THE NATURAL MAN VERSUS THE SPIRITUAL MAN
WEDNESDAY 15 DECEMBER 2021
A natural man is physically alive but spiritually dead. Why? Its because of his Adamic nature which means that he is not yet born again. The Bible says, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22). Spiritual death came through Adam but the spiritual man is made alive and acceptable to God in Christ.
Reference: 1 Corinthians 2:14 Amplified Bible (AMP) "But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters]."
The teachings and revelations of God's spirit are the new mysteries of the Kingdom, and a message of spiritual enlightenment in the supernatural class. I acknowledge them as the mysteries of light because they shed light on the true knowledge of God and who Jesus Christ really is. Then the gospel message is the glorious realities of the Kingdom of God, which is a mystery of transformation. It reveals the ultimate goal of God's plan for mankind, in terms of reaching out to the lost, making them a new creation in the Kingdom of God and transforming men's lives eternally.
Now until a man receives Christ as Lord and experiences the depth of His love, he remains a natural man. He is spiritually dead because of sinful nature. Hence, he is a natural man, unspiritual and unbelieving. For this reason, he can't know and understand spiritual matters of the Kingdom because He hasn't received the gifts of God's Spirit. Also he can't receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God because he is not yet born again. And since he is not reborn in spirit, he cannot renew in his mind and heart. He only functions by the earthly wisdom, which is unspiritual and demonic (see James 3:15 NIV). Since there's no desire or capacity in him for the Kingdom knowledge, spiritual truths seem like so much foolishness to him.
Spiritual realities can be known and grasped only by the spiritual people in Christ, which are those who walk by the Spirit because God's Spirit and their spirits are one and thereby function in open communion. Spiritually alive, we can have access to everything God's Spirit is doing, and so we can't be judged by the natural man or unspiritual critics. Moreover, as born again Christians, we can only be in tune with God's Spirit if we are spiritually minded. Romans 8:6 (KJV) says, "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." This is Paul addressing the born again Christians, not the natural man. And he was admonishing them to know that those who entertain the flesh and its desires cannot please God. Therefore, our minds must be steadily focused on the things of the Spirit.
As a spiritual man, another way to easily grasp spiritual realities is to have the eyes of our understanding enlightened. To enlighten the eyes of our understanding means to shed light on, to illuminate, or to instruct our understanding. Spiritual understanding is the key to accessing the depth of divine truths and engaging such experiences. No wonder Paul prayed for the saints in Ephesus, that the eyes of their heart be enlightened in order that they may know the hope to which he has called them, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and more...(Ephesians 1:18).
So by enlightening the eyes of our understanding, we assuredly receive divine truths in our spirit for practical use. This enlightenment helps us to accurately discern supernatural matters with no doubt! It is a spiritual understanding that enables us to grasp the hidden mind of God concerning Biblical truths or to clearly see what is "below the surface". This understanding enables us to comprehend God's eternal truth with certainty. But for the natural man, he is far from this enlightenment and understanding, unless He receives Christ as Lord. Shalom!
Scripture Reading - Job 32:8; 1Corinthians 2:11-15; Romans 8:5; 2 Corinthians 4:16.
Exuberant Declaration: I'm united with Christ through His death and resurrection and I'm a partaker of spiritual nature, quickened by the Spirit to live for ever. My spiritual perception in the knowledge of heavenly realities comes with easier and simpler expressions. As a spiritual person, I'm spiritually minded, alive to God and awake to righteousness in Christ Jesus. Hence, the desire for divine truths, understanding and experiences is continually stirred up in me by the Spirit. Hallelujah!
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