Three Types of Man
Notes
Transcript
Handout
1 Corinthians 2:9-3:4
This morning we begin a new series about the Holy Spirit, and His relationship and His working in the Christian.
I do not believe there is a subject that is more important to the daily successful living of the Christian than this one subject.
This is why I have entitled this series “The Great Life”.
Living Christian lives that are led by the Holy Spirit of God is the only way that the Christian can ever glorify God with their lives.
Not only that but it brings a joy and peace that passes every understanding to our lives.
If we are to do anything for God that is eternal it will be dependent upon this subject right here.
Any service done for Christ must be led by the Spirit if it will have lasting effect.
If we are to be successful and prosperous in our Christian life we are going to have to do it God’s way…after all He is the maker, the Creator, the author of our very existence.
We are talking about the difference between the Spiritual Man and the Unspiritual Man.
With both, I am talking about Christians.
The Bible gives the Unspiritual man a different name, but this is what we are talking about.
We are called to live like Christ in this world, and show the light of the gospel by our very lives and actions.
We cannot do that, if we are not led by the Holy Spirit.
So today I want to start at the very beginning of this subject and describe the Three Types of Man that we find in this world.
As we look around us, not judging men, but judging the nature of men…we can see obvious difference in the character and quality of life of Christians and non Christians.
God in His Word acknowledges this as well.
But even among Christians the Lord identifies an improvement of life that is experienced by many Christians when they follow certain conditions.
This is one of the major themes in the Word of God
In 1 Corinthians 2:9-3:4, Paul has divided the entire human race into three groups.
1. The natural man who is unsaved, and unchanged spiritually (in truth, he is spiritually dead).
2. the carnal man who is a babe in Christ and walks as a man.
3. the Spiritual man
These three groups are classified in these verses according to their ability to understand and receive that which God tells us, as they are revealed to us through God’s Word and by the Holy Spirit.
This passage opens with:
1 Corinthians 2:9–10 (KJV)
9 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.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit...
We often use this verse in regard to Heaven and what God has prepared for us there.
But that is not the context of the verse.
Paul is talking about this World.
There is a statement made that we cannot see, nor hear, neither have it enter into our heart the things that God has prepared for us…except that God had revealed them unto us by His Spirit.
Verse 10 continues and says, “for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
It is through God’s Word that the Holy Spirit reveals these things to us.
Men are classified in this passage according to their ability to understand and receive the deep things of God.
11 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.
The statement here is made that we cannot even know the things of man, except by the spirit of man in us.
In other words we only understand the things of man by our spirit (pneuma) in this context speaks to the understanding intellect of man.
Likewise he says, the things of God can only be understood by the Spirit of God.
We can only know God and the things of God by the Holy Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things [the “deep things of God” which eye hath not seen, etc.] that are freely given to us of God.
Why? Because we that are saved have received the Spirit which is of God.
We have the ability to know the things of God, because if you are saved today you have the Holy Spirit of God living inside of you.
The Holy Spirit then teaches us, as Paul continues,
13 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.
God uses His Word, which He has written using Man’s Words, given to them supernaturally by God, to convey the things which “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man.”
Even though God has given us His Word in Man’s own language to understand, it is only through the Holy Spirit they will be taught and understood.
Apart from the Spirit there can be no spiritual understanding.
Paul then continues in verse 14 describing the first of the three types of men:
I. The Natural Man
I. The Natural Man
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things [the revealed or deep things] of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Paul is not blaming the natural man for his inability to understand, he is just stating the fact that He cannot.
He then goes on to explain why he cannot receive these deep things…because of...
A. Man’s Wisdom
A. Man’s Wisdom
We have already been told that these deep things can only be explained and understood by the Holy Spirit.
So it only follows that the natural man cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned [judged].
He has man’s wisdom, so may be able to read the words, but he cannot receive their spiritual meaning, unless the Holy Spirit show him.
