From carnal-minded to true Christian

There are two categories of Christians- carnal-minded and true. It's God's desire for every soul to willingly accept Jesus into your heart, the first step in your 're-birthed' spiritual life. I don't think God intended anyone to accept His gift of salvation  as a free-ticket to heaven with disregard to your Christian responsibilities.  Carnal-minded Christians put greater importance on how salvation can benefit them here and now, rather than on the spiritual things of God.  The thoughts of a carnal-minded Christian go something like this, "If Jesus died for me, and I accept him as my Savior, my sins are forgiven, so I don't have to give up anything and I can continue doing everything I like to do."  This selfish Christian is not willing to let go of the bondage sin and isn't making the spiritual things of God important in his/her heart which are necessary to grow and mature in their spiritual relationship with God.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice 

 









                                                 




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A Christian is a follower of Christ. An imitator of Christ.

It's my belief that when you truly understand the significance of Jesus' dying in your place has on your eternal future, (you're supernaturally transformed from being spiritually dead to being spiritually alive with your soul's eternal future assured and your heavenly inheritance secure), you can focus on sharing how you acquired your wonderful fortune with others so they also can know how they can have the same, and you can of service to them showing them the love of Christ.  Jesus conquered death for you, making no longer any need to fear dying. [Absent from the body, present with the Lord.(2 Cor 5:6-9)}  Once this realization is grasped, you can't help but turn from  ''a lifestyle of temporary pleasure for the body', to a lifestyle of one that shows gratitude, appreciation, humbleness, and desiring your loved ones to experience the same saving grace upon their souls.  Compared to that, no amount of money or temporary 'good feeling', or tangible possession can even touch what goodness is in your future because  Jesus redeemed you back into good grace, standing and fellowship God.  And all it takes is to first believe, and accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord.  When someone opens a world of life to you, naturally want to thank that person.  And since there's nothing you can give God that he doesn't already have, the best way to honor him is by obeying His Word. As you become more mature in your Christian spiritual journey, you begin to do less and less of the 'bad' things. You'll begin to want to make changes you know will please God in your lifestyle choices.  Your actions and choices are the evidence showing the change that has occurred on the inside of you. Your 'spiritual re-birth' enables you to better live up a higher standard of holiness, this is  'your living sacrifice' to God.  Yes, you could continue doing the things you knew aren't pleasing to God, but now your desire is more for the spiritual things of God.  And if you slip up, and we all do, those 'bad things' or actions don't seem as enjoyable any more when we do fall back into them. In other words, we aren't perfect but lifestyle choices reflect our heart's desire in more on spiritual things of God and not just on pleasing ourselves.

True peace is freedom from sin's bondage

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It's easy to be a carnal-minded Christian living in a physical world.  On the contrary, it requires a willful decision upon each fresh morning and throughout every day to be a true, spiritually-minded Christian. God doesn't force anyone to do anything. He allows you to choose what you will do because if you do it willingly, that shows you want it without force.  Love never demands or forces anyone into anything.  It's easy to 'fake a smile' but be unhappy on the inside. The truth shows about your inner being by your outward actions, habits, and lifestyle. Let your relationship with the Lord be a testimony and honor to show Christ died to pay the penalty of sin, and you know sin is not looked upon as what a Christian should be okay to keep doing, even though Jesus has already paid the price with his life.

I believe God desires Christians to grow spiritually mature and not remain 'thinking like the world'. In essence, a carnal-minded Christian wants to "keep Jesus nailed to the cross" so they may continue living as an 'unbeliever' .

My list of points pertaining to carnal-minded vs spiritually minded.

