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Jack's Main Memorial Page
by
Pastor Charles J. Arnett
111 Worman Dr.
Union OH 45322
513-836-3272
of
Union Baptist Church
528 N. Main St.
Englewood OH 45322
November 1, 1989
Perhaps there is no area where Christians demonstrate their carnality more than in the doctrine of the carnal Christian. In First Corinthians, Paul calls some of the Corinthian Christians carnal because of their sectarian practices. In our culture we have two distinct sects about the Christian and carnality.
The one sect, if I may call it that, holds to a doctrine of the carnal Christian in which there may be no distinction between the carnal Christian and the unsaved. This view is popular among those who believe a person can receive Christ as savior without receiving Him as Lord. The other sect, seeing the fallacy in that, says categorically, "There is no such thing as a carnal Christian." They imply that if you do not see spiritual growth or victory then you are not a Christian.
The division is interesting because Paul is charging these Corinthians with being carnal because they have taken sides in theological debates. They would follow their sect in what ever their sect said. Today, those who support certain schools speak much of the carnal Christian as one who has received Christ as savior but not as Lord. Those who would consider themselves reformed or historically evangelical would scoff at the idea of a carnal Christian. I think there is much confusion about the Christian and carnality. The scripture, not our particular group, should be able to clarify this for us. This I hope to do.
We need to define carnal before we get into the exposition of this topic. First I want to give you the dictionary meaning, and then we will look at the exegetical application in the New Testament. Looking closely at the "Dictionary of New Testament Theology" we learn that the meaning varies radically from context to context. It tells us that when used in a moral or ethical sense carnal is human nature apart from God. "The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia" says practically the same thing. It explains to us that carnal refers to the flesh as opposed to the spirit. It denotes in an ethical sense, mere human nature, the lower side of man as apart from the Divine influence. As you can see the dictionary definition does not give us the final solution in our attempt to clarify the doctrine of the carnal Christian. This will help us if we do not try to get more out of the definition that what is there.
I propose to show that being carnal, in keeping with the above definition, is used two ways. The New Testament uses carnal in the moral or ethical sense in a relative sense and in an absolute sense. The one sect shows the scripture does teach a Christian can be carnal in a relative sense and jumps to the conclusion that a Christian can be carnal in the absolute sense. The other sect shows that a Christian cannot be carnal in the absolute sense, and proceeds to deny that a Christian is carnal in a relative sense. I hope to show that a Christian can be carnal in a relative sense, and that a Christian cannot be carnal in an absolute sense.
Paul said the Corinthian believers were carnal. Very clearly he said, "For ye are yet carnal: . . . .," I Cor. 3:3. Paul tells why they were carnal in verse four of this chapter. They were sectarian and schismatic. Three times in the first four verses Paul said clearly that the Corinthians were carnal. Were they carnal Christians? Yes! No one should have any problem with that. How can there be any confusion?
A well known study bible, not the Scofield, says in verse one they are called carnal because they are babes in Christ. We would have to agree with that. However his notes on verse three says "Carnal Christians are scarcely distinguishable from natural or unsaved men." This is interesting in that this is only place that study bible speaks of the carnal Christian. He doesn't mention it in Romans 7 or Romans 8. That is what causes the confusion. This 20th century study bible has good notes on verse one, but in verse three he compares the babe in Christ to the unsaved; that is not warranted in the text
First Corinthians three calls some Christians carnal in comparison to other Christians. The text is comparing a babe in Christ to a mature Christian. In chapter one we find that these same Christians were enriched by Christ in everything. We also read that Paul had heard of some visible evidence of their zeal for Christ; they were waiting on the coming of the Lord Jesus. You never caught the Corinthians saying to themselves, "I hope Jesus comes in about 20 years when I retire and decide to get spiritual and serve Him." No, they were looking for him at that time; they wanted to see the Lord Jesus. Paul wasn't writing to people who made a quick profession, who never showed up at church, who spent their time out drinking, carousing, cursing; and living like the unsaved. When Paul wrote and said, "Ye are yet carnal," he expected them to be at church to hear his message.
However, Paul does compare them to the unsaved in chapter two. We find in verse 11 to 15 that in contrast to the unsaved they were spiritual. Paul was writing to spiritual people when he said ye are carnal. How can that be? Isn't that double talk? No. Verse one of chapter three holds the key. "And I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." The contrast is between babes in Christ and mature Christians. Have you ever noticed a new convert, quits smoking, quits drinking, quits cursing; but sometimes they are arrogant about cleaning up their life. Now he knows everything. No Christian in any denomination but his knows anything. A new believer may still be a babe, even though they have they may have separated themselves from the world.
