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Rivers of living water Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.' John 4:13-14 Is this your experience? If not, derive some comfort from the fact you are not alone and together we shall take a look at what is obviously not a new situation. There are two diverse laws operating within the Christian and contesting for control. The new divine nature - versus the old sinful nature. Sometimes the spiritual is in control, but more often the flesh is in control. Paul bares his soul in Romans 7:22-23 and one immediately gets a sense of his despair at the conflict within himself. Paul speaks of resolutions broken, determinations left undone - sins of commission and omission. On the one hand there is Paul's desire to do good but we see also, his utter frustration at his inability to do those things he desires most. His intentions are good but for whatever reason, he doesn't act. The tone of this chapter has left a divided camp as to whether Paul was even a Christian at the time of writing. I take the view that Paul was a Christian and this chapter encourages me greatly when I find myself in the conflict. It should never be overlooked that as long as you remain in this body of flesh, you will always be a Sinner saved by grace, and a Sinner is apt to sin! Paul speaks of the carnal Christian in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; 'Brothers I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarrelling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?' Sadly, the same can be seen within the Church of Jesus Christ today. The divisions, personality clashes and arguments are caused by a lack of spiritual maturity within the body of believers. Aspects of the life of a carnal Christian The life of a carnal Christian is a life of unceasing conflict and compromise. The end result is always turmoil and defeat. A life of repeated defeat Romans 7:15-19 is the revelation and a true desire of someone making an honest attempt to live a holy life BUT instead is filled with the atmosphere of defeat so overpowering as to burst forth in despair in verse 24: 'What a wretched man I am. Who will rescue me from this body of death?' Paul certainly has the desire and that tells us, this is not a problem of the will. The problem is divided control, the human nature versus the spirit within. Other evidence of carnality is pride, uncontrolled temper, neglect of study and prayer. A life of protracted infancy The carnal Christian never grows up. The church at Corinth should have been strong BUT Paul accuses them of being infants and only able to drink milk. Also Hebrews 5:12-14: Heaven rejoices when a new babe in Christ is born but how many parents are happy when their growing child does not become an adult? A baby is helpless, dependant on others. He or she absorbs attention and demands to be the centre of attraction. Babies live in a realm of feeling. If all is well they are all smiles, if not - we all know about it! A life of barren fruitlessness The influence of a carnal Christian is always negative. He produces very little fruit and is unable to win others to Christ, due to the inconsistency of his life and witness. John 15:2; spiritual pruning by the Gardener. A life of adulterous infidelity James 4:4 uses very strong language. 'You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God?' The analogy is to that of the relationship in marriage. The Christian is the bride of Christ and commits adultery by continuing in friendship with the world. Infidelity! Any Christian who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God. It is not possible to serve two masters and you must choose whom you will serve. Q: What is 'the world?' What the Church is to Christ; the world is to Satan - who is the prince of darkness. It is his ears, eyes, hands and feet combined in capturing the souls of men. The world is the lair for the unsaved and a lure for the Saved, to keep them from God. Christ and the Christian are one joined in a love relationship by the Holy Spirit - the analogy is that of a marriage. Hobnobbing with the world and its pleasures. Entering into partnership with its pursuits. Fashioning ones life by its principles - God calls this adultery! Worldliness is ALL that is not of the Father and can be manifested in conversation, friendships, pleasures, possessions, reading matter, appetite and activities -the lusts of the flesh, eyes and pride. It is a life of hypocrisy The carnal Christian says one thing and does another. The 'walk' does not correspond with the witness and produces a life that is dishonouring to the Lord. Ephesians 5:8 'Live as children of light.' Coming soon! Part two will look at the 'spiritual' Christian. |
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