The two major types of Christians that we are going to look into are the spiritual Christians and the carnal Christians. Who is a spiritual Christian? Just as the name implies, a spiritual Christian is a type of Christian that is keen, mindful and focuses on things pertaining to the human spirit. To explain a bit further, a spiritual Christian answers to promptings, leadings nudging and proceedings from the union of the Holy Spirit with his/her human spirit as one. A spiritual Christian simply functions strictly by the leadings of the Holy Spirit that is in oneness with such believer’s human spirit. At the moment of adoption, the Holy Spirit now reside and unites with the regenerated human spirit.
The other type of Christians are the carnal Christians. Carnal Christians are Christians that are mindful, occupied and centers on things pertaining to the flesh. They’ve truly received the life of Christ into themselves but are still yielding to things of the flesh. Carnal Christians therefore manifest all the works of the flesh rather than things of the Holy Spirit. A very good example of these kind of Christians is the Corinthian church. One of the issues Apostle Paul addressed amongst the Corinthian church was the issue of carnality. In the 1 Corinthians 3:1-5 which says
1 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?”
One of the most basic problem Apostle Paul called the Corinthian church was their deposition to their Christianity. As supposedly simple and lightly as this problem is, it completely prevented Apostle Paul from bringing the Corinthian church into deeper knowledge of truth in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 5:11 says that “of whom (Melchisedec) we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.” Just as the writer of Hebrews couldn’t utter other truth in God’s light unto them, Apostle Paul also couldn’t address and approach the Corinthian church as spiritual nor feed them with solid food.
The writer of Hebrews realized that “12 for when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” They (the Corinthian church and the intended readers of Hebrews by the writer) both have the same disposition to God and towards the things (growth and teaching) of God.
The deposition of carnal Christians as against spiritual Christians to sin defers. It defers simply because of their view point. Carnal Christians’ deposition to sin is unto self-pleasure. Carnal Christians see every opportunity to commit a sin as a privilege to yield and satisfy the flesh and/or self. You remember the above quoted text from 1 Corinthians 3? The carnal Corinthian Christians yielded to the outworking of the flesh and this supposedly single state legitimately made many works of the flesh to manifest. The Corinthian church weren’t just divided, there was strife, envoy and other manifestations of the flesh that Apostle Paul had to address.
2 Timothy 3:2 to 5 gave a list of the disposition of carnal Christians to sin that “2 for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” These ones are always willing to satisfy self and/or flesh.
The deposition of spiritual Christians to sin is that they see sin as a separator from God. They know and see sin as that veil that denies them access into the Most Holy Place (the presence and premises of God). Spiritual Christians likewise know and see sin as what definitely makes God turn a deaf hear to their prayer and blind eyes to their ‘righteous works.’ The deposition of spiritual Christians to sin is exactly how God detests it. They know the full weight of what is at loss as against the temporary pleasure obtainable. The story of Joseph perfectly depicts the deposition of spiritual Christians to sin.
Genesis 39:7-9 gave us Joseph’s reaction to the free sin his master’s wife offered him. It says “7 and it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Joseph been a spiritual Christian, never saw the sin as being free as it was portrayed. He knew too many things if not all will go out of control. Whatever is portrayed free, as an absolute equal negative consequence. He saw this free sin as great wickedness and sin against God, not pleasure.
Ensure and keep ensuring by the grace of Him that called you to remain a spiritual Christian. “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.” Keep being at it, the ultimate reward is yet before us. Thanks for reading.
Insightful. More grace sir
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