Hi Ed,
1Co 15:46 But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual.
While we are in the church we read the physical/literal stories of the Bible and believe that these really did happen and are history. So we have come to know the literal application of the Scriptures first while we are yet blind and the church has not come past this point yet. But I think that is an important step in our learning process. Though our house built on sand must fall, we still have gained this physical information and now we begin to build our new spiritual house on the Rock/Jesus Christ. I think having the physical knowledge of the Bible is pretty essential to have and use as a backdrop from which to build the spiritual on. I see it as actually a process of growing away from the physical/literal, that is just a backdrop, now we move towards a deeper and deeper spiritual understanding and connection to God.
It's like John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). The physical becomes less and less significant, it dissolves and passes away. While the spiritual takes on a majorly important part of our thinking and how we speak and act.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
v. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
v. 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
v. 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
mercy, peace and love
Kat