There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2.
Not quite long ago in June 2022, I was listening to a French preacher in a church here in France who admits that he could not understand why certain believer should be called as carnal Christians. This is one of the many reasons why those who thinks are called into the ministry should study well theit bible to show themselves approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.
Well, there are two kinds of Christians taking two different kinds of roads to heaven. The first group of believers are those who are taking the straight gate and narrow way to heaven – this group is spiritual, they live spiritual life as God’s demands of them. The second of group of believers are the broad way and wide gate believers. They are the carnal believers, though they names the name of Christ, they never departs from iniquity- have never renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, they are walking in craftiness, and handling the word of God deceitfully; they hold truth in unrighteousness, they enjoys secular and worldly movies and theathers, they go to cinemas and dance hall with the ungodly, they walk in the ways of sinners and seat with scorners – they are the carnal Christians.
Why should it be said some people are carnal in Christ? Has the Lord not come to give us life to enjoy to its fulness? Well, this was the same preacher who claims that as long as we are in the flesh, we cannot cease from sin, we shall forever sin, confess and move on. But his perception on sin was very damaging and errorneous because we are called to suffer in the flesh as Christ once suffered for us, that we might ceased from sin by denying ungodliness and wordly lusts. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 1 Peter 4: 1-6.
According to the scripture, we are called and saved to live a spiritual life while in the flesh, following the principles, rules and guidelines to affectuate a walk and life in the spirit which should be well pleasing to God, for that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Once that we are born of the sprit, we should no longer live as those who are born of the flesh because we know no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Just as Adam excused was not allowed nor accepted for his carnal lifetyle in the fall in the garden, the carnal Christians has no place of justification before God, except they abstain from fleshly lusts which wages war against their souls; to hold the self back constantly from anything incompatible with our fellowship with God, not overcoming their lusts, they will not make it to heaven. 1 Pëter 2:11.
Thou shall not covet was the law God gave indirectly to Adam in the Garden of Eden. It is idolatrous to covet as Adam coveted the fruit forbiden by God to eat it. It is lustful to covet as Adam saw that the fruit was attractive to the eyes, attracted and fascinated by it, he ate it. It is also prideful to covet, just as Adam desire to be like God, knowing good and evil, – and like Ahab who pridefully coveted the vineyard of Naboth. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7.
The flesh was not modified for us because we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, but now, its power diminished by the spirit of God indwelling us, if we yield to him for help to subdue the works and lusts of the flesh. 1 Corinthians 10:13.
As long as we are in the flesh, the body of sin is not going anywhere because it is our earthly tabernacle: its lusts must be checked daily by our conscious walking in the spirit, lest it causes us any trouble before man and God. We cannot keep walking according to the former lusts in our ignorance, those are the carnality we are warned against, but to walk in holiness in all manner of conversation as he who has called us is holy – Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.. 1 Peter 1:13-16.
The lust is the seed of sin that was passed down unto us to dwell with us after the fall of Eden in the Garden of Eden. It is the little fox that spoils the vine. Lust must be overcome because they entices us to sin – let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 1:13-15.
Adam and Eve were delusional to believe in the false promise and hope given by the serpent when he assured them that being carnal or lustful, they shall not die contrary to the warning of God if they should eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil: but they were reduced, deformed and corrupted from their state of spirituality to carnality, lost the divne nature, died spiritually on the spot, used by the serpent to multiply corruption in the world through lusts. Note: carnal mind is always in need of something superficial; though God has given us richly all things to enjoy, it always lack of something – always in the pursuits and desires for something outside the legitimate provision made available by God – always found and involves in the proposal made according to the flesh: when I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? 2 Corinthians 1:17.
Absolutely, Adam made a wrong choice to seccumb to the lust of the flesh. It is also a wrong choice by anyone in Christ Jesus to be yielding to the flesh instead of yielding themselves continually to the indwelling spirit of God to resist and overcome their lusts. If God sent Adam and Eve out and away from his presence because of their corruption, judged them to return back to the dust from whence they were made after the expiration of their days on earth, do you think that a carnal believer have any chance to escape the judgement of eternal corruption for his corruptible lifestyle if they should allow themselves to be overcome by their ungodly desire, appetite, pursuits or ambitions on earth?
