ICS Daily Devotions
Life long Commitment of Obedience
1 Cor 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
The apostle Paul was teaching Christians to walk in the way so they can grow from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. There is a natural progression from the natural man to the carnal Christian, thereafter to the spiritually matured.
The Natural Man is one who has never yet passed out of death into life. He has never been born-again. He has never been recreated nor become a new creature in Christ Jesus.
The Carnal Man is a new creature and has been born-again but he has never developed or grown. The carnal man may remain in this condition all his life and never outgrow the infant stage of his new birth. He is governed by his physical senses rather than by his spirit.
Spirituality is not based on the position we hold in the company, the number of years as a Christian or the amount of Bible knowledge that we have. It is actually based on walking in love and forgiveness. The presence of bitterness is definite in the midst of rivalry. The apostle Paul called them carnal Christians for behaving in this manner. In fact, this can still be happening in churches where members begin to take sides over doctrines, theology, personalities, and favorites. It includes favorite pastors and evangelists rather focusing on the unity of the body. It can split the church and these are normally instigated by carnal Christians that either hold leadership position or just an opinionated group of people. The spiritual man understands and flows with the vision and mandate of the church.
The Spiritual Man is one who has developed in divine things. His spirit has gained ascendancy over his intellectual processes, over his body, and his physical senses. God governs him through the Word. He is submissive to the Word and yields to the Holy Spirit.
Gal 5:14-16 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
The Spiritual Man might not be determined by the number of years as a Christian. It is very much dependent on whether he or she would choose to yield to walk in the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. The flesh is the sum of appetites and desires that does not want to bow down to God. It is always a choice to walk in the new man by walking in the Spirit where we refuse to bite and devour one another through our words and action. The Bible says that we will be consumed by one another if we choose to live in the flesh.
What is important is that our salvation is not affected by our lack of forgiveness, but it does affect our fellowship with the Heavenly Father. It doesn’t change our position as God’s children but we might not be obedient children if we walk in bitterness. Instead, therefore, let us walk in the Spirit and grow into spiritual maturity!
Sermon Series: Total Forgiveness
