Bible Reading: 1 Corinthians 3
1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Christians that are not maturing are called carnal. Carnal is a word that means they are living lives motivated by the flesh. One of the enemies of the Christian is our flesh. That is our sinful nature. Can a believer live like a non-believer? Yes, when we are not led by the Spirit, we are living just like the lost world around us. The Corinthian Christians were believers. They were saved, but they were not growing in their faith. The apostle said:
1 Corinthians 3:2 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.
Unfortunately, believers can be immature and live like they are lost. That is what the Bible means when it says they walk as men. They are living like natural men who do not have the Holy Spirit of God living in them. How sad! What about you? How can you tell? Take a look at Galatians 5. Does your life look like this?
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
If it does, you are either lost or living a carnal existence. If you are lost, you need to receive Jesus Christ and be born again. If you are carnal, you need to yield your life to the Spirit of God and have your mind renewed by the transformative power of the Word of God.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
If you are walking in the Spirit, your life will look like this:
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Will you walk in the Spirit or will you walk as men?
In Christ,
Rody
