He was "talking to" everyone.
His words help men to delineate who is in Christ and who is not.
Those who wish to walk in the Spirit will find out how to crucify the flesh and be raised again, with Christ, to walk in newness of life. (
Rom 6:4-6)
Not true. Paul wrote his letters to Churches, not to the world.
Paul constantly had to teach and admonish Gentile Christians, not to live as sinners and to put away their old sinful habits.
This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24
again
Therefore,
putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Ephesians 4:25-28
again
Therefore
be imitators of God as dear children. And
walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. Ephesians 5:1-7
Paul is plainly warning these Christians to turn away from sin and immorality or they will be partakers of the wrath of God.
True.
Men can't walk in both.
Christians walk in the Spirit, and not in the flesh.
Thanks be to God.
He was "talking to" everyone.
His words help men to delineate who is in Christ and who is not.
Those who wish to walk in the Spirit will find out how to crucify the flesh and be raised again, with Christ, to walk in newness of life. (
Rom 6:4-6)
Actually Christians are called to walk in the Spirit, rather than walking after the flesh.
Non Christians do not have the ability to walk in the Spirit.
Paul warned Christians that they must walk in the Spirit rather than the flesh. That they must learn to put on the new man, that is created in the image of God.
Our body still contains sin; the law of sin, sin nature, the old man.
We as Christian’s are called to live our life according to the new man, the new nature, that is in harmony with the desires of God, having been created according to God. This is the inward man, the new man, created in the image of Christ. Our soul must be renewed so that we can be transformed. This is not some “
automatic“ operation but requires that we ourselves follow the leading of the Spirit, offering our body as a living sacrifice.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2
This is a process that takes time as we mature, and is not some one time thing that happens at water baptism, like some suppose, but rather it is a daily walk of crucifying the flesh, and walking according to the Spirit who dwells in our inner man.
JLB
