Three Spiritual Plains by Gerald Van Horn
I Corinthians 2:14. “But the natural man received not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them.
I Corinthians 3:1-2 “And I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with solid food; for to this time ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.”
I Corinthians 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.”
Class and caste have always characterized humanity from the beginning of time. From these unwritten laws of segregation came inseparable barriers. For example we have the white collar workers, the blue collar workers, the hard hats and the soft hats. In the spiritual realm there is a clear distinction made. Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit divides mankind into three categories. They are not determined by social, financial or intellectual standards. They are classifieds by the ability to receive spiritual truths. The Word of God is the touch-stone and everyman falls into one of these categories.
1. There is the natural man.
The Greek word is “psuchikos” for the natural man. No matter how admirable the natural man may be in other realms, he is void of understanding things of the Spirit. He is unregenerated. This type labors under heavy and clear duress when it comes to spiritual things. Paul’s description of him is “he receiveth not the things of the Spirit.” This is a clear indication that he cannot know them.
Illustration: A lover of art will stand for hours admiring a painting of Raphael, Turner or Michelangelo. The beauty is obvious to them. A youth with no taste for refinement would pass it by without a second glance. He can see nothing appealing to him. The same youth may stand fascinated in front of a theater poster that is hideous and salacious. He does not receive the things of fine art. They are foolishness to him. His taste is different.
The natural man is as unappreciative of those things which constitute the charm and beauty of the spiritual realm. He sees no need for the Bible for daily spiritual food. It is foolish to him. He lacks the faculty to appreciate. He can no more understand spiritual things than a baby can understand the terrestrial. John 3:3 “Except a man be born again he cannot see (or understand) the kingdom of God.”
Illustration: A man born deaf is unmoved by an exquisite symphony. A man born blind cannot perceive the beauty of a sunset. Both lack the faculties.
The natural man is similarly handicapped in the spiritual. He might understand grammar, geography, history and ethics. But he can never communicate the spiritual sense to others.
Illustration: William Wilberforce, emancipator of the slaves, was an earnest Christian. He was deeply interested in the spiritual welfare of William Pitt, a brilliant prime minister at the age of 25. He invited him to attend a lecture by Robert Cecil. He was in hopes that it might lead to his conversion. Recounting, Wilberforce said he never heard Cecil preach with more power and command with innovative logic and unction. He asked the young man, “Well, what did you think of Cecil’s message?” The reply was , “I gave him my full attention but I failed to see what he was driving at!” Pitt was sincere, intelligent but he lacked the faculty to accept spiritual truth.
To use an Old Testament analogy - the natural man lives in Egypt. He’s of the world. He’s under bondage. Pharaoh is his taskmaster and for all his labor, all he receives is the lash on his back. He longs for a better day but it never comes.
2. There is the Carnal man.
The word Paul uses is “sarchikos“. He is the man of the flesh. He functions on the lower purely human nature. The word does not imply sexual sin as it so often does. Rather it is direct reference to the domination of the unregenerated nature. By his faith this man is united in Christ but he finds no satisfaction in Christ alone. There must always be a plus in his life. He is way ahead of the natural man because he possesses spiritual life. His characterization is vividly portrayed in Scripture:
* Spiritual infancy. He is a spiritual baby. I Corinthians 3:1. He should be eating solid food instead he is anemic. He can only digest milk from the Word. He has progressed no further in the Lord than he was one year ago. Baby talk and actions are cute in children but tragic in a grown man.
* He depends on others for spiritual food. Consequently he is helpless in his own troubles. He is so occupied with his own pleasure and sorrow that he can never be of help to others.
*He is touchy and quarrelsome over trifles. He is usually in the center of storms in the church. Deeper truths do not interest him. He is quick to fight or quibble over secondary matters.
* He lives in the center of his emotions. He makes the mistake of living in the center of his emotions and not on principles. Consequently he is easily offended and not easily pacified. Those who work with him had better walk softly lest they offend his delicate sensibilities.
