Two Classes of Christians — The Spiritual Man

Two Classes of Christians

In 1 Corinthians 3:1, the apostle divides all Christians into two categories: the spiritual and the fleshly. A spiritual Christian is one in whom the Holy Spirit dwells in their human spirit and governs all things. But what does it mean to be fleshly? In Scripture, “the flesh” refers to the entire nature and life of an unregenerate person—that is, everything that belongs to a person who has not been born again, including the sinful components of their spirit, soul, and body (see Romans 7:18).

Therefore, a fleshly Christian is one who has already been born again and has received the life of God, yet is powerless to overcome the flesh and is instead overcome by it. We already know that in a fallen person, the spirit is dead—subservient to the dominion of the soul and body. In the same way, a fleshly Christian is one who, despite being born again, continues to follow the inclinations of the soul and body in sin and in daily conduct.

After a believer is born again, if they remain fleshly for an extended period, the saving work of God has not yet been fully manifested in them. Only when they grow in grace to the point of becoming spiritual does salvation reach its completion in their life. In His redemptive work at Calvary, God has already prepared full salvation: every sinner may be born again, and every regenerated person may go on to fully overcome the “old creation” and attain the position of a spiritual person.