◄ The Heritage of Man - Man’s Nature and Destiny (15) ►

A Study:- Man’s Nature and Destiny

The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, but he who is spiritual judges all things, but I speak to you as carnal. 1 Cor.2:14-3:1

Natural Man

If born in the west, you may be considered upper class, middle class, or lower class. If born in the east, you may be of the princely caste, or possibly an out-caste. Wherever you were born you will have a label, a number, a brand, a classification! Privileges or restrictions will be your lot in life as you ‘bow’ to the system!

Three Classes

But scripture teaches that there are three classes of men in the world today. Scripture gives a threefold categorisation of this triplet of mankind. Scriptures relate an all-comprehensive classification of everyman, and Scripture alone is the plumb-line that unfolds this amazing truth. In four short verses Paul outlines the truth of these three men:- 1) the Natural Man ……..unsaved 2) the Spiritual Man…….saved 3) the Carnal Man……….saved.

Unsaved Man

In one small section of Scripture we are given this vital information. Particulars that influence the life and future of everyone born of woman. Information that affects every person born into the old creation in Adam. The natural man is the state into which all of humanity is born: for 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.

Old Creation

The natural man is made up of the old creation in Adam and the old Creation in Jacob. The natural man by birth is an A-theist – a nonbeliever in the Son of Man. The natural man by origin is born into the kingdom of darkness.. The natural man by lineage is dead in trespasses and sins. The natural man by heritage is a child of Satan. The natural man is condemned already – because he has not believed in the only begotten Son of God.

Dead in Sins

And for 6000 years every Gentile have their roots in the old creation in Adam, (and for 4000 years every Jew has had their roots in the old creation in Jacob) but all possess the old sin nature and all require a Saviour. The natural man was my caste and the natural man was your class. We were all one in sin – all dead in trespasses and sins. But since the cross, the old creations in Adam and Jacob must both believe in Jesus if they are to become the new creation in Christ

Spiritual & Carnal

The spiritual man is a believer in the Lord Jesus..(a new creation in Christ) but he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For, who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1Cor.2:13. But so also the carnal man is a believer in the Lord Jesus: and I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 1Cor.3:1

New Creation

Both spiritual and carnal have been born from above and are accepted in the Beloved. Both spiritual and carnal have been transferred into the kingdom of light. Both spiritual and carnal have been born into the new creation in Christ. Both spiritual and carnal are baptised by the Spirit of God into Christ. Both spiritual and carnal are designated children of God. Both spiritual and carnal are in-dwelt permanently by the Spirit of God. Both spiritual and carnal are coheirs with Christ Jesus.

No Condemnation

And for both spiritual and carnal there is now no condemnation: for He who believes in Him is not condemned. There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus – but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Rom.8:1

Correcting Carnality

Here in a few verses we see the three groups of humanity.. but we see two categories of Christians. It is to carnal Christians today that Paul’s correcting monologue is addressed:  And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. (read thru the whole of  1 Corinthians 2 and 3 for Paul’s condemnatory comments). I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there is envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere (natural) men?

Spiritual Judging

As we wait in daily anticipation for the Lord’s any moment return, as we see the world spiral out of control towards the coming judgment.. as we see the visible church becoming increasingly entangled in the world..as we recognise that end-times prophecies are flooding the scene. How important to take heed to the scorching words of Paul. That we do not remain in or revert back to babyhood, but launch out into the deep: 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. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, but he who is spiritual judges all things. But I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual.. but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 1Cor.2:12-16