๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป – ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ D๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ T๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต?
The word “Christian” is used in many different contexts
today. However, very few people understand what a “Carnal Christian” is all
about. If we search, we will not find the phrase “Carnal Christian” in the
Bible, but the Scripture does teach about being carnally minded and living out
of our old sin nature or what we inherited as part of humanity. The biblical
word translated “carnal” is also translated “flesh” and it denotes mere human
nature or the earthly nature of mankind apart from divine influence, and
therefore it is prone to sin and opposed to God. A Carnal Christian is a
believer in Christ who is more influenced by their human or earthly nature
rather than the nature of God. Scripture teaches that we have our treasure in
an earthen vessel (2 Corinthians 4:7). An earthen vessel is made from dirt and
Genesis 2:7 says that God formed Adam from the dust of the ground. We could
then say we have what is ours as believers in Christ in a body of flesh or
dirt. We are also told that when we come to Christ, we are a “new creation” (1
Corinthians 5:17). However, the new creation has to do with our spiritual life
and is not a transformation of our old flesh or our carnal body. The issue then
is what controls our treasure. Are we as Carnal Christians controlled by our
carnal or fleshly sin nature or do we surrender to the new creation, which is
empowered by the Spirit of God?
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น
๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป
– ๐๐ผ๐
๐ถ๐
๐ถ๐
๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ?
The Apostle Paul speaks about Carnal Christians in Romans 8:6-7 and 1 Corinthians
3:1-4. The characteristics spoken of in these passages are that the carnal or
fleshly mind, which is human viewpoint, is enmity against God or is anti-God.
It cannot please God, is unable to digest solid spiritual food, and is filled
with strife, envy, and division. These are very unhealthy spiritual traits and
the reality is that all believers are carnally minded at one time or another.
It is a matter of growing up and becoming mature. That is a process that
continues on a daily basis as we acknowledge our need of grace and submit to
the process. We fully surrender to the LORD as He works through every situation
in our lives to conform us to His image. So then, we know that a Carnal
Christian is one who is characterized by inner mental attitudes that are not in
agreement with God’s viewpoint and from our inner mental attitudes come our
actions. We could then say that a Carnal Christian is one who does not focus
upon God’s Word, does not see the necessity of obeying God, and does not
experience the abundant peace and joy that is the believers if they submit to
the power of the Spirit in their lives rather than being led by their old
carnal nature (Galatians 5:16). A Carnal Christian is often very frustrated
because the Spirit of God is faithful to us and convicts and convinces us that
when we are operating out of our carnal flesh, we are not fulfilling God’s
purpose for us. Our purpose as children of God is to bring glory to Him in all
our choices and actions and so since we are not fulfilling our true spiritual
purpose, we suffer self-inflicted misery.
๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฎ๐น
๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป
– ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐
๐ถ๐
๐๐ต๐ฒ
๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐?
How can you be transformed from being a Carnal Christian to being a Spirit-led
Christian? We find an answer in Romans 12:1-2 where we read that you can choose
to submit your flesh or carnality as a living sacrifice or what that is set
apart unto God and not be conformed or molded by the pressure of the world and
the flesh. You can be transformed, which is a continual process, through allowing
the Word of God to renew your mind so that we may prove or authenticate, to put
to the test, what is the good and acceptable or fully agreeable and complete
will of God. It is God’s will then for a Carnal Christian to mature and grow
strong in their faith and walk of obedience. The ongoing process that takes a
believer in Christ from a Carnal Christian or what Hebrews calls a “babe in
Christ” to one who is engaged in maturing as a child of God is the choice to
take in the solid food of the Word, which equips us as Christians to be able to
discern or reason what is good and what is evil and what is good and what is
better (Hebrews 5:13-14).
Provided by "All About God Ministries"