June 17, 2017 MERE MEN ?
1 Corinthians 3:1-3: “And I brethren, could not speak to you as spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealously and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 2 Corinthians 7:1: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Some have the belief that the condition of our spiritual health is solely the responsibility of God. This misconception hampers one’s spiritual growth and maturity due to the fact that he or she is ‘waiting’ on God, or the Spirit, to do what they are called to do. It is clear from these verses, and others, that believers have some responsibility for their spiritual well-being. Scripture makes it clear that we are “to work together with Him” as He works in us. (2 Corinthians 6:1) Certainly we are to follow the leading of the Spirit, but perhaps there has been some misunderstanding of what it means to be led by the Spirit. One of the roles of the Spirit within is to help us understand the word of God and to empower us to obey the commands God has given. When the bible gives a command or admonition to do a certain thing, we do not need to ‘wait on the Spirit’ to ‘lead’ us to do it, but are to simply act on the command. The verses above are primarily about our spiritual maturity; it is possible to be a believer, and yet not be maturing in the faith, remaining “babes in Christ.” Paul was writing to certain believers who were not maturing, but who were continuing to live in the flesh, and Paul could not address them as ‘spiritual men.’ As believers, we live according to the flesh, or we live according to the Spirit, and there is no middle ground. As a believer, living according to the flesh is living with self in control, ignoring the direction of the Spirit and the heart of God. To live in the flesh, is to grieve the Spirit of God who lives in us. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30. We are to lay aside, to get rid of, the works of the flesh-all the things that do not please the Lord. Simply put, as believers, we need to see to it that we are ‘working with God’ as He leads us and calls us to be maturing in the faith, to be becoming more like Him in all of our life. Because the Spirit of God lives in us, we have the power to lay aside all that is unlike Christ, and we have the power to put on that which is like Christ. May each of us have as our major priority, our spiritual maturity-it will not happen by accident, without us doing our part of the process.
Ephesians 4:22-24: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Read the remaining verses in this chapter to see what we are to put off.)
Blessings,
Buddy
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