Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Corinthians 12:3

3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed : and that no man can say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost .

The Apostle proveth that they had received their spiritual Gifts from the holy Spirit of God, because when they had not received this Spirit, they blasphemed the Christian Religion, and called Christ accursed, which could not be done by any that spake by the Spirit of God; for there being but one God, and the holy Spirit being one of the three Persons in the Divine Being, and Jesus Christ another, and the eternal Son of God, it could not be but he that called Christ accursed, as the Jews and the Heathen did, must blaspheme God, which none could do by the influence of that holy Spirit, who was one of the Persons in the blessed Trinity: and as by this the Apostle lets them know, that they were now acted by another Spirit, than they were in their Gentile state; so he also lets them know, that those Heathens, amongst whom they lived, were not acted by the Spirit of God, but by the evil Spirit.

On the other side, he saith, That no man could say, that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Spirit. There is a double saying, that Jesus is the Lord: 1. When men only say it with their lips, but do not believe it in their hearts, are not affected with what they say, nor do pay that Homage of Faith and Obedience to him, which should correspond with such a Profession: thus men say Christ is the Lord, who preach him, or discourse of him as men, though they do not in heart believe in him, receive or embrace him, or live up to the holy rules of life which he hath given; thus Iudas, Caiaphas, and others, said Christ was the Lord; this they could not do but by the Holy Ghost, that is, the Gifts of the Holy Ghost, which are common, which those might have who were never renewed by the Holy Ghost. So these Corinthians generally going thus far verbally to acknowledge Christ the Lord, it was an Argument they had thus far been influenced by the Holy Ghost. 2. There is a serious and saving saying, That Iesus Christ is the Lord, when men do not only with their lips speak these words, and other words to the same sense, but heartily acknowledge him, believe in him, love him, and obey him, and call upon him, professing him as they ought to do, and so as may be of advantage to them to Life and Salvation. No man now doth this but by the Holy Ghost renewing and sanctifying him, and blessing him with, and helping him in the exercise of such habits. We shall observe in holy Writ, that some Verbs signifie not the action only, but the action with its due quality. Thus hearing sometimes signifieth to hear so, as withal to believe. Calling upon the Name of the Lord, Rom 10 13. signifieth a calling aright. Confessing, 1 Ioh. 4.15. signifies a confessing with Faith and Love: So the Verb say in this Text may signifie such a saying or speaking, as is attended with Faith, Love, and due Obedience.

Marginal references: Mark 9.[illegible: 1 letter] ▪; Or, [illegible: 1 word].; 2 Cor. 3▪