Introduction

In this exposition of 1 Corinthians 2, Paul’s contrast between the natural (fleshly) person and the spiritual person is carefully unpacked in light of the Canons of Dort. The goal is to correct common misunderstandings.  We might want to be very moralistic where we impose our will on someone else because we are more Spiritual.

We might want to make a distinction in the church.  Some are Spiritual Christians, and some are carnal Christians.  We all want to be Spiritual Christians.

The Spiritual Christian has the mind of Christ.  So, how can we be Spiritual with the mind of Christ?

Folly’s Judgement

Paul teaches that the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit.  Man does not have a problem of neutrality.  Man has a deep moral problem.  Man is sinful to the core and does not embrace or even see the Lord’s wisdom.  Natural man will judge the Gospel and Scripture as folly.

Scripture, from Genesis 3 onward, teaches that humanity is not merely sick but dead in sin.  Fallen man is in rebellion against God.  This is by man’s choice.

It is the fall into sin that condemns humanity.  It is not that man needs to make better choices.

Thus, the gospel appears “stupid” or “foolish” to the natural person.  This is not because a natural person fails to read the words.  The natural person can lay out the Gospel clearly.  However, the natural person will never know the Christ of Scripture.  We need the Lord to regenerate our hearts to respond in faith.

Why Not Be Judged?

When Paul says the spiritual person “is not judged,” we might think that we are above the law. We might think that we have immunity from the Lord’s judgment. This is not the case. The same word translated “judged” also means discerned or evaluated.

Paul is reminding us that we are called to discern what is right before the Lord. As we correctly discern, then we are not judged by man. We are submitting ourselves to the Lord’s judgment. As the Lord works in us by the Spirit, he convicts us of our sin.

The spiritual person can rightly evaluate life in light of Christ, while the natural person lacks the capacity to discern/judge/learn spiritual truth. They can read the Scripture, they can summarize the Gospel, but they will never live in light of it.

We are simply saying that the regenerate, spiritual person has a new bent of the will. It is by the Spirit’s work that the Spiritual person sees the wisdom and joy of life in Christ. So, the Spiritual person really desires and begins to conform to the Lord’s will.

How to Gain Christ’s Mind?

To have the mind of Christ is not to possess some sort of secret knowledge. It is to hear the gospel, and now see that message as the message of life. This is where the Christian begins to ask, “How do I please my savior?” Rather than, “How does everything please me?”

Paul is intentionally undermining Corinthian elitism. The Corinthians equated maturity with spiritual gifts. They prided themselves on having the greatest teachers.

The Apostle Paul defines maturity by embracing the cross, the resurrection, and the absolute necessity of Christ’s saving work. Paul praises the spiritual Christian or the mature Christian who sees that they need to submit to their Lord and redeemer.

The mind of Christ is shaped by doing the Father’s will. It is doing the Father’s will with joy. It is seeking to discern where we need to die to self. It is seeking to live unto the Lord.

This is the essence of a true Christian ethic. A good workflow from faith. Good work is done by the Lord’s standard or law. A good work is done for the Lord’s glory and not man’s approval (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 91).

Those who glory in Christ’s humiliation and redemption are the spiritually mature. The reason: the spiritually mature know they need a savior. The spiritually mature want to live for their savior even if that life looks rather ordinary. The spiritually mature will know they need Christ and will not fully arrive at perfection until glory. The spiritually mature see their continual need for their savior.

Conclusion

Human depravity is deeper than just a few bad decisions. Our condemnation before God is more than just failing to respond in faith, and we need to be more informed to make better decisions. We need more than the persuasion or assistance of Grace. We need the Lord’s radical intervention to regenerate our hearts. Only the Lord can give us that new heart by his recreative power.

Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 2 dismantles every attempt to redefine spirituality apart from the gospel. Humanity’s problem is not lack of information but spiritual death. Grace does not merely assist; it regenerates. The spiritual person is not superior, autonomous, or elite. The mature spiritual Christian rests in Christ. The mature spiritual Christians realize the grace that is overwhelmed by the Spirit, giving us a new heart in regeneration. The spiritually mature discern the things of Christ and seek to live for him.

Let us be a people who want to live for Christ’s glory as he is at work in us.