do not repent, they will perish, and their spiritual gifts will not help them! The Lord speaks about this: “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them (those who had spiritual gifts (…prophecy, exorcism, miracles…), but did not serve with them properly (for the glory of God), did not fulfill the commandments of God, did not acquire humility…): ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (see Matthew 7:20-23). We mentioned spiritual gifts to emphasize, to remind that various spiritual gifts are not a sign of Christianity, that is, one can have spiritual gifts and not be a Christian, moreover – be a servant of Satan, an antichrist! And despite all the giftedness with spiritual gifts, hear from God: “I never knew you”! Therefore, having spiritual gifts and being spiritual (a Christian) are different things. A carnal person (Judas Iscariot, the apostles before Pentecost, gifted Corinthians who had no love, Old Testament prophets…) can have spiritual gifts, which are external “tools” for ministry (e.g., like a hammer for a carpenter), but not his natural property (as it is for the spiritual by grace).
To better understand what has been said, let us give a few examples-illustrations. Judas Iscariot had the apostolic ministry, was a miracle worker… and perished! The apostle Peter – apostle, prophet, miracle worker…, and heard from the Lord in Caesarea Philippi the terrible words: Get behind Me, Satan! Therefore, the Lord said: do not rejoice that the spirits are subject to you (this is not something great!) (see Luke 10:20), but rejoice that you are baptized by the Holy Spirit; and if not (you are still not Christians), then do not rejoice (deceiving yourselves with spiritual gifts), but be catechized, weep, repent, humble yourselves, and prepare for baptism by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit calls us to be vigilant, cautious, not credulous, but to discern the spirits and not be deceived by words (they can be Orthodox in form, letter (e.g., the Orthodox creed can be read by Satan, but he will not believe-trust this Word of Truth)), or even deeds (miracles, foresight, social service…). Recognize the spirits by their fruits, not by forms, masks (for Satan also appears as an angel of light, and his servants and the gatherings of the antichrist have the appearance of the church (hierarchy, rites…))! “By this all will know that you are My disciples (Christians, Spirit-bearers), if you have love for one another” (see John 13:35). – And what are the signs of love and what are the fruits of the Holy Spirit? The apostle Paul testifies about this eloquently: 1 Corinthians 13, Galatians 5, … (And how “Orthodox” “love” each other (in families, parishes, dioceses, patriarchates…) everyone knows! How much blood “Christians” have shed just in the 20th century: two world wars – this is all the manifestation of “Christian” “love,” this is all “Christians” who loved to death millions of “Christians”!?