CARNAL INCLINATIONS

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.

Romans 8:1-2

Well, it’s common knowledge that whatever one subjects himself to, such becomes his master. Romans 6:16 says; don’t you realize that you can choose your own master? You can choose sin (with death) or else obedience (with acquittal). The one to whom you offer yourself- he will take you, and you will be his slave. There is a clash over the lordship of your person, your carnal disposition on one hand, and life according to God’s will and purpose on the other. One might think, “here I am, a carnal being, yet expected to not live carnally. It’s only natural that I live out my being”. Perhaps, it’s unfortunate that our default nature runs inconsistent with God’s will for us. Romans 8:7 says; because the carnal (recall its synonyms above) mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. But that is not always meant to be so, though we are of a carnal default nature, we can indeed live above such nature. You get to choose which nature bears rule over you. Romans 8:5 says; those who let themselves be controlled by their natures live only to please themselves, but those who follow after the Holy Spirit find themselves doing those things that please God.

“You say that so easily, like you’re no victim of your own natural inclination”, you may think. Well the good news is that the hard work in the equation is none of your responsibility. Your own part is to make a choice to live after the Spirit (a life that pleases God). What then happens to “actually” living after the Spirit? This is the point where the finished work of the cross comes in. May I state at this juncture that Christ’s coming to earth was mainly to restore man’s relationship with God, not just to die. His death being a means to that end. John 10:9 says; yes, I am the gate. Those who come in by way of the gate will be saved… verse 10 says; … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Life entails relationship and connection with God. John 14:6 goes on to say; Jesus told him, “I am the way- yes, and the truth and the life. No one can get to the father except by means of me”. Christ’s death and resurrection provided a platform through which we can relate with the father, and live to please Him.

But you have to take the first step of choosing Christ and believing in Him. Thus, John 1:12 says: But to all who received Him, He gave the right to become children- the power to become sons- of God. So you see, there is empowerment received to live above our carnal inclinations when we make the choice to hand the lordship of our lives to Christ. As verse 13 states: all those who believe this are reborn, not a physical rebirth resulting from human passion or plan- but from the will of God. Thus, Ephesians 2:18 says: now all of us may come to God the father with the Holy Spirit’s help because of what Christ has done for us.

Christ died and rose on our behalf, so we could live our lives to please God- especially with our bodies. As Romans 12:1 pointed; I plead with you to give your bodies to God, let them be a living sacrifice, holy- the kind He can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

Furthermore, Romans 6:12-13 reports: do not let sin control your body any longer, do not give in to its sinful desires. Do not let any part of your bodies become tools of wickedness, to be used for sinning, but give yourselves completely to God- every part of you- for you are back from death and you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for His good purposes. To put a cap on it, 1Peter 4:1-2 says; since Christ suffered and underwent Pain, you must have the same attitude he did, you must be ready to suffer, too. Remember, when your body suffers, sin loses its power, and you won’t be spending the rest of your life chasing after evil desires but will be anxious to do the will of God. “Suffer” in this context entails denying your flesh its gratification.

So you see friends, it’s all a matter of taking the step of faith into Christ’s arms, and such a decision must be made as terribly soon as possible, if not this very moment. Then, you can witness the rest and freedom in Christ to live above such carnal inclinations.

God be with you.

Still you friend @josephjnr