If Adam had kept himself away from the fruit of the tree of good and evil, he will not lose the purity and the guilt free conscience void of offence towards God. Acts 23:16. We must keep ourselves away from our lusts just as Joseph ran away from the enticement to sin from his masters’s wife: to do as David confessed before the Lord, before he was devoured by his lust through carelessness: I was also blameless before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity. Psalms 18:23.
Before the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, they were living and walking in the spirit, being sinless, until they fall into the temption of the lust of the eyes, flesh and pride of life. It was at that moment the law of sin and death come into operation and manifestation according to the warning from God that the day Adam should disobey to eat from the friut of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he shall die. It is a spiritual death, dead in sin and trespasses as they both lost the life of God, changed unto the fallern and rebellious nature of Satan.
Carnal mind and lifestyle is indeed evil and enmity against God, just as Adam and Eve regrettably discovered afterwards, discovered the evil of yielding to the lusts of the flesh, contrary to what was promised by serpent, – suffered the adverse effects of their carnality which they transferred to all mankind. Note: the word of God, they are life and they are spirit. To ignore the counsel and the wisdom of God’s word is not only foolish, but is carnal, earthly, sensual and devilish in any one on earth agianst his eternity with God.
Regeneration is a call to salvation as well devised by God to re-introduce us back to the spiritual lifestyle lost by Adam in the Garden of Eden before his fall. This is the reason the spirit of God was abundantly shed upon us, so that we can live and walk in the spirit, reasoning and able to see things from spiritual perspectives light of the scriptures; by doing things, judging all things according to the word of God, and not by any worldly and external reasoning or understanding because he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 1 Corinthians 2:15.
It is a command and a necessity to keep walking in the spirit because our new birth is spiritual in nature, lest we walk in the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it to ruin the divine nature and the present works of God in us. It is a personal battle each and everyone in Christ Jesus must fight to overcome to the end because the flesh will lust 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. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Galatians 5:17-18.
The nature of the new creature or the new man in Christ Jesus is incorruptible, not corruption, spiritual not carnal, holy and not uncleaness. The word carnal mind or carnal man has to do with the flesh, yielding to the corrupt heart (for out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone. Matthew 15:19-20) unto the ungodly pleasures of the world through outward attraction and allurement to partake in those things considers unpleasant and unbiblical in the eyes of God – And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. Romans 13:11-14.
So, you can see for yourself the error and delusion of a carnal believer is in refusing to put off the old man which is corrupt according to its deceitful lusts and to put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him? Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3:5-10.
Carnality is a defect and blemish in our lifestyle as new creatures in Christ Jesus, but there is no defect in our spiritual birth because our new birth is by the incorruptible seed of the word of God – being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23.
There is no great difference beween a carnal believer and the sinner from the world who is not yet born again, except that the former have the possibility by grace to frame his ways and doing before the Lord; to awake to righteousness and stop sinning, and to keep walking and living according to former lusts (carnal life) like the man who is yet to come into the kingdom to be saved – this I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:17-24.
You are either spiritual or carnal, you can’t be spiritual and be carnal at the same time. It is either that you are climbing toward the mountain to reach the summit or you are at the bottom of it while watching those who are making efforts to climb up to the summit. While climbing up, you may slip, but you are determined to keep going higher until you get to the top of the mountain. The summit of your spiritual mountain is your comformity to the death of Christ which is the purpose of your calling and salvation, but by allowing carnality and its lusts, you feet will slip, but by adjusting with determination to cleanse yourself from all the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit to perfect holiness in the fear of God, you will reach to height of the mountain.
A carnal believer is in the Lord, but he follows every tradition of men, involves in ungodly cultural activities, and sometimes he’s interfaith, and his manner of handling life’s crisis and challenges of life are conventional and carnal (for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6): his reasonsings, talkings and behaviors are not different from the men of the world – 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? 1 Corinthians 3:1-3.
What a priviledge to be in Christ Jesus and to live and walk in the spirit? God is not mocked, if you sow after the spirit you will reap eternal life. What a loss and misfortune is it to be in Christ but to walk in the flesh when it is said that you are a spiritual man? It means you are not functioning according to the purposes of your election! You are not striving to conform to the death and image of Christ. What a delusion and false misconseption of the salvation in Christ? God is not mocked, if you sow to the flesh, you shall reap corruption – everlasting shame. Galatians 6:7-8.
