"The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man IS of the earth, earthy: the second man IS the Lord from heaven."

     "The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man IS of the earth, earthy: the second man IS the Lord from heaven. As IS the earthy, such ARE they also that are earthy: and as IS the heavenly, such ARE they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." - 1 CORINTHIANS 16:46-50.

     Our "first nature" is inherited from the first Adam. His nature is human. Our "second nature" is inherited from the last Adam, namely Jesus. His nature is human and divine. "So it is written: "The first man Adam became a LIVING BEING"; the last Adam, a LIFE-GIVING SPIRIT." - 1 CORINTHIANS 15:45. We have all been made in the image and likeness of God (GENESIS 1:27). Which means that we can take on the likeness of God's divine nature through our spirit coming alive to the Spirit of God. Adam, being the first human, was created perfect from the dust of the ground. But Adam disobeyed and brought sin into the world. Jesus is the Second Man, and is the "last Adam". And whilst the first Adam brought sin INTO the world, the second Adam provides for taking sin OUT of the world.

     Adam and Jesus are paired together in that they were both uniquely man without sin. Some other similarities between the first Adam and the last Adam lie in that they are both givers of life. The first Adam gave life to all his descendants. The last Adam, Jesus Christ, gives eternal life to those who receive Him and believe on His name, thereby bequeathing all men with the ‘power to become the sons of God’ (JOHN 1:1–14). Secondly, Adam was the head of the human race. Jesus is the head of redeemed humanity. A third similarity is that in GENESIS 2:21–23, Adam is placed into a deep sleep by God, during which time, a wound in Adam’s side produced a bride for Adam! In the same way, the crucifixion placed the second man in a deep sleep. And just like Adam, a wound was inflicted in Jesus' side (JOHN 19:34), which produced a bride for Jesus! It is through Christ alone that we inherit our second nature. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" - 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17.

     Speaking of a second nature, we are all likewise familiar with the expression of something becoming "second nature". The dictionary definition of second nature is "a habit or tendency that is so deeply ingrained as to appear automatic." This definition tells us that when a behaviour is second nature, it has become so spontaneous, that it occurs completely independently of volition or conscious effort. It has become an unconscious force of "habit". This means that before that point is arrived at, it is also not our nature's default persuasion. It is a behaviour that has been progressively apprehended or acquired over time. But in time, the habit eventually becomes so natural and ingrained that it is entirely automatic or second nature.

     The human competency model suggests that we all start at a place referred to as "unconscious incompetence". Over time, our self-awareness leads us to a place known as "conscious incompetence". That is when we become conscious of our own incompetence. Prior to this developmental milestone, we remained blissfully unaware of our incompetence. The next step in the formation of a habit that becomes second nature, is to progress to the third stage, known as "conscious competence". And lastly, we arrive at "unconscious competence" or that place of habit or behaviour that is so deeply ingrained, that it appears automatic. The behaviour moves from deliberately forced and mechanical, to instinctively spontaneous. Or from the position of consciously adapted behaviour to a condition of nature which requires no conscious thought. This is second nature.

     Being a Christian also has its own competency model or maturity standard. And likewise, spiritual maturity also has four stages. A baby stage. A child stage. A youth stage. And ultimately the stage of a mature Christian. The mature Christian is that place where our "second nature" (1 CORINTHIANS 16:46-50) has become second nature. It's where man has successfully developed from his flesh being second nature to his spirit becoming second nature. It's a maturation from being a carnal man to a spiritual man. A "carnal Christian" is one who, although he has been given a new spirit (EZEKIEL 36:26), he still looks to his soul (mind, emotions, will) to guide his life, his choices, his behaviour. He seeks to please his soul with the things of the world. In an order of prominence, instead of man's "spirit" being prominent, man's "soul" is prominent. This order is the force of habit that postures from man's fallen nature, otherwise known as the Adamic nature or man's "first nature". This is the self that we are called to die to. This is the life we are to lay down as a living sacrifice. This is the self that prioritises independence from God. This is the self that positions self as sovereign.

