THE NATURAL MAN: 1 Cor. 2:14. Alienated from God.
- Born only once. Alive physically; dead spiritually.
- Motivated by his own physical desires.
- Unbelieving, unconverted, unsaved.
- Self is supreme (“flesh”, Jn. 3:6). Jesus Christ is not in the flesh. He is excluded.
- Ego-centered. Functions and seeks fulfillment in the five senses.
- Outwardly gracious, courteous, and kind. Inwardly seeks to gratify fleshly desires.
- The Holy Spirit has never touched his spirit; he is separated from God.
- Despite natural gifts and physical accomplishments, he has a major void in his life. Pascal – “There is a God-shaped vacuum in every heart.” Henry Thoreau – “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.”
- Things of God are foolishness, distastefulness, and moronic; he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned.