What, then, is a “carnal’ Christian”? Is it biblical to divide believers into “spiritual men” and “carnal men”? There is, I think, a better way. It would be better to say that each believer is both spiritual and carnal. Even that, however, is not quite what the New Testament teaches. It is best to emphasize what the Bible emphasizes: Christians are habitually, or characteristically, spiritual men and women. If a man is not characteristically spiritual he is not a Christian at all. No amount of profession will make up for his ungodliness. But it is true of genuine believers, in a sense, that we are carnal. It is true, I mean, that we still sometimes sin. We are in constant need of God’s mercy. We are always candidates for God’s grace.
— Tom Wells (1933–2019), Pastor, Evangelist und Buchautor
Topics: Grace & Redemption, Guilt & Forgiveness, Faith & Trust
Occasions: For Reflection
Tom Wells
Tom Wells (1933–2019) war ein US-amerikanischer Pastor, Evangelist und Buchautor der reformierten Baptisten, der fast drei Jahrzehnte lang eine Gemeinde in Ohio leitete. Bekanntheit erlangte er durch seine theozentrische Missionslehre sowie als einflussreicher Mitgestalter der sogenannten Neubund-Theologie. Heutigen Bibellesern begegnet sein Werk in Form seelsorgerlicher und bibelzentrierter Auslegungen über Gottes Wesen, Gnade und das geistliche Leben.
It wasn't the nails that held Jesus to the cross. It was love.
Max Lucado
Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.
Philip Yancey
In our own woundedness, we can become sources of life for others.
Henri Nouwen
God does not love us because we are lovable, but because his nature is love.
Oswald Chambers
Oswald Chambers
God counts on your failure far more than you do yourself.
Hans Peter Royer
Ultimately mourning means facing what wounds us in the presence of One who can heal.
Henri Nouwen
The church is a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints.
Tim Keller