A carnal Christian is a believer in Christ who lives according to the sinful nature rather than the Spirit. All Christians struggle with sin and yielding to the flesh, but the difference between a carnal Christian and other believers is an ongoing pattern of giving in to the sinful nature rather than resisting it and walking by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26).
Characteristics of a carnal Christian
Some characteristics of a carnal Christian include:
- A lack of spiritual growth and maturity (1 Corinthians 3:1-3) – A carnal Christian remains immature in their faith rather than progressing in spiritual maturity.
- Continual yielding to the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) – A carnal Christian habitually gratifies the desires of the sinful nature rather than crucifying it and walking by the Spirit.
- Worldly thinking (Romans 8:5-8) – A carnal Christian has their mind set on earthly and fleshly things rather than on the things of God and the Spirit.
- Disobedience and unfaithfulness (1 Corinthians 9:27) – A carnal Christian is prone to disobeying God’s Word and being unfaithful in their walk with Christ.
- Quarreling and division (1 Corinthians 3:3) – A carnal Christian causes and participates in conflicts, quarreling, and division rather than seeking unity and reconciliation.
- Jealousy and pride (1 Corinthians 3:3-4) – A carnal Christian compares themselves to others and struggles with jealousy and pride rather than humility and contentment.
- Worldly living (1 Corinthians 3:3) – A carnal Christian adopts the sinful patterns and behaviors of the world rather than being set apart in Christ.
In summary, a carnal Christian is controlled and characterized by the fleshly nature, even though they profess faith in Christ. Their pattern of life ishabitually yielding to sin rather than resisting it by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Causes of carnality in Christians
There are several root causes and contributing factors that lead to ongoing carnality and sin in the life of a believer:
- Lack of genuine salvation – Some who profess faith in Christ but remain dominated by the flesh were never truly converted (Matthew 7:21-23). Their carnal lifestyle reflects an unregenerate heart.
- Worldliness – When a Christian develops a friendship with the world and its sinful patterns, it leads to conformity and carnality (James 4:4; Romans 12:2).
- Quenching the Spirit – Resisting, grieving, and quenching the Holy Spirit through stubborn disobedience results in spiritual deadness (1 Thessalonians 5:19; Ephesians 4:30).
- Neglecting spiritual disciplines – A lack of Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, and other spiritual disciplines starves the inner man and feeds the flesh.
- Unrepentant sin – When a Christian tolerates and clings to a sin rather than repenting, it gives that sin mastery over their life (Romans 6:12-14).
- False teaching – Carnal Christians often sit under teaching that caters to the fleshly nature or downplays the reality of sin (2 Timothy 4:3).
- Emotional wounds – Unresolved emotional wounds like anger, bitterness, insecurity, and shame can provide strongholds for ongoing carnal behavior.
The path away from carnality begins with repentance, renewed dependence on the Spirit, immersion in the Word, and participating in a biblical community of believers. Sin will always dwell in the flesh of Christians, but by God’s power and grace we can have consistent victory over sinful habits and live a fruitful, Christ-honoring life (Romans 6-8).
Can a carnal Christian inherit God’s kingdom?
This is a debated question among believers. Those who argue a carnal Christian will not inherit God’s kingdom point to verses like:
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
And:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)
These passages clearly warn that those characterized by unrepentant sin and immorality will be excluded from God’s kingdom. A carnal Christian who continues habitually gratifying the flesh with no fruit of repentance and sanctification cannot assume to be heaven-bound.
However, other verses suggest a carnal Christian’s sinful behavior alone will not exclude them from heaven. For example:
If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15)
This verse indicates that some in the Corinthian church living carnally would still enter heaven, even though their works were worthless. Their carnality resulted in loss of eternal reward but not loss of eternal life.
So can a carnal Christian inherit God’s kingdom? Professing believers characterized by ongoing unrepentant sin should heed the sobering warnings of Scripture and examine if they are truly in Christ (2 Corinthians 13:5). However, even weak and struggling Christians can have full assurance of salvation, since it rests on Christ’s work not our own. Yet all believers should regularly examine their walk with Christ and repent of carnality, because continuing in willful sin has dangerous consequences.
Keys to overcoming carnality
Every Christian will struggle with their sinful nature throughout life, but the Bible offers powerful keys to prevent being dominated and characterized by the flesh:
- The Word – Regular Scripture reading, study, and memorization renews the mind and equips us to obey God and resist temptation (Psalm 119:9-11).
- Prayer – Humble, dependent prayer for God’s help and the Spirit’s empowerment is essential in the fight against sin (Matthew 26:41).
- Fellowship – Accountability, encouragement, exhortation, and counsel from other believers helps us walk in the light (Hebrews 10:24-25).
- Discipline – Practicing self-denial, restraint of fleshly appetites, and temporal fasting starves sinful cravings.
