The practicality of the life in
the spirit
What has eluded the mind of most professing
believers is the fact that there exist literally a physical man and a spiritual
man, man is dual in nature as confirmed in the scriptures stating; “Do not lie
to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put
on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who
created him” (Colossians 3: 9-10).
We have
been further instructed saying; “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though
our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.”
And, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things
of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the
Spirit: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace” ( 2Corinthians
4:16-17; Romans 8: 5-6).
Now anyone with the Spirit of God
should be able to discern clearly whether he/she is spiritual or carnal for we
have been duly admonished by the apostle Paul saying; “Examine yourselves as to
whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that
Jesus Christ is in you? ---Unless indeed you are disqualified: But I trust that
you will know that we are not disqualified” (2Corinthians 13:5-6).
Because the differences between
the spiritually minded and the carnally minded are clearly manifested as follows:
“The carnally minded is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of
God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But
on the other hand, the spiritually minded are in subjection to the laws of God
if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in him/her because God gives His Spirit only
to those who obey Him. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is
not His: And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness.” And those who are Christ's have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires” (Romans 8:7-10; Galatians 5:24).
As one can clearly see the main
differences between a carnally minded and a spiritually minded individual is
that of obedience to the laws of God, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit whom
God has given to those who obey Him and the crucifixion of the flesh with its
passions and desires.
It is high time we all come to
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect
man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no
longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful
plotting.
This new, inward, spiritually
minded man was created in Christ Jesus in righteousness and true holiness at
His death and resurrection for we have been duly admonished saying; “For He
Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle
wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law
of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man
from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God
in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Ephesians
2:14-18).
We have also been duly admonished saying’ “He
died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for
Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one
according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the
flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have
become new” (2Corinthians
5:15-17).
And the apostle Peter wrote; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” And because of this transformation we are to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, and that we put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness (1Peter 1:3-5; Ephesians 4:24-24).
Mankind therefore is both physical and spiritual. He has life which is spiritual and eternal in his spirit, and the breath of life which is physical and temporary in the flesh. God has given to man, life, breath, and everything else so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him. Man is the offspring of both the first and the last Adam.
These times ignorance God has overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent.
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To be continued
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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