Prior to this passage we are studying today, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:18-23:
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
The natural man can read what God has revealed, he may speak of what God has revealed, but he will not know the deep things of God, unless he listens to the Holy Spirit draw him, unless he accepts Christ as his Savior, and thereby receive the Holy Spirit to teach him, and reveal those deep things of God to him.
B. Satan’s Deception
B. Satan’s Deception
Satan counterfeits everything that God creates.
He too is said to have deep things to reveal.
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
The devils have a doctrine of their own
1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
These things the true child of God cannot receive, cannot be deceived.
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
But the natural man who does not have the Holy Spirit of God to defend him, is fooled and drawn in.
All of the false doctrines, and modern cult shows this to be true.
The natural man, though he may be educated by man’s wisdom, and may even be religious is blind to the gospel.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
So, if they are to form a doctrinal statement, it will have to be a new theology that will not contain the gospel of Christ.
The cross is foolishness to him, so even if he recognizes it as historical fact, it is not the emphasis and basis of his theology.
However, as verse 12 tells us God has “freely given” His Spirit to the one who will receive Him.
There is hope for him.
But because the things of God cannot be discerned without the Spirit of God, those who are the natural man…no matter how smart they are…will never be able to understand.
Therefore what comes most naturally is to dispose of the things they do not understand…the supernatural.
A baseless theory of evolution is his best answer to the problem of the Origin of the universe.
I have been amazed in my lifetime to see and hear scientists go from labeling it the theory of evolution to the fact of evolution without any additional proofs made.
However, The things of God cannot be learned through the schools of this world, it is foolishness to them.
It is taught and born of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Christian.
He has been given to every Christian so that they may know the things of God.
However there are Christians who are under the limitations of their own carnality.
They are unable to receive the “meat” because of their carnality.
I am going to take this next type of man out of Scriptural order.
For this we go to Chapter 3:1-4 Where we learn about...
II. The Carnal Man
II. The Carnal Man
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 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.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
So some Christians are said to be carnal because they can receive only the milk of the Word, rather than the strong meat…or more deep things of God.
By carnal we mean that they are led of the flesh, rather than led of the Spirit.
Verse three tells us two results of the Carnal Man:
A. Carnal Divisions
A. Carnal Divisions
These Christians yield to envy, strife and divisions and are walking as men....while the true child of God is expected to walk in the Spirit...
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
We are expected to walk in love
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
And we are expected to keep the unity of the Spirit
3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Although they are saved the carnal Christians are walking “according to the course of this world.”
They are carnal because the flesh is dominating them.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
The carnal man, or babe in Christ is not able to bear the deep things of God.
They have the capability to discern the deep things of God, because they have the Spirit…but because they are yielded to the flesh, and not the Spirit…they are not able to bear the meat.
Because of this they yield to envying and strife and divisions.
Here the division is mentioned “I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos”
Today the divisions are seen in what Bible college the church leans toward, or like in Paul’s day... a preacher that they like to follow.
We are not talking about a division because of false theology, but rather both were preaching Christ.
This was a preference of preacher.
It was a show of a lack of true Christian love.
But there is another result of the carnal man…that is the
B. Carnal Walk
B. Carnal Walk
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
The carnal Christian is characterized by a walk that is on the same plane as that of the natural man.
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Although we are walking in the flesh, we do not walk according to (led by) the flesh.
We establish in our lives some strong holds for satan when we yield to the flesh.
Those need to be pulled down.
Here we are given the weapons of our warfare to do this…we are to:
1. Cast down imaginations
1. Cast down imaginations
the Greek word logismos speaks to consider, to deliberate - it is the never ending running of your minds imagination trying to figure it out…Cast it away!
2. Cast out the lie
2. Cast out the lie
Cast down every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God - Anything that does not line up with the Word of God - Replace the lie with the truth.
3. Replace with the truth
3. Replace with the truth
bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. - Every thought is brought under obedience to Christ through His Word.
These are the weapons we use to fight against our carnality and bring ourselves under the leading of God’s Holy Spirit.
It is a very practical step by step process to help us be led by the Holy Spirit everyday, all day long.