Christ died to deliver us from the body of sin – O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:24-25. If we don’t live and walk now in the spirit, we shall not be rewarded.
In Christ Jesus, there is no justifiable excuse to be walking in the flesh because we ought to be living in the spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to help us to have power to subdue and rule the flesh and over its lusts: to empower us bringing the body under subjection, if we are led by him.
As a believer, if we walk in the flesh, it means that we are living in sin; we transgress the law (Galatians 5:23): whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abides in him will not sin: whosoever sin hath not seen him, neither known him. 1 John 3:4-6.
Though, Satan sinned from the beginning, but the fall of man reveals the mystery of sin . The fall also reveals the reality of spiritual warfare which began in heaven and continues on earth until the time appointed for Satan to deceive the world. The fall of man also reveals the realities, existences and operations of different demons and demonic influences on earth and in the lives of people who are not in Christ and in those who in Christ but have given room for him to operate in their lives. This is to show you that except you start doing something about being led always by the spirit, demons are responsible for the works of the flesh, this is the reason you can’t do or live as others in the world than to be led by the spirit of God – And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-2.
Morealso, redemption of man reveals the great mystery of godliness of our God who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 1 Timothy 3:16. Why did God manifested in the flesh? It is that he that knew no sin but was made sin unto you should live in you and give you power over sin, but you must cultivate to manifest the fruit of his spirit to assure your victory over sin, lusts and carnality.
Carnal lifestyle is not of God if we are indeed born of him, – that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. John 3:6. Being born of the spirit, the new life in Christ Jesus is the unfolding of the mystery of a sinner in the world redeemed to live a life of godliness and to manifest the life of God in the flesh through divine power which has given him all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called him to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto him exceeding great and precious promises: that by these he might be partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3-4. Note: flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, but those who daily overcomes and escapes the corruption that is in them that shall be able to overcome and escapes the corruption that is in the world through lusts – every man is tempted by his own lust and enticed…
The fruit and taste of a carnal life is shameful: his fig tree will bear olive berries and his vine, a figs; and his fountain both yield salt water and fresh. There is nothing like hot or cold believer before the Lord. If you are not hot, then you are cold. It is either that you are living a progressive spiritual life or you’re living a carnal life of those who are having the form of godliness, but are denying the power thereof. Anything carnal is out of question before the Lord, we must die daily to the flesh: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that thje body of sin might be destroyed, that we should not serve sin again. Romans 6:6.
Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? The fruit and taste of a carnal life is shameful: his fig tree will bear olive berries and his vine, a figs; and his fountain both yield salt water and fresh because he is living the new life in an old way – put a new wine in an old bottle and also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment. What a waste, madness and a delusional life of a carnal believer before God? Mark 2:21-22. James 3:11-12. What a waste, madness and a delusional life before God?
The carnal believer is under greater condemnation for not serving God in spirit and in truth – for not walking in the spirit, he stood the risk of excommunication from the church for fulfilling the works and lusts of the flesh before the brethren in the Lord. Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.1 Corinthians 5:7-13.
The problem is that the carnal believer refused to walk before God in the newness of th spirit (Romans 7:6) through the power of the Holy Spirit sent to help him against the law of sin which war in his members (Romans 7:23) so that th might serve God according to his law written and engraved in his mind and heart, by the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also we are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:11-15.
Any corruption found in a carnal believer is the lust of his flesh which he has refused to crucify with Christ. Are we not in Christ, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ? Romans 8:17. Are we not crucified with Christ, and Christ lives in us, why then should the works and lusts of the flesh be permitted for so long to be found in us? Galatians 2:14. It is not written that they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts? Galatians 5:24. What are you waiting for to start loving God more than pleasure by going back to your first love?
The church at Laodicea is another good example of the congregation of carnal believers, their joy increases if a lots of money and food are in place, and then assumes that fruitful and prosperous spiritual life is based on material and financial gains. This group of believers live, thinks and behaves like the people of the world, influenced because of the surplus material blessings and possessions they were priviledged to have and enjoy from the Lord for service and stewarship, allows the blessings became an idol of pride to them which brought about their lukewarm spirit, neither cold not hot.
