" Are Ye Not Carnal ? "

 

1st.Corinthians 2:14-3:4  "But the natural man receives not the things of the SPIRIT of GOD: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who has known the mind of the LORD, that he may instruct HIM ? But we have the mind of CHRIST. 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 says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal ?"

     A popular teaching in the church today denies the possibility of a "carnal believer" and claims, rather, that only two groups of people exist: saved ("spiritual") and lost ("natural"). This is true concerning one's standing before GOD, but the question remains: Can a truly born again believer behave in the same manner as an unbeliever ? And, if so, what could this behavior entail ? Answers to these questions are important to the understanding of the entire book of 1st.Corinthians. This was a church not known for godly behavior or for grasping key biblical doctrines. Rather, these believers were notorious for their divisiveness (1st.Cor.1:10-13), toleration of sexual perversion (1st.Cor.5:1-13), and acceptance of serious doctrinal error (1st.Cor.15:12-19). Hence, they were "carnal" (1st.Cor.3:1,3).

     What does it mean to be carnal ? It simply indicates that a Christian is behaving in accordance with the flesh, like a "natural man," as opposed to one who is "spiritual." One who is carnal is an immature believer (1st.Cor.2:15;3:1-2) who has not sufficiently grown in the things of GOD. Despite his righteous standing before the LORD (Romans 4:5 above), having been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), he is acting in a way that might cause others to identify him as one who is unsaved or unregenerate (1st.Cor.2:14). He is still only able to partake of spiritual "milk" (1st.Cor.3:2) and is failing to grow into the mature believer GOD intends him to be. The carnal person is unable to consume the "meat" of the WORD that he might advance in the things of CHRIST (1st.Cor.3:2). Among many other characteristics, "envying, and strife, and divisions" mark such carnal individuals (1st.Cor.3:3-4). What do others see in your life: spirituality or carnality ? Is your biblical diet "milk" or "meat" ?

     It is, indeed, sadly possible for true born again believing Christians to sin and live according to the fleshly desires (1st.John 1:8 above,10;2:15-17). Believers in the church can behave lustfully, greedily, and divisively (1st.Cor.1:11-13;Romans 16:17), and such sinful conduct is not exclusive to unbelievers. These and many other sins are visible manifestations of carnality, that is, a walk that is according to the flesh rather than the SPIRIT.

     Consider, for example, "righteous" Lot whose soul was "vexed" as he was living among the wicked in the city of Sodom (2nd.Peter 2:8 above). The words "just" and "righteous" identify this man as a believer who was justified before GOD (2nd.Peter 2:7-8). But, after the destruction of Sodom, he got drunk and was seduced into incest by both of his daughters (Gen.19:30-38). Certainly neither drunkenness nor incest characterize the behavior of a spiritual man, yet the Scriptures declare him "just." Furthermore, David multiplied to himself wives in direct violation of GOD's Law (Deut.17:17), and his deeds of blatant adultery and subsequent murder (2nd.Sam.11:1-27) are acts that would cause one to conclude this man had only so-called "spurious faith." And yet, the Bible could not be more clear that David was a man after GOD's own heart (Acts 13:22). In the New Testament, Peter, who had walked on water and confessed JESUS as the MESSIAH (Matthew 14:27-29;16:13-17), later forsook and then denied his LORD multiple times (Matthew 26:56-75). Yes, carnality is a potential, real, and terrible situation for the believer, and those who desire to be godly need to avoid it at all costs. We must allow the meat of the WORD (1st.Cor.3:2) to mature us into saints whose lives, testimonies and ministries glorify GOD. GDF

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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