The Spiritual Man and the Natural Man

          The Bible tells us of two different kinds of people -- those who have the
     Spirit of God, and those who are children of the devil (natural man).

          Those who have the Holy Spirit are no longer condemned, but have been
     set free from sin and death.

                                    "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those
                                     who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ
                                     Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from
                                     the law of sin and death."
                                                                                Romans 8:1-2


          God gives His Spirit to His children as a deposit guaranteeing their salvation
     and eternity in heaven with Him.

                                   "Now it is God who makes both us and you
                                    stand firm in Christ.  He anointed us, set His
                                    seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit
                                    in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what
                                    is to come."
                                                                               2 Corinthians 1:21-22


          The Bible makes it clear who are God's children and who are children of the
     devil.

                                   "By this it is evident who are the children of God,
                                    and who are the children of the devil:  whoever
                                    does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor
                                    is the one who does not love his brother."
                                                                                1 John 3:10


          The natural man is controlled by his sinful nature and is unable to do anything
     to please God, while the spiritual man has his mind set on what the Spirit desires.

                                   "Those who live according to the sinful nature
                                     have their minds set on what that nature desires;
                                     but those who live in accordance with the Spirit
                                     have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
                                     The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind
                                     controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the
                                     sinful mind is hostile to God.  It does not submit
                                     to God's law, nor can it do so.  Those controlled
                                     by the sinful nature cannot please God."
                                                                                   Romans 8:5-8


          The naural man belongs to the devil and is unable to hear from God.

                                   "Jesus said to them (Jews who wanted to kill Him),
                                    'If God were your Father, you would love me, for
                                    I came from God and now am here.  I have not come
                                    on my own; but He sent me.
                                    Why is my language not clear to you?  You belong
                                    to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out
                                    your father's desire.  ... He who belongs to God hears
                                    what God says.  The reason you do not hear is that
                                    you do not belong to God."
                                                                                 John 8:42-44a, 47


          The natural man is unable to believe in Jesus (without the Spirit enabling
     him), while the spiritual man is able to listen and believe.

                                 (Jesus said to the unbelievers), "The miracles I do in
                                 my Father's name speak for me, but you do not be-
                                 lieve because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen
                                 to my voice; I know them, and they follow  me."
                                                                                   John 10:25b-27

          Jesus did not say, "you are not my sheep because you don't believe, but
     you don't believe because you are not my sheep."  Only Jesus' sheep will
     believe in Him.

                                                         **********

          The spiritual man's life is fruitful.

                                "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
                                 patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
                                 gentleness, and self-control."  ... Those who
                                 belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the
                                 sinful nature with its passions and desires."
                                                                             Galatians 5:22-23a, 24


          God is sovereign in everything, including salvation.

          He gives His Holy Spirit to His children, but not to those who are not
     His children.  Those who have the Spirit become co-heirs with Christ.

                                 " ... those who are led by the Spirit of God are
                                   sons of God.  For you did not receive a spirit
                                   that makes you a slave again to fear, but you
                                   received the Spirit of sonship.  And by Him we
                                   cry, 'Abba, Father.'
                                   The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit, that
                                   we are God's children.  Now if we are children,
                                   then we are heirs -- heirs of God and co-heirs
                                   with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings
                                   in order that we may also share in His glory."
                                                                           Romans 8:14-17

                                                                               
          If you have received God's gifts of repentance and faith in Jesus as Savior,
     thank God for saving you and changing you from the natural man to the 
     spiritual man.


                                "The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord;
                                  He is their stronghold in time of trouble.  The LORD
                                  helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from
                                  the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge
                                  in Him."
                                                                           Psalm 37:39-40


         
                                                                                  
          If you have never trusted in Christ, then repent and believe in Him as Lord
      and Savior today.

                               " ... if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,"
                                 and believe in your heart that God raised Him from
                                 the dead, you will be saved."
                                                                                  Romans 10:9


                               " ... no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord', (confess He is Lord)
                                 except by the Holy Spirit."
                                                                                1 Corinthians 12:3b