The Natural Man

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awelight

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Yeah? Is that why none of us can come up with an explanation that can't be refuted?

Luke 21:15 for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!

Well the more we discuss it and try to figure it out the more we grow.
This attitude shown by you and by,
throughfaith said:
its probably because we're all natural men lol 😆

is nothing more than disgusting. To treat the Word of God with such foolish and disrespectful comments, is nearly unbelievable.

To say things like, "its probably because we're all natural men lol 😆" and still consider yourselves as followers of Christ, is truly laughable. No genuine believer, would ever be so disrespectful in the handling of God's Word are towards His people. You are scoffers to those who are trying to learn and are placing stumbling blocks in the path of those who try to walk worthily.

If you disagree as to doctrine, then be thoughtful and respectful to others with another position. Make no comments that try to lay a trap for others, unless you know not Christ. The subject matter that we are engaging in, is the most important subject ever put before man. It should be treated in that light.

Unless:

Rom_3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
 
May 19, 2020
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This attitude shown by you and by,
throughfaith said:
its probably because we're all natural men lol 😆

is nothing more than disgusting. To treat the Word of God with such foolish and disrespectful comments, is nearly unbelievable.

To say things like, "its probably because we're all natural men lol 😆" and still consider yourselves as followers of Christ, is truly laughable. No genuine believer, would ever be so disrespectful in the handling of God's Word are towards His people. You are scoffers to those who are trying to learn and are placing stumbling blocks in the path of those who try to walk worthily.

If you disagree as to doctrine, then be thoughtful and respectful to others with another position. Make no comments that try to lay a trap for others, unless you know not Christ. The subject matter that we are engaging in, is the most important subject ever put before man. It should be treated in that light.

Unless:

Rom_3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.


I am also sick of seeing lower case g.....when addressing God....not you awelight.......

It is very disrespectful to GOD!!!.

Upper case G please...you know who you are......
 

throughfaith

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Aug 4, 2020
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I really do not think Paul is comparing two types of believers .. canal man and the spiritual man.... since no believer can be classified as 100% one or the other.

Yes the assembly at Corinth had many babes in Christ but that does not mean they were not spiritual .. or that they could not understand spiritual truth....if anything they needed to understand it the most.

Paul is stating that those who rely on human wisdom instead of the spiritual truths brought by the inspired apostles will see the cross as foolish and perish as a result.

The same in 1 Cor2:14.

The contrast in context is human wisdom and divine revelation .. the access point is divine revelation ... hearing the Gospel, not human wisdom... since the Gnostics thought they could know god through human wisdom.

Context.. what did Paul's audience need to understand!
a spiritual man would be mature. A babe is not mature / spiritual.
Galation 6.1
1¶Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are SPIRITUAL restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
I'm reading this as the ' mature ' Christan ( spiritual) should restore the less mature one in a spirit of meekness . Rather than ' you who is a believer who has the Holy Spirit should restore another one in a spirit of meekness.
 
May 19, 2020
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a spiritual man would be mature. A babe is not mature / spiritual.
Galation 6.1
1¶Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are SPIRITUAL restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
I'm reading this as the ' mature ' Christan ( spiritual) should restore the less mature one in a spirit of meekness . Rather than ' you who is a believer who has the Holy Spirit should restore another one in a spirit of meekness.

Of course a babe is spiritual....they’ve been saved by God....but I agree they lack maturity.but they are still spiritual.how else would they be a babe in Christ if they weren’t spiritual?
 

throughfaith

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Aug 4, 2020
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I really do not think Paul is comparing two types of believers .. canal man and the spiritual man.... since no believer can be classified as 100% one or the other.

Yes the assembly at Corinth had many babes in Christ but that does not mean they were not spiritual .. or that they could not understand spiritual truth....if anything they needed to understand it the most.

Paul is stating that those who rely on human wisdom instead of the spiritual truths brought by the inspired apostles will see the cross as foolish and perish as a result.

The same in 1 Cor2:14.

The contrast in context is human wisdom and divine revelation .. the access point is divine revelation ... hearing the Gospel, not human wisdom... since the Gnostics thought they could know god through human wisdom.

Context.. what did Paul's audience need to understand!
/// Yes the assembly at Corinth had many babes in Christ but that does not mean they were not spiritual .. or that they could not understand spiritual truth....if anything they needed to understand it the most.///// I'm reading that as-' Yes the assembly at corinth had many babes in Christ but that does not mean they were not mature ? ' A babe cannot be spiritual ( mature) at the same time of course .
And the verse says they cannot understand the things of the spirit. Then we ask ' what things ' and who cannot understand.
the answer is in verse 6 . Pauls already explained the wisdom he speaks among the perfect ( mature / spiritual)
. He's not saying they cannot understand anything of the Spirit . He's already said the things are available but to understand them needs moving on from the milk for these natural/ carnal / babes
 
May 19, 2020
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/// Yes the assembly at Corinth had many babes in Christ but that does not mean they were not spiritual .. or that they could not understand spiritual truth....if anything they needed to understand it the most.///// I'm reading that as-' Yes the assembly at corinth had many babes in Christ but that does not mean they were not mature ? '
And the verse says they cannot understand the things of the spirit. Then we ask ' what things ' and who cannot understand.
the answer is in verse 6 . Pauls already explained the wisdom he speaks among the perfect ( mature / spiritual)
. He's not saying they cannot understand anything of the Spirit . He's already said the things are available but to understand them needs moving on from the milk for these natural/ carnal / babes

You just said on your other post,that a babe in Christ isn’t spiritual?
Now you say they are?
 
