1Corinthians 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 Republican vs
Democrat.
If you are a Ford fan, you may see the world as Ford vs Chevrolet.
If you are a bit poorer, you might see the world as the haves vs
the have-nots.
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—
and they are not political, economical, or automotive.
.
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. For the moment,
let’s consider that there are three types of people and ask the
question, "Which Am I?"
I. \\#1Cor 2:14\\ There is the Natural Person.
1Cor 2:14 But the natural man….
A. Paul only mentions the natural man one time in this section.
1. Paul does not elaborate on who or what the natural man is.
2. The reason is because Paul believed he was preaching to
saved people and wanted to help get them on the right
track.
3. I pray that I am as well but let me say a few things about
the natural man anyway.
B. Consider some characteristics of natural man.
1. We are born in the natural condition.
a. This is what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus about
the need for two births, one by water and one by the
Holy Spirit.
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.
(1) I do not understand how God does it but a baby
before it is born lives in a sack of water.
(2) Typically, once that bag of water breaks, the
baby must be born or complications will set in.
b. So the water speaks of a natural birth. We have
all experienced it.
2. But Jesus was telling Nicodemus that we have to be born a
second time, of the Spirit.
a. The natural birth is not enough.
b. A person must be born of water (naturally) and of the
Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God which means convicted
and born again.)
c. Jesus even coined a new term for us, to be born-again.
3. \\#2:14\\ In that natural condition, we are incapable of
understanding much of anything spiritual.
a. The natural man cannot understand the Word.
b. The natural man cannot hear the Spirit of God.
c. In fact, spiritual things seem foolish to the natural
man.
d. How can I tell I am a natural person?
(1) Here is a clue.
(2) If you do not "get" spiritual things, you are
probably a natural person.
C. Here is something to make things a bit more confusing.
1. Just because the natural man cannot comprehend the
spiritual doesn’t mean he can’t be religious.
2. The natural man can be a church member, a church attendee,
a church giver, a church worker and generally a good
person.
3. How can you tell the difference?
a. If you are the natural man, it can be very difficult.
b. The tell-tale sign is that the natural man cannot make
the transition from knowing about the Bible to doing
what the Bible teaches.
4. Regardless of whether a man can tell or not, God always
can.
II. There is the Carnal Person \\#1Cor 3:1-3\\
1Cor 3:1 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?
A. Characteristics
1. \\#1Cor 3:1\\ Carnal people are babes in Christ. That
means, they are saved but immature.
a. This is not just a time-related issue even though
every new Christian starts as a baby in Christ and is
carnal.
b. It is more a growth-related issue; however, some
carnal Christians choose to stay babies.
(1) Maybe they cling to their sinful habits.
(2) Maybe they cling to their sinful attitudes.
(3) Maybe they cling to a church that simply doesn’t
teach them.
(4) No matter how they get there, they are not
growing so they stay carnal, fleshly, immature.
2. \\#1Cor 3:2\\ Carnal people cannot receive what the
spiritual can.
a. They are described as able to drink the milk of God’s
Word but not eat the meat.
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;
b. There are actually three phases for most children:
milk, mush (soft foods), meat. You will have to
decide what you digest.
c. 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.
3. \\#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?
a. They will focus more on their desires than God’s;
b. More concerned with flesh’s pleasure than God’s power.
c. They will rely more on opinion than God’s Word.
B. The bottom line is that, except for their eternity, there is
not a lot of difference in the carnal Christian and the
natural man.
1. The natural and carnal both think alike.
2. The natural and carnal both behave alike.
C. There is one big difference between the carnal and the
natural.
1. 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.
2. If you can do wrong and God not rend your heart for it,
you are likely the natural man.
3. Get this, the Bible is not talking about you doing a
morally wrong act and feeling badly over it.
a. That is your conscience.
b. Natural people have that just like the saved.
c. The Bible is talking about when you do a spiritually
wrong act and being convicted over it.
d. 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?
e. A carnal person should be dealt with by the Holy Ghost
for doing things that are spiritually wrong. If these
kinds of spiritual sins are foolish to you and the
Holy Spirit does not convict you about them, chances
are good that you are a natural person.
III. There is the Spiritual Person \\#1Co 2:12,13,15,16\\
A. A spiritual person is a saved, surrendered, and serving
Christian.
B. Some common characteristics are:
1. \\#12\\ Guided by the Holy Ghost.
(a) Jesus spent a lot of time in the upper room teaching
the disciples what it is like to be guided by the
Holy Spirit.
(b) \\#John 14:16-21\\
(1) The Holy Spirit will comfort us.
(2) The kind of comfort He spoke of was one built
on truth, that is on knowledge and
understanding—not just emotion.
(c) \\#John 16:7-15\\
(1) Jesus continued to describe the Holy Ghost as
a Comforter but also a Rebuker.
(2) He rebukes both us and the world when it comes
to sin, to righteousness, and to God’s
judgments.
(3) But He will also guide us to all the truth we
need to know—at least about spiritual things.
2. \\#13\\ Blessed with true wisdom.
(a) Spiritual people love the Bible.
(b) Even more, spiritual people live the Bible; they make
decisions based on the Bible and in so doing, their
wisdom becomes self-evident.
3. \\#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!
4. \\#15\\ Judges others.
(a) The Christian is a rebuker of sin.
(b) Not necessarily a harsh, condemning, cruel rebuker;
but like our Lord, they are one who is able to
lovingly help people see the errors of their life.
IV. If you can understand what kind of a person you are, you can
become the kind of person God wants you to be.
A. Look at the Bible and look at yourself.
1. Do you get spiritual things?
2. Are you convicted over spiritual wrongs?
3. Are you marked by the leading of the Holy Spirit, wisdom,
purity, and service?
B. Every person here fits into one of these three categories, and
you can plot your life and eternity based on whatever group
you fall into?
1. Natural - You are going to make a lot of mistakes, have a
lot of wasted years and opportunities, and then die and go
to hell.
2. Carnal- You are going to make a lot of mistakes, have a
lot of wasted years and opportunities, and though you will
go to heaven, you will go without rewards and crowns.
3. Spiritual - You will still make some mistakes, just not as
many. You will still waste some time and opportunities,
but you find God and enjoy His presence, power, purposes,
and rewards.
I pray you will make the right choice today.
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