Natural vs. Spiritual
Contrasting states of being
| Aspect | Natural | Spiritual | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source / origin | From Adam; original sin at the fall | From Christ; at the new birth | Identity: “In Adam” vs. “In Christ” |
| Perception of truth | Cannot receive the things of the Spirit; calls them foolish | Receives, loves, and discerns spiritual things by the Spirit | Spiritual discernment comes from the Holy Spirit regenerating who and when He wills |
| Destiny / harvest | What is sown in Adam must die; corruption reaps corruption | What is united to Christ is raised; sown in weakness, raised in power | Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming |
| Posture toward God | Self-centered, selfish, proud, resistant, self-justifying | God-centered, considerate of others, trusting, repentant, teachable | Unable to see the kingdom of God unless born again. |
There is a natural; or "animal body", such as the first man's was, and those are that descend from him by ordinary generation; and there is a spiritual body; such as the body of Christ now is, and as will be the bodies of the risen saints... (John Gill)
God observes the proper order by which that which is most glorious shall be secured. It was not His plan that all things in the beginning should be perfect; but that perfection should be the work of time, and should be secured in an appropriate order of events. (Albert Barnes)
Scriptural Anchors (hover for pop-up): Genesis 3:6; John 3:3, 8; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Corinthians 2:14, 10; 1 Corinthians 15:22-23, 44-46, 50, 53-54
See also: