GOD’S ROAD MAP TO MATURITY!

                                                         1 Corinthians 2:9-16

INTRODUCTION: In order to get ourselves to where our Lord has told us He wants us to be we

need to know where we are right now. Now according to God’s Word there are three classes or

three classes of people in the world today. 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us about one of those

categories: the natural man. 1 Corinthians 2:15 tells us the second category of men and that is

the spiritual man. 1 Corinthians 3:1 tells us the third category of people: the carnal or baby

man. All of mankind fits into one of those three categories. The question is “Which category

do you fit into today? Our Lord wants us to know where we are so we can learn how to get to

be the kind of person He wants all of us to be: 1 Corinthians 2:6-7. A perfect person is a person

who is like their Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 8:28-29.

I. THE NATURAL MAN!

First let’s look deeply into the first classification of mankind: the natural man:

1 Corinthians 2:14. This person has only been born once; a natural birth from his mother and

father. 1 Corinthians 2:6. Remember what Jesus told Nicodemus? John 3:3. If you are only

born once you will die twice, a natural physical death and then the second death.

1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Jude 1:17-19; Jude 1:10.

II. THE SPIRITUAL MAN!

1 Corinthians 2:15 tells us about the spiritual man. When a man receives Jesus Christ as

their personal Lord and Savior they are not just nicer people. They have received the Spirit of

God and become new creations in Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:17. At that moment they are made

partakers of the divine nature. First we are all born natural men but we must be born again to

be spiritual men: John 1:12-13. We receive the wisdom of God from the Spirit of God:

1 Corinthians 2:7; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Corinthians 2:10. Our God has revealed the deep things

of God to us now if we are spiritual men. 1 Corinthians 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 2:1-2. I can

preach the truth of God’s Word to you but only God, through His Holy Spirit can impart His

truth to your heart: 1 Corinthians 2:13-14; 1 Corinthians 2:15-16. The spiritual man has a new

mind: 1 Corinthians 2:16; John 16:13-14.

III. THE CARNAL MAN!

1 Corinthians 3:1: the word “carnal” means fleshly. This is a person who has been born

again but is allowing their flesh to lead their lives and thinking instead of the Spirit of God! This

person is saved but you would never know it by the way he chooses to live his life. He is still

like a little baby in Christ. There are three marks of a carnal Christian. First this is a very

dependent person who needs constant attention: 1 Corinthians 3:1-2. Inability is the mark of

immaturity. A carnal Christian is one who is always dependent on other people. Second: The

carnal believer does not grow up into Christ. The apostle Paul said “I wanted to give you meat

but instead all you could take in was milk. Hebrews 5:11-14. Third; Baby Christians, carnal

Christians are often divisive: 1 Corinthians 3:3-4. Now if you realize you are a natural man

today, it is time to get saved and become a spiritual man. If you are still a carnal believer it is

time to turn from your childishness and enthrone the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord of your life and

grow up in the faith. If you are a spiritual Christian today don’t get proud because there is still

more growth ahead for you.