As the Bible says in Galatians 5:16
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
And this is how you can do it!
Paul gives us the third type of man here in this passage:
III. The Spiritual Man
III. The Spiritual Man
This is actually the second classification he gives us, but I wanted to take this in a progressive order.
1 Cor 2.15 tells us:
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
A. The Progression
A. The Progression
Lewis Sperry Chafer, in his book He That Is Spiritual, gives a progressive order of the whole context of what we are talking about, and I like the way he has worded it:
1st - The divine revelation is now given.
It is concerning the things which, “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man.”
It is revealed by the Spirit
We see this 1st step in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10.
2nd - The Revelation is of the “deep things of God” which no man can know.
However the Spirit of God knows them (1 Corinthians 2:10)
3rd - Believers have received the Spirit who knows in order that they may know the deep things of God (1 Corinthians 2:12).
4th - The divine wisdom is hidden int he very words of God’s Book.
But the spiritual content of these words is understood only as one is able to compare spiritual things with spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13).
5th - The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God.
they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them, because they are only by the Spirit discerned.
He has not received the Spirit which is of God. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
6th - A carnal Christian is born again and possesses the indwelling Spirit; but his carnality hinders the full ministry of the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
7th - “he that is spiritual judgeth all things.”
There is no limitation upon him in the realm of the things of God.
He can freely receive the divine revelation and he glories in it.
He may enter, as any other man, into the subjects which are common to human knowledge.
But he jugeth or discerneth (they are the same Greek word) all things according to God’s Word.
This is the progression from unsaved to saved, and from Carnal to Spiritual.
In this progression we see...
B. The Change
B. The Change
And what a change it is!
form the natural man to the saved man.
and from the carnal man to the spiritual man!
The first is a divine accomplishment when we yield to the Holy Spirit’s drawing us and put our faith in Christ.
The second change is accomplished when there is a real yielding to the Holy Spirit of God.
This second change, or this progression, may happen to a person when they are saved through fatih in Christ.
They may at the same time wholly yield to God at that moment.
This happened to Paul:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
He heard the truth, he responded in faith, and immediately surrendered his will to God’s Will.
There is no evidence that he ever changed from this attitude of yieldedness to God.
A person may at times in their life chose to yield to the flesh, rather than the Holy Spirit.
They did not lose the Holy Spirit of God, but they have lost His leading until they are willing to yield to Him.
They lose the peace that comes from being yielded to the Holy Spirit.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The Spiritual Man is the ideal for every Christians in life.
Complete communion with God through the Holy Spirit, as he reveals and helps us understand God’s Will through His Word.
What fellowship!
What blessings!
You can live the Spirit filled life too!
When we yield our lives to God every day a fresh…all day…every hour…every moment.
It is not a one time decisions, like salvation.
It is a moment by moment yielding.
Next week we are going to look at the ministries of the Holy Spirit.
What does the Holy Spirit do to us, through us and for us?
We will look at that next week.
But as for today...
Do you know for sure that heaven is your home, are you God’s child?
The Bible tells us that if we are God’s child we will know!
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Satan may bring doubts from time to time, but deep down when we look at the promises of God we know if we are God’s Children.
If you are not His child, you a natural man, and you do not have the help of the Holy Spirit in this life.
You will not have the peace passes all understanding.
You will not feel the Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, etc. that those who are saved experience.
Accept Jesus’ invitation!
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Maybe you are saved, but you have been yielding to the Flesh rather than the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps you are a babe in Christ and need to mature in Christ so you can tolerate the Meat of the Word.
This starts with a decision on your part to repent, change your mind about following the Holy Spirits leading and daily and continually yield to the Holy Spirit.
Are you willing to be yielded to God?
Are you willing to obey His leading?
The rewards are great!
Peace
Love
Joy
Longsuffering
gentleness
goodness
faith
meekness
being spirit controlled
As we continue our study on the Holy Spirit and His Work in us, I hope you will be faithful and open to hear the truth from God’s Word!