1 JOHN - #18, Walking in the Spirit produces character in the life of the believer. (5-13-25)

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1 Corinthians 2 is contrasting human viewpoint and divine viewpoint, the wisdom of God’s Word versus man’s wisdom.
to come to Me, that you may have life.
1 Corinthians 2:6 “Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; [7] but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden {wisdom} [divine viewpoint thinking] which God predestined before the ages to our glory; [8] {the wisdom} which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; [9] but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND {which} HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
The word “things” is a neuter plural referring to the doctrines of Scripture. They are not available through empiricism or through human observation. [10] “For to us, God revealed {them} through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.” What are the ”things” here? They are the same as at the beginning of v. 9, the doctrines, the mind of Christ and the revelation of the canon of Scripture. [11] “For who among men knows the {thoughts} of a man except the spirit [the immaterial part of man] of the man which is in him? Even so the {thoughts} of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.” The point that Paul is making is that there is an analogy. Just as no one knows what is in you except yourself, no one can know God except the Holy Spirit. So the only way we can know God is if God reveals Himself to us through some kind of objective revelation. [12] “Now we have received, not the spirit [attitude and thinking of the cosmic system] of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things [doctrines] freely given to us by God, [13] which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual {thoughts} with spiritual {words.} [14] But a natural [soulish] man does not accept the things [doctrines] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. [15] But he who is spiritual [pneumatikoj] appraises all things [doctrine], yet he himself is appraised by no one. [16] For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind (B.D.) of Christ.”
There is a connection between the fact that there is the ministry of Holy Spirit who reveals truth, and the understanding of doctrine has something to do with this absolute status. Where do we get the absolute status? It is in the next verse, 1 Cor. 3:1 “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.” It seemed to us when looking at the last couple of verses that “spiritual” referred to as a person who was a believer, but when we get to 3:1 there is more to it than simply having a human spirit. Here Paul adds a new element. Are they believers? Yes. But because they are operating on the sin nature they are just like an unbeliever, so he can’t talk to them like a believer and he introduces us to a new word, carnal or fleshly, The Greek word sarkinos [sarkinoj], based on the Greek word sarx [sarc]. We saw in Galatians 5 that if we are walking by means of the Holy Spirit we will not bring to completion the lusts of the flesh. So the person who is operating on the sin nature is characterized as someone who is fleshly. This tells us that there are three types of people:
1. The psuchikos person who is an unbeliever and just has a soul; 2. There is the spiritual person who is a believer, regenerate, and also operating on doctrine. 3. Then the sarkikos person who is saved but lives in the flesh like an unbeliever because he is operating on the sin nature.
This introduces us to the fact that we have spiritual versus carnal. If we abide in Christ and are walking by means of the Holy Spirit, understanding and applying revelation which is leading to production because of the Holy Spirit, we are spiritual. However, if we are operating on the sin nature we are not abiding and we are carnal. 1 Cor. 1:2 “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able {to receive it.} Indeed, even now you are not yet able.” Why are they not able? Because they are fleshly. We can’t take in the Word while we are fleshly - sarkinos. There is something about operating on the sin nature that does not allow us to understand, apply and live in doctrine. So the sin nature is going to stifle all spiritual production.