Understanding the Things of God

Understanding the Things of God

“They are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

The Bible places people in three categories: the natural man, the spiritual and the carnal Christian. In the setting of our text, the Apostle Paul evaluates these according to their capacity to know the truth of God. The caption, “natural man” (person), relates to the unsaved individual whose comprehension is limited to sensual things (things learned through the senses – touch, taste, smell, hear, feel). He is spiritually dead, separated from the things of the Spirit of God. Since he can’t put these things together, they appear to him as foolishness. What will correct this condition? Only through his being born from above (John 3:3,5).

A second category, the carnal Christian, is profiled in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. He is described as living according to the flesh (the dynamic capacity for sinfulness). His capacity for spiritual things is limited to baby food. His conduct is the expression of envy. It results in strife and divisions. Distinguishing between this person and the natural man is very difficult. Look around among church people and note the fact that there is little discernable difference between the worldly Christian and the unsaved.

Examining the third category (2:15-16), we recognize a different capacity for understanding the truth of God. The spiritual person is described as “judging all things.” Since he is guided by the Spirit, he is able to discern and evaluate both natural and spiritual things. He is said in verse 16 to have the mind of Christ.

How does one move from a flesh-dominated life to a spiritual life? The Holy Spirit stands willing to take over the lordship of the life and control the yielded Christian. This is what is referred to as the Spirit-filled life (Ephesians 5:18).

Each of us fits into one of these categories, but only the Spirit-controlled person can please God. We can recognize the Spirit-filled life by seeing the fruit of the Spirit being displayed in it (Galatians 5:22-23). -- Rev. William A. Raws

This is one of the many devotionals that Pastor Bill wrote for Volume 2 of Real Victory. I trust it will be a blessing to you. Thanks for your comments regarding Freedom Fighter.

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 30; 1 Kings 8-9; Luke 21:1-19

Great Quote: The self-sins...dwell too deep within us and are too much a part of our natures to come to our attention till the light of God is focused upon them. The grosser manifestations of these sins - egotism, exhibitionism, self-promotion - are strangely tolerated in Christian leaders, even in circles of impeccable orthodoxy. They are so much in evidence as actually, for many people, to become identified with the gospel. I trust it is not a cynical observation to say that they appear these days to be a requisite for popularity in some sections of the Church visible. Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common as to excite little notice. A. W. Tozer