A person can understand the things of God only after salvation, when the Holy Spirit enlightens him and opens the Scriptures.
The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; they are foolishness unto him, and he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Les Feldick teaches that the Bible is utterly impossible to comprehend until a person becomes a child of God through a salvation experience. After that, the Holy Spirit opens the book to the believer, and understanding deepens as he grows in grace and knowledge.
1 Corinthians 2:14 — This is the foundational verse: the natural man cannot receive or know the things of God because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:13 — Shows that spiritual truth is taught by the Holy Spirit, not by man's wisdom.
1 Corinthians 3:1 — Reveals that even believers can be so carnal that they cannot yet receive the deep things of God.
Scripture states plainly that the natural man cannot understand the things of God. In 1 Corinthians 2:14 Paul writes, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." The same passage identifies the teacher of spiritual truth: "Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:13). Scripture also shows that even believers can be unable to receive deep truths. Paul told the Corinthians, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1).
Les Feldick teaches that the whole premise of Scripture — and the reason many people cannot understand it — is that man in his natural state is spiritually dead, having died by virtue of Adam's original sin. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; they are foolishness unto him, and he cannot know them because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). An unsaved person may read the stories and miracles of the Bible, but the basic deep things of Scripture are utterly impossible to comprehend until he becomes a child of God. The turning point is a salvation experience. Les is deliberately blunt: when people tell him they just cannot understand the Word he teaches, he tells them, "Once you come to know the Lord, you will." It is only after salvation that the Holy Spirit enlightens the believer and the Scriptures begin to open up. People who knew nothing of the things of God could suddenly see the whole thing the moment they believed. Understanding also involves growth. A brand-new believer does not need to know deep doctrinal truths to be saved — but God expects His children to learn, grow, and gain a graphic understanding of all He has done. Paul could not teach deep things to the Corinthians because they were carnal, still under the control of the Old Adam rather than the Holy Spirit. In the same way, believers who never move beyond the elementary things remain spiritual babes. Les remains patient with unbelievers, because he realizes they cannot comprehend these things until God opens their eyes and hearts in His own timing.
The Bible states that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, and neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). Les Feldick teaches that this is because man in his natural state is spiritually dead through Adam's original sin. An unbeliever may read the stories and miracles in the Bible and get something out of them, but when it comes to the basic deep things of Scripture, no one can understand them until he becomes a child of God. Les is blunt with people who say they cannot understand his teaching: "Once you come to know the Lord, you will."
Les teaches that believers speak "not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth" (1 Corinthians 2:13). Human intellect, education, or brilliance cannot produce true spiritual understanding. Instead, a person must first have a salvation experience; then the Holy Spirit enlightens him and the Scriptures begin to open up. Les has seen people who knew nothing of the things of God suddenly see the whole thing as soon as they became believers.
Because they remain carnal. Paul said, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:1). Les explains that carnal here refers to believers who have not really come out of the fleshly experience and are still under the control of the Old Adam rather than the Holy Spirit. God does not expect a brand-new believer to know deep doctrinal things, but He does expect growth: believers are to learn, grow, and gain a graphic understanding of all that God has done on their behalf.
Carnal Believers Cannot Receive Deep Things
Les explains that Paul could not give the Corinthians the deep things of God because they were carnal — believers still under the control of the Old Adam rather than the Holy Spirit.
God Expects Believers to Grow
Les teaches that although a new believer does not need deep doctrine to be saved, God expects every child of God to learn and grow in understanding of what He has done.
Natural Man Is Spiritually Dead
Les ties 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 to the premise that man in his natural state is spiritually dead, and shows that even the youngest believers grow in understanding of spiritual things.
The Book Is Closed Until Salvation
Les teaches that until a person becomes a child of God through salvation and faith, the Bible is utterly impossible to comprehend — the deep things are closed to the unsaved.
Salvation Opens the Scriptures
Les states that a salvation experience must come first; then the Holy Spirit enlightens the believer and the Scriptures begin to open up.
Natural Man Cannot Comprehend
Les quotes 1 Corinthians 2:14 to show that the spiritually dead natural man cannot comprehend the things of God, but the moment people believe, they can see the whole picture.
Growth in Grace and Knowledge
Les uses the analogy of physical growth to show that God expects new believers to grow in grace, knowledge, and wisdom rather than staying where they began.
Patience Until God Opens Eyes
Les reminds believers to be patient with unbelievers, because they cannot comprehend spiritual things until God opens their eyes and hearts in His own timing.
1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
This is the core answer to the question: the natural man cannot know the things of God, because they require spiritual discernment.
1 Corinthians 2:13: Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
This verse identifies the Holy Spirit, not human wisdom, as the teacher of spiritual things.
1 Corinthians 3:1: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
This verse explains why even believers may not be ready for deeper things: they are still carnal.
Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Les points to this verse in his teaching that salvation is the power of God and the starting point of the believer's growth and understanding.
Romans 8:9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
The passage Les is teaching in Clip 1 — believers are indwelt by the Spirit of God, which is the basis for spiritual life and growth.
No. Les teaches that until a person has a salvation experience, this book is utterly impossible to comprehend. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him (1 Corinthians 2:14). The unbeliever may read the stories and miracles, but the deep things of Scripture cannot be known until he becomes a child of God.
After salvation. Les says that once a person comes to know the Lord, the Holy Spirit enlightens him and the Scriptures begin to open up. A person must first have a salvation experience before the deep things of God become understandable.
Because they remain carnal — believers still under the control of the Old Adam rather than the Holy Spirit. Paul could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual but as carnal, even as unto babes in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1). God expects believers to grow in grace and in the knowledge of His Word.
No. Les emphasizes that a new person who knows nothing of these things does not have to know all the deep doctrinal things to be saved. But after becoming a child of God, believers are expected to learn and grow in their understanding.
Watch the Teaching: What the Holy Spirit Reveals to Believers - 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 Explained