1. Jesus knew no sin. Allow him be your example to live by in being a servant.
2. Jesus taught to live by the truth of the living Word.
3. Jesus suffered a cruel, public death as 'The one sacrificial Lamb' for all of man's sins.
4. Jesus conquered the power of death. He was resurrected.
5. In Him alone, you will have life everlasting. He is interceding for all saints right now.
5. Satan is a liar. If you listen to him, you're listening to lies. for only lies come from him.
6.The Christian life includes a spiritual relationship with the Spirit of God which encompasses His three spiritual forms- God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  A true Christian has the Holy Spirit as a counselor to help him understand the Word.
7. A true Christian is spiritually-minded and desires a lifestyle of obeying and working out 
    their salvation to show to God a pleasing and holy sacrifice, and to produce good works, & point others to Jesus---all this to show 'thanks' for what Christ has done taking them from death to life, and their promised inheritance in heaven will be theirs.This is in addition of bypassing hell and spiritual death in the Lake of Fire.
8. A true Christian is thankful and humbled that Jesus loved them so they wouldn't have to die. True Christians, being human will never be sinless, but when they do, it's  uncomfortable knowing it was wrong, are regretful and ask forgiveness and try not to do it again.
9. A carnal- minded Christian would prefer Jesus stay on the cross so their continual sins be continually forgiven.  Carnal-minded Christians can show no outward evidence showing their inner re-birth status reflecting Christ living in their heart. They want to do as their flesh dictates and have no regard  to be Christ-like or be of service to others or share the gospel. Their main concern on themselves and worldliness.
10. The difference between a true Christian and a carnal-minded Christian has to do with the change on the inside to do what's pleasing to God and be of service to others.
11. God desires a holy church. And people make up the church.
12. Christians should repent of their sins. Which means 'to turn away' rather than make  a willing lifestyle to practice that sin continually.
13. A Christian's priority should be spiritual, not carnal or worldly.  Anything you place more important than God is considered idolatry, which also is sin.


An excellent video so you can be a true and free Christian





This testimony will make you also see there must be a change in your life




There is only one thing which can give true satisfaction in life... and that's a relationship with the Lord, through Jesus Christ.



BONUS: God sent his precious Son, Jesus, to us to save us from the separation that sin caused as a gulf between us and God, and spiritual death.  Jesus in your heart, or not in your heart is what will determine your present, future and eternal destiny.  God patiently waits for you to make your choice. He is a fair, just, righteous God. and will judge all accordingly.
No need to fear anything, or worry, when you will not be in lack any good thing in the family of God. So smile, use your energy and love to share to others and show them the 'light of life' burning within you... this is the sign of a true spiritually-minded Christian.

Time for service. 


Scripture references. Type any scripture reference or keyword into the box below to read.

 Psalms 98:9; 33:5; 89:14; 49: 16-18; John 14:6;  Romans 8:6-8; 8:21; Luke 4:18; 1Cor 3:1; 3:3; 10:23;  Gal 6:8; James 4:4; 2Cor chapter 5; 2Cor7:10; Titus 2:11-13 : 1Sam 8:19-20; Job 20:4-29 and
Job 21:11-15; Gal 5:19-21; Col 3:5; 1Peter 4:3; Matthew 6:25-34

Lookup a word or passage in the Bible

Wise words...found in 1 John 2:15-17 - Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world,  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world,  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 


In conclusion...1John 2:28-29 - And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.  If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Question- Which category of Christian do you fall under? Are you carnal-minded and still more interested in self and things of this world?  Or, does your life show you're more interested in the spiritual things of God, which is the sign of a true Christian?   The answer is evidently clear where you stand- Are you sharing the gospel?  Are there changes in your life from when you were unsaved? And, do you have a heart for service to others.


God bless all who take the journey on the path less traveled leading to your glorious Son.

