1 Corinthains 2:12-3:2 – Which Are You? (revised) – Bible study

1Corinthians 2:12-3:2 Which Are You? People look at the world in different ways, depending on who they are. If you are a politician, you might see the world as Republican vs Democrat. If you are a Ford fan, you may see the world as Ford vs Chevrolet. If you are a bit poorer, you might see the world as the haves vs the have-nots. However, the important thing is to see the world as God sees it. The Bible tells us that God sees the world as three types of people and they are not political, economical, or automotive. . Unfortunately, even Christians often think in terms of only two – the saved and lost. They figure that if they are saved, everything will be all right. However, that it is not entirely true. For the moment, lets consider that there are three types of people and ask the question, "Which Am I?" I. \#1Cor 2:14\ There is the Natural Person. 1Cor 2:14 But the natural man. A. Paul only mentions the natural man one time in this section. 1. Paul does not elaborate on who or what the natural man is. 2. The reason is because Paul believed he was preaching to saved people and wanted to help get them on the right track. 3. I pray that I am as well but let me say a few things about the natural man anyway. B. Consider some characteristics of natural man. 1. We are born in the natural condition. a. This is what Jesus meant when He told Nicodemus about the need for two births, one by water and one by the Holy Spirit. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (1) I do not understand how God does it but a baby before it is born lives in a sack of water. (2) Typically, once that bag of water breaks, the baby must be born or complications will set in. b. So the water speaks of a natural birth. We have all experienced it. 2. But Jesus was telling Nicodemus that we have to be born a second time, of the Spirit. a. The natural birth is not enough. b. A person must be born of water (naturally) and of the Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God which means convicted and born again.) c. Jesus even coined a new term for us, to be born-again. 3. \#2:14\ In that natural condition, we are incapable of understanding much of anything spiritual. a. The natural man cannot understand the Word. b. The natural man cannot hear the Spirit of God. c. In fact, spiritual things seem foolish to the natural man. d. How can I tell I am a natural person? (1) Here is a clue. (2) If you do not "get" spiritual things, you are probably a natural person. C. Here is something to make things a bit more confusing. 1. Just because the natural man cannot comprehend the spiritual doesnt mean he cant be religious. 2. The natural man can be a church member, a church attendee, a church giver, a church worker and generally a good person. 3. How can you tell the difference? a. If you are the natural man, it can be very difficult. b. The tell-tale sign is that the natural man cannot make the transition from knowing about the Bible to doing what the Bible teaches. 4. Regardless of whether a man can tell or not, God always can. II. There is the Carnal Person \#1Cor 3:1-3\ 1Cor 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 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. 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? A. Characteristics 1. \#1Cor 3:1\ Carnal people are babes in Christ. That means, they are saved but immature. a. This is not just a time-related issue even though every new Christian starts as a baby in Christ and is carnal. b. It is more a growth-related issue; however, some carnal Christians choose to stay babies. (1) Maybe they cling to their sinful habits. (2) Maybe they cling to their sinful attitudes. (3) Maybe they cling to a church that simply doesnt teach them. (4) No matter how they get there, they are not growing so they stay carnal, fleshly, immature. 2. \#1Cor 3:2\ Carnal people cannot receive what the spiritual can. a. They are described as able to drink the milk of Gods Word but not eat the meat. 1Cor 3:2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able; b. There are actually three phases for most children: milk, mush (soft foods), meat. You will have to decide what you digest. c. Because they are saved, they get a little help from God from time to time, but generally, they have very little to do with Him. 3. \#1Cor 3:3\ Typically, carnal people are marked by envying, strife, and divisions. 1Cor 3:3 for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men? a. They will focus more on their desires than Gods; b. More concerned with fleshs pleasure than Gods power. c. They will rely more on opinion than Gods Word. B. The bottom line is that, except for their eternity, there is not a lot of difference in the carnal Christian and the natural man. 1. The natural and carnal both think alike. 2. The natural and carnal both behave alike. C. There is one big difference between the carnal and the natural. 1. The carnal Christian will experience great conviction over their life. Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 2. If you can do wrong and God not rend your heart for it, you are likely the natural man. 3. Get this, the Bible is not talking about you doing a morally wrong act and feeling badly over it. a. That is your conscience. b. Natural people have that just like the saved. c. The Bible is talking about when you do a spiritually wrong act and being convicted over it. d. Do you feel conviction when you (1) Take Gods name in vain? (2) Go without reading the Bible? (3) Go without worship? (4) Get rebuked by an unsaved person for doing something morally or ethically wrong? (5) Are not sharing your faith with the lost? e. A carnal person should be dealt with by the Holy Ghost for doing things that are spiritually wrong. If these kinds of spiritual sins are foolish to you and the Holy Spirit does not convict you about them, chances are good that you are a natural person. III. There is the Spiritual Person \#1Co 2:12,13,15,16\ A. A spiritual person is a saved, surrendered, and serving Christian. B. Some common characteristics are: 1. \#12\ Guided by the Holy Ghost. (a) Jesus spent a lot of time in the upper room teaching the disciples what it is like to be guided by the Holy Spirit. (b) \#John 14:16-21\ (1) The Holy Spirit will comfort us. (2) The kind of comfort He spoke of was one built on truth, that is on knowledge and understandingnot just emotion. (c) \#John 16:7-15\ (1) Jesus continued to describe the Holy Ghost as a Comforter but also a Rebuker. (2) He rebukes both us and the world when it comes to sin, to righteousness, and to Gods judgments. (3) But He will also guide us to all the truth we need to knowat least about spiritual things. 2. \#13\ Blessed with true wisdom. (a) Spiritual people love the Bible. (b) Even more, spiritual people live the Bible; they make decisions based on the Bible and in so doing, their wisdom becomes self-evident. 3. \#15\ Does not fall into mans judgment. (That is they do not get into those awkward positions where the lost and carnal are rebuking him! 4. \#15\ Judges others. (a) The Christian is a rebuker of sin. (b) Not necessarily a harsh, condemning, cruel rebuker; but like our Lord, they are one who is able to lovingly help people see the errors of their life. IV. If you can understand what kind of a person you are, you can become the kind of person God wants you to be. A. Look at the Bible and look at yourself. 1. Do you get spiritual things? 2. Are you convicted over spiritual wrongs? 3. Are you marked by the leading of the Holy Spirit, wisdom, purity, and service? B. Every person here fits into one of these three categories, and you can plot your life and eternity based on whatever group you fall into? 1. Natural – You are going to make a lot of mistakes, have a lot of wasted years and opportunities, and then die and go to hell. 2. Carnal- You are going to make a lot of mistakes, have a lot of wasted years and opportunities, and though you will go to heaven, you will go without rewards and crowns. 3. Spiritual – You will still make some mistakes, just not as many. You will still waste some time and opportunities, but you find God and enjoy His presence, power, purposes, and rewards. I pray you will make the right choice today.