"THE SPIRITUAL MAN"

>>>

1 Corinthians 2:11–13 “For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.”

>>>

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

==============================================================

1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

>>>The “natural person” is the “worldly”/“unbelieving” person. They do not receive the things of the Holy Spirit (implies a choice).

*The things of God are “folly” (“foolishness”) to the natural person.

*They are offered what is spiritual and holy, but they will not receive them.

THE NATURAL PERSON DOES NOT ACCEPT THE THINGS OF GOD. (THEY ARE FOLLY TO THEM.)

>>>A worldly person things the way God wants people to live is silly.

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”

>>>Not only are the things of God folly to the natural person, but also the gospel itself!

===============================================================

1 Corinthians 2:14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

>>>The last part of this verse says the natural person can’t understand spiritual things because they are spiritually discerned (examined).

*It has to be revealed from the Holy Spirit.

THE NATURAL PERSON DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE THINGS OF GOD. (THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.)

Romans 8:7 “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.”

>>>The flesh creates a barrier that prevents understand of spiritual things.

>>>NASB says the mind set on the flesh is “not even able to do so” (submit and understand things of God.)

>>>The natural person literally cannot discern anything spiritual-no spiritual insight.

>>>This is why “natural people” don’t fully understand principles of the Bible or why some things in the world are wrong.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

>>>This is a verse in context talking about the Bible. Everyone falls short of God’s glory no matter how “close” they seem to get to it.

*(Illust.) A basketball almost going in the basket is just as pointless as blatantly throwing it the opposite direction of the goal itself.

*No matter how close a person may seem to get to God on their own, their sin still causes them to fall short. No matter how much they may seem to understand things of God, they won’t fully understand if they are still a “natural person”.

>>>Even Christians who are thinking in the flesh or influence by worldly things can still lack spiritual understanding.

===============================================================

1 Corinthians 2:15 “The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.”

>>>The spiritual person is the one “of the Holy Spirit”. He has the Holy Spirit living inside him.

*The word “spiritual” could also refer to spiritual maturity.

>>>The one who is spiritual can discern (examine, judge) all things. He has spiritual insight.

THE SPIRITUAL PERSON CAN DISCERN ALL THINGS.

>>>The spiritual is able to understand the things of God and test the world through those lenses.

>>>The second half of the verse says the the spiritual person is judged by no one. People cannot discern/clearly examine spiritual people, because they are not spiritual themselves.

*Worldly people will never understand Christians.

===============================================================

1 Corinthians 2:16 ““For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

>>>Paul cites the book of Isaiah asking the rhetorical question of who can know God enough to guide Hime in things.

>>>The natural who cannot discern anything spiritual already definitely cannot understand God Himself.

>>>The spiritual person, though not fully able to understand God, is able to have the spiritual discernment because he has been give the mind of Christ.

THE SPIRITUAL PERSON HAS THE MIND OF CHRIST.

>>>The mind of Christ is Christ’s way of thinking. The Holy Spirit’s role in the life of a believer is to direct him into further knowledge and wisdom in Jesus.

>>>Being like Jesus means thinking like Jesus.

>>>

===============================================================