In the eyes of God, there are three categories of men. These are the natural man, the carnal man, and the spiritual man. In which category do you belong? Reading through this write-up will help you understand where you belong? The Bible gives us a clear portrayal of the first category in 1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” He is an unregenerate man. He has not had the born-again experience. All he knows about is the physical/natural world around him. The natural man doesn’t have the capacity to understand spiritual things just as an unborn child cannot understand the world to which he is unborn. For you to understand the spiritual world you need to be born into it. Describing the things of the spirit to a natural man would also not help. What the Bible recommends is for him to ‘taste and see’. Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” In John 1: 46 Philip told Nathaniel to “come and see” because he would not believe him. Every natural man must have the born-again experience for himself/herself.
The trappings of the carnal man are clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 “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? [4] For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” They are babes in Christ. They need to be feed by the word of God, they don’t yet know how to feed themselves. They depend on the pastor and other spiritual leaders to get spiritual nourishment. They still cannot handle the meat- the hard truths of the gospel. Babes cry at every discomfort. They are always complaining about one thing or the other. Babes rise and fall as they learn how to walk; carnal Christians have not learned to live the victorious life over sin. They fall and rise from sin. Although they are born-again, you still see strife, envy, division among them. They may not say it, but they believe they belong to certain factions in the church. The carnal man is in the wilderness of his Christian journey. Although he has left Egypt and has crossed the Red Sea, the land of Canaan is still out of reach to him. He must still have to cross the River Jordan.
The spiritual man can discern and judge spiritual things. They can recognize false doctrines and false fire. Counterfeits are everywhere. You must know the genuine to be able to detect the counterfeit. 1 Corinthians 2:15 says, “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things…” He is expected to warn others of the presence or the activities of wolves. They are also expected to be active in the business of restoring backsliders. Apostle Paul clearly stated in Galatians 6:1,2 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in a fault, ye which is spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2. Bear ye one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The law of Christ is the law of love. In John 15:12 Jesus said, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” A truly spiritual man is therefore a Christian who loves the brethren (the church) and can truly give himself for them.
This is God’s plan for you. God bless you.