- Consecration – Presenting ourselves fully to God as living sacrifices and his instruments of righteousness (Romans 12:1-2).
- Confession – Agreeing with God about the reality of sin and repenting through confession is key to restoration (1 John 1:9).
- Faith – Relying on the Spirit’s power within us reminds us that sin shall not have dominion (Romans 6:14).
- Gratitude – Giving thanks for God’s mercy and Christ’s sacrifice for our sins fosters love and obedience.
- Mindset – Seeing ourselves as dead to sin through Christ’s death on the cross is essential (Romans 6:11).
- Warfare – Putting on God’s full armor equips us to successfully battle sinful passions and desires (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Fighting indwelling sin is a daily battle, but the Christian can walk in consistent victory by continually relying on the Spirit’s power and implementing these keys from Scripture. Our hope is in Christ’s finished work, not our own righteousness, yet out of love for Christ we are called to pursue practical holiness in all areas. By God’s sufficient grace, a life characterized by carnality can become a life characterized by the fruit of the Spirit.
Examples of carnal Christians in the Bible
The Corinthians
The Corinthian church is a prime example of carnality addressed in Paul’s letters. He rebuked them for:
– Harbouring incest and sexual immorality in their midst (1 Corinthians 5:1)
– Taking fellow believers to court before unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:1-8)
– Visiting prostitutes (1 Corinthians 6:15-18)
– Getting drunk at the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:21)
– Having disunity and dissensions among themselves (1 Corinthians 1:10-12)
Despite their carnality, Paul called them “babes in Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:1) and “saints” (1 Corinthians 1:2), indicating they were genuine but immature believers. By God’s grace, many repented.
The Galatians
Paul also confronted the carnality of the Galatian church who had embraced “another gospel” of works righteousness. He rebuked them for turning from grace to legalism and called them “foolish” for letting fleshly zeal cloud the gospel (Galatians 1:6, 3:1-3). Yet Paul also considered them brethren in Christ who were being hindered by legalistic false teaching.
Demas
Demas was a coworker of Paul’s who ultimately turned back to worldliness. Paul said, “Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me” (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas is an example of a believer enticed by the world back into carnality and unfaithfulness.
Solomon
After a faithful early reign, Solomon tolerated idolatry and married pagan wives who “turned away his heart” in his old age (1 Kings 11:4). Though Solomon wrote Proverbs and Ecclesiastes late in life, indicating continuity in faith, his compromise represents a carnal falling away.
The Prodigal Son
In Christ’s parable, the prodigal son demanded his inheritance and squandered it on sinful living in a distant country (Luke 15:11-32). Though a son and heir, he lived carnally until hitting rock bottom and coming to his senses. This depicts how a genuine believer can pursue fleshly pleasures before eventually repenting.
Peter
When Jesus was arrested, Peter denied knowing him three times out of fear of man. Peter exemplifies how genuine believers can have temporary yet serious lapses into carnal sin, even adamantly rejecting Christ. But with godly sorrow and repentance, restoration is possible.
Bible verses about carnality
Here are some key verses that speak to the issue of carnality among believers:
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
(1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
(Romans 8:5-7)
But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
(1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
(Romans 8:13-14)
I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:19-23)
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
(Galatians 5:16-17)
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment.
(Hebrews 10:26-27)
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you fail the test?
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
In summary, the New Testament authors consistently confront and call to repentance those believers who are living according to the flesh. They give warnings while also offering hope through the power of the Spirit. Their passionate pleas reveal God takes continued carnality in his children very seriously.
Practical advice for carnal Christians
Here are some practical suggestions for believers struggling with ongoing carnality:
- – Examine if you are truly saved or just professing faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Have you denied yourself, repented of sin, and trusted Christ as Lord?
- – Confess specific sins and repent with godly sorrow rather than worldly sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:10). True repentance bears fruit of changed thinking and behavior.
- – Study Romans 6-8 and recognize through faith you have died to sin’s power and been freed from bondage. You have new life in the Spirit!
- – Immerse yourself daily in God’s Word and saturate your mind with Scriptural truth. You will not sin yourself into righteousness.
- – Make no provision for the flesh (Romans 13:14) – eliminate influences that inflame sinful passions like entertainment and media.
- – Pursue accountability and meet regularly with mature believers who can pray for and encourage you.
- – Avoid sinful relationships and develop close Christian friendships instead (1 Corinthians 15:33).
- – Stay faithful in prayer. Pray for increased spiritual hunger, empowerment to resist temptation, and grace to persevere.
- – Take practical steps of obedience by serving, giving, forgiving, and walking in love – even when you don’t feel like it.
- – Keep your eyes on Christ through immersing yourself in praise, worship, and adoration of him.
The path away from carnality begins with repentance and daily dependence on the Spirit. With God’s sustaining grace believers can have increasing victory over the power of sin and bear fruit in keeping with genuine salvation.