The Lord will not bear for so long as to continue to tolerate such false security of spiritual lifestyle from carnal minded believers in his church. He rebuke and correct their false notion of satisfaction and joy, and the erroneous conceptualization and ideology of their fruitful and blessed spirituality which they founded on financial increase and material blessings (because thou says, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knows not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked) and to warn them of the impending danger of such false belief and lifestyle to disown them if they will not repent and change – I will spew you out of my mouth. Revelation 3:14-18. Note: pride, vain joy and glory, glottony, lasciviousness, spiritual lukewarm, worldly and carnal-mindedness and materialistic spirit, coveteous eyes that cannot have enough; these are parts of the lifestyles of a carnal believer who was saved and called to set his affection on things above: not to look after the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18.
The children of Israel were deceived by their false perception of what their salvation out of Egypt was all about apart from going to Cannan the proimsed land. God was not pleased with the way they behaved and lived in the wilderness, so he cursed them by declaring that they are children err in their hearts, which have not known his ways, and they shall not enter into his rest. Note: those who are carnally minded err in heart -delusioned. Hebrews 3:10-11.
Salvation is spiritual and those who are saved must walk and live in it as spiritual, not as carnal men and women. We see and read how the Israelis by their carnal comportments provoked God in the wilderness by their constant expressions of regret of leaving behind them the pathetic slavery and idolatrous life in Egypt, – how they preffered the old life in Egypt better than the new life in the wilderness: while holding the promise of Cannan and looking forward to possess the land of promise, they also expressed regrets of leaving Egypt behind them – this is one of the characteristics nature of a carnal believer: he want to enjoy the pleasure of sin in the world and want to retain the salvation of the Lord at the same time, but hates the trainings and disciplines of God to make him a partaker of his holiness. Hebrews 12:10.
The Israelis showed different kinds of lustful and carnal characters in the wilderness. Though they were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ; yet, some were idolatrous, though they were no more in Egypt, yet they practised idolatory in the church in the wilderness, – some commited fornication, though their body is the temple of God and were called to live in holiness. Though the Rock was following after them, and that Rock was Christ, yet, some tempted Christ, denying his presence among them. Some murmured in rebellion against God, and will not give thanks for everything, nor rejoice evermore, or pray, without ceasing, instead of been careful for nothing and to to do all things without murmuring and disputing, that they be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; but these and other repeated unacceptable carnal behaviours of the Israelis were so displeasing and annoying before God that he destroyed many of them in the wilderness: I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13.
In the Garden of Eden, God shown his displeasure against sin and flesh, and he proclaimed divine sentence and condemnation against the flesh – the carnal nature –those that are in the flesh or those who walk in the flesh, cannot please God. Much more, he also promised the glorious victory and liberty over the flesh through the seed of the woman – Christ who shall bruised the head of the serpent, promising that the works of Satan, the state of carnality he brought man into through sin shal be undone in the lives of the coming generations of the fallen Adam through the second Adam, that is Christ by the means of life and walk in the spirit through the application of the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which has set us free from the law of sin and death.
Before we come to Christ, one law was at work in us and we have no choice than to obey it: but now that we are in Christ, there is another law which is at work in us. If we are walking according to the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus which now is at work in us to set us free from the law of sin and death which was first there, we shall have victory over any besetting sin of the flesh God has called upon us to lay aside from his word. Hebrews 12. 1.
Do the carnal belivers realised that they are nulifying the moral and spiritual effects of the cross of Christ (eradication of sin) whereby showing the world that total changes and transformation in Christ is not possible by their carnal lifestyle? Romans 6:6.
Carnal believers always gives a million reason to be unequally yoked together with the unbelievers. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.They see no reason not to go to the sea side to have unconscious fellowship with the marine spirits in the name of vacation to the beach where the crowd are almost naked or half naked to feed the lusts in his eyes. The carnal believers see nothing wrong wearing strange clothes which the people of the world may term fashionable and seductive -sexually provocative wears. Zephaniah 1:8. The carnal belivers watches all kinds of films; porn, horrow, action, romantic, thriller, witchraft, western, fantasy and comedy without considering the impacts and effects of what he sees with his eyes, and what he hears with his ears on fellings of the spirit of God dwelling in him, and on his spiritual life and walk in general with God in the light of his word. He doesn’t know what to do and how live for the things that accompany his salvation (Hebrews 6:9), nor how he should labor daily to enter into God’s present and eternal rest. James 4:1-5.
