BECOMING A SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There are several times in the New Testament that some within the church are referred to as being spiritual.

1.      I Corinthians 2:15

 

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

 

2.      I Corinthians 14:37

 

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

 

3.      Galatians 6:1

 

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 

4.      In I Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul said that he desired to speak unto the Christians at Corinth as spiritual individuals, but he could not.

 

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat:  for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  For ye are yet carnal:  for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and division; are ye not carnal?

 

B.      Note, this is a unique group of Christians.  In other words, not all Christians are spiritual. 

 

C.     I believe that it should be the desire of every Christian to be a spiritual being. 

1.      How do we do this?

2.      In this lesson, we want to address the topic:  “Becoming a Spiritual Christian.”

 

I.                   THE MEANING OF THE WORD “SPIRITUAL”

 

A.    In every place mentioned above, the word “spiritual” is exactly the same word in the Greek language.

1.      The Greek word is “pneumatikos.”  It has as its root “pneuma” which means spirit.

2.      This indicates that a spiritual person is someone who is focused upon his spirit.

 

B.      Definitions:

1.      Strong (4152):  non-carnal, that is, non-humanly, ethereal (heavenly)

2.      Thayer:  relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God

3.      Vine:  the spiritual man is one who walks by the Spirit

 

II.                THE NEED TO BECOME A NEW MAN

 

A.    When we enter into this world, our spirits are pure because they were formed by God (Eccl. 12:7; Zech. 12:1).

The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.

 

B.      In the course of time, however, the carnal and fleshly world draws us to its delights.  Sadly, all sin (Rom. 3:23).

 

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

 

C.     In order for us to become spiritual again, the old man of sin must die and we must become a new man. 

1.      Death comes by means of repenting of sins (Rom. 6:6).

 

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

 

2.      The old man and buried in the waters of baptism.  When one arises from the waters of baptism, he is a new creature (Rom. 6:3-4).

 

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 

D.    NOTE:  Our souls are cleansed of sin, but we are not yet spiritual beings.  We must develop ourselves into that which is spiritual.  But, if you are never born again, you can never become the spiritual person God wants you to be.

 

III.             BECOMING SPIRITUAL

 

A.    Remember, the word “spiritual” comes from a root meaning “spirit.”  First, a spiritual man is deeply concerned with his spirit.

1.      He thinks about his spirit.

2.      He is concerned about his spirit.

3.      His spirit is his primary focus.

4.      He does not let the daily affairs of life and the things of the world cause him to take his eyes off his spirit.

 

B.      Strong began by defining the word “spiritual” as “non-carnal.”

1.      The spiritual man does not pursue the carnal, fleshly, worldly things of this world.

2.      Many passages in the New Testament exhort us to this end.

a.      The warning of James (James 4:4)

 

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that friendship with the world is enmity with God?  whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

b.      I John 2:15

 

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.

 

 

 

 

c.       I Peter 2:11

 

Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

 

C.     Instead of the things of the world, the spiritual man seeks after the things of the Spirit.

1.      Galatians 5:16-17

 

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit,and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:  and these are contrary the one to the other:  so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

2.      Romans 8:5-6

 

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are of the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

 

3.      Walking in the Spirit, living in the Spirit, and minding the things of the Spirit involve our diligent attention to and reception of the Word of God.

a.      Paul began Romans 8 with these words (vs. 1-2).

 

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

 

b.      Paul knew that spiritual understanding is the key to being spiritual. 

1)      What we think is what we become (Prov. 23:7).

2)      Thus, he prayed for the Colossians to be filled with wisdom and “spiritual understanding” (Col. 1:9).

 

For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

 

c.       We are transformed into a spiritual man by the renewing of our minds according to Romans 12:2.

 

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

 

4.      If a diligent study of the Word of God is not one of the main aspects of our lives, we will never become the spiritual person God wants us to be.

 

D.    The spiritual person follows Christ as his example.

1.      I Peter 2:21; I John 2:6

 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

2.      The reason the spiritual man follows the Christ.

a.      Christ is a spiritual being just like God the Father.

b.      He was a spiritual being who was clothed in flesh.

c.       He was clothed in flesh and lived a perfect life.

d.      He put off His mortal body and is now clothed in a spiritual body.

e.       Thus, there is no other example we can follow like Jesus Christ.

 

E.      The spiritual person is ethereal, that is, heavenly.

1.      He understands that his citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20).

2.      This world is not his home.  Remember, Peter said that we are “strangers and pilgrims” (I Pet. 2:11).

3.      His affection is set on things above (Col. 3:1-2).

a.      We say we love spiritual things.

b.      However, our conversation, our lives, our hobbies, our free time, and our wealth goes to and involves earthly things instead of things that are above.

4.      He is like the spiritual men of the past who “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Heb. 11:10), and, who “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly” (Heb. 11:16).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Spiritual people stand out from other Christians, not intentionally, but due to their way of life.

1.      They are focused on their spirit.

2.      The world does not hold anything of importance to them.

3.      Their lives are deeply rooted in the Word of God.

4.      Jesus Christ is their example.

5.      Their thoughts and their longings are always heavenly.

 

B.      Are you a spiritual person?

How far are you from reaching that place in your Christian life?

Are you more carnal than spiritual?

 

C.     Heaven is a spiritual place in which we will live.

In that place, we will dwell with a spiritual being called God.

We will live with all of the other spiritual people from all of the ages past.