Are You Walking in Spirit or in the Flesh?

The Bible contains a variety of warnings to Christians in relation to their Salvation.  One such warning in Romans 8:1 states that Christians should NOT “walk in the flesh” but “Walk in the Spirit”.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  (Rom 8:1 - KJV)

So, what does this mean?

The Physical and Spiritual Worlds We Live In

The Bible reveals many things that we need to know about the spirit world around us — because everything in it is “eternal” whereas the physical world in which we touch, see, hear, smell and taste things are “fading away” (Isa 40:7) because they are “temporal” — according to scripture:

“While we LOOK NOT at the things which ARE SEEN, but at the things which ARE NOT SEEN: for the things which ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL; but the things which are NOT SEEN ARE ETERNAL.”  2 Cor 4:18

God in His immortal wisdom has stated in scripture that if anyone born upon Earth hopes to spend eternity with Him, he or she “MUST be born-again” — meaning, out of this “temporal” world into the “eternal” spirit world before the eternal life of the believer can commence (John 3:3-8).

In this, each person MUST:

 

 1.  Hear and respond to the True Gospel message

Such a message should convict them in their hearts that he or she: 

• is a sinner;
• is on their way to spending eternity in Hell;
• needs a Savior to prevent this from happening.

Jesus Christ is the ONLY man born-upon the Earth who lived a sinless life; was God’s sacrificial “Lamb that takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29); and then rose again from the dead on the third day after His crucifixion (Acts 10:39-41).  He is THE ONLY SAVIOR of mankind’s souls from Hell.

2.  Repent from ALL of sinful ways.  

No individual is able eliminate every sinful habit the first day he or she receives Christ as Savior.  Fully eradicating sin from humanity's fallen (Adamic) nature and our carnal habits requires a spiritually cleansing process to occur that every Christian must commence and complete.  It can take some time to achieve this (weeks or months) but sinful habits and the overcoming of temptations MUST be overcome. 

“...nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  11 And SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU...”  (1 Cor 6:10-11)

Sinlessness (the dirty word in most churches today) is a fundamental requirement for Christians to become “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor 5:20) and to become “holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

“HE [meaning 'Christians'] THAT COMMITTETH SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”  1 John 3:8

“I tell you, Nay: but, EXCEPT YE REPENT [from your sinful ways], ye shall all likewise perish [in Hell].”  Luke 13:3 - Jesus speaking

“Follow...HOLINESS, without which no [Christian] man shall see the Lord:”  (Heb 12:14)

3.  Take up their Cross and Follow Jesus Christ 

Jesus said:

“And he [our "Inward Man"] that TAKETH NOT HIS CROSS, and FOLLOWETH AFTER ME, is not worthy of [spending eternity with] me.”  (Matt 10:38)

Humans are Three-part Beings — Spirit, Soul and Body

Most people (especially modern Christians) are unaware that their bodies consist of a spirit man constrained within their outer man’s physical body of flesh, bones and blood.

It is Satan’s desire that everyone fails to appreciate what their unseen “Inner Man” represents and how "he" — whether the outer body is male or female, functions in their body.

“...but though our OUTWARD MAN [either male or female] perish, yet the INWARD [or spiritual] MAN is renewed day by day.”  (2 Cor 4:16)

 Are There Spirit Beings in the Spirit World?

The Bible indicates there are a variety of “beings” in the spirit world.  These can be categorized into the following groups:

• The Godhead – God the Father; Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
• Seraphim
• Holy Angels
• 24 Elders
• Resurrected Old Testament saints
• Souls of New Testament saints
• Spirit horses
• Evil spirits
• Evil angels
• Satan

For people on Earth to be able to have the appropriate relationship with these “beings”, the Bible is the only means by which Christians can discern who and how to communicate with each when needed:

“Beloved, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, but TRY THE SPIRITS whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”  (1 John 4:1)

The New Birth – John 3:3-8

Jesus says that:

“...Except a man be BORN AGAIN, HE CANNOT SEE the kingdom of God...[and] Except a man be BORN OF WATER [the "water of the word - Eph 5:26] and OF THE SPIRIT, he CANNOT ENTER INTO the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3-8)

PLEASE NOTE that Jesus said being "born again" enables Christians to both "SEE" and to "ENTER" God's spiritual kingdom.  If Christians can't "SEE" God's kingdom and report on what they have "SEEN", it is questionable whether they will be able to "ENTER INTO" God's kingdom when the time comes at death.

The ‘New Birth’ represents a spiritual transformation of a person’s “Inner Man” from the values and ways of this world into those of the Spirit World where our Creator God resides with His Son Jesus Christ.

The “spiritual birth” process is much the same as natural birth where the child of God is transformed from the values and ways of this world into the values and ways of God in the spirit world.  

However, it is Satan’s desire that the (spiritual) 'fetus' (or, the Christian who is yet to become a "born again" child of God through the New Birth) becomes 'aborted' or remains dead (meaning, undelivered) in the 'womb of this world'.  In the spiritual sense, such an individual fails to 'mature' in the 'womb of this world' by embracing more the values of 'the Church' rather than pressing into God's kingdom to become "born-again". 

“I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Phil 3:14

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth VIOLENCE [from Satan's people to prevent the New Birth from occurring], and the VIOLENT [children of God] take it [the Kingdom of God as “heirs” – Rom 8:17] by FORCE.”  Matt 11:12

It can also be said that the "New Birth" is prevented when God's people turn to religion as a substitute for "walking in the Spirit".  

However it is God’s desire for every child of His to not only experience the New Birth, but to grow from being a “new born babe in Christ” (1 Peter 2:2) into a “strong young man in Christ” (1 John 2:14).

Walking in the Spirit

In the natural world and in the spirit world, ‘beings’ can do much the same things.  In this, they can:

• Sleep
• Slumber (drift in and out of sleep)
• Awake — but stay in bed
• Walk
• Jog
• Run

In the spirit world, similar activity takes place where God requires Christians to “run the race set before them”, but instead many prefer to remain in a more docile state.

“...and let us RUN WITH PATIENCE the RACE that is set before us,”  (Heb 12:1)

“Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So RUN, that ye may obtain.”  (1 Cor 9:24)

God does not expect Christians to have to "run" continuously and not rest throughout their spiritual journey in this life.  However, He does expect Christians to “walk in the Spirit” (Rom 8:1, 4; Gal 5:16, 25).

Need to Know More?

An article I wrote back in 2009 explored a number of different aspects relating to the spirit world — in particular the 'POWER' it contains.  This article can be found here.

Similarly, go to My Gospel Blog to read more about this subject and other related subjects the Bible reveals about the spirit world around us.