"Three Men Who Went to Church"
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Paul spoke of three different men in his letter to the church at Corinth; the natural man, the carnal man and the spiritual man. The first is dead, the second is defiled and the third is discerning. The first has no capacity for understanding spiritual truth; the second has a propensity for misunderstanding spiritual truth and the third has both apprehension and application of spiritual truth.
I. THE NATURAL MAN -- He is dead
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Here Paul is describing the unregenerate man, that man that is apart from God, the Savior and the Holy Spirit. He says that this man's condition is:
a. His hard condition
He does not accept and outright rejects the truth of God.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
b. His helpless condition
Romans 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
The unregenerate man does possess the capacity to understand spiritual truth.
c. His hopeless condition
Romans 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
DEAD OR ALIVE?
When elderly Adele Gaboury turned up missing four years ago, concerned neighbors in Worcester, Massachusetts, informed the police. A brother told police she had gone into a nursing home. Satisfied with that information, Gaboury's neighbors began watching her property. Michael Crowley noticed her mail, delivered through a slot in the door, piling high. When he opened the door, hundreds of pieces of mail drifted out. He notified police, and the deliveries were stopped. Gaboury's next-door neighbor, Eileen Dugan, started paying her grandson $10 twice a month to mow Gaboury's lawn. Later Dugan's son noticed Gaboury's pipes had frozen, spilling water out the door. The utility company was called to shut off the water. What no one guessed was that while they'd been trying to help, Gaboury had been inside her home. When police finally investigated the house as a health hazard, they were shocked to find her body. The Washington Post (10/27/93) reported that police believe Gaboury died of natural causes four years ago. The respectable, external appearance of Gaboury's house had hidden the reality of what was on the inside. Something similar can happen to people: We may appear outwardly proper while spiritually dead. All sorts of religious activity may be happening outside, while the real problem is missed: spiritual death on the inside.
SOURCE: Vialo Weis, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 3.) Contributed by Gerald Flurry
This does not mean that the sinner cannot be saved but it does mean that he must have the Holy Spirit to lead him to repentance and that he must be transformed by the power of God into a new creature.
II. THE CARNAL MAN -- He is defiled
What is carnality? According to the Greek dictionary, it means to have the nature and characteristics of the flesh (or more simply, it means "fleshly"). What, then , is the flesh? Sometimes it refers to the whole material part of man (1 Corinthians 15:39; Hebrews 5:7), and based on this meaning, carnal sometimes relates to material things like money (Romans 15:27) or to the opposite of our weapons of spiritual warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4). But the word flesh also has a metaphorical sense when it refers to our disposition to sin and to oppose or omit God in our lives. The flesh is characterized by works that include lusts and passions (Galatians 5:19-24; I John 2:16); it can enslave (Romans 7:25); and in it is nothing good (Romans 7:18). Based on this meaning of the word flesh, to be carnal means to be characterized by things that belong to the unsaved life (Ephesians 2:3).
Charles Ryrie, So Great Salvation, Victor Books, 1989, pp. 59-60.
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
a. Their appetites
1 Cor. 3:1-9 Paul opens up our chapter slamming the spiritual condition of many in this church. He tells them that they are not spiritually mature, but that they are acting like mere babies. He tells them he has to address them for what they are worldly, i.e. carnal -- fleshly or immature! Not godly, holy and Christ-like. They are called infants -- babies to be exact.
They are "...in Christ..." but they are "...babes..." spiritually. They have the appetite for baby food.
1 Corinthians 3:2 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.
"I have instructed you in the elements of Christianity - in its simplest and easiest truths; because from the low state of your minds in religious knowledge, you were incapable of comprehending the higher truths of the Gospel: and in this state you will still continue. The apostle thus exposes to them the absurdity of their conduct in pretending to judge between preacher and preacher, while they had but a very partial acquaintance even with the first principles of Christianity."
Clark's Commentary
Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
b. Their activities
1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Paul says that the problem with carnal Christians is their walk. They walk as men he says. Basically, even though they are Christians they walk like unregenerate men.
c. Their attitudes
Do you have to teach your children to be selfish? Of course not, rather you have to teach them to be unselfish. Children are testy and territorial. They can make everyone around them miserable!
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
ILL - A humorous birthday card read: "You are only young once, but you can be immature forever."
The sad truth is too many Christians have made that their mantra. Paul said to the believers at Corinth, "I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1)"
TOO CLOSE TO WHERE I GOT IN
A little boy fell out of the bed in his sleep. His father picked him up and put him back in bed. He asked him, "Son, what happened?" The little boy responded, "I fell asleep too close to where I got in."
I believe that describes too many Christians today...they have fallen asleep too close to where they got in. They are not in danger of falling out of salvation...but they have made no spiritual progress since they were saved.
III. THE SPIRITUAL MAN -- He is discerning
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
a. Accepts of the truth
2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
b. Apprehends of the truth
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
c. Applies of the truth
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Conclusion: We have been talking this evening about a gift of love made by Mary of Bethany to her Lord, Jesus Christ. Each and every Lord's Day morning, we have the same privilege of bringing a gift of love to our Savior. But, at this time, I wonder if there is one this morning here who is willing to give himself or herself totally and completely to Jesus Christ as Lord. Those who are willing to give what they have are those who have first give themselves. Giving ourselves is the key that opens all other doors.
