Are There Carnal Christians?

Is there such a thing as a carnal Christian?    

The idea comes from I Corinthians 3:1 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able [to bear it], neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” 

In these verses God is not saying these men are true believers.  God is saying that as babes in Christ they have very little showing of spirituality – if they were indeed babes in Christ.  Reading carefully reveals these people were not yet saved; they were still of the flesh; they were not really of Christ. 

The term “carnal Christian” is an oxymoron…like jumbo shrimp.  I John 3:9 says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 

If we are a child of God, then we have experienced the new birth in our soul; we have been born of God.  From this moment on, in our soul essence we will not want to sin. Unfortunately, we still have bodies that lust after sin.  The result is that in our body we’ll think in terms of the flesh.  In this sense, we’ll be carnal.    

CASE A:

Let’s say we’re just a member of a congregation and while others probably think we’re saved, we know in our heart of hearts that we’re not.    

If that describes us, then when we begin to live in the flesh, in both our body and soul, we like that sin because we’re not born of God. There’s nothing in us saying, ‘you can’t live that way.’  Maybe our conscience will bother us a bit, but it doesn’t take long for us to sear our conscience.   As long as we can get away with that sin, we’re going to continue in it because it isn’t at odds with our nature.    

Consider the unsaved man in I Corinthians 5 who was living with his father’s wife.  Someone involved in this gross fornication within the church (remember, his actions were public knowledge and the church elders were probably warning him about this, yet he continued with his grievous sin) is giving evidence that he’s not saved.  Clearly, this man was carnal minded — but he was not a Christian.   

Many people attend church who believe they’re Christians because they’ve joined or been baptized.  But they’ve never been born from above; consequently, they live like the world.  On Sunday they can be sweet and light and happy and wonderful — but during the week, they can’t be distinguished from the world.

CASE B:

What happens in our life if we are truly born again and we commit a grievous sin?  Not only will our conscience be troubling us, but we will feel violated in our soul too.  Many of us struggle with a besetting sin over a number of years.  Every time we become involved in that sin it’s not a happy proposition at all.  Regardless of whether others know we’re dealing with that sin (maybe we’re “getting away” with it), it’s still a very sore point in our life.   

Every time we commit it, there is the aftertaste of remorse, unhappiness and distress in our soul.  To continue to live this way is antagonistic toward our resurrected soul. God will chastise us because He indwells born again believers.  Finally the truth will dawn on us – one way or another.  Maybe a family member will “catch us”…maybe we will have something taken away…but one way or another we will come to the realization that “I’ve got to repent and I’ve got to turn away from this sin. I can’t go on.” 

CASE A (Revisited):

What would happen if a true believer were committing a gross sin like the man in I Corinthians 5?  If the pastor or an elder approached him and said, “We understand you’ve been living with your father’s wife in a sexual relationship,” the reaction would be predictable.  

The true believer’s reaction would be akin to David’s when Nathan the prophet confronted him.  Nathan said “Thou art the man!” after David had been guilty of adultery and murder.  The repentance would come pouring out.  “Oh God, against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned.”  That’s what would happen in the life of the born again believer. 

When we sin, we are grievously troubled by our sin.

If you find that you identify more with Case “A” than you would like, and you want to know more about the Good News preached in the Scriptures — please click the link at the top of this website titled “The Gospel”. 

To God Be The Glory!

Obedience After Salvation

(1 Sam 15:26 KJV) And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

The above passage touches upon a major principle which should be heeded by Christians in every generation. Saul disobeyed God and didn’t completely annihilate the Amalekites. Instead, he saved Agag, the king of the Amalekites plus he brought back all the animals that he thought he’d use for sacrifices. The problem was that God told Saul to go in and completely destroy all the people as well as the animals.

Saul didn’t do this.  Instead he chose to go his own way and set the rules for the spoils.  No one can ever rebel against God to the glory of God, nor can one be disobedient to the glory of God.  When God gives a directive, it is to be obeyed to the letter. This is why Samuel asked Saul if God is more concerned with sacrifices than with obedience.

Obedience, not service, is the bedrock of the Christian life.  Within the context of obedience, we will find our place of service.  Obedience is not the obeying of ceremonies, special days, or keeping any part of the law for salvation.  Our salvation is entirely by grace.  One can try to obey every tenet of the law for their whole life – but without the substitutionary atonement of Christ removing their sins, they will still perish.

Obedience after salvation is grace-based; it’s an obedience the Christian possesses in order to bring glory to God.  It is the desire of the believer who wishes to be used of the Lord.

God replaced Saul with David.  No matter what position we’re in…whether it’s in ministry or business…God can remove us from it if we adopt Saul’s attitude.  God promotes…and He can demote too.

(Ezek 21:26 KJV) Thus saith the Lord GOD; Remove the diadem, and take off the crown: this shall not be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. (Mat 23:12 KJV) And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. It is a principle we either learn voluntarily, or we are taught it.

To God Be The Glory!