Natural Man, Spiritual Man

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God… because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things… —1 Corinthians 2: 14-15

The natural man is one who has not been born again. In fact, the natural man is just as he sounds—he is as natural as the day he was born, with no concept or understanding of God. The natural man doesn’t understand the things of the Spirit, because they are spiritually discerned. Just as a blind man cannot enjoy the brilliance of a sunset, the natural man lacks the faculties by which spiritual things are understood and appreciated.

**A whole new dimension is opened to the spiritual man.

So what is the spiritual man? He is the man whose spirit has been born again so he is alive to the things of the Spirit and understands the things of the Spirit. And yet Paul said, “He who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one” (1 Corinthians 2: 15). Have you noticed how people often don’t understand you as a Christian? You are an enigma to them. “Why do you like going to church so much? Why don’t you drink? What do you do for fun?” The natural man can’t understand the joy of living in fellowship with God, but we who are born again by the Spirit know full well the blessing of walking with Jesus—and the peace that comes from being forgiven and cleansed.

Father, thank You for saving us. Thank You that by Your Holy Spirit we can discern Your truth and understand the mysteries of Your Word. May You open the eyes of those who don’t yet know You. In Jesus’ name, amen.