Man was 'pegged' in the Garden

That's right. Man was 'pegged' in the Garden of Eden. Yeah, the old tempter, Satan, cunningly brought up an idea to Eve, which tempted her in her weakness, which was her flesh, to desire something she hadn't wanted before, and Adam fell for it, too.. Satan's appeal was directed at their flesh, taking their attention away from the spirit. Adam and Eve disobeyed God because their flesh couldn't refuse the temptation, they disobeyed the Spirit, and so sin was born, and God expelled the first couple from paradise. Yeah, they were 'pegged'.  Satan discovered if he presented something to man or woman in such a way that it looked enticing, attractive, desirable, juicy, or pleasurable to have,  Man couldn't walk away,  even if God had given them an entire Garden to live and have sweet fellowship with Him.  Man wasn't satisfied, man's flesh wanted more and what was forbidden.  Satan's plan worked and it's still working beautifully for him today.  Sadly, we were 'pegged' and nothing has changed over the centuries. Man is still falling into the same snares set by Satan, and the trap is not only getting larger, but hotter as well.

Lust of the flesh is our weakness causing us to sin against God.

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Our carnal mind controls our fleshly desires, and is VERY STRONG!  Satan doesn't have to work very hard to get Man to do anything if he can dangle it in our faces while making it sound and look so tantalizing, irresistible and appealing, that we begin craving it and believing we can't live without it.  Our flesh is very selfish, and ever so hungry for more. Our flesh does not enjoy being denied.  Our flesh wants to be satisfied again and again because it never stays satisfied. Our flesh wants what it wants, and it wants it now.  It's the flesh that causes us to sin. Now, there's nothing at all wrong with feeling good and wanting nice things. However, when that is the driving force, you are not being spiritually minded. Satan is very pleased when we're not spiritually minded. He wants our attention to be far from the things of God or the Spirit.  The adversary and our flesh are at odds with things of God, because God is Spirit.  And our spirits, when not saved, are at odds with our carnal, fleshly bodies. But when you ask Jesus into your heart, by taking and trusting Jesus as you Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit quickens your spirit to become alive and connected with the Spirit of God.  You've become spiritually born, which is called being born again. Your spirit nature is now alive inside you which was dormant before.  But not until we leave this fleshly body will we be free from the constant pull of our fleshly desires of our old nature.  It does take effort and prayer to knock the old nature back down from time to time, but before being 'saved' you obeyed your carnal self without any regard to things of the Spirit at all.  Satan places appealing things in front of our 'weak flesh' to get our eyes off God on a constant basis. Satan prefers Man to desire anything and everything contrary to God. Satan's sin has gotten himself a special place designed for him and his gang, and I don't think it's designed for pleasure or relaxation for any demon or human spirit. Satan is the master of covertness in leading many people away from the things of God.  Man would rather accept Satan's deception and lies rather than believe God's truth and love.  Satan has lead many blindly into the frying pan by appealing fleshly lusts and desires.  Sadly, many continue to ignore the fire under the frying pan which is slowly getting hotter and hotter.  Over time, when your flesh is continually gratified, you become accustomed to sin and you're not wanting to leave your residence in the frying pan. Some even want the heat turned up to be hotter. Ouch! 

The old frying pan is getting hotter- are you in it?

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 You see, with everyone wanting to gratify their own flesh, the world has changed for the worst.  Yes, there are more people in the world than there were centuries ago, but it's more prevalent with each generation the alteration from the traditional father/mother design of raising family and it's resulting effects; addictions caused by weaknesses to refrain from harmful substances and practices; children being exposed to grown up things long before they're adult or mature; marriages failing and ending for selfish reasons after vowing and promising to honor and cherish for better or worse; illegal drug use is rampant and has become the ruin of so many lives and families, but the flesh overlooks that fact but because the flesh wants what that drug provides, never mind the damage it's gonna do to your brain and body; and the list goes on and on with all types of crime, gluttony, and seemingly no conscious thought that the action is harming or detrimental to themselves and others.