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Sorry I misread your post,you meant not mature spiritually...I think?
 

throughfaith

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Aug 4, 2020
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I really do not think Paul is comparing two types of believers .. canal man and the spiritual man.... since no believer can be classified as 100% one or the other.

Yes the assembly at Corinth had many babes in Christ but that does not mean they were not spiritual .. or that they could not understand spiritual truth....if anything they needed to understand it the most.

Paul is stating that those who rely on human wisdom instead of the spiritual truths brought by the inspired apostles will see the cross as foolish and perish as a result.

The same in 1 Cor2:14.

The contrast in context is human wisdom and divine revelation .. the access point is divine revelation ... hearing the Gospel, not human wisdom... since the Gnostics thought they could know god through human wisdom.

Context.. what did Paul's audience need to understand!
1 cor 2
verse 15 .15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
This cannot be ' you who has the Holy Spirit judgeth all things , because Paul is having to remind them of the basics. Check how many times he says ' do you not know ' . Even reminding them they have the Holy Spirt indwelling them . They are not judging all things , nor not needing judging . But the Mature can Judge things .
 

throughfaith

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You just said on your other post,that a babe in Christ isn’t spiritual?
Now you say they are?
What do you believe 'spiritual means ? its not " someone who is into ' spiritual things nor a description of a person who has the Holy Spirit.
 

awelight

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a spiritual man would be mature. A babe is not mature / spiritual.
Galation 6.1
1¶Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are SPIRITUAL restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
I'm reading this as the ' mature ' Christan ( spiritual) should restore the less mature one in a spirit of meekness . Rather than ' you who is a believer who has the Holy Spirit should restore another one in a spirit of meekness.
EleventhHour made some very good points. The primary push of Paul's letter is to get the Corinthians to see, that there are many who are walking in the wisdom of the world. Some of these, I am sure, are unsaved people within the church and are having a negative effect on the babes in Christ. Confusing the minds and leading astray.

There are three types of "spiritual believers", that is to say, possess the indwelling Holy Spirit. ( Hopefully, we all understand the difference between the indwelling Spirit, which all believers have, and being baptized in the Spirit, which is not the same thing. )

Three types: Babes, Young men and Mature.

Yes, Gal. 6:1 is addressing a more mature member in the faith.
 

throughfaith

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Being made alive in Christ.......before that,we are well and truly dead,.....spiritually dead....that is my belief.
And there s the confusion .
Spiritual means mature. Paul uses it to mean - ' mature ' and not the western idea ' oh she's so spiritual " , oh yeah that church , there so spiritual ' , not like that dead church,"
 
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And there s the confusion .
Spiritual means mature. Paul uses it to mean - ' mature ' and not the western idea ' oh she's so spiritual " , oh yeah that church , there so spiritual ' , not like that dead church,"

You are spiritual once you are saved,you are a babe in Christ....you have been adopted by God,because the Holy Spirit indwells you....therefore bringing your dead spirit to life ,you are a new being and God recognises you as his child,you start your journey and fellowship with him.

Maybe she’s so spiritual because she’s alive in Christ she’s on fire for the Lord......I was high for yrs,when I was first born again.

I also used to dance in the Spirit,full of joy that God Saved me...overflowing in fact,words can’t really describe how thankful I was to God for saving me,I thank Him every day.
 

awelight

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One of the important and basic points, that everyone seems to be overlooking, is this.

This is not Paul's first teaching to the Corinthians. It is, his first letter to them. Many of the things which Paul is referring to in Chapters 2 &3, are retrospective. This is not to say, that this church, did not still have problems. Pay close attention to this verse.

1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

Paul is making reference to his visit with them. A visit that took place in the past and proceeded this letter.

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.

Same reference again here.

This does not speak as to the condition of the church, spiritually speaking, at the time of the letter. We have no measure as to how much they had grown. We do know, they were not handling church discipline properly and there were jealousies over spiritual gifts.

So be careful, how you draw conclusions about the text in between.
 

ForestGreenCook

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Jul 8, 2018
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Different context to 2.14 . calling it foolish and being unable to believe it are two completely different things.
What part of; "NEITHER CAN HE KNOW THEM" BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED. do you not understand?
 

ForestGreenCook

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i
I'd simply say that any man that does not have the Holy Spirit will not be Glorified. He is not ' in Christ '
That would be the natural man, he is not in Christ, and therefore not born spiritually, and cannot understand spiritual things, not even the spiritual milk of the word.
 

ForestGreenCook

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And there s the confusion .
Spiritual means mature. Paul uses it to mean - ' mature ' and not the western idea ' oh she's so spiritual " , oh yeah that church , there so spiritual ' , not like that dead church,"
I do not find in the Greek translation any mention to "mature".
 

throughfaith

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Aug 4, 2020
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One of the important and basic points, that everyone seems to be overlooking, is this.

This is not Paul's first teaching to the Corinthians. It is, his first letter to them. Many of the things which Paul is referring to in Chapters 2 &3, are retrospective. This is not to say, that this church, did not still have problems. Pay close attention to this verse.

1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came unto you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

Paul is making reference to his visit with them. A visit that took place in the past and proceeded this letter.

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.

Same reference again here.

This does not speak as to the condition of the church, spiritually speaking, at the time of the letter. We have no measure as to how much they had grown. We do know, they were not handling church discipline properly and there were jealousies over spiritual gifts.

So be careful, how you draw conclusions about the text in between.
1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto mature believer's sharing the things you wanted but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. You complain that my Bodily presence is weak and you doubt my credentials. You love the rhetoric, the great wisdom. You had appolos who came with further teachings ,but I see this has not taken root . You still need the milk ,your unable to bear the things of God . Unable to understand the deeper things of the Spirit and of God . ( this is a paraphrase )