In order to understand the differences between these three types, we must first understand that the whole personality of a man consists of three parts - spirit, soul and body. The degree of dominion of any of these three part, over the whole personality of man, determines which type of man he is - whether he is a natural man, a carnal man or a spiritual man. Through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, this truth came to me recently. Through personal experience I also discovered that there are many born-again christians including Church leaders cannot understand the differences between soul and spirit.
The writer of Hebrews said, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, NKJV, emphasis added).
In other words, the differences between soul and spirit can only be revealed by the Word of God. Therefore, any christian who says that there is no differences between the soul and spirit, then, he is either careless or he cannot understand or discern the Scripture accurately. Furthermore, this truth is made known by Paul in 1 Thess. 5:23. If there is no difference between soul and spirit, Paul would not mention "... your whole spirit, soul, and body ...".
The Natural Man
"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14, emphasis added).
In other words, the natural man does not have the Holy Spirit in him to help him to receive the things of the Spirit of God. Therefore, the natural man is an unregenerated person. He is not born-again and his spirit is dead. Spiritual things of God have no meaning to Him. He is motivated by the flesh, his unredeemed soul - his will, intellect and emotion - and the physical senses of his body. In other words, he is led by his "soul life" which is corrupted. Sense knowledge, natural human knowledge, are all that the natural man possesses. He has no "revelation knowledge" at all. In my opinion, many (with some exceptions) professional philosophers, psychologists, and psychiatrists, including theologians are natural man. Many of them have natural soulish wisdom instead of divine wisdom that can only be imparted through the Holy Spirit. Their teaching or preaching may sound spiritual but they are not led by the Spirit of God but "led" by human or soulish wisdom (compare with Paul's preaching - 1 Cor. 2:4,5) and based on reasoning, statistical measurement and what their mind can make known to them.
The soul part takes dominion of the life of the natural man. Notice that the soul part is created by God and is necessary and is certainly not evil. But, when the soul of a man takes control of his unregenerated and unquicken spirit, then he is likely to do evil things even without knowing it. This is because the natural man is born with the sinful Adamic nature.
Notice that if the unregenerated man is called the natural man, then the other two types of man must be called supernatural man. This is true because salvation is a supernatural experience. A christian is essentially a supernatural man.
The Carrnal Man
The carnal man is a born-again christian, may or may not have baptised in the Holy Spirit. But, he is a babe in Christ. He allows his soul to take dominion or take control over his spirit instead of being led by the Holy Spirit.
Paul said, "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food, for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?" (1 Cor. 3:1,2,3, emphasis).
Notice that in these verses, Paul mentions all three types of people, spiritual, carnal and "mere men", meaning "natural men" (The Amplified Bible says, "unchanged men"). The writer of Hebrew said almost the same thing - Hebrews 5:12,13.
Paul's letters to the Corinthians are written to born-again, Spirit-filled believers, even to a Church which has all the gifts of the Spirit operating (1 Cor. 1:7). The amazing thing is that even carnal christians have the abiblity to exercise Spiritual gifts! Paul reminds christians that anyone who exercises spiritual gifts does not mean he is spirtual. In fact, Paul said a Church with carnal christians is divided by envy and strife (1 Cor. 3:3).
Peter, just like Paul wants christians to grow out of carnality:
"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).
So, we see the only way to grow out of carnality is by the Word. Therefore, christians must live the Word, walk the Word, eat the Word, sleep the Word, teach the Word and be doers of the Word. In fact, any christian who loves divine life must love the Word because God and His Word is the only source of life!
Jesus says, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).
God is the only source of life. He gives life through His Son (His Word) to the spirit of of man. In turn, the spirit of man gives life to his soul and to his body in this divine order.
The Spiritual Man
The spiritual man is a genuinely redeemed person. He is born-again by the Spirit of God and is baptised in the Holy Spirit. The full effect and evidence of the new birth is manifested in him.
1. God's Spirit imparts new life to his spirit. His spirit is born-again and therefore no longer dead.
2. His spirit is restored so that he can relate to God directly just like Adam and Eve before the Fall.
3. God' Spirit releases his soul from Satan's control. Notice that Satan can only control the soul of man and not his spirit.
4. God's purpose for the functions of the sprit, soul and body of man is completely restored. That is, God's Spirit from above directs his spirit. His spirit directs his soul (the will, intellect, and emotion). His soul directs his body (his five senses), in this divine order. Satan's purpose is to reverse the divine order!
In conclusion, I believe there are two important things only a spiritual man can do effectively:
1. He can worship God the way God wants to be worshipped
In worship, the spirit of man is in direct union with God's Spirit. Paul said, "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him" (1 Cor. 6:17). Furthermore, what Jesus says in John 4:23,24 indicates that God only accepts worship in spirit and in truth. Any other way of worship is soulish and cannot be accepted by God.
2. He can speak and pray in tongue
In speaking in tongues, our spirit relates directly to our body (our tongue) and gives utterance to the tongue without the hindrance of our soul (mind and reasoning). Paul said, "For if I pray in tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful" (1 Cor. 14:14). In other words, when Paul prays in tongue his soul (understanding) does not contribute anything. His spirit prays directly to the Spirit of God. Therefore, we cannot pray a wrong prayer (or soulish prayer) when we pray in the Spirit.
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