Natural Man in 1 Corinthians 2:14-15

The natural man, as referred to in 1 Corinthians 2:14-15, is a person who is unregenerate and without the Spirit of God, unable to comprehend spiritual truths. According to the passage, the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, and he cannot know them, because they are spiritually discerned. This concept is rooted in the idea that humanity, apart from God's grace, is spiritually dead and unable to respond to spiritual stimuli, as stated in Ephesians 2:1-3, where it says that we were dead in trespasses and sins, following the course of this world.

The natural man is contrasted with the spiritual man, who has been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and is able to discern spiritual truths, as seen in 1 Corinthians 2:15, where it says that he who is spiritual judges all things. This doctrine is significant because it highlights the necessity of supernatural intervention in salvation, emphasizing that faith is not a product of human decision, but rather a gift of God, as stated in Ephesians 2:8-9. The Reformed tradition, following Calvin and others, has consistently affirmed this understanding of human nature, emphasizing the total depravity of man and the necessity of gracious regeneration.

In this context, a common misconception is that the natural man can, through sheer willpower or moral effort, become spiritual or pleasing to God, but Scripture clearly teaches that this is not the case, as seen in Romans 8:7-8, where it says that the carnal mind is enmity against God, and is not subject to the law of God. From a pastoral perspective, recognizing the natural man's inability to respond to spiritual truth apart from God's grace should lead us to rely on the Spirit's work in evangelism and discipleship, rather than relying on human techniques or methods, and to trust in the power of the gospel to transform lives, as seen in 1 Corinthians 1:18, where it says that the preaching of the cross is the power of God unto salvation.