That pretty trap is to snare you prevent you from escaping-  you're dead

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Our flesh is 'selfish' ,'self-seeking', and often 'self-centered'.  When our flesh wants something, it's gotta have it and will walk over anything and anyone in it's way in order to satisfy itself.  No wonder prisons are busting full; no wonder we're so mixed up about what's morally right and wrong; no wonder man wants laws changed to make his immoral actions be legal; no wonder Man wants to take God out of everything so he won't have to be reminded of God at all; no wonder the pursuit of more and more money is the driving determination for getting ahead in life; no wonder adults have turned to satisfy their lusts using children, and 'sex sells' everything. Man has literally given God the boot.  To the flesh, satisfying itself IS right. To the flesh, what it wants IS right.  And Satan has helped man devise and come up with every excuse to make sure Man is continually thinking and believing what feels good to the flesh is RIGHT. Satan is smiling because his deceptions are still working well at keeping Man focused on his flesh (carnal) and not the things of God (spiritual).

Your carnal flesh is usually at odds with your spirit and the things of God

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What's tempting your flesh causing you to disobey God?

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God's plan involves nothing which will hurt us.  Following Satan leads us down the road to destruction and devastation. Because Satan fell from grace, he wants to take as many of God's precious creation (mankind) way down with him.

It's up to you. God gives you and I every chance to decide which road you want to travel. Satan's road is a super highway, and continued traveling on it with the masses will take you to a dark destination. Is your flesh so weak that you don't care at all where your soul will be forever?  The way that God has for you is not bad at all. It's full of joy and contentment to the flesh and very satisfying beyond description, but, without hurting yourself and within safe protected boundaries God has laid down for his creation.  Like a parent protecting their child by warning them to not play in the street.  Don't you know God is loving enough to know and meet your every need?  But most of all, when you stay on the narrow road now, this destination leads to the best that's ahead in heaven for your soul. So, it's your choice. Continue being 'pegged' and follow Satan's way to satisfy yourself and contend with all the dangers doing it the selfish, fleshly way, or follow God's way of having your needs met without the perils, but within his hedge of protection, and then look forward to your soul residing in splendor beyond description in heaven?

Question I've pondered- Is my flesh causing me to sin against God? To really know the answer, I went to the source to see what God's Word reads to know what He has to say about this. The Bible is not the easiest to read, but everything's there to find with some effort. And I'm not taking anyone else's word about it unless I know for darn sure they know God's Word better than I do. I'd rather find out for myself and I think everyone should do likewise as well.

Video about how to walk in the spirit




Ponder and act on this- If you chose to not be reborn, you can't be any way but carnal minded. You're spiritually dead, so there's no way you can see things of God? God is Spirit. Not until you accept Jesus as you Lord and Savior, are you spiritually alive. In an instant, you're made alive spiritually, your sins are forgiven, and you're made an heir to the promises of God. Those are all spiritual gifts you receive from God.  Accept Jesus and receive life.  If you die( this is the first death) without having accepted Jesus, your spirit cannot reside in heaven, but rather Hell, then later the Lake of Fire to always be exiled from the presence of God, which is the second death.  Born again Christians will not experience that hot, hellish second death, because they are promised by God a mansion in heaven for their glorified bodies.



We're spiritual beings created in the likeness of God, residing right now living in fleshly bodies, and we have a soul-three parts making us whole. Satan focuses on the flesh.

      

Video on the origin of Satan, the author of sin, and what he's about,





BONUS- God made a way and the way is recorded, written by Spirit inspired men, kept and passed down so even today anyone can read about the great story of God's love for all mankind in the Holy Bible, starting with Adam and Eve, and on down to Abraham, Issiac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Israel, Esther, and so on.


Exercise your power of choice to accept God's gift and your ultimate destination

What's important in eternity is our spirit.  Now that you know this, resolve to stop allowing satan to have you "pegged". 

Check out these scripture references for yourself: 1 Cor 5:44; 1 Cor :17; Titus 3:3; 1 Peter 1:13-16;  2Peter 1:4; 1John:2:16-17; Romans 5:12,19-21; 8:1,3,9,13;13:14; Gal 5:16, Matthew 6:13