Carnal or Spiritual?
There is a great difference between those two — states, which is but little understood or pondered. The Christian who walks in the Spirit, and has — crucified the flesh, is spiritual (Gal. 5: 24). The Christian who walks after the flesh, and wishes to — please the flesh, is carnal (Rom. 13: 14). The Gala- — tians, who had begun in the Spirit, were ending in the flesh. Yet there were among them some spirit- — ual members, who were able to restore the wander- ing with meekness. q
What a difference between the carnal and the — spiritual Christian (1 Cor. 3: 1-3)! With the carnal Christian there may be much religion, and much — zeal for God, and for the service of God. But it is for the most part in human power. With the spiritual, on the other hand, there is a complete sub- — jection to the leading of the Spirit, a deep sense of weakness and entire dependence on the work of — Christ — it is a life of abiding fellowship with Christ, wrought out by the Spirit.
How important for me it is to find out and plainly to acknowledge before God, whether I am spiritual or carnal! A minister may be very faith- — ful in his orthodoxy, and be most zealous in his ser- — vice, and yet be so, chiefly, in the power of human wisdom and zeal. And one of the signs of this is that there is little pleasure or perseverance in fellowship with Christ through prayer. Love of prayer is one of the marks of the Spirit.
What a change is necessary for a Christian who is chiefly carnal to become truly spiritual! At first he cannot understand what must happen, or how it can come to pass. The more the truth dawns upon him, the more he is convinced that it is impossible unless God does it. Yet to believe truly that God will do it, requires earnest prayer. Quiet retirement and meditation are indispensable, along with the death of all confidence in ourselves. But along this road there ever comes the faith that God can, God is willing, God will do it. The soul which earnestly clings to the Lord Jesus wil be led by the Spirit to this faith.
How will you be able to say to others: ‘‘I can- — not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ’’? (1 Cor. 3: 1). It is impossible unless you yourself have the experience of having passed from the one state to the
other. But God will teach you. VPersevere in prayer and faith.