     Prior to regeneration, man's spirit has become so suppressed and subdued, that it is completely eclipsed by man's soul, so much so that it is almost impossible to distinguish between soul and spirit. However, the whole point of the new spirit through the new creation or new birth (the birth not of water - JOHN 3:5) is to not only educate man that he has an independent spirit, but to overcome the fallen nature by promoting man's spirit to prominence over his soul. Carnal Christians are those who have progressed from the state of "unconscious incompetence" to "conscious incompetence". And of this type, we find that there are two kinds. The first group are those for whom the inertia of moving appropriately along the maturity continuum has just begun. And as with the typical process of progressing from babes to adults, so too is the process of maturing from babes to adults in the spirit. Sadly, however, there are a second group of Christians at this child stage who have tasted the sweet wine of the second nature, but have wilfully chosen to drink from the cistern of the first nature. They remain lead by the human soul. For these, the spirit never restores to it's intended prominence, where the spirit that is God regenerates us, teaches us, and leads us into His rest.

     Before regeneration, man's spirit is completely separate from God's life. After regeneration, the new spirit of man (EZEKIEL 36:26) is now alive to God. And having become alive to God's Spirit, man's spirit becomes progressively quickened to the unction, operation and instruments of the Holy Spirit. Man becomes progressively alive to the communion of the Spirit and the conscience of God. Over time, man moves from the condition of unconscious incompetence, where he exists in a lifestyle state completely unaware that he is spirit, or that he is separate from God, towards conscious competence. Eventually, instead of turning to our own mind and knowledge for counsel, and to the world for gratification, we learn to look within, and listen to the voice of God for counsel and gratification. We become sustained by the Spirit and not by the flesh. And in so doing, for those who move onward to maturity as sons and daughters of God, the unbalanced scales of man's fallen nature swing from a dominance of soul to a prominence of spirit. "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." - ROMANS 8:14.

     The voice of God speaks to us through the new spirit. Our spirit is a different organ to that of the mind or the soul. Many are the children of God who turn to themselves, or to their souls, to determine whether they have peace, grace or spiritual progress. But the Word says, “It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God” - ROMANS 8.16. Man’s spirit is the place where man works together with God. How do we know we have been born anew, and that we are, therefore, children of God? We know this because our inner man (spirit) has been quickened, and the Holy Spirit now dwells within. Our spirit is a regenerated and renewed one.

     However, He who dwells within us is very distinct from our own new spirit, and is, in fact, the Holy Spirit. And the two of them bear witness together. So, if we die to self (that is, stop listening to the soul), which is stimulated via our senses by the things of the world, and instead, rather focus inwardly, our new spirit (the regenerated spirit) will abide in (have relationship with) both the presence and the counsel of the Holy Spirit, who is our friend, as well as the helper who Jesus said would come. And when we look to Him, via our spirit, as opposed to the world, via our souls, this is when we find the peace that surpasses all understanding, and joy that cannot be quenched.

     When we stay deaf and insensitive to the Holy Spirit via our own regenerated spirits, this is where the term "do not grieve the Spirit" comes from. "Grieve" is different from "anger". Grieve is a thing of love. When we do not listen to or commune with the indwelling Holy Spirit, but instead rather look to ourselves, and our minds and emotions, we hurt or grieve the Holy Spirit. Abiding in the spirit, or having relationship with the Holy Spirit, not only pleases the Holy Spirit, but it is like learning to walk as a child. However, instead of as babies in the flesh, it is as babies in the spirit. It's a process, and it takes time and practice.

     And just like walking for a baby becomes second nature, living in the spirit also becomes second nature. In fact, it IS our second nature, as we have taken on the new and left behind the old. A "carnal Christian", therefore, is really he who keeps the "first nature", the nature of the "first Adam", as opposed to taking on the "second nature", being the nature of the "second Adam". When "the second nature becomes second nature", we have moved into the realm of "unconscious competence", or the deeply ingrained habit of automatically hearing and abiding in the Holy Spirit, as opposed to walking in the flesh.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

- 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 -

      Eli, Eli, our God, our God, may Your grace abound plentifully, that as sons and daughters of God, as men and women of God, as soldiers and generals of God, and servants and stewards of the Kingdom, may we all walk in unconscious competence in the deeply ingrained habit of constant communion with the Holy Spirit. May the second nature become second nature to all of us. May the Kingdom nature be our daily bread and our daily garment. This we humbly ask with thanksgiving, in the hallowed and holy name of Christ Jesus, for all Your own, and all our own, amen and amen.

- To God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be all the glory. Forever and ever. Amen and amen.

- God's richest blessings, Wayne Biehn