What does it really mean to experience life as the spiritual person God designed? How will life be different when we live this way?
The Spiritual Man and the Natural Man
The Spiritual Person
What does it really mean to experience life as the spiritual person God designed? How will life be different when we live this way? Instead of merely existing as an imitation in the form of the natural person or the carnal Christian, we thrive in the wonder of being and becoming His unique kingdom masterpieces. Choosing to live as God’s spiritual person is a requirement for experiencing the fullness of His incredible masterpiece design. Many Christians do not choose this life. Some live this way because they have not been taught and mentored, and some because they insist on their flesh being in control. Spiritual Christians go beyond salvation and attempting to “act” like Christ as they engage in the life-long journey of willingly submitting to and following the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
The Natural Person
Paul, speaking to Christians, establishes this distinction in 1 Cor 3:1-3a, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh (carnal-NKJ) as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready, for you are still of the flesh.” He further admonishes (1 Cor 2:14) that, “The natural person (unsaved individual and Carnal Christian) does not accept the things of the Spirit of God for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them (nor can he know them – NKJ) because they are spiritually discerned.”
Made in God’s Image
Just as God is One Being with three identities, God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (2Cor 13:14), so is mankind but in a different sense. First Thessalonians 5:23 communicates, “…may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless…”. We are also three-part beings, composed of three distinct parts, our spirits, souls, and bodies.
Three-Part Beings
Our spirits are eternal and exist the moment the Lord forms us in the womb. They are unique for each of us and carry our kingdom identity into eternity. If we choose salvation in Christ, that eternity is spent with Him. We are designed for our spirit to receive revelation and instruction from the Holy Spirit. (The Bible’s view of our spirits is in direct conflict with the New Age hypothesis that our spirits come from some mythical force at birth and return there at death.)
Our souls are also unique and are the seat of passion and determination. They consist of mind, will and emotions. Natural gifts reside here.
Our bodies engage the material realm through the five senses. As Christians, our earthly body is ultimately replaced by the spiritual body.
Created for Intimate Relationship and Walking in the Spirit
God designed us for direct, intimate relationships. Following salvation, His Spirit communicates directly with our spirit. Our spirit then processes these revelations so that they are understood and acted upon through our mind, will, emotion and body. Thus, all is to be aligned under the control and authority of God’s Spirit. Yet, even after salvation, we are free in each moment to decide whether to come under the authority of Christ as His spiritual person or take control through our flesh. When we walk as He designed, it is God’s Spirit, not our natural person or efforts, that then transform us and accomplishes His will in and through us through. (Remember 1 Cor 2: 14 above. The natural man cannot operate this way.)
The Spirit’s Power
Consider the analogy of an electric motor. God’s Spirit is the current and power. He connects with us through our spirit, which represents the motor’s on-off switch and internal wiring. He is to be the source of all that occurs within the motor. Our soul (mind, will and emotion) and body are the elements of the motor that are to be activated by God’s Spirit, through our spirit. When we operate as carnal Christians, we permit our flesh to take the throne in place of the Holy Spirit. We switch off God’s design, short circuit the motor, and are then unable to perform anything of kingdom value. In spiritual Christians, our flesh serves our spirit, our spirit keeps the switch open, and God’s Spirit empowers our lives.
The Fall
Because of Adam’s sin (Gen 3: 6, 7), he and through him all mankind became sinners. He (and mankind) immediately died spiritually and began to die physically. However, God provided a prophesy and new covenant promise of salvation for mankind through the Messiah (Gen 3:15). Without Christ, the entire race fell. God’s design for Spirit-to-spirit relationship was broken, due to the death of mankind’s spirit. Without Christ, mankind operates only in the flesh (soul and body). In this state, Romans 8:8 teaches, “So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
The Flesh
Both the unsaved and the carnal Christian (saved but controlled by their flesh) can accomplish nothing of kingdom value. John 6: 63 states, “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Galatians 5: 17, 24 reveals, “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other … And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Finally, Galatians 6: 7-8 exhort us, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever one sows, that he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
The Flesh and Spirit Battle
Through Christ, our Father makes it possible for us as Christians to “have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Our individual spirits come to life and our ever-deepening personal relationship with God begins. However, we must be taught this truth and then continuously choose to walk in the Spirit by placing our flesh on the cross and joyously surrendering control and empowerment of our lives to God’s Spirit.
Who’s in Charge?
We soon discover that, although our flesh was crucified with Christ, it does not surrender easily. It is accustomed to being in charge as mind, will, emotion, and body, and we have been comfortable operating under the flesh’s authority. As we learn to walk in the Spirit, we experience a continuing process of growth. Surprisingly, we find ourselves moving back and forth between operating in our flesh as carnal Christians and walking in the Spirit. The more we listen to the Spirit’s voice, the more we hear His loving question, “Who is in charge right now? Whose life are you living?” In these moments, we are lovingly given the choice, “Choose to either return our flesh to the cross and be filled with and controlled by God’s Spirit or ignore Him to operate in the flesh. Many do not understand this truth and do not hear the Spirit’s voice. Some ignore Him. The church is to exhort, teach and mentor this walk in the Spirit.
Surrender
As I was learning to permit God’s Spirit to write a book through me, He taught me to face these choices more joyfully. I knew I failed a lot in this but thought I had grown more. I became discouraged at how often my flesh took over. He stopped me and said, “Do not be discouraged. This is great and as it must be. You are learning to hear and surrender moment-by-moment. This instantaneous communication and response relationship produces true growth. Rejoice and embrace my voice and lordship.” 
His Life, His Victory, Our Choice
To live God’s spiritual life and experience the wonder of being and becoming His masterpiece, we must understand His design and give His Spirit control of all. We are always free to choose. As our flesh is continuously placed on the cross, it is His Spirit who both transforms us and accomplishes our unique missions through us in His power.
Choosing His Will
What is God’s Spirit revealing to you about the transformations He has for your life and your missions to help others walk in His Spirit? Are you open to His revelations or are your mind, will, and emotions shouting for you to stay in control and stay safe and comfortable? Whose life are you living? Whose life will you choose? The kingdom life God has for each of us is beyond our greatest understanding. It is not easy, for we are choosing to walk against the compromised design the world demands.
Author’s Bio: Curt Martin is an author, speaker, seminar leader, and organization consultant. God has filled him with the passion to see every individual and organization become the unique and incredible masterpiece God designed. Little touches Him more than helping awaken all God placed within you, so you thrive in His freedom, purpose, and power as you learn to Walk in God’s Spirit. Only those who commit to this journey experience the fullness of living God’s victorious life. Articles include excerpts from his award winning book, “Whose Life Are You Living.”
Here is some related reading for you: 5 Differences Between Walking in the Flesh and Walking in the Spirit
Resource – Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Crossway Bibles. (2007). ESV: Study Bible: English standard version. Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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