Study Notes

I.      1 Corinthians 3:1-3-Carnality is one of main marks of immaturity

A.    Being carnal is being governed by the flesh

1.      Carnal-Governed by human nature and not by the Spirit of God, fleshy; Spiritual-Non-carnal, One who is filled and governed by the Spirit of God

2.      1 Corinthians 3:3-It’s being saved, but living your life like you’re not saved (AMP-Walking as men, after a human standard, like mere unchanged me)

3.      Ephesians 2:2-3 (AMP)-To be carnal is to be saved, but to still be governed by the flesh  

a.    Titus 3:3-For we ourselves were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another

b.    1 Corinthians 3:3-This envying and strive and divisions are the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21)

c.     1 Peter 1:14 AMP-[Live] as children of obedience [to God]; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires [that governed you] in your former ignorance [when you did not know the requirements of the Gospel].

4.      1 Peter 4:1-4-As born again people we should not be governed by the flesh, living like the unsaved world and running hand and hand with them

a.    Titus 2:12-For the grace of  God that brings salvation has appeared to all me, Teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly (temperate, self-controlled), righteously, and godly in this present world

B.     The more immature you are spiritually, the more you are governed by the flesh

1.      Babyhood and carnality go hand in hand (As-Like, even as; Babes-Infant, little child, childish, unskilled, an immature Christian)

2.      How carnal you are and how is measured in how often you are governed by the dictates of the flesh and that marks your level of maturity; How much do you say yes to the flesh reveals your level of maturity

II.     Romans 8:1-17-One of the main marks of maturity is spirituality

A.    Romans 8 notes-Being mature is being spiritual, being governed by the spirit of God; Being immature is being carnal and governed by your flesh

1.      As a believer because you are still developing spiritually you might have a moment of carnality; It’s not that you don’t make mistakes after you get saved the desire to change and repentance is the difference from your carnality when you weren’t saved (See Romans 7)

2.      1-4-We are to be following the dictates of the Spirit, NOT the flesh (AMP-Our lives governed not by the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit)  

3.      5-What you do with your mind has everything to who you follow and how you live-A huge part of maturity has to with controlling your thought life

4.      6,7-The flesh profits nothing (John 6:63); You’re not going to live a good life and be against God 

5.      8-You can’t please God and live in the flesh; (AMP-Catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature)

6.      12,13-You owe the flesh nothing and you have to mortify (render extinct) the deeds of the body – Flesh, I owe you nothing and you’re dead

7.      17-18-You can’t suffer with him in regards to bearing sin and the curse, but you can suffer with him in regards to saying NO to the flesh

B.     As you grow up spiritually you are less and less governed by your flesh and more and more governed by the spirit of God and the Word of God

1.      14-Sons-Those whose who revere God as their father, the pious worshippers of God, those who in character and life resemble God, those who are governed by the Spirit of God. Term used preeminently of Jesus Christ as enjoying the supreme love of God, united to him in affectionate intimacy, privy to his saving councils, obedient to the Father’s will in al his acts; 15-17-Children-Teknon-Still at home under the parent

2.      1 Peter 2:1-2-He’s telling babies to lay this stuff aside because mature believers have already laid it aside

3.      Walking in the spirit/being spiritual is walking and living in the Word and being governed by the Holy Spirit; Being carnal and walking in the flesh is a walk that’s in opposition to the Word and being governed by your flesh-John 6:63

III.   1 Thessalonians 4:1-2-A big part of spiritual maturity is knowing how to possess your vessel; If you don’t learn how to possess your vessel you’re going to be possessed by your vessel

A.    1 Peter 2:11-12-These fleshy lusts war against your soul

B.     Proverbs 25:28,16:32-We are to rule over our spirit (emotions, thoughts desires, will) not be ruled by it

C.    To rule over the flesh you must understand the make-up of man (I am a Spirit-being, I have a soul, I live in a body)

D.    Inside your tri-part being there is spiritual hierarchy (pecking order, chain of command)-2Cor10:5,1Cor9:27-You the spirit reign over the mind and body

E.     You rule over your body and soul with the words of your spirit-Romans 8:5, James 3:2, Psalm 103

IV.   Maturity is marked by this ability to not be moved by your flesh or feelings and to always be governed by the spirit and the Word

A.    Acts 20:17-None of these things move me

1.      He’s being led by the spirit and this is a sign of mature sons of God

2.      Bonds-Shackles; Afflictions-Pressure, distress, tribulation, oppression, trouble

3.      He’s not being governed by what his head or flesh feels about these bonds and afflictions (MSG-But that matters little)

B.     Romans 8:5-Immaturity and carnality starts with what you focus on

1.      2 Corinthians 4:18-We look not at things which are seen; We don’t pay any attention to how we feel Look-Direct one’s attention to, fix one’s eyes on, consider, take heed (pay attention), to mark, contemplate; Seen-Of the bodily eye, to perceive by the senses, to feel, to perceive by use of the eyes

2.      If focus on how you feel you’re going to be governed by how you feel; if you focus on the Word you’ll be governed by the Word

C.    We need to be a rock; Rocky

1.      1 Corinthians 10:4-The rock was Christ; Jesus is a rock (A man like a rock, by reason of firmness of strength of soul)

2.      Isaiah 50:5-9-He’s being led by the Lord, by the Spirit of God and not being moved by how he feels (Flint-Rock, hardness)

3.      Isaiah 51:1-2-Abraham was a rock (Romans 4:16-21)

4.      1 Corinthians 15:58-Steadfast-Immoveable, firm; Unmoveable-Not move from it’s place, firmly persistent

5.      1 Corinthians 16:13-Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong

6.      Isaiah 7:4-We don’t need to be soft-(Fainthearted-Tender, soft, weak)