Fleshly Christian or Spiritual?
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. – Rom. 13:14
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. – Gal. 3:27
Put on Christ
There are two kinds of Christians: soulish and spiritual. What kind are you, and what kind do you want to be?
Actually, there is also a third kind of Christian, and this more often describes many in Christianity today. This is a mixed Christian – one who’s part-time spiritual, and part-time walking in the flesh.
A soulish Christian is one who lives, thinks, and acts out from the power and means of the the carnal soul – of the old creation.
A spiritual Christian is one who walks with God, who walks according to the Spirit – this person knows what it means to abide in Christ, and does so abide.
It was not God’s intent, and God did not send Jesus and His Spirit to make full- or part-time fleshly or carnal believers – who stay that way indefinitely.
Of course there is such a thing as being a “babe” in Christ and yes, there is grace for us to find our way, but it is vital that we get on the same page here. God does want us to grow up!
Proof that this is not working so well out there among many professing Christians are the results.
Worldliness, division, strife, scandal, weakness, acceptance of obvious sin as OK, inability to overcome besetting sins, and so much more are common fruits of what we have today.
Do not be partakers with them! God says be holy for I am holy! Holiness is separation to God – really, not just “positionally” because you’ve accepted the creed of Christ.
While we cannot necessarily “fix” others – nor is it our job to do so, it is God’s – we each will give an account to God on the day of judgment for how we conducted ourselves in this life. We also are being judged day to day as God is never pleased when His children are walking according to their own will, nearly as independent in mind as a lost person, even if they do name the name of Christ.
Our goal is to bear fruit and for the fruit to remain. This is only done in Christ, in the power of God, not by haphazard, complacent, defeated lifestyles with one foot in, one foot out of the kingdom of God.
To “put on Christ” assumes we are “in Christ” to begin with; that is we are born again. Putting on Christ is a conscious act, and a delicate balance of conditions. We must know the truth of God’s Word, what He says of us, but ultimately it is all of faith.
Faith is more than the mind merely straightening itself out. Even the Muslims and Buddhists and other religions can produce “good” people who do “good” things.
Sad to say, there are many in other religious systems and even atheists who on a daily basis put some who say they are Christians to shame in leading an ostensibly moral life.
But assuming you want more of God, and less of you, understand this: the flesh is deceitful.
Christianity is far deeper than merely training the brain. You can’t just go to seminary or Bible college and after making good grades on all your tests turn into a good Christian.
Rather, while doctrine has its place, God is ultimately the Teacher. And we are either apt pupils, or we are not.
We are either surrendered and willing to do God’s will, or we are not. We either hear His still small voice or we do not.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to work in you to will and do God’s will. He works in you, but it takes also a conscious and clear and undivided response.
Be clear – we may think we are all fine, but that is only according to what we are able to see.
Being fleshly or soulish is acting out from the old man. It is acting out from the power and motives and ways and means of the old creation.
Would that more people knew this!
So much of what passes for “Christian” activity today can be done sans God, and this ought not to be so.
So much of our daily lives are according to who we were in the world before we ever knew who God really was, or were saved by faith in Jesus.
To the degree this is true, this is the flesh. This is a working definition of being a fleshly Christian, sowing to the flesh, living as who you are in you, and not who you are in Christ.
God the Father did not want this to be the case, but we each have a will, and there are adversaries and your own sin nature to stand against.
God says you, if you are in Christ, are crucified, but do you see that? Do you know it? (Rom. 6:6-11). Or is it, like so many teaching points, just so much head knowledge you’ve heard that does not benefit really, truly, at least nearly as much as God would want?
To put on Christ, we must know we are dead to the old world. If we are members of Christ’s kingdom, then we must see this clearly.
We must also have the Holy Spirit reveal to us where we are yet walking according to the flesh, and mixing the old man in, trying to have a Christian experience with only mixed results.
God will never be satisfied with His children being half-hearted, half-faithful, or half-committed.
To whom it may concern: pray and ask God, that He would lead you, grant you repentance as needed, and accept no substitute between talking Christian talk versus walking the Christian walk.
