Can what started in the flesh be Godly after the cross?

[Checkered24]

Hey folks! I am struggling with a theological issue in my relationship.

I originally met my fiance about two years ago, before I was saved. She was saved at the time, and over the course of a good long time opened the door to God for me. I have now been saved for nearly a year, and we are now very happily engaged.

However, I was recently reading "The Normal Chrisitan Life" by Watchman Nee (at the recommendation of my Pastor... it is a terrific book about our personal relationship and walk with Jesus!).

While reading it, one point he makes is that what is started in the flesh is of the flesh. This is true doctrine, based on John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

I am concerned with the implications of this before God, in relation to our relationship and have struggled to reconcile it. We both have felt very blesssed by God in an innumerable number of ways in our relationship, and feel that our relationship if God focused and glorifying.

However, I am wondering how this aspect works. Since our meeting, and my feelings for her began before I was saved, those feelings were certainly born of the flesh and would remain worldly. So then, I wonder if it is possible for the relationship to be of the Spirit with that carnal background.

Anyone here with any suggestions, or bible passages or chapters that may help me reconcile or search the Word for added guidance? I have prayed on this but have not been guided to any additional information yet by the Spirit to help reconcile it.

Unless, God's answer to my prayers is really in the blessings he has been giving to us!

Thank you for your thoughts!

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

What if you had already married her and had children.Would you reject your children because they were born of your flesh?
If you had a mortgage before you were saved would you tell the bank your a new creature and so you are no longer in that contract.

The way I see it is by grace a believer reached out to you and you were impressed by something about them enough to seek a change.
If you made promises and commitments before you don't just toss them out,that's not love.

So if I am a spirit filled believer and have any physical attraction would that be a reason to not choose a mate?

I would be very thankful that a believer took a chance on me.
It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.
Your just finding it hard to believe God is really LOVE.

BTW: Congratulations on your new life in Christ and on your upcoming marriage to another Christ one.

 

[Checkered24]

Thats for the examples and point of view. They are revealing and helpful!

You may have a point, that maybe I need to look to grow my faith in God as Love. I know God's love for us has been an element of my faith that I have seen develop a lot as of late, but that I certainly have a long way to go with too.

I am certainly very grateful for being blessed by her in my life! I would not have come to Jesus without her influence in my own spiritual life, and I have been blessed so many times over by the Lord since coming to him!

Thank you again!

 

[MooChristen]

As much as people want to believe, God is not a legalist. Jesus Himself said He came to fulfill the law for us, bc the letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life. Any physical attraction obviously begins in the flesh, whether or not you are a Christian. What matters is your commitment to purity and righteousness in the eyes of God. If there is substance beyond the physical, and the physical hasn't become sin, or the only aspect of your relationship, God isn't going to say it's wrong. Sounds like you are asking the right questions. Focus on the spiritual and emotional aspects of your relationship, bc those will make or break you as a Christian couple. If your heart is not right, you can't have a Godly relationship. If your heart IS right, then you have nothing to worry about.

 

[AudreyNicole]

After reading your testimony and a few of your posts this is my conclusion on this particular subject: you have God's blessing

As long as you and yours continue to keep your eyes on Christ during your happily ever after you will be fine!

Think of your relationship with your fiance as if it is a person (when you're married you are joined in one flesh, so kinda in a way it is a person. We will name your relationship Grace and here is her story.
When Grace was born, she was born into sin. She started out in a sinful world as a sinful person; following the flesh, following the world, falling into temptation, she is human, and thus, fell into the sinful human nature. Fortunately, though, the Lord was able to save her. Through His amazing ways and using all His different tools, He was able to save Grace, just another lost sheep, and she was redeemed through the blood of Christ. Now Grace is a child of God, fully saved by grace through faith in Christ, washed clean of all her prior sins, free from iniquity, a new person, a new creation, fully acceptable before God.

She is your relationship. What started as fleshly and sinful has been saved, just like a person, and now it is a new creation in Christ. We are all born sinful, just like your relationship started out sinful, but through Christ we are reborn and saved, just as your relationship was reborn and saved!

The most wonderful thing, I think, in a relationship between two people is you get to be the bride and groom instead of just the bride... As single children, we are Christ's bride, but as married children we are to exemplify the greatest Marriage of all, that between Christ and His bride. So, long story short, your relationship has been reborn in Christ, it is a new creation; what was once fleshly and sinful, is now saved and clean, and now your job is to follow the most Holy Union and uphold the greatest commandment, to love.


