THE SPIRITUAL MAN

THE SPIRITUAL MAN IS UNNATURAL MAN

Thursday, November 21, 2019

  Proverbs [GW] 3:5-7 Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths smooth. Do not consider yourself wise. Fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

  Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

  Galatians 5 … the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance …

  We call it the New Testament, but how much of what it says is new? The NT, including Jesus’ words recorded therein, refers to and explains the OT in new terms and/or illustration (parables et al). The initial chapters of Paul’s first letter to the assembly at Corinth is an example of this. Paul, using “natural man” and comparative “spiritual man” speaks of the same truth of Proverbs 3:5; truth he, as Saul, initially realized on the road to Damascus. (Act.9:1-6)

  Reading 1Corinthians chapters 1 & 2 we see that the natural man is a person blinded by measuring what God says by this world’s yardstick; familial, community cultural, prior secular philosophy and education. This natural man is the blind individual that Jesus refers to in John 3:3, Nicodemus being another exemplary before and after model.

  Both Nicodemus and persecutor Saul were highly educated and contemplative men, howbeit blind to true spiritual edification. One does not however have to be elite. We can be illiterate or somewhere in between on a literate knowledge scale, and still gain the blessed vision of a spiritual man. (Ps.1)

  Nicodemus and Paul especially exemplify the problem of religious education prior to confrontation by the Word. The same text they had head knowledge of, but as natural men obviously did not understand until trusting the word and gaining John 3:3 spiritual vision.

  Who, what, is a spiritual man? Am I?

  If I read and contemplate God’s Word, living (Jn.1:1, 14; 2Pet.3:5-7) and written (Ps.119; Jn.17:17; 2Tim.3:16-17) . . . and compare, measure the Word by what I know previous to my John 3:3 redemption . . . I am not a spiritual person, I am a natural man unregenerate in contemplation . . . and consequently in  deed.

  Writing to the assembled saints at Corinth Paul explains clearly that the spiritual person has the mind of Christ; evaluating all things having to do with life and death accordingly. He explained just as clearly that the natural person evaluates everything according to philosophy and values contrary to the mind of Christ.

  One respondent believes the “fruit of the Spirit” is the better way to evaluate whether spiritual or not. I agree that the spiritual person will manifest the fruit of the Spirit. However, this is not the prime evidence of being a spiritual person.

  I have known, do know, non-Christians, atheists, agnostics -- those that reject the mind of Christ – that believe in and exhibit love, joy, serenity, forgiveness, gentleness, goodness, devotion, humbleness, and self-control . . . and do so manifestly more than some professing Christians I have and/or do know.

  Whether spiritual or natural, the order is always beliefs > attitude > actions in word and deed.

EBB4

PS. If as a professing Christian we are amiss in word and deed, we need to examine our belief.