Why the Natural Man Cannot Understand the Things of God

“But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually examined.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, LSB)

There is a spiritual wall that every person is born with, a barrier between the human heart and the truth of God. Paul calls this person the natural man—the one who lives according to human nature, apart from the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. This is the state of every man and woman before salvation.

The natural man might be smart, educated, and even moral by worldly standards, but Paul says he does not accept the things of the Spirit of God. Why? Because spiritual truth is not discovered by human wisdom, it is revealed by God through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10 13). Without the Spirit, the truths of Scripture will seem foolish, outdated, or irrelevant. The natural man might read the Bible like a history book, critique it like a philosophy, or admire it like literature, but he will never embrace it as the living Word of God.

Paul explains, “he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually examined.” This is not an issue of intelligence but of regeneration. The problem is not in the mind’s capacity but in the heart’s condition. Jesus said in John 3:3, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” The Spirit must open blind eyes, soften hard hearts, and bring the dead to life (Ephesians 2:1–5).

This truth has several implications for us:

1. It reminds us of the necessity of the Holy Spirit in salvation.
We cannot argue or persuade someone into the Kingdom apart from the Spirit’s work. Apologetics and reason are tools, but only God can give sight to the blind.

2. It keeps us humble.
If we understand spiritual truth today, it is not because we are smarter or more enlightened than others—it is because God, in His mercy, revealed Himself to us.

3. It fuels our prayer for the lost.
Instead of merely trying to win debates, we should be pleading with God to open their eyes, knowing that without the Spirit they cannot truly see.

4.It warns us about relying on the flesh.
Even as believers, when we neglect the Spirit’s guidance and lean on our own understanding, we slip back into thinking like the natural man.

The truth is sobering; apart from God’s Spirit, man is spiritually dead. But it is also hopeful; God is still in the business of opening eyes, transforming hearts, and making the blind see.

If you are reading this and find the Bible hard to accept, it may be that you are still approaching it as the natural man. My prayer is that you will humble yourself before God, ask Him to reveal Himself to you, and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation. The moment the Spirit opens your eyes, what once seemed foolish will suddenly become the sweetest truth you have ever known.

In Love,

Pastor Jody