By
Arthur J Licursi
The Bible divides the human race into five
categories of people.
1. The “lost and perishing”:
These are the “sons of Adam”
(Deut 32:8).
2 Corinthians
4:3-4 (AMP) (Paul writes) But even if our Gospel (the glad
tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders
the knowledge of God), it is hidden [only] to THOSE WHO ARE PERISHING
and obscured [only]
to those who are spiritually dying and
veiled [only] to THOSE WHO ARE LOST. 4
For the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’
minds [that they should not discern the truth], preventing them from seeing
the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who
is the Image and
Likeness of God.
Paul then also writes this
to the Christian believers at
Ephesus
referring to their past condition. Not being born of Christ’s resurrection
life, the lost and perishing are those who are “without
Christ …having no hope, and without God in the world.”
Ephesians
2:11-12 Wherefore remember, that ye being in
time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by
that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12
That at that time ye were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of
promise, HAVING NO HOPE, AND WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD:
2. The “babe in Christ”:
When a person sees his self as a sinner and
trusts Christ as his personal Saviour, he is immediately reborn as a “babe
in Christ.” Babes in Christ can and should grow. Paul had to write
this to the Corinthian believers who he still considered “babes in
Christ.”
“I...could not
speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal,
even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and
not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear [digest] it, neither
yet now are ye able” (1Cor.3:1, 2).
Every parent loves and hopes for their baby,
but the joy that fills the hearts of loving parents turns to sorrow if their
baby fails to grow.
All believers should “desire the
sincere [pure] milk of the Word that ye may grow
thereby” (1Pet.2:2) “that we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine” (Eph.4:14). Peter then exhorts; “but grow
in grace, and in the knowledge of our lord and saviour, Jesus
Christ” (2pet. 3:18).
3. The “carnal” Christian:
Though perhaps they may have been a
Christians for many years, some have not grown in God’s love and grace.
This is often due to their indifference and ignorance of the word of God and
the good news of Paul’s Gospel that would win their hearts. Many of the
carnal Corinthian Christians remained shallow, fleshly, and lived according
to his independent self-will, often living for the physical pleasures and
comforts of this world. Some caused strife and division in “the body of
Christ.” These still have to be treated as a “babes in Christ.”
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?
4. The “natural man”:
“The natural man (Gk.,
psuchikos, the man of the soul) 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”
(ICor.2:14).
Most people wrongly assume the world “natural”
here refers to an unsaved man, a non-Christian. However, in context we must
note that Paul was writing to the carnal babes at
Corinth
who actually are Christians who are not spiritual; they are
still “natural” (Greek, psuchikos, the
man of the soul). This means they live by their soul, the psyche (psuche),
their psychological self, their intellect; they live independent of “the
Spirit of Christ” within them.
Bible knowledge is helpful to point us to
trust Christ and the truth of “the gospel of the grace of God,” but
this alone does not make one spiritual. No matter how studied and
knowledgeable of the Bible he may be, “the natural man,” being
independent of the Spirit, does not yet trust and yield to Christ’s “Spirit
of life” in his spirit for his discernment. Thus, he is still blinded
due to his being “a man of the soul.”
5. The “spiritual” Christian
is one who has come to a trusting union with Christ. He knows the truth of
the written word of God and he intimately knows Christ who lives within him.
He has grown in spiritual maturity to be led by the Spirit. He is no longer
merely a babe or child of God (Rom 8:16); he is a grown up “son
of God” (Rom 8:14) or a “man of
God.” (2 Timothy 3:17). By trusting the Lord
he is equipped with the Lord’s life and power, and he has revelation of
the truth in his study of the written word and in His contemplation of God.
2 Timothy
3:17 (AMP) So that THE MAN OF GOD may be complete and
proficient, well fitted and
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1
Corinthians 2:15-16 But
he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself
is judged of no man. 16 For who
hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we
have the mind of Christ