Good evening! That I may add a thought to the discussion of a carnal Christian. A quote from an anabaptist preacher. "The believers who are carnal respond to the influence of the flesh within them, and those who are spiritual respond to the influence of the indwelling Spirit of Christ."
Romans 8:5-6 reminds us to be carnally minded is death as the carnal mind wars with God and does not want to subject itself to the will of God. The minister quotes "Carnality is a manifestation of the flesh within. Every Christian's walk will manifest the mind of the flesh within or the mind of the Spirit within."
He also says "Both the carnal Christian and the carnal Christian are possessors of the same Spirit, but the carnal Christian is quenching and grieving the Spirit or does not understand the voice of the Spirit." Paul's reproof in Romans and to the Corinthians is they were not yielded to the Spirit. The yielded spirit to the Spirit will make unity within the Church.
"The spiritual Christian has his will lost in the will of God. He feels himself poor and needy, and he relies entirely on the will of God. He has crucified his flesh with the lust thereof, and the sinful nature does not influence his life. The fruit of the Spirit is evidenced in him. Galatians 5:22-24
His thought being we should not promote the flesh allowing for the easy turning by the Spirit towards his will.
Good Will to men came in the babe in the manger within.
Hello David, Thank you for your reply! The thoughts that are written about carnal Christians and spiritual Christians do not doubt that regeneration at one time occurred as Christ suffered one time death and hell and shed His blood freely by the Righteousness of the Father for the children whom believe.
I would have to respectfully disagree with idea of a "carnal Christian" as expressed in your comment. And also in the quotations in Mr. Spencer's comments on the subject.
I would encourage you to read again very carefully Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 5, and 1 John, as well as many other passages throughout the Old and New Testaments where God discusses the nature of salvation.
I believe that a careful comparison of scripture throughout the Bible, teaches that when God applies salvation to the life of an individual, it means they have received a new resurrected soul. And in that new soul, they have been raised from death onto life. This is what God terms being "born again" and the "First Resurrection".
So that in their new resurrected soul, the true believer will, almost immediately, have a new and increasing hatred for sin in their life. Because they have at that moment become a "new creation" in Christ.
All of this is 100% the action of God alone. And not because of any decision we have made or faith that we have exercised.
Our salvation is, of course, not totally complete at that point. Because we still have a body that lusts after sin. So throughout the remainder of the true believer's life, there will be a struggle and a turning away from sin in their life. And there will be a continual "growing in grace". But this will look vastly different than an unsaved person that is merely seeking to live a moral life.
God, of course, will rectify this situation at the Last Day when every true believer will receive their resurrected body, and then become a complete personality in which we will never sin again, as we live eternally in the new heaven and new earth with the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
What a wonderful Savior we have!
And it is still the day of salvation so that anyone concerned about their salvation, can cry out to God for his mercy in the very real hope that God might save them. Just like the Ninevites in Jonah.
Romans 8:5-6 reminds us to be carnally minded is death as the carnal mind wars with God and does not want to subject itself to the will of God. The minister quotes "Carnality is a manifestation of the flesh within. Every Christian's walk will manifest the mind of the flesh within or the mind of the Spirit within."
He also says "Both the carnal Christian and the carnal Christian are possessors of the same Spirit, but the carnal Christian is quenching and grieving the Spirit or does not understand the voice of the Spirit." Paul's reproof in Romans and to the Corinthians is they were not yielded to the Spirit. The yielded spirit to the Spirit will make unity within the Church.
"The spiritual Christian has his will lost in the will of God. He feels himself poor and needy, and he relies entirely on the will of God. He has crucified his flesh with the lust thereof, and the sinful nature does not influence his life. The fruit of the Spirit is evidenced in him. Galatians 5:22-24
His thought being we should not promote the flesh allowing for the easy turning by the Spirit towards his will.
Good Will to men came in the babe in the manger within.
:)
Hello Carleton,
I would have to respectfully disagree with idea of a "carnal Christian" as expressed in your comment. And also in the quotations in Mr. Spencer's comments on the subject.
I would encourage you to read again very carefully Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 5, and 1 John, as well as many other passages throughout the Old and New Testaments where God discusses the nature of salvation.
I believe that a careful comparison of scripture throughout the Bible, teaches that when God applies salvation to the life of an individual, it means they have received a new resurrected soul. And in that new soul, they have been raised from death onto life. This is what God terms being "born again" and the "First Resurrection".
So that in their new resurrected soul, the true believer will, almost immediately, have a new and increasing hatred for sin in their life. Because they have at that moment become a "new creation" in Christ.
All of this is 100% the action of God alone. And not because of any decision we have made or faith that we have exercised.
Our salvation is, of course, not totally complete at that point. Because we still have a body that lusts after sin. So throughout the remainder of the true believer's life, there will be a struggle and a turning away from sin in their life. And there will be a continual "growing in grace". But this will look vastly different than an unsaved person that is merely seeking to live a moral life.
God, of course, will rectify this situation at the Last Day when every true believer will receive their resurrected body, and then become a complete personality in which we will never sin again, as we live eternally in the new heaven and new earth with the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
What a wonderful Savior we have!
And it is still the day of salvation so that anyone concerned about their salvation, can cry out to God for his mercy in the very real hope that God might save them. Just like the Ninevites in Jonah.
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