1 Corinthians 2:14-16

                                                         1 Corinthians 2:14-16

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

 

There are only two types of people in this world: the natural and the spiritual.  All of us are born natural and we will remain natural until death apart from the work of the Spirit of God in our lives.  When the Spirit of God brings us to Christ, there is a radical change that takes place in our hearts and minds.  This explains why there are such radically different worldviews between those who have the Spirit of God and those who don’t.

 

THE NATURAL PERSON IS UNSPIRITUAL: Apart from the Spirit of God, the natural person looks at all things spiritual as being foolish.  The natural person cannot accept the supernatural and looks for some natural was to explain the existence of the universe and even his own existence.  Love for God and unconditional love of others at great personal sacrifice does not make sense to unbelievers.  The natural person will seek for prosperity, pleasure, and power because these are the things that they hope will bring them happiness.  Worship, generosity, prayer, and purity seem boring and foolish to those who don’t know Christ.  The rejection, persecution and criticism believers face from unbelievers should not surprise us.

 

THE SPIRITUAL PERSON IS UNNATURAL: When the Spirit of God comes into our lives, we gain the ability to discern those things that are of eternal value and place them as priorities in our lives.  The judgment and condemnation of unbelievers is no longer important to us.  Rather, we are given the ability to make correct judgments about all different aspects of life.  It is unnatural for fallen man to have the mind of Christ.  No amount of human effort or sacrifice can bring about this ability or even the desire to attain it.  Only the Holy Spirit can bring about this transformation.  When we don’t understand the ways of God and His dealings with men, it is easy for us to become confused or even frustrated.  However, the Spirit of God the lives in us allows us to respond in faith.  This is not only unnatural, it is supernatural.  

 

APPLICATION: Don’t be surprised at the conflicting worldviews between believers and unbelievers.  Be prepared for rejection and even ridicule because of our insistence on following the Lord and His instruction from Scripture.  Trust the Lord when the circumstances of our faith seem difficult to face or understand.  Seek for the Spirit’s help to view the world from Christ’s perspective.

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