Communion 317
having a regenerated spirit, they are powerless to receive the things
of the Spirit of God. Although these individuals can think and
observe, they still lack basic intuitive power; they cannot take in
what God reveals exclusively to man’s spirit. How utterly inadequate
are the natural endowments of man. He truly has much, but nothing
can substitute for the operation of intuition. Because man is dead to
God, no organ exists in him by which he can take in the things of
God. Nothing in a soulical man is capable of communing with Him.
Man’s most respectable mind, intellect and reasoning are as corrupt
as his lusts and passions; both equally are incompetent to apprehend
God. Even a regenerated man, if he attempts to communicate with
God by using his mind and observation (just as the unregenerate
does) instead of exercising his renewed spirit, is absolutely impotent
to perceive the realities of God. Those elements which belong to us
naturally do not change their operations following regeneration. A
mind is still a mind and a will, a will: these can never be turned into
organs capable of communion with God.
Not only can the soulical person not receive the things of God, he
even regards them as folly. According to the valuation of his mind,
matters known by intuition are downright foolishness because they
are all unreasonable, against human nature, contrary to worldly
wisdom, or in conflict with common sense. The mind delights in
whatever is logical, open to analysis, and psychologically appealing.
God, however, is not governed by man’s law and hence His actions
are folly to the soulical. The folly mentioned in this particular
chapter unquestionably refers to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.
The word of the cross speaks not only of the Savior Who died in our
stead but also of the believers who have died with the Savior.
Everything naturally belonging to believers must go through the
death of the cross. The mind may accept this as a theory, but it surely
will oppose it as a practice.
Since the soulical person does not welcome this word of the cross,
he obviously cannot comprehend what it is all about. Reception