THE NATURAL, CARNAL OR SPIRITUAL MAN
1 Corinthians 2:6-16 (KJV)
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Have you ever gotten frustrated that someone can’t see what you can clearly see in the Word of God?
Me too.
But there is a reason for that.
And our passage this morning explains it to us.
In relation to the Word of God there are three sorts of people.
*I. THE NATURAL MAN
1 Corinthians 2:14 (KJV)
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
A. He is unsaved.
He is just like he was when He was born.
He does not have the Spirit of the Living God inside him.
B. He cannot know the things of God
Because the things of God are spiritually discerned.
(Or understood, or interpreted)
The Bible says that the natural man, the man who is unsaved cannot never properly understand the Bible, because he does not have the Spirit of God inside him and the Bible is only spiritually discerned.
Oregon State University has a Bible professor who admits he does not know Jesus Christ but he studies the Bible and teaches what he thinks he has learned.
He cannot know the Bible unless he knows Jesus Christ, so imagine the wrong kind of teaching he must do.
1 Corinthians also tells us about:
*II. THE CARNAL MAN
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (KJV)
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
A. The Carnal man is saved, but he is not close to God
He can be
· A baby Christian
· A backslidden Christian, or
· A worldly Christian
The closer you are to the Lord, the better you will understand the intent of His Word.
Those who are not close to the Lord can only understand and receive the milk, the light things, and the first few little things that the Bible teaches.
While the Carnal man is saved,
B. Romans 8:7[1]says that the carnal mind is at enmity with God.
The mind of that Christian who is still worldly is at odds with the Lord.
When God's Word does reveal to them a certain truth, they rebel and kick against it.
Finally, 1 Corinthians has
*III. THE SPIRITUAL MAN
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 (KJV)
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1 Corinthians 2:15 (KJV)
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
A. The Spiritual man learns those things freely given by God.
God opens the Word of God to them and they receive from it "freely."
The Word of God is filled with meaning and truth to those who are open to receiving it.
B. The Spiritual man compares spiritual things with spiritual things.
He uses one portion of the Bible to better understand another portion of the Bible.
Someone was talking to me the other day and said that, in a certain conversation; they were reminded of a Bible verse and began to look up that verse to share with the one they were speaking with.
The other person told them, "That’s what I want to do some day."
I want to be able to relate the things I am talking about to something found in the Bible.
That's comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
C. The Spiritual man judges (checks out) all things
He doesn't accept something as being from God just because a "reverend" said it.
He has learned to open the word of God and determine from it whether something is true or not.
The reason we have so many interpretations of the Bible is because men who are natural and carnal have entered the ministry, they cannot understand the Bible and they come up with false interpretations.
The reason we have so many denominations and churches is because men who are natural and carnal, and who are not able to "judge all things" have searched out those Bible teachers who say what they like, but aren't able to discern whether it is really true or not.
Conclusion
Remember my original question, “Have you ever gotten frustrated that someone can’t see what you can clearly see in the Word of God?”
The reason they can’t see it might be because they are in their natural state and really cannot see it.
Or else someone is in a carnal state and therefore is unable to see it.
There is reason for some humility here because since none of us are perfected yet, we might be the one who has seen it incorrectly.
[1]Romans 8:7 (KJV)
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
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