* The Carnal man suffers from indigestion. At his age he should be feeding others but is busy feeding himself on milk. He craves simple food that can easily pass through his digestive system. He has a poor appetite for the Bible
and must depend on others for his sustenance. When deprived of spiritual fellowship he wilts and drifts back into the old way of life.
The results of his spiritual lacking:
* He falls into a narrow sectarianism. He tends to talk about and follow human leaders. “One saith, I am Paul; another, I am of Appolos, are you not yet carnal?” I Corinthians 3:4. Sectarianism is baby talk as is any excess adulation of church leaders. While there are those who deserve respect and accreditation for work and accomplishments for the Lord we must never forget it is only to lead us closer to Jesus. True spirituality should lead us to broaden our fellowship with others and lead us to a true sense of oneness with Christ.
* He becomes contentious. I Corinthians 3:3 “There is among you envying, and strife, and divisions are ye yet carnal and walk as men?” All these are issues of the carnal life. This type forms cliques to further his views. Worldly people see and judge the church in the light of such things carried on in the name of religion. The carnal man cannot rejoice in the success of others advanced ahead of him or preferred before him.
* The carnal man constantly is defeated spiritually. I am carnal, sold under sin.” The tests, temper, lust, jealousy, pride and an uncharitable heart finds him easy prey. He fails in his prayer life and any victories that he has are even small at best.
*The carnal man is often dominated by the standards of the world. I Corinthians 3:3. While professing to be married to Christ he never really has broken with the world system. He lives a life of infidelity. He constantly grieves the Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament symbolism is that he lives in the wilderness. He is stuck in the barren land between Egypt and the promise land. One moment he’s on the border but is reluctant to sample the grapes, the milk and honey of Canaan. At special meetings he longs for the victory but is always returning to the old scene. He cannot resist the subtle lure of Egypt. There is no satisfaction for him.
3. There is the Spiritual man.
The word that Paul uses is “pneumatikos” to describe the spiritual man. He not only has the taste for solid food but he is fully satisfied with it. He is in right relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit can move freely in him and through him. He is able to carry on Christ’s work as the Spirit empowers him. Unhindered by the world’s system he is able to reproduce Christ in his life.
God is able to empower him for service. He is characterized by:
*Maturity. Hebrews 5:14 “But solid food belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” He gladly welcomes all knowledge he can from gifted teachers. However he is not depended solely upon them. Realizing that the body of Christ is made up of all kinds of believers he ceases to be radically exclusive or sectarian. His interests are global. His life is dynamic and not static. He has left behind the ABC’s of the doctrines of Christ. He is continuously growing in the things of God. Daily more and more of his life is brought under the control of the Master.
* Discernment. I Corinthians 2:15 “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” The spiritual man does not fall prey for erroneous teaching. The Spirit in him forewarns him. He is keen to errors in sermons and books but is not critical in spirit or censorious in heart.
* Able to teach. Hebrews 5:12. No longer is he preoccupied with his own spiritual state. He is able to press into service the truths he has learned in a loving and caring manner.
* Free from the world. The spiritual man is in the world but not part of the world. He is not influenced by the world system. He is able to rise above the storms of life. He is conscious of a world to come.
* Fruitfulness. Galatians 5:22-24. “But the fruit of the Spirit, is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; agai nst such there is no law, And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Because he is controlled by the fruit of the Spirit he bears the fruit of the Spirit. When the Master comes to his tree He finds not only leaves but luscious fruit as well.
In Old Testament symbolism he has entered Canaan. He has bid the old life in Egypt good bye. He has left the wilderness experience. Between him and Egypt lies the Red sea. He has said farewell to the rolling waters of Jordan, the river of death. He enjoys a life of liberty and victory under the leadership of the heavenly Joshua. With Jesus all walls crumble down.
Which plain are you a part of? Take a step of faith and join the spiritual man. In eternity you’ll be glad forever!
