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The Mind of Christ and
Spiritual Maturity
1 Corinthians 2:13-3:4
Introduction
In the closing verses of 1 Corinthians 2 and the opening of chapter
3, Paul addresses two essential truths. First, God’s will has been
revealed in words given by the Holy Spirit to inspired men of the
first century. Second, Christians must grow in understanding and
spiritual character, moving from infancy in the faith toward
maturity. The Corinthians were struggling in both areas. They needed
to recognize the divine origin of the message they had received and
live in a way that reflected its transforming power.
God’s Word Revealed Through
the Spirit
Paul begins in 1 Corinthians 2:13 by affirming that the apostles and
other inspired men spoke words taught by the Holy Spirit, not human
wisdom. The gospel did not originate in human thought or philosophy.
God chose to reveal His will in words, first spoken and then
written, to ensure His truth would be preserved for every generation
until Christ returns. These words carry the authority of God Himself
and are the medium through which we know His mind.
In the first century, these
words were revealed orally and then recorded on papyrus and
parchment. By the end of that century, God’s complete will had been
written. No pictures, visions, or human artistry were chosen to
preserve the message—only words. This is how we now possess the mind
of Christ, the complete revelation of God’s will for mankind.
The Natural Man and the
Spiritual Man
In verse 14, Paul contrasts the “natural man” and the “spiritual
man.” In context, the natural man refers to the uninspired person of
the first century who had not received divine revelation. Without
the Spirit guiding them, such a person could not know or teach God’s
will. The spiritual man refers to those inspired by the Holy Spirit
to reveal God’s truth. These men could “judge all things” because
they had been guided into all truth, just as Jesus promised in John
16:13.
This passage does not teach that
we need a miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit to understand
God’s word today. Romans 10:17 affirms that faith comes through
hearing the word of God. Acts 17:11 commends the Bereans for daily
searching the Scriptures, not for waiting on supernatural
enlightenment. God’s Spirit has already given us the inspired word;
our role is to read, study, and obey it.
The Completion of Revelation
Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 lists various miraculous
gifts that existed in the early church—prophecy, tongues, healing,
discernment, and others. These were given to confirm the spoken word
before the New Testament was completed. Once the written revelation
was finished, these gifts were no longer needed. Today, no one
possesses the ability to speak by inspiration or deliver new
revelation. God has already given us everything necessary for life
and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Spiritual Immaturity in
Corinth
As Paul moves into 1 Corinthians 3, he addresses a pressing problem.
The Corinthians had failed to mature in the faith. Though they had
been Christians long enough to grow, they were still “babes in
Christ.” Paul had to feed them “milk” rather than “solid food”
because they were not ready for deeper teaching. Hebrews 5:12–14
shows that maturity comes from consistent use of God’s word,
developing the ability to discern good and evil.
The evidence of their immaturity
was plain—envy, strife, and divisions were present among them. These
attitudes are worldly and show a lack of spiritual growth. Paul
rebukes them for acting like “mere men,” indistinguishable from
unbelievers. Their sectarianism, claiming allegiance to Paul or
Apollos, revealed their carnal mindset. They should have been united
in Christ, living as mature disciples.
A Call to Maturity
God expects every Christian to grow in knowledge, character, and
faithfulness. Spiritual maturity is not sinless perfection but
steady progress toward Christlikeness. This growth requires feeding
on God’s word, putting away worldly attitudes, and living in unity
with fellow believers. The Corinthians’ example is a warning for us:
if we neglect God’s word, we will remain immature, vulnerable to
division and sin.
The Mind of Christ Today
Paul concludes in 1 Corinthians 2:16, “We have the mind of Christ.”
That mind is preserved for us in Scripture. It is complete,
sufficient, and authoritative. It reveals God’s will, corrects our
thinking, and equips us for every good work. Our task is to study it
diligently, apply it faithfully, and let it shape our lives.
The Mind of Christ and
Spiritual Maturity Sermon Outline:
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Introduction
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God’s Word Revealed
Through the Spirit
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Words taught by the
Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13)
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God’s choice of words
as the medium of revelation
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The written word
completed in the first century
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The Natural Man and the
Spiritual Man
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Natural man: uninspired
person in the first century (1 Corinthians 2:14)
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Spiritual man: inspired
person revealing God’s truth
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No ongoing miraculous
enlightenment today (Romans 10:17; Acts 17:11)
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The Completion of
Revelation
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Spiritual Immaturity in
Corinth
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Babes in Christ needing
milk, not solid food (1 Corinthians 3:1–2; Hebrews 5:12–14)
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Evidence of immaturity:
envy, strife, divisions (1 Corinthians 3:3–4)
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Sectarianism as a sign
of carnality
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A Call to Maturity
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The Mind of Christ Today
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The complete,
sufficient revelation in Scripture (1 Corinthians 2:16)
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Our responsibility to
study, apply, and live it
Call to Action
Let us take seriously the responsibility to grow in our faith. We
have the complete mind of Christ preserved in Scripture. We must not
remain spiritual infants, vulnerable to division and sin. Commit
yourself to daily study, faithful obedience, and unity in Christ, so
that you may mature into the likeness of your Lord.
Key Takeaways
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God’s will was revealed in
words given by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13)
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The natural man in context
refers to the uninspired, not to all unbelievers (1 Corinthians
2:14)
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Revelation was completed in
the first century; no new inspired messages are given today (2
Peter 1:3)
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Spiritual immaturity
produces envy, strife, and division (1 Corinthians 3:3–4)
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Maturity comes through
consistent study and application of God’s word (Hebrews 5:12–14)
Scripture Reference List
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1 Corinthians 2:13
— Words taught by the Holy Spirit, not man’s wisdom
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1 Corinthians 2:14
— Natural man contrasted with spiritual man
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John 16:13
— Promise of being guided into all truth
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Romans 10:17
— Faith comes by hearing the word of God
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Acts 17:11
— Bereans commended for searching the Scriptures daily
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1 Corinthians 12:8–10
— List of miraculous gifts in the early church
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2 Peter 1:3
— God has given all things that pertain to life and godliness
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1 Corinthians 3:1–4
— Immaturity in Corinth evidenced by division
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Hebrews 5:12–14
— Maturity through use of God’s word to discern good and evil
Prepared by Bobby Stafford of
the church of Christ at Granby, MO
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The
church of Christ
