KINDS OF PEOPLE ON EARTH (Part 1)
MEMORY VERSE: - “but the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Corinthians 2:14).
INTRODUCTION: - The Bible typically divides all humans into two basic categories using personal relationship with God as yard stick. These are (1) Those who do not have a personal relationship with God and are still following their sinful ways and (2) those who have accepted God’s forgiveness and are living daily in a personal relationship with Him through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ideally, those who follow Christ are expected to be completely submitted to him and relying on His power to resist the pull of their human nature towards sin. But many are only following Christ afar off’ (Matt.26:58), thus giving head to the warmth of the fire of sin (Mark 14:54).
LESSON OUTLINES
The Natural Man/Woman
This is an unspiritual (in the sense that he/she does not have the spirit of God in him or her). He/she has not been spiritually renew, transformed or “born again” (Jh.3:3-7). Such a person is still controlled by natural instincts (2 Pet.2:12), the part of the human nature that resists, opposed and defiles God is still governing such a life (Rom.8:5-8). This kind of person does not have the Holy Spirit within him/her (Rom.8:9), but lives under Satan’s rule and influence (Acts 26:18). Such lives basically in selfishness, pursuing his/her own pleasure and interests and ignoring the commands of God and the welfare of others and ignoring the commands of God and the welfare of others, such a person is cruel to others and rebels against God and His laws. Such lives independent of God, not submitting to Him and His Word (Rom.5:10; 8:7).
Such lives after the flesh; desiring, taking pleasure in, being occupied with and trying to satisfy the corrupt desire of the sinful human nature. Such living includes immoral behaviours, selfish ambition, jealousy, envy, covetousness, hatred, drunkenness, anger, malice and any other attitude or choices of behavior that do no please God (Gal.5:19-21). Obscurity, pornography, drug addiction, mental or emotional pleasure from sexual images in movies, plays, magazines, books, internet and television have a great hold on countless people’s lives.
The set of people not only commit sin but also have pleasure in those that do them (Rom.1:32). And since such is living under Satan’s rules and influence, they consequently, continues to be a slave to his or her own passions, limitations and desires (Eph.2:3). Individuals in this category prefer friendship with the world over friendship with God, thus, making themselves enemies of God (Jam.4:4). They reject the true and right ways of God’s Spirit (1Corint.2:14). Since they are not able to understand who God is, how He works and why, God also gave them up to uncleanness, allowing them to completely go their own way, experiencing the full effects of their lust and vile affections (Rom.1:24; Eph.5:3). But the end of the natural man is the second death-spending eternity in hell fire. God will not automatically save those who do not hear His message, nor will they have a second chance after death (Heb.9:27).
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Today, many experience the great harm a society suffer when it saturates itself with all kinds of crude and godless examples that fill so many of our venues of entertainments e.g. movies, books, internet, magazines, theaters, and television. Yet many people (both old and young ) approve of and take pleasure in what will destroy them in the end. Even many Christians today find themselves drawn into this hopeless and destructive path, using a number of misguided excuses. They may call it harmless fun, a means of socializing, an experiment that teaches reality or helps them to relate to the culture. But being entertained by watching other people sin and engage in ungodly actions, even though you yourself do not participate, does not please God and more than those who are sinning directly. The end result of such path is spiritual and eternal destruction on the judgment day (2Thess.2:12).
QUESTIONS
Who is a natural man? In what ways can one be a partaker of another man’s sin?