Three Categories of Men

Introduction:

In this week’s chapter, Thomas uses Israel in Egypt, the Wilderness and in Canaan to represent three categories of people…the non-Christian, the carnal Christian and the spiritual Christian. As with any metaphor or parable, we must be careful not to "literalize" every detail…metaphors and parables are designed to illustrate a main point or central truth…they are not allegories where all the main aspects are symbolic.

Preparing for this week’s class has been the most challenging of any class I can remember. It began several weeks ago when I discovered that I disagree with Thomas’ equating our old sinful nature with the flesh. Somehow when I had read the book before, I had not understood that to be his position. I discussed it with Jay, who happens to agree with my understanding that the old sinful nature and the flesh are not the same, and he felt that when The Saving Life of Christ was written, that position was a part of what was known as Keswick theology and that probably Thomas didn’t still believe the same as he did when the book was written forty years ago. I emailed Thomas with a request for clarification two weeks ago and have not yet received a reply.

In any event, it’s been difficult to find myself in disagreement with such a man of God as Thomas…perhaps God is reminding me not to put too much confidence in any man…as the old hymn says, ‘the arm of flesh will fail you"…no pun intended! Well, let’s look at this chapter together…

Group Discussion:

In the beginning, how were humans designed to function…what was to be their "life source"?

Humans were created "in the image of God"…essentially a spirit that would have a soul and be localized in a body. When God "breathed into man the breath of life" that was not just air in his lungs…that was God’s presence in man. Humans were designed to have God as their life source…without God there is no life!

When Adam and Eve chose to live independently of God…to decide for themselves what was "right" and what was "wrong", the Spirit of God was withdrawn from them and they were spiritually dead. They had no resources to combat the flesh and were slaves to sin.

What is the "flesh"?

Thomas contends that it is not the human body, which he says is itself not sinful…I disagree. Anything apart from God is sinful. The flesh is not only the human body, which has been contaminated by sin, but also includes all the habit patterns and mental processes for coping apart from God. Every cell, including brain cells, has been marred by sin and will remain that way until we are glorified and receive our permanent heavenly body.

Paul, warned the Galatian believers in these words:

For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. (Galatians 5:17)

Does that remind you of Romans 7:14-25 where Paul describes his own struggle between the flesh and Spirit?

I believe Egypt is a great metaphor for the non-believer…in slavery to sin and without hope. The Passover Lamb was a foreshadowing of Christ, our Passover Lamb (1Cor. 5:7), who by his blood, saved us from death, but I believe the Egyptian taskmasters are symbolic of our Adamic nature, not our flesh. If the flesh was crucified with Christ, why do we still struggle?

How does Israel in the wilderness describe the carnal Christian?"

A carnal Christian has received the Holy Spirit and the fullness of Christ, and yet ignores His presence and struggles to live the Christian life as though Christ were not there! He constantly begs and pleads for all that God has already given him, but he will not take it. He is the one who will not step out by faith upon the glorious fact that Christ is his life and therefore his victory.

Israel had been given the land. Canaan was theirs, but they would not take it. The same faith that had brought them out of Egypt was the same faith that would take them into Canaan, but they would not accept what God had already given them.

How did Israel finally enter into Canaan?

They crossed the water on dry ground, just like they had come out of Egypt. The same faith that had brought them out of Egypt was the same faith that took them into Canaan. Finally, under the leadership of Joshua, they crossed over.

Who does Joshua represent?

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, may we experience the saving life of Christ as our very own in a more consistent way as we walk by faith…trusting in Jesus alone. Lead us to surrender completely and to depend entirely upon You…save us from being independent…show us the areas of our lives where we still resist and hold on to our independence. Thank You for loving and accepting us unconditionally, even when we fail and fall short of the abundant life You have given us, for Jesus sake, Amen.