These Christians still needed the gospel. They did not need to receive Christ as Lord or savior. They did need the experiential application of the gospel in their lives. They needed to realize that Christ not only died for them but died as them as Paul so aptly pointed out in Romans 6. Pride of party has no place in the Christian; he died with Christ. They did not need the meat; they needed the milk. You need not think you are not a carnal Christian because you don't smoke or go to movies. Those who get involved with clicks in the church are carnal Christians. You may think that you are working for a righteous cause, but the priorities of the flesh are not spiritual priorities. The mature Christian has applied the gospel to his life; the mature Christian knows how to do that.
Christians who have not learned to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit as He makes the death of Christ real in their lives are carnal to this degree. Compared with mature Christians those, who remain babes, who do not apply the cross to their lives, are carnal.
Now I would like to show that all Christians are carnal in some sense. If you would read Romans 7:9-18, I think you will agree with me. Notice the verb tense changes in verse 14. Paul had been speaking of his past. From verse 14 to the end of the passage, Paul is speaking in the present. Paul is not saying he was carnal, but he is carnal. What is Paul talking about? Was Paul a babe in Christ? Not when he wrote this he wasn't. Paul says, "I delight in the law of God after the inward man," Rom. 7:22. He was not living as an unsaved person. He was no babe in Christ. Paul knew what it meant to live all out for Christ. He wants the Lord to have absolute rule in his life. Paul desires to live for the Lord, He wants to do exactly what God wants him to do. Here Paul is comparing himself to the goal of the spiritual Christian.
Paul is carnal compared with what he would like to be and what he knows he should be. Wouldn't you like to be able to teach Sunday School without pride, or without any feelings of being abused? Wouldn't you like to be able to do physical work around the church without any feelings of contempt for those who have misplaced priorities? No matter how much you try there are at least some feeling the Lord should be glad that you do such a good job. What preacher hasn't had feelings of pride after special liberty of the Holy Spirit in preaching? He says to himself, "Boy, aren't these people fortunate to have such a good preacher." We have to admit Paul was carnal. He said so. I suspect you are also.
Paul explains this in Galatians 5:17, 18, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." The flesh, what we are in our human nature without Christ, without the motions of the indwelling Holy Spirit, wars against us as we are influenced by the Holy Spirit. Paul was a Baptist, he wasn't a charismatic; but he knew that apart from the influenced of the indwelling Holy Spirit he was carnal. When he acted or thought apart from the leading of the Holy Spirit, he was carnal. He struggled. If you do not understand what Paul is saying you are carnal. If you are not aware of this war in your members then you are not a mature Christian. You are carnal in that you are still a babe. I do not mean theologically understand; but if you cannot experientially say, I am carnal, then you are carnal in the first relative sense.
All Christians are carnal compared with the requirements of the Lord. That does not excuse you. Paul wasn't making any excuse.
The contrast between the carnal and the Christian is in Romans 8:5-9. "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be," Rom. 8:7. Now that certainly is not true of any Christian. Reading Romans 8:9 we find that every Christian has the Holy Spirit, and is in the Holy Spirit. Every Christian can obey God. No Christian is carnally minded. What! Is that contradicting what was said earlier? No - we are in a different context. We must not take the application of a word in one context and think that is the meaning of the word in all contexts. In this context, no Christian is carnal. All Christians are carnal according to the context of Romans Seven. Some Christians are carnal in the context of First Corinthians three.
The unsaved do not have any struggle with the Spirit; He is not in them. They are all carnal; no unregenerate person is spiritual. They are absolutely carnal. Even their religious motions have no good in them before God. The only way any of our religious motions are accepted by God is by the blood of Christ. It is apparent from verses six and seven that any person who is hostile to God is not a Christian. They are not a carnal Christian; they do not have the spirit of Christ. To be carnally minded in this sense is to end up in hell.
We must not fall for the trap of those who claim that a person who never goes to church, who lives a life of debauchery is simply a carnal Christian. We should not encourage anyone living like a child of Satan that they are some kind of Christian. On the other hand we must ask the question that John Brine asked in the early 18th century. Brine asked this question, "Is it proper to persuade a man that he is not a babe in Christ, because he is not a father?"
I would like to leave two challenges. One, let us be patient with babes and encourage them to grow. Two, let us be sure that we do not give false assurance to anyone who is carnally minded.