Spiritual Living Requires Spiritual Maturity

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not being merely human?

What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

— 1 Corinthians 2:14–3:9

Understanding the Big Picture Through Spiritual Discernment

One of the most beautiful concepts in this passage relates to how you can understand and perceive circumstances in life correctly—to see the bigger picture. The Apostle Paul addresses discernment, or properly understanding things. He introduces the idea of spiritual people who can discern and understand, then applies it to the Corinthian church's divisions, where people formed camps: "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos." These divisions were inconsistent because truly following those leaders would lead to unity, not division.

The Natural Person Cannot Understand Spiritual Things

A natural person does not understand the things of the Spirit of God; they are foolishness to them—the Greek word moria, meaning moronic. This applies to unbelievers, who are spiritually dead, without the Spirit of God or new birth. They cannot grasp God's existence, the Trinity, or practical biblical truths like sin's destructiveness.

Two reasons someone might not "get it": they are either a natural person (unsaved) or a spiritual infant. Legalism often arises from this, as people cling to external rules because spiritual concepts are incomprehensible. For example, in John 6, some interpret Jesus' words literally as physical eating of his flesh and blood, missing the spiritual meaning of coming to him in faith.

The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

— John 6:63

The natural person rejects spiritual truths outright, not just misunderstanding them—they lack the ability because they are spiritually discerned. This is total depravity: the unsaved cannot accept God's things without the Holy Spirit's regeneration through the gospel.

Spiritual Immaturity in the Church

Paul rebukes Christians, saying he cannot address them as spiritual but as fleshly infants. He fed them milk, not solid food, because they were not ready—and still are not. Jealousy and strife mark them as fleshly, behaving in merely human ways.

Being "of the flesh" means living like unbelievers, devoid of spiritual transcendence. Spiritual people discern all things and are not discerned by natural people. Yet the Corinthians' immaturity hinders this; they live without growth, distracted by jealousy and strife.

Jealousy here is zelos—intense interest in others' success, but negatively: resentment at their achievements, fearing lost attention. Strife is rivalry, competing for praise. This consumer mentality seeks personal gain, not God's glory.

Servants, Not Superstars: God Gives the Growth

What is Apollos? What is Paul? Mere servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned. Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. Neither planter nor waterer is anything—only God is. Those emphasizing leaders diminish God.

Yet Paul and Apollos are one, rewarded for faithful labor. Follow leaders rightly, but never at God's expense. Divisions like "I'm of Paul" or modern "red letters only" ignore unity in the gospel. All Scripture reflects Christ's mind.

Grow to Spiritual Maturity: Make Much of God

We are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. God works growth in you. Avoid jealousy and strife—focus on God and the gospel. Spiritual maturity discerns spiritually, unites the church as a tight-knit community caring for one another.

See others as God's children. Prioritize purity, protection, and growth. A church focused on God breeds contributors, not consumers. Grow by centering on the gospel, experiencing God's building work in your life.