God Bless!

In Christ,

 

[j_sp]

Checkered24,

It sounds like you are on the right track. The Scriptures that stand out to me while reading this are, 1Cor. 15:44-49; John 3:3-8. Basically, now that you are growing in your relationship with Christ, you allow His Holy Spirit to lead you in all things - hear and obey His leading. And, the more you do this the more you live out the supernatural, or spiritual life of Christ in you...

1Cor. 15:47-48 "The first man [was] from out of earth, made of dust (earthly-minded); the second Man [is] the Lord from out of heaven. Now those that are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded)." (Amp)

Faith is believing in the unseen (Heb. 11:1). We may not be able to see His Spirit, but we hear Him because we are His - know Him & are aquainted with Him through our relationship with Him, and we are to obey Him, in what He directs us to do (John 10:27). This coincides with John 3:8 "The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (Amp) Being led by the Spirit has to do with trust and this is what this verse was getting at...trusting the Lord, even though we do not see all of what is going on. He will guide us through.

Moses heard God often while walking through the desert (He didn't actually see Him-only as a bush). But by and through his faith of hearing and obeying God through the desert, he fulfilled what God called him to do.

John 3:11-15 justifies this further as you read. You have already been tasting the blessing of giving your life to Christ after you'd been married, but the Lord has even more for you as you grow in your relationship with Him and learn to walk by faith...by His Spirit's leading in everything you do. This way, you glorify Him in everything you put your hand to because He told you to do it, and blessed it (Prov. 3:5-6; Rom. 8:9-17). When we obey His leading, we do His will for our lives. Jesus listened and obeyed the Father, as we are too also by His Spirit. This brings forth the fruit which is good - the fruit of His Spirit, and not our own (by and through the fleshly nature, but His nature working in and through us).

j_sp

 

[jari]

Hey folks! I am struggling with a theological issue in my relationship.

I originally met my fiance about two years ago, before I was saved. She was saved at the time, and over the course of a good long time opened the door to God for me. I have now been saved for nearly a year, and we are now very happily engaged.

However, I was recently reading "The Normal Chrisitan Life" by Watchman Nee (at the recommendation of my Pastor... it is a terrific book about our personal relationship and walk with Jesus!).

While reading it, one point he makes is that what is started in the flesh is of the flesh. This is true doctrine, based on John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

I am concerned with the implications of this before God, in relation to our relationship and have struggled to reconcile it. We both have felt very blesssed by God in an innumerable number of ways in our relationship, and feel that our relationship if God focused and glorifying.

However, I am wondering how this aspect works. Since our meeting, and my feelings for her began before I was saved, those feelings were certainly born of the flesh and would remain worldly. So then, I wonder if it is possible for the relationship to be of the Spirit with that carnal background.

Hi. Marriage is suposed to be "of the flesh".

Mat 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, (5) And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? (6) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

I think we should be concerned of our spiritual relatiship with God and how to grow in Christ. Marriage is still always going to have flesh's pleasures.



Btw the John 3:6 is reffering to being born again by God's spirit. This is what happen to everyone when they become saved.

Edit: I noticed your question in the topic title and to that we have instruction from the Bible:


Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

 

[Brighthouse]

Hey Bro! Watchman Nee!! there is a true disciple of the Lord!! What I am about to tell you is just something to consider,for you know far more about your relationship then I. I personally believe it is very possible to love in both flesh and Spirit,did not Jesus love us,and we were all born in flesh. 2 cor 5:17-21!

Before Jesus we saw only in the flesh,our minds were not yet renewed,but now, you can look at your wife to be,in both flesh, and Spirit. verse 18-19 is why. therefore verse 20 and since this is so.verse 21 completes us all in him.

Before Jesus we had no right standing before him,after we accepted Jesus in him, we now have right standing. Does an apple appear any different? Does anything appear different now? Only how we perceive this object or person does,because now our mind is renewed by the very Word of God.( rom 12:1-2)

That which is born of the flesh is indeed flesh,and now for you both,that which is born of the Spirit,amen is well Spirit! The big difference now,is that you complete each other,because in Spirit you are not two anymore but one in Christ! Matt 19:4-6 What God has joined together let no man put asunder or separate! Blessing!