The Natural
Man: Psuchikos, of the senses, is unrenewed man in communion with the world,
the nature we are born with. Sarkikos, carnal or fleshly, is the propensity to
indulge and satisfy our Natural Man with the sinful appetites and desires of
this fallen world, to live according to the flesh -- what John called the lust
of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Desire for the world’s
material things, physical appetites, pride, prestige, independence, power...,
these are the tentacles of carnality that draw us to the world. The Natural Man
loves to be in control and is naturally carnal, naturally lives life in concert
with the desires of his flesh. The Natural Man’s real name is Self.
The
Spiritual Man: Pneumatikos, spiritual, is renewed man in communion with God,
the nature Christ died to provide for us. Spiritual Man is the product of one’s
new birth into God’s Kingdom through a willful heartfelt confession in the
atoning work of Jesus and repentance for sin. The Spiritual Man is the
implanted nature of Christ... the Christ-Life, which will be made manifest by
the Holy Spirit in the new believer’s life.
This, in essence, is what makes one a “New Creation” upon their confession
of faith: Their enslavement to sin is broken and the nature of our Savior is
downloaded into their spirit.
Self will want to maintain control and will resist the
immergence of Christ’s nature, setting the stage for a lifelong battle between
Self and the Christ-Life. Self must die or his carnal nature will bleed over
into the Christ-Life producing “Carnal Christians”. Self will not go quickly or
quietly... it won’t be a quick death.
“I am crucified with Christ … I die daily.” The daily moment by moment
choices we make determine which nature is immerging and in control. This is the
process of being conformed... molded, into the image of God’s Son, sharing
inwardly His nature. This is progressive transformation, the normal Christian
life.
PROGRESSIVE TRANSFORMATION
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