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Which Category do you belong to?
Imagine having a six-month-old baby who is unable to talk or walk. It is quite common for children of this age not to have these abilities yet. However, if your child reaches the age of two and still cannot speak or walk, wouldn't this be a cause for concern?
It’s the same with someone who is a carnal Christian. They remains stagnant in their spiritual growth, lacking evidence of God's power in their life. Moreover, they are susceptible to deception and hold minimal influence.
Not every Christian encounters the power of God (the power of the Holy Spirit). While the Holy Spirit resides in all Christians, not everyone is filled (completely guided and empowered) by Him.
The Bible distinguishes between three types of individuals: the natural, the spiritual, and the carnal. A natural person is one who has not embraced Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (unsaved). A carnal person, on the other hand, is someone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord but displays spiritual immaturity or a fleshly nature. Lastly, a spiritual person is one who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and holds influence.
But, let's narrow our attention to just two carnal and spiritual.
Carnal Christian
1 Corinthians 3:1-4 and Galatians 5:19 explain that a carnal Christian is someone who exhibits the following traits:
Jealous
Quarrelsome and easily upset
Easily frustrated and irritated
Selfish, self-seeking, and self-serving
Unforgiving and stubborn
Offensive and unrepentant
Fleshly or earthy
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
— Galatians 5:16
It's possible that the passion you once had after being saved has diminished. You might have lost interest or become stagnant. Do you prioritize reading your Bible? Are your prayers impactful or merely a habit? Is your faith producing extraordinary outcomes?
A person who thinks in a carnal way is considered an adversary of God (Romans 8:7). Carnality leads you astray from God and entices you towards sin, especially when you lack knowledge of the teachings of the Bible. When your mindset is carnal, you lack love for God and for others (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-40; 1 John 4:19-21; Ephesians 4:32).
Having a carnal mindset demonstrates to non-believers that being a Christian is no different from other beliefs. They see Christ as unremarkable and just another religious figure.
Instead of conforming to the ways of the world, we are encouraged to renew our minds and be transformed, so that through testing we can understand the will of God - what is good, acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:2; Proverbs 1:15; Philippians 2:15).
Spiritual Christian
A committed, genuine Christian has an impact on others, setting them apart from those who are more focused on worldly matters. Many individuals go through their entire Christian journey without influencing those around them. In contrast, true Christians lead lives that bring glory to God through their actions. They demonstrate the fruits of the spirit in their behavior and strive for a life of high moral standards and live a life of excellence.
They exhibit strength, fearlessness, boldness, and function within the realm of the Gifts of the Spirit. Their life serves as a model, and they encounter God's favor wherever they go.
Why is this important?
Because people and their salvation are important to God. As Christians, we should strive to be Christians who spread the faith primarily through our lifestyle. There is nothing more fulfilling than leading someone to experience God's love and truth.
Our purpose on earth goes beyond pursuing a successful career, a beautiful home, recognition, impressing others, and focusing solely on ourselves.
Developing spiritually is crucial for us to grow into genuine or mature Christians and to serve as God’s representatives on earth (Acts 1:8). Our goal is to imitate Christ and serve as his ambassadors, show and accurately reflecting God's glory to encourage others to turn to Him (Acts 1:8).
If you've found this blog helpful, please don't forget to share it on social media using the buttons below. Sharing is a free way to spread the Gospel and to inform Christians that after being saved, the next phase is spiritual growth, enabling them to positively influence society.
A call for salvation
When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, His spirit will come to live inside you. This is one of the greatest blessings of salvation. You don't have to go through someone else to get to God, and He will live in your heart where you and Him become one and have a relationship.
All you have to do is make the choice of salvation by repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus into your life by confessing that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that He came from Heaven to die for your sins (Romans 10:9).
Here's a prayer you can repeat:
"Jesus, I confess that you are Lord, and I believe you died and was risen for my sins. I repent and ask for forgiveness of my sins, and I accept you as my personal Lord and Savior. Come into my heart and remove my sins. Thank you for forgiving me and making me into a new person in Jesus' name, Amen."
Once you have done this, please pray and ask God to lead you to a ministry where you can grow and start living the abundant life Jesus promised and died for.
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