The scripture states that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit (Romans 8:16). From Romans 8:16, we can confirm in other scriptures, that the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirit (Act 1:8, Act 10:38, Ephesians 1:13, John 14:16, 17).
To grow spiritually, it is essential to understand that man is a spirit, who possesses a soul and lives in a body (Genesis 1:26; Genesis 2:7; 1 Thesssalonians 5:23).
The moment we confess Jesus as our Lord and Personal Saviour, we are born again and receive the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit abides in our human spirit; meaning our spirit is 100% in union with The Spirit of God (Romans 8:16; 1 Corinthians 3:16), and man can walk according to the Spirit.
If we are not in union with the Holy Spirit, then we are defined as ‘carnal’.
What is carnality? The scripture states that ‘the carnal mind is emnity against God and those that are in the flesh cannot please God’ (Romans 8:7-8). This scripture reveals to us that we can’t fellowship with God in the flesh but only in spirit and in truth.
What is the root of carnality?
It started in the Garden of Eden when Eve saw the tree was beautiful and the fruits looked delicious, and she took some and ate it (Genesis 3:6).
Eve used her physical eyes (members of her body) to see the fruit on the tree and she processed what she saw in her mind (soul) seeing that the fruit looked delicious and it will give her wisdom. Satan’s deception assisted Eve to choose to eat the fruit, using her will to disobey God. Ad a result, Eve commited sinned against God in her soul (mind & will).
The scripture confirms this in Ezekiel 18:20, which says “the soul that sin must be die”. Eve’s body cooperated with her soul to disobey God.
In order for God to redeem man from their fallen state as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve, God sent His Son Jesus to the world to reconcile man back to himself (John 3:16).
The penalty of sin was death but thanks be to the Father of our Lord Jesus who has redeem mankind from death through the blood of His son (Ephesisan 1:7).
As highlighted above, the body of man (flesh) cooperated with the soul of man which caused Adam and Eve to fall (sin). That same body is what God now calls His temple because of the blood of Jesus (1 Cor 3:16, Rom 12:1).
Being influenced by the soul and body as Adam and Eve did, is what the scripture refers to as “walking after the flesh” or “being carnal” (Romans 8:5).
In the next blog, I will explain practical ways of walking according to the spirit and how subdue the flesh (Gal 5:16), based on the Word of God.
I hope someone is blessed and encouraged
Stay blessed and be encouraged