A carnal Christian

1. The carnal Christian – 4th October 2016
“Brothers andsisters, I couldnot address youas people wholive by the Spirit but as peoplewho are
still worldly—mereinfantsinChrist” (1 Corinthians3:1).
The Merriam WebsterDictionarydefinesthe wordCarnal as relatingtoor giventocrude bodily
pleasuresandappetites markedbysexuality. In1 Corinthians3:1-3 we can observe when the apostle
Paul tellsthatthe ChristiansinCorinthwere livingan Carnal (immature) lifestyle. The phrase "carnal
Christian"comesfrom 1 Corinthians3:1-3: "Brothers and sisters,I could notaddress you aspeople who
live by the Spiritbut as people whoare still worldly—mereinfantsinChrist. 2
I gave you milk,not solid
food,for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed,you are still not ready. 3
You are still worldly.For since
there isjealousyand quarrelingamongyou,are younot worldly?Are you not actinglike mere
humans?" Butcan a Christiantrulybe "carnal"?The word"carnal" isfrom a Greekwordthat means
"worldly"or"fleshly."Inotherwords,carnalityinvolvesworldlinessandagivinginto "worldly"
appetites.
The questionthatpropsup isthat: Is a carnal personreallyaChristian? Unfortunatelysuchpeople are
“name sake”Christians of today wholive similarlifestyles,characterizedby immoral sexuality, envy,
strife,anddivision. Butthe answerismore difficultthanitmay seem. 1 Corinthians 3iswrittento
believers,"sanctified"and"called tobe hisholypeople" aswe readfrom 1 Corinthians3:2, “Igave you
milk,not solidfood,for youwere not yet ready for it.Indeed, you are still not ready…” Paul's
descriptionof themas"carnal"obviouslymeansthat there are timeswhenChristiansactinselfishand
worldlyways. Paul isstatingthatinsteadof risingtothe goal of God's holiness,the Corinthianswere
slidingbackinto theiroldcarnal habits. Andas Christianswe needtobe aware that the same could
happentoany one of us unlesswe are NOTcareful inprotectingourselvesfromcarnalitytakingroute in
us.
In the wisdomwhichthe HolyGhostgiveshim, Paul feels: -- Icannotwrite to these CorinthianChristians
unlessIknowtheirstate,andunlessItell themof it.If I give spiritual foodtomenwhoare carnal
Christians,Iam doingthemmore harmthan good,for theywere notreadyto take it.I cannotfeedthem
withmeat,I mustfeedthemwithmilk.Andsohe tellsthematthe veryoutsetof the epistle whathe
seestobe theirstate.Inthe two previouschapters - 1 Corinthians 1 and2 he had spokenabouthis
ministrybeingbythe HolySpirit.Inchapter1 Paul beginstotell themwhatmust be the state of a
people inordertoaccept spiritual truth,andhe says in 1 Corinthians3:1, "Brothers and sisters,I could
not addressyou as peoplewho live by the Spiritbut as people who are still worldly—mereinfantsin
Christ”.Paul isstatingthat he has no libertytospeaktoyou as I would,foryouare carnal, and you
cannot receive Spiritual truth."
That suggeststous the solemnthought,thatinthe Church of Christthere are twoclassesof Christians.
The firsttype has livedmanyyearsasbelievers,andyetalwaysremainbabes…poorinspirit.The second
type isspiritual men,because theyhave giventhemselvesuptothe power of God, the leadingandto
the entire rule of the HolyGhost.If we are to obtaina blessing,we mustfirstdecide to whichof these
classeswe belong.Are we,bythe grace of God,in deephumilitylivingaspiritual life,orare we livinga
carnal life?
A personwhoclaimstofollowChristand consistently actsin waysincompatible tohisorherfaithmay
have neverbeentrulysaved aswe can learnfrom 1 John3:6 . " Noone who livesin himkeeps on

2. sinning.Noone who continuesto sin has either seen him or known him".Furthertosame we can learn
wheninJames2 tellsusthat those whose livesthatcontinuallycontradictChristianteachingsmaynot
be true followersof Christ.AsJamessaid, "Butsomeonewill say, “Youhavefaith; I have deeds.” Show
me your faithwithout deeds,and I will show youmy faith bymy deeds” (James2:18).
The goal of everyChristianistogrow inthe grace and knowledge of the Lord aswe learnfrom 2 Peter
3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledgeof our Lord and SaviorJesus Christ.To him be gloryboth
now andforever! Amen”.This includesobeyingthe Lord,because those wholoveHimwill obeyHis
commands as statedin John 14:15, “Ifyou loveme, keep my commands”.All of usneedtoseek
salvationwhichis byGod's grace alone throughfaithalone inChristalone aswe learnin Ephesians2:8-
9, “Forit is by grace youhave been saved,throughfaith—andthisisnot from yourselves,it is the gift
of God— 9
notby works, sothat no one can boast”. We can alsolearnthat believershave beenset
apart to do goodworks as we can learnfrom Ephesians2:10, “For we are God’s handiwork,createdin
ChristJesus to do goodworks, whichGod prepared inadvance forus to do”.
Whenwe read throughthese passageswe canclearlyunderstandthatcarnalityina Christian will work
opposingall of these teachings.Whenwe have carnal thoughtsinourheartsitwill goagainstenhancing
onesknowledgeand awarenessof God, will goagainstobeying God’scommandsandthatwe fail to
carry out the ‘goodworks’ which Godprepared inadvance for us to do.Therefore a‘carnal Christian’
shouldfeel convictiontoconformtoChrist'scallingforhisor her life aswe readin Romans 12:1-2,
Therefore, I urge you,brothers and sisters,in view of God’smercy, to offeryour bodiesas a living
sacrifice,holyand pleasingtoGod—thisisyour true and proper worship. 2
Do not conformto the
pattern of thisworld, butbe transformedby the renewing of yourmind. Then you will be ableto test
and approvewhat God’swill is—hisgood,pleasingandperfectwill”. Knowingthathe or she is
displeasingthe Lord,the carnal Christianshould take goodnote of one’sdistancingfromGoddue to sin
and sinfulness, repentof hisorherselfishnessandrecommithisorherlife tofollowingChrist.
The antidote forcarnalityisto live momentbymomentincommunionwithandrelianceonthe Holy
Spiritof God for Hisassistance.We can learnwhenthe apostle Paul saysin Galatians5:16, "SoI say,
walk by the Spirit,and youwill not gratifythe desires ofthe flesh”.