Study 57 "Be filled with the Spirit"
I had to run out of the house to hospital after cell, so I asked Kevin to pen his thoughts down for the blog. Anyway, I will write a truncated reflection on last night's cell lesson for my part.
I thought that, for me, the key points to learn had to do with the character of the carnal (= 'fleshly') Christian.
1 Co 3:1-3 tells us that this involves jealousy as we compare ourselves to others, strife with brothers and sisters, and engaging in a cult of personality to gain a sense of place because we need to identify with individual leaders rather than to be secure in Christ.
Gal 3:1-3 and 5:16-18 show how easy it can be to try to sanctify ourselves with works when we thought ourselves justified with faith alone. We said that the Galatian heresy is like the "Confucian" heresy, because we Chinese feel we should always be paying for grace (which is impossible). Stated another way, it is not trusting in Christ alone, and nothing else, for salvation.
Eph 5: 15-18 tells us that the carnal Christian is 'unwise', 'foolish', not making the best use of the time in these evil days. It is not understanding the Lord's will. It is losing control over our actions and judgement by intoxication. It is not having a worshipping, grateful heart. And it is not having a certain tenderness and brokenness of spirit that submits to other Christians.
I thought that, for me, the key points to learn had to do with the character of the carnal (= 'fleshly') Christian.
1 Co 3:1-3 tells us that this involves jealousy as we compare ourselves to others, strife with brothers and sisters, and engaging in a cult of personality to gain a sense of place because we need to identify with individual leaders rather than to be secure in Christ.
Gal 3:1-3 and 5:16-18 show how easy it can be to try to sanctify ourselves with works when we thought ourselves justified with faith alone. We said that the Galatian heresy is like the "Confucian" heresy, because we Chinese feel we should always be paying for grace (which is impossible). Stated another way, it is not trusting in Christ alone, and nothing else, for salvation.
Eph 5: 15-18 tells us that the carnal Christian is 'unwise', 'foolish', not making the best use of the time in these evil days. It is not understanding the Lord's will. It is losing control over our actions and judgement by intoxication. It is not having a worshipping, grateful heart. And it is not having a certain tenderness and brokenness of spirit that submits to other Christians.
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