i. to discuss the spiritual nature of the Christian race and
ii. to expose the danger of running the Christian race with carnal attitude.
Our Bible passage today teaches us that though we are in the flesh, we do not war in the flesh; meaning, we war in the spirit. The greatest mistake any Christian can make is to run his/her Christian race carnally. Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). This sets the tone for what the Christian race is: a spiritual one. (1Cor 2:14). Our study guides will expose us to more facts about the spiritual nature of our Christian race.
1. Explain what we mean when we say the Christian race is spiritual and not carnal. 1Cor 2:13-14.
2. Why is the Christian race a spiritual one? John 4:24; 1Cor 2:14; Eph. 6:10-18.
3. Identify the dangers of a carnal mind-set to the Christian from these texts: Rom. 8:5-8; 1Cor. 3:3.
4. How can we effectively run the Christian race here on earth in a spiritual way? Eph. 6:10-12 compare with the incidence in Est 4:15-16; 5:2-3.
The Christian race is spiritual, and should never be run carnally to avoid irreconcilable chanllenges and consequences. To do this, we need to deploy all the means of grace at our disposal, both at individual and corporate levels in the Church.
Walking in the spirit is the antidote to carnality.
1Cor. 2:14 "But the natural (carnal) man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned".