Practical vs. Spiritual
Depending on who you talk to, there are different “types” of Christians. I’m not talking about denominations / beliefs; I’m referring to the ways a “Christian” decides to live for Christ.
From what I’ve read and studied, there are four types of “Christians”; I am going to give an overview of each. I hope that this will help convict you, a fellow Christian, into growing closer to Christ.
When you study an event in the Bible you can often study it on two levels, the “practical level” and a “spiritual level”. The practical level teaches us something we can apply to our everyday lives whereas the spiritual level gives us a glimpse into something a bit deeper.
Here’s an example, when studying Abraham offering his son Isaac as a sacrifice, on a practical level we learn the importance of faith and trusting God completely. Studying the same story on a spiritual level we discover that Abraham represents God the Father and Isaac represents Jesus; and this account is a foreshadowing of how God would offer His Son as a Sacrifice. Remarkably, Jesus was crucified at the very same place Abraham brought Isaac.
The 4 types of Christians
So, keeping that mentality in mind, from this verse you can gather the four types of Christians:
John 11: 44- And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Let’s go over this verse and find out the different types of “Christians”:
1. The Dead Christian
“The man who had died came forth,”
The first type of Christian we find is “The Dead Christian”. Interestingly enough, the dead Christian isn’t a Christian at all. Jesus was talking to dead Christians in Revelation 3:1 when He said to them, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”
When Jesus says they “have a name that you are alive”, He means they call themselves Christians-Christian means one who follows Christ-but in reality they “are dead” because they don’t follow Christ in their hearts.
Unfortunately, there are many dead Christians in the world, but Christ offers them hope. At the end of Revelation Chapter 3 by saying that they could overcome their sin and be made sure that their names would be written in the Book of Life and He would confess their names before God.
How do you overcome this being a dead Christian? In 1st John 5:4 tells us how: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”
So, anyone that believes that Jesus is God come in the flesh and died on the cross for everyone’s sins, that only through Him can we enter into Heaven and follows His commandments.
All who are in Christ shall be “made alive”. 1st Corn. 15:22.
2. The Bound Christian
“bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth.”
The second type of Christian we find is “The Bound Christian”. This is a Christian who is alive in Christ, but one who is bound by their sin. Romans 6 is a great chapter for gaining insight into this. Listen to what Paul says in verse 16:
“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”
So, you can either follow your sinful desires and the world or you can follow Christ’s commandments.
How does a bound Christian overcome their sin? They should start out by following this verse in 1st John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Another verse to continually contemplate and pray on is found in Psalms 25:4- “Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.”
3. The Free Christian
“Jesus said to them, Unbind him,”
The third type of Christian is the “Free Christian”. The free Christian is alive in Christ, and is free from sin and that allows him to enjoy fellowship with God. His life is full of blessings. What’s missing? Just one thing: The free Christian is keeping his blessings to himself.
Jesus says to Peter in John 21:17- “‘Do you love Me?’ And Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend My sheep’.”
God has blessed us all with gift(s). Gifts are given to server others, not yourself. What has God given you for gift(s)? This is what Jesus was asking Peter to do, If you love me, serve others, teach them.
4. The Complete Christian
“and let him go.”
The final type of Christian we find is the “Complete Christian”. We call him complete because he alive in Christ, freed from sin, has a wonderful relationship with God, and is a blessing to everyone around him.
We should live our lives so that others will see that we are set apart from the world and to see Christ through our love and actions.
I will leave you with this last verse, found in Matthew 5:16- “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
