I. THE SPIRITUAL PERSON v.15, 12-13
A. Received the Spirit of God v.12a
B. Growing in the Grace of God v.12b
C. Speaking the Truth of God v.13
II. THE NATURAL PERSON v.14
A. Remains in his Unregenerate State v.14a
B. Refuses to Accept the Things of God v.14b
C. Renders no Decision for God v.14c
III. THE CARNAL PERSON 3:1-4
A. Can’t Speak Spiritually v.1
B. Doesn’t Develop a Diet v.2
C. Fellowships with the Flesh v.3
What would you be like if you ever became the person you desire to be? Would you be a Don Knots kind of person or an Arnold Swartznager type of person? What would your life be like if you became the spiritual person you wanted to be?
The Christians at Corinth were characterizing their lives. They were classifying themselves according to their favorite preacher. Some were saying, “I’m of Paul, I’m of Apollos, I’m of Cephas or I’m of Christ.” In response to this Paul pointed out the real classes of people. He classified people according to their ability to understand the deep things of God. Paul classified people according to their relationship to the Spirit of God.
In our society we often try to stereotype people, professions, and even preachers. The strange thing is we have our own criteria for categorizing them. But the truth of the matter and this message is, people are classified according to their ability to receive and know the things of God. I want you to evaluate where you are in relation to the Spirit and make a choice of where you really want to be. There are three kinds of persons in relation to the Spirit of God. First of all:
I. THE SPIRITUAL PERSON vv.15, 12-13
The word for “spirit” is pneuma and is the same as used in John 4:24 where it says, “God is Spirit.” So the Spiritual Person is the one who has:
A. Received the Spirit of God v.12a
The verb “received” is an aorist tense verb meaning that at some specific point in a definite event this person received as a guest the Spirit of God. He is God’s presence here and now. The Holy Spirit is all that God was and is and ever will be, just as is God the Father and God the Son. God is God, so the Spiritual Person has at some point received God into their life.
B. Growing in the Grace of God v.12b
The reason we have been given the Spirit is that we might know the deep things of God. To know is to understand His ways, comprehend His will, and experience God Himself by obeying. By being sensitive and submissive to the indwelling Spirit, you continue to receive from God the thoughts, plans, vision, and purposes He has for our lives and His church.
C. Speaking the Truth of God v.13
When you are growing you will want to share what God has given you and is doing in your life. People possessed by the Spirit are interested in how God is working in their life and in the lives of others. Speak by “comparing” or matching spiritual truths with spiritually-minded persons. The spiritual person is perceptive to the particular point at which and with whom they can share the truth of God.
Someone has said, "The spiritual person is the divine ideal in life and ministry in power with God and man in unbroken fellowship and blessing."
II. THE NATURAL PERSON v.14
The character of this kind of person comes from the word “psuchikos” which is a qualitative adjective of “psuche” meaning wind or breath. In Latin is "anima," animal life. It life without the breath of God.
A. Remains in his Unregenerate State v.14a
This person is for all practical purposes cold towards God as in Matthew 24:10-12. Born in their natural state, separated from God, spiritually dead, cold towards God and controlled by the natural Self, not the Spirit of God. So that they:
B. Refuse to Accept the Things of God v.14b
In other words, this person has not received God into their life. It’s not that God has not taken the initiative. But the natural person refuses to accept Jesus Christ into their life. Why? It’s foolishness to them, silly, boring, dull, sluggish, not fun or exciting. The things of God have no meaning and seem empty, vain and like nonsense - they make no sense!
C. Renders No Decision for God v.14c
This is an aorist infinitive indicating that at no point is he able to gain a knowledge of God on his own. He doesn’t have the Spirit with which to interpret spiritual reality. The reference is to a judge in a preliminary hearing who is incapable of rendering a decision because he is unable to recognize the facts in the case. Have you ever decided to follow Jesus? If not, you are the Natural kind of person. However, there is a third kind of person in relation to the Spirit.
III. THE CARNAL PERSON 3:1-4
The carnal person is a Christian person, a saved person, spiritually alive, born again, but "still born!" The carnal person does not grow spiritually and reverts back to acting like the naural person. The carnal person:
A. Can’t Speak Spiritually v.1
These Christians ought to have been acting like godly adults, but were acting like babies. They were still in the nursery of Christian growth. That childish spirit, that strong will, that independent streak comes through and takes control. The old sin principle of self-centeredness comes through and they refuse to be submissive to the Spirit. In fact, they haven’t learned to talk about spiritual things and they can’t even listen, concentrate, or focus on those things.
B. Doesn’t Develop a Diet v.2
In other words there is immaturity about what one wants in life. Milk verses meat. A child wants one thing one moment and something else the next. They had not grown like they should. They were satisfied to rest in their eternal security while playing in their carnality. What do you really want? Is the deep yearning within, the intense desire of your heart, the longing of your soul, the deepest interest of your life, the thing that grabs you most - is that Jesus?
C. Fellowships with the Flesh v.3
All of us are carnal in a sense, we are "sarkos" that is in flesh. However, here the word for carnal is "sarkikos" meaning fleshly - fitted for or characterized by the flesh. Fleshly is the life lived apart from God, yielding to the old sin principle, patterned after the previous lifestyle, acting independently from God. We do things the way we did before salvation. We try to meet our needs the way we want to, rather than God’s way. We walk in the flesh, not in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16).
So many times we blame our circumstances and conditions on the church. Whether we’re spiritual, natural, or carnal. But the truth is, we are responsible for our own spiritual condition. Yes, it’s up to you to decide whether you are to become the spiritual person you want to be. When you decide, be aware there are two great spiritual changes possible. The change from the Natural to the Spiritual which is divinely accomplished when you invite Jesus into your life. The second is the change from the Carnal to the Spiritual, accomplished when there is a real adjustment to the Spirit. What is your need today?
