to is the one who is spiritual, and who judges all things and yet him self is judged of no man (vrs. 15). The world does not understand the Christian. Here is a dedicated soul who is not living for the things of today. It is surprising that such wise people just do not understand how a believer lives. It will never make sense. They cannot see why any one ought to tithe, read the Bible, go to church more than just Sun day morning, or any of the other trademarks of a believer. The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. He will guide you into all truth. This is what we need today. The man who is spiritual walks through the control of the Holy Spirit. There is a third man indicated in Chap. 3. Paul tells the immature believers, "I could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." The Greek word for "carnal" here rep resents the idea of walking after the flesh; simply minding earthly things. We are to set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth. The Holy Spirit does not have control of the lives of such people. A preacher friend of mine went into the home of a very wealthy Christian business man. The fellow had a gorgeous home with the fin est furniture and a very expensive color television set. The pastor, al though he spent the evening with him, never said a word about the man's house or the two Cadillacs which were sitting out in the yard. This impressed the fellow. He told his preacher-friend sometime later. "I am amazed that 'things' do not excite you. Too often people are coming for money and to impress me with their projects. You seem
to have your affection centered in heaven." That man of God was spiritual. Have you even been guilty of envying the treasures of others? To do this is to be fleshly or carnal. What great joy we can experience when we set our affections on things above. God wants us to be in love with Jesus Christ. There is to be a crown for all those who love Christ's appearing. Such is one of the proofs of a spiritual Christian. The carnal man is doubtless the most miserable person in all the world. In his heart, he knows he ought to have his affections set on things above. He will continue to be wretched until he confesses his sin and sets things right with the Saviour. God help us to walk in the Spirit! Jesus Christ said to Peter, "Watch and pray; the spirit indeed is will ing, but the flesh is weak." We are exhorted to watch out lest we stumble. Just when we think we are standing we face the greatest jeopardy. The devil is just waiting to cause us to be tripped up. You see, after we are saved, we still have this same old nature that wants to sin. Paul speaks of it in Romans 7. The things he wanted to do he could not, and vice versa. Here was a tremendous battle he had to face (Galatians 5:17). When we are born of God we receive His divine nature (II Peter 1:4). Belief is like a magnet as it reaches out with both a positive and a negative outlook. The posi tive seeks after God while the neg ative rebells against Him. There are two sets of desires within us. They will be there until the day we die. It is not hard to sin is it? We do not have to teach our children to Page 55
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