I. The Natural Man
A. What Is The “Natural Man”?
1 Cor 2:14 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.
1. Natural- psuchikos, psoo-khee-kos’; natural, sensual.
The root of word from which we get psyche.
Speaks of the soul of man.
2. The natural, “soulish” man operates on three levels
a. The ability to choose; a free will.
b. Can be influenced by emotions.
c. Can be influenced by human reason and logic.
3. The natural man makes choices in life based upon his feelings or upon human reasoning.
B. What Kind Of Understanding Does The Natural Man Have?
1. He Has Earthly, Fleshly Understanding
1 Cor 2:11a For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him?
The natural man can only gain understanding within his sphere of existence.
Since the natural man operates in a sphere that excludes a relationship with God, he can only learn through his human senses.
The natural man can only comprehend life as it can be interpreted by his emotions or his reason.
This knowledge may be great.
It could include much education and investigation.
But the natural man is limited to understand things which can only be learned by way of emotion or logic.
2. The Natural Man Lacks Godly Understanding
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
The “things of God” are not simply perceived by the human eye, the human ear, or by human intuition.
1 Cor 2:16a For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?”
God’s ways, his knowledge, his wisdom, are far above any human.
1 Cor 2:14 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.
Since the natural man can only gain understanding on two levels, he is limited in what he can know.
The natural man cannot understand the things of God.
He may understand things like…
1. The Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
2. He may understand that he makes mistakes.
3. He may agree that the world needs peace, and that people need to change.
The Natural man doesn’t understand….
1. That he is innately sinful.
He believes that behavior modification is sufficient to give him a good life and bring world peace
2. He doesn’t understand that he is guilty before God, and that he needs a Savior.
3. The entire idea of Jesus dying for his sins is foolishness.
See 1 Cor. 1:23
Some other things the natural man cannot understand.
1. The natural man doesn’t understand sin.
2. He thinks abortion is acceptable.
3. He thinks that sex outside of marriage is acceptable.
4. He condones many things that the Bible says are wrong.
5. His reasoning might be, “As long as no one gets hurt, if it feels good, then do it.”
6. He doesn’t understand God’s intention concerning marriage
7. He has no objection to same sex marriages, or homosexuality.
8. He has no objection to euthanasia.
Not every natural man or woman will agree on every one of these points.
But they will wrongly embrace or believe things that disagree with what God says.
II. The Christian
A. The Condition Of The Christian
1 Cor 2:15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
but he who is spiritual…
spiritual- pneumatikos, pnyoo-mat-ik-os’; non-carnal, supernatural, regenerate, :–spiritual.
The Christian has received the Holy Spirit.
God the H.S. dwells in every Christian.
B. The Christian Is Taught By The Holy Spirit
1. The Truths Of God Must Be Revealed By God To Man
1 Cor 2:10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever;
John 14:17 “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
2. Revelation FROM God Comes ONLY Through…Relationship WITH God
1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, 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.
John 14:16 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever;
3. God Gives His Spirit To The Christian In Order To Teach Him
1 Cor 2:12 Now we have received, 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.
know- eido, i’-do:–be aware, behold, consider, have knowledge, look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand.
C. The Christian Can Make Right Moral And Spiritual Judgments
1 Cor 2:15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
1 Cor 2:16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
The Christian is not automatically spiritually discerning.
Ray Stedman- Now, notice, this is not something automatically yours because you are a Christian. There are thousands and millions of Christians who are not fit to judge ethics or morals because they do not obey the Spirit, or even know all that the Spirit has said. They do not study their Bibles, they do not understand their Bibles, they do not realize what is the secret and hidden wisdom of God. Therefore, they are not rendered able to judge in this area. Nor does it mean that you need to quote only one or two verses of Scripture to prove that something is right or wrong.
Ray Stedman…
The spiritual man is the man who has thoroughly studied the mind of the Spirit as he has spoken in the Old and the New Testaments. He is, furthermore, willing to be taught by the Spirit. He prays, he searches diligently and waits before God for an understanding, an illumination of his mind by it; he tries to understand the problem before him, and only then makes a pronouncement that could be called the judgment of the Lord.
D. The Christian Speaks Forth The Truths Of God
1 Cor 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
The Christian is not only qualified by God to make moral and ethical judgments.
The Christian is obligated to stand up and say that…
1. Abortion is wrong.
2. Same sex marriages are wrong.
3. Sex outside of marriage is wrong.
This does not mean that we are to rudely and inappropriately speak these judgments at all times.
It does mean that we should take a stand when it is called for.
It does mean that the Christian can authoritatively say what is right and wrong based upon the clear teaching of the scriptures.
The natural man cannot authoritatively make ethical and moral judgments.
Look how ethics and morals have changed in the last 50 years.
1. Homosexuality used to be classified as a mental illness.
Now it is an accepted, protected, and advertised lifestyle.
Both in public education, in films and on T.V.
2. Abortion used to be illegal.
Now abortions are paid for with tax money.
Partial birth abortions.
3. The Bible was once a main textbook in school.
The 10 Commandments were publicly posted.
Now you can get into trouble for religious activity in public schools.
4. Sex outside of marriage was culturally wrong.
In the 60’s it was encouraged.
Now it is commonplace and considered normal.
The judgments of the natural man are subject to change.
They are based upon human emotion.
They are limited to human logic.
They are formed by public opinion.
They change with every generation.
The Spirit led judgments of the spiritual man are right and unchanging.
It is b/c the spiritual man makes his judgments based upon the unchanging word of God.
III. How Will You Think?
A. The Natural Man
Will you continue to do what seems right in your own eyes?
Do you find yourself having to change your moral standards in order to live with your own failures?
Have you tried to justify wrong behavior, b/c you are unable to change the way you live?
Will you finally agree with God that you are a sinner, and that you need to be forgiven?
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
B. The Corinthians
The Corinthians were foolish and carnal in that they were enamored and impressed with the so called wisdom of the world.
They were saved, but had been thinking like natural men and women.
They had received the Spirit of God, but were not seeking to follow the Spirit of God.
They had the mind of Christ, but they were not listening to the Lord.
When Christians think like unbelievers, the result is…
Divisions, envy, and strife. 1 Cor. 3
Lack of spiritual discernment concerning sexual sin 1 Cor. 5
Lawsuits 1 Cor. 6
Unhealthy marriages 1 Cor. 7
Stumbling other Christians through inappropriate behavior 1 Cor. 8
Idolatry 1 Cor. 10
Inappropriate behavior of Christian women 1 Cor. 11
lack of love for other Christians 1 Cor. 13
Lack of maturity concerning spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 12 and 14
Lack of spiritual understanding concerning life after death. 1 Cor. 15
C. Christians In Napa
Let us examine our own lives.
Are we thinking with the mind of Christ, or the mind of the natural man?
Are we leading our homes with the mind of Christ?
Are we living our personal lives with the mind of Christ?
Are we planning our futures with the mind of Christ?
Are we seeking to serve God with the mind of Christ?
Are we serving ourselves with the mind of the natural man?
It is entirely possible to be saved, and yet live carnally.
We must choose how we will think.
May we use the mind of Christ that God has given us.