Title: The Natural Man and the Spiritual Man
Content: The natural and the spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:14-15)
There are many ways to distinguish between men and women, whether they are necessary or not. However, if we classify them from the religious level, we can classify them into those who are carnal and those who belong to the spirit. The “natural person” refers to a natural person who only thinks, judges, and lives according to the flesh because he has lost the ability to realize spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14). What to eat, drink and enjoy? Full of bodily desires, without any remorse for sin, no concern for God's judgment, a riddle that cannot comprehend God's Word, the fact that Jesus died on the cross for human sins. consider it ridiculous According to Paul, the acts of the natural are “fornication, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, envy, anger, selfishness, divisions, heresies, envy, drunkenness, licentiousness, and such things.” (Galatians 5:19-21) Also, the result of those who follow the flesh is death (Romans 8:5-6).
On the other hand, there are people who belong to the spirit in this world. Those of the spirit live in this world, look to heaven, and live for the glory of God. And the result is life and peace. It is important to note that even among spiritual people who believe in Jesus and are saved, there are still fleshly temptations. In other words, we are constantly fighting because the spiritual attribute, which was the character at creation, and the physical attribute, which became human nature after the fall, coexist. (Romans 7:19-24) When Jesus took up the cross, he said, “Not as I will. God, do as you will!” Spirit and body fought.
However, in 1 Corinthians 3, among the believers in the Corinthian church, although they believed in Jesus and were born again, there were still carnal people. Such a person is called a physical Christian. There are still too many of these people in the church today. A person who believes in the flesh has accepted Jesus Christ as the Savior, but is still under the control of the flesh. I am a Christian who knows what glorifies God but does not live that way. The characteristics of such a person are (1) Although the church is coming out, they understand the Bible in a self-centered way. (2) The fleshly thoughts take precedence over the spiritual thoughts. To be born again is to be born spiritually, not to be sanctified. The physical Christian is born again, but he is still immature. That is why we still do not fully understand the spiritual truth.
Just as a child who has stopped growing becomes the worries and concerns of its parents, our religious life must also take off the clothes of the flesh and grow spiritually every day. Even though it has been a long time since attending church, we experience only ankle-level grace, and we are ready to turn around and face the world at any time. How much will God hurt when he sees people who have become old people, who cannot call God their father and only suffer from a cold heart? The water from the threshold of the temple means the blood of Jesus' cross, the living water of the Word, and the river of the Holy Spirit. In the river of grace, by giving my ankles, my knees, my waist, and my whole body before God, become people of mature faith, and as Ezekiel 47:6-12 says, our homes, churches, and this land will be restored. I bless you in the name of Jesus that you may receive the blessing of prosperity and prosperity.