Why does the natural come before the spiritual in God's order?
The natural comes first because the first man, Adam, is of the earth, earthy, and serves as the federal head of the natural human race. Through him the race was plunged into sin, and sin precipitated death. Only afterward does the spiritual come, through the last Adam, the Lord from heaven, who is a life-giving spirit.
Les explains from I Corinthians 15:45-46 that the first man, Adam, was made a living soul, while the last Adam was made a quickening or life-giving spirit. Verse 46 declares that the spiritual was not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. The reason is that the first man is of the earthy, and the second man, the last Adam, is the Lord from heaven. Les describes these as two federal heads: Adam as head of the natural progeny of the human race plunged us into sin, and sin precipitated death. Therefore the natural order precedes the spiritual order, because Adam’s earthy headship comes first, and the spiritual comes afterward through the last Adam. Les also directs us back to Romans 5:12 to confirm this with Scripture rather than human opinion.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
What is the scriptural law about the natural and the spiritual order?
The scriptural law is that the spiritual does not come first; the natural comes first, and afterward the spiritual. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that the first man Adam was a living soul, earthy, while the last Adam is a quickening spirit, the Lord from heaven.
Why does God always deal with the natural first and then the spiritual?
It is a fixed rule of God in His dealings with humanity: Scripture consistently presents the natural first and the spiritual afterward. Examples include Cain before Abel, Ishmael before Isaac, Esau before Jacob, Saul before David, and the first Adam before the last Adam. This pattern culminates with Antichrist preceding the true Christ.
More Questions
Why does God always deal with the natural before the spiritual?
It had to be first the natural and then the spiritual because this is one of the rules of God in His manifestation with the human race.
Why did Paul say the natural came first and the spiritual came afterward?
Paul says in Scripture the natural Adam came first and the spiritual Christ came afterward, so the natural/spiritual order is Adam then Christ.
What did Paul mean when he said the natural came before the spiritual?
Paul's 'natural first, spiritual afterward' point refers to Adam as the natural man and Christ as the spiritual one who came afterward; everyone began with natural Adam.
What is the law of Scripture about the order of natural and spiritual?
Scripture follows the law that the natural comes first and then the spiritual.