Saturday, November 24, 2012

Mythbusters: Carnal Christian Edition



‎"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their mind on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:5-8

     "The flesh" and "The Spirit" are not two options for Christian living, but instead they are two realms; two dominions.  We were in the flesh, (Rom. 7:5) under the power of sin, imprisoned there by the law, (Gal. 3:22-24) unable to please God and hostile to God, but now we have been transferred from this dominion of sin and death to the kingdom of righteousness and life and grace, (Col. 1:13-14) not to walk in sin any longer.

     We may sin, because we are still in this world and influenced by the things around us, but we will not walk in sin.  Or as John puts it, "practice sin" (1 John 3:4-10)  If you are walking in sin you are not a "Carnal Christian"; you are not any kind of Christian.  You are simply still in "the flesh".  You have never been transferred.  You are still locked up in sin and the law (your prison guard) (Gal. 3:24) is still on duty.  You cannot please God because you are still an enemy of God, (Rom. 5:10) and by your constant disobedience you reveal that you are still under His wrath. (John 3:36)

     If this is you, good news!  There's repentance!  Don't be deceived any longer, repent!  Stop quoting Romans 7 to yourself to get back to sleep.  That person that Paul is describing cannot be a Christian.  He describes himself as, "sold under sin" (7:14), "captive to the law of sin" (7:23), and totally defeated. (7:24)  This goes against everything that Paul has been teaching for the last three chapters.  So either Paul is off his nut or we are.  The answer for this man is found in 8:2-4.  Instead, Christians have been: "set free from sin" (6:8), "free from the law of sin and death" (8:2), and "more than conquerors" (8:37) through Christ Jesus.

     If you are consistently walking in sin, unable to break free, unrepentant, hard-hearted to your sins; then you are only deceiving yourself and others by naming yourself as Christian.  God is not fooled and He is the one to judge.  So please don't take offense, take alarm.  Confess your sins, and repent of your sins, and put your faith in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.  Then you will be transferred into the Realm of Grace; set free from the sin's prison, no more under the guard of the law.  Free to serve and please God.

   Myth busted: there is no such thing as a carnal Christian.  No back slidden saints.  Only those that have been justified and redeemed by faith in Christ and those that remain in the Dominion of Sin and Death, held captive to the passions of their master, unable to please God.  So repent and believe and be transferred.
     

Friday, November 16, 2012

Mero chora pani mero bhai ho!


Namaste Everyone!


     Jaimasi!  Jaimasi!  Jaimasi!  (Jaimasi is the Christian greeting here in Nepal.  It is a combination of two words: Jai (praise) and Mashiha (Messiah), so together they are "Praise the Messiah")  And I have plenty reason to be doing so!  Yesterday morning I came downstairs from class to check on Daniel (doing school in the office) and he told me that he had been praying, and he had prayed to God and repented of his sins and put his faith in Christ.  I was completely blown away!  I have been praying for both him and his sister since before they were born, and I share the Gospel with them every time I can, but Daniel and I had not talked about that since before we came to Nepal.  God is faithful!  There is another personal matter that I have been pleading with God about in prayer, and I took this as, not only an answer to my prayer for the last 12 years, but also as a confirmation from God concerning my current prayer.  God does answer prayer, and He is faithful.  So, thank you to all who have prayed with me, concerning Daniel, over the last few years.  Oh, by the way, "Mero chora pani mero bhai ho" means, "My son is also my brother"  :)  

     Sorry that I have not sent out an update in so long.  We have been very busy, and I am about to get much busier!  Right now, Vic is teaching through John in the mornings and then I am teaching through Romans.  I have been giving Vic more time to teach than me because his time is short.  He flies out next Tuesday, and then I will be teaching twice as much!  I will have to study about four hours every afternoon to be prepared to teach the next day.  I love it to death, but it really does hurt your brain sometimes. :)

     Our class is much smaller this year.  We have about half of the students of previous years, and it is all local students.  This is due mainly to the size of our budget.  Fund raising was very difficult this year, but we are pouring in to this local church and it's leaders and future leaders, and that is good!  This year has also been very good for me.  I always feel stretched when I come here to teach.  This is an education for me as well as for my students.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to come here and to be used to serve the church here in Nepal and to be part of God's glory being spread to this nation.  My part is small, but my God is big!  

     Keep praying for us: for health, for finances, for our classes, and for wisdom and grace in everything that we do.  Thank you all many times over for your prayers and support!  May God be with you and continually bless you!

Dhanyabad Yesu!

Steve Wingo