1Corinthains 2:12-3:2
Which Are You?
People look at the world in different ways, depending on who they are.
If you are a politician, you might see the world as democratic or republican.
If you are an economist, you might see the world as the haves and the have-
nots.
If you are a minority, you might see the world as white and whatever.
However, the important thing is to see the world as God sees it. The Bible
tells us that God sees the world as three types of people.
Unfortunately, even Christians often think in terms of only two - the saved and
lost. They figure that if they are saved, everything will be all right. However,
that it is not entirely true. This morning, understanding that there are three
types will help us stand before God is the best light possible.
I. What kind of people does God see?
A. \\#1Cor 2:14\\ There is the Natural Person.
1. Paul only mentions the natural man in this text.
a. Paul does not elaborate on the natural man.
b. Paul’s purpose is to preach to the saved man and so is not
concerned much at this point with the unsaved man.
2. You and I need to understand some things about the natural man.
a. We are all born as natural men and women.
(1) This is what John was saying.
John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born
of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the
Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
(2) The natural man is "of the flesh;" that is, the natural
man is in his natural, fleshly state.
(a) We are all born as the natural.
(b) We are all born separated from God.
(c) We all need to be born again.
b. It is because of this condition that Paul says the natural
man cannot receive the things of God.
(1) The natural man cannot understand the Word.
(2) The natural man cannot hear the Spirit of God.
(3) The natural man cannot comprehend spiritual things.
(4) In fact, these things are foolishness to the natural man.
(a) Jesus was speaking of the natural man in Matthew.
Matthew 13:13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see
not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye
shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not
perceive:
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them.
(b) If you do not "get" spiritual things, you may not be
born again.
c. Because of this condition, the natural man is condemned to an
eternity separated from God.
1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that
believeth not shall be damned.
3. Here is something to make things even more confusing.
a. Just because the natural man cannot comprehend the spiritual
doesn’t mean he can’t be religious.
b. The natural man can be a church member, a church attendee,
a church giver, and, generally, a good person.
c. How can you tell the difference?
(1) If you are the natural man, it can be very difficult.
(2) The sign is that they cannot make the transition from
knowing about the Bible to living what the Bible teaches.
d. Regardless of whether a man can tell or not, God always can.
B. There is the Carnal Person \\#1Cor 3:1-3\\
1. Characteristics
a. \\#1Cor 3:1\\ Carnal people are babes in Christ. That means,
they are saved but immature.
(1) This is not just a time-related issue even though every
new Christian starts as a baby in Christ and is carnal.
(2) It is more a growth-related issue; however, some carnal
Christians choose to stay babies.
(a) Maybe they cling to their sinful habits.
(b) Maybe they cling to their sinful attitudes.
(c) Maybe they cling to a church that simply won’t teach
them.
(d) No matter how they got where they are, they did it to
themselves.
b. \\#1Cor 3:2\\ Carnal people can not receive what the spiritual
can.
(1) They are described as taking milk but not the meat of
God’s Word.
1Cor 3:2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear
it: nay, not even now are ye able;
(2) Because they are saved, they get a little help from God
from time to time, but generally, they have very little
to do with Him.
c. \\#1Cor 3:3\\ Typically, carnal people are marked by envying,
strife and divisions.
1Cor 3:3 for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and
strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?
2. The bottom line is that, except for their eternity, there is
not a lot of difference in the carnal Christian and the
natural man.
a. Carnal people walk (live) like natural men.
b. Externally, they are pretty much the same.
3. There is one big difference between the carnal and the natural.
a. The carnal Christian will experience great conviction over
their life.
Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is
he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye
bastards, and not sons.
b. If you can do wrong and God not rend your heart for it, you
are likely the natural man.
c. Get this, the Bible is not talking about you doing a morally
wrong thing and feeling bad over it.
(1) That is your conscience.
(2) Natural people have that just like the saved.
d. The Bible is talking about when you do a spiritually wrong
thing. If you do, you should feel exceedingly bad over it.
e. Do you feel conviction when you...
(1) Take God’s name in vain?
(2) Go without reading the Bible?
(3) Go without worship?
(4) Get rebuked by an unsaved person for doing something
morally or ethically wrong?
(5) Are not sharing your faith with the lost?
f. A carnal person should be dealt with by the Holy Ghost for
doing things that are spiritually wrong. If these kinds of
spiritual things are foolish to you and the Holy Spirit does
not convict you about them, chances are good that you are
a natural person.
C. There is the Spiritual Person \\#1Co 2:12,13,15,16\\
1. A spiritual person is a saved, surrendered, and serving Christian.
2. Some common characteristics are:
a. \\#12\\ Guided by the Holy Ghost. Jesus spent a lot of time
in the upper room teaching the disciples what it is like to
be guided by the Holy Spirit. Read John 14 and 16.
b. \\#13\\ Blessed with true wisdom.
(1) Spiritual people love the Bible.
(2) Even more, spiritual people live the Bible.
c. \\#15\\ Does not fall into man’s judgment. (That is they do
not get into those awkward positions where the lost and
carnal are rebuking him!
d. \\#15\\ Judges others.
(1) The Christian is the rebuker.
(2) Not necessarily a harsh, judgmental rebuker; but like our
Lord, one who is able to lovingly help people see the
errors of the life.
II. What can you do if you understand the kinds of people that God sees?
A. You can diagnose yourself and get into the right people type.
1. If you don’t know, you should be the spiritual person.
a. Every wife or husband ought to have the privilege of being
married to a spiritual person.
b. Every son or daughter ought to have the privilege of having
a spiritual parent.
c. Every mother or father ought to have the privilege of
having spiritual children.
2. If you have no spiritual desires, you are the natural person and
you need to be born again.
3. If you are the carnal person, you need to surrender to the
leadership of the Holy Spirit and grow in Christ.
B. You can also learn to deal wisely with the natural and carnal people
of the world.
1. How do you deal with natural people?
a. Love and respect them.
b. Try to win them.
c. However, they are lost and you are saved so some things are
different.
(1) We are not to join with them. Not in marriage, not in
business.
2Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath
light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that
believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?…
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord….
(2) We do let them have authority over our children.
(3) We are prepared to sever their authority over us.
\\#Matt 6:24\\
2. How do you deal with carnal people?
a. Try to grow them. (commitment, Word of God, prayer, service)
b. Lead them; do not be lead by them.
c. Do not place them in places of authority in the church.
3. How do you deal with spiritual people?
a. Follow them. This is the person that will help grow you.
b. Become them. This is the person that God wants us all to
be.
<Outline
Index> <Close Window>