One of the problem of a carnal believer is his hardness to the voice of the spirit of God and unwillingness to receive the word of God with meekness – pride. Carnal believer runs away from the place he can be fed with solid meat because they prefered milk or the elementary teachings about Christ which made him unskilful in the word of righteousness. Hebrews 5:12-14.
Carnal lifestyle is a stumbling block to others, an open rebellion against the word of God, an irresponsible life and walk contrary to the spirit of God because they war in the flesh, and refused to pull down the strongholds in them by the word of God, resists to cast down their imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought in them to the obedience of Christ. This is their error and condemnation. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Carnal believers are refusing to engage themselves in the constant and continuous application of the fruit of the spirit in their daily life; by this behaviour, they obstructs and delays the transformation works of the spirit of God by chossing their own ways instead of being led by the spirit of God who is to reproduce the image of the son of God in them through the cultivation of the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5:22-23.
A robot or an artificial intteligent is not human simply because it was programmed to preform as humans. Carnal Christian thinks they are spiritual because they are exercising and manifesting the gifts of the spirit in the absent of the fruit of the spirit; no, they are not spiritual but carnal: they are the workers of iniquity of which the Lord shall disown at his coming and kingdom. Matthew 7:21-23.
In a great house, there are two kinds of vessels. First, there are vessels of earth and of wood which speaks of the carnal Chrstians. Secondly, there are also vessels of gold and of silver which speaks of the spirit filled sanctified belivers who have purged themselves from whatever lusts in them, living a life of mortification of their members which are upon the earth. Both vessels are useable, but God is not going to keep and preserve any vessels of earth and of wood for eternal preservation and purpose. Never confused spiritual gifts with a sanctified spiritual life in Christ Jesus.
Except we purge ourslelves daily from the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1), administering spiritual gifts to help others will not take anyone to heaven without personal sanctification unto God in holiness against the fleshly lusts which war against the soul will hinder any carnal believer to get to heaven. 2 Timothy 2:20-22.
Carnal believers willingly make themselves vulnerable and as prey to the false te achers. It is their carnal comportments that opens door to be taken captives by false apostles, pastors, teachers and prophets whose major tactic is to appeal to the lustful desires of the flesh (they proudly boast about their sins and conquests, and, using lust as their bait, they lure back into sin those who have just escaped from such wicked living. You aren’t saved by being good, they say, so you might as well be bad. Do what you like; be free. 2 Peter 2:18-19) to entice and ensnare the carnal believers. Note: another word for carnality is fleshly or sensuality which is the focal point of appeal devised by Satan to separate man from God (Genesis 3:3-4. Rom 6:16), even as the first parents made themselves loathsome before God by their carnal decision and action in the Garden – for to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6.
The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the holy ghost; but the carnal believers are the lovers of pleasures more than God, let us eat and drink, they say, for tommorrow we shall die, but it was revealed unto me from the Lord of hosts that this iniquity shall not be purged away from them till they die (Isaiah 22:13): they are under the curse of God for living at ease in Zion: woe unto him that live in pleasure in Zion. Amos 6:1-3. They rejoices in what should made them shameful, but they are shameless because they are enemy of the cross of Christ, having made stomach as their god. Certainly, there are some things the morally unsaved person would not do because it is not decent, but the carnal believer, by using this world, they are abusing it in the name of false liberty in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 7:31. They are the propserity preachers and believers bearing fruit unto themselves, and not unto God. Hosea 10:1. They are proud of what they should be ashamed of: perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, but their end is destruction because they mind earthly things. 1 Timothy 6:3-5. Philippians 3:17-21.
The carnal believer is always a hypocrite and a pretender who is engrossed in man’s praise and approval, seeking his commendation from the world. When he’s with the unbelievers, he’s their friends of the same nature and while with the believers, he plays fake spirituality The carnal believer, though he is a servant of God, but he’s men’s pleaser (Galatians 1:10) and his carnal lifestyles makes him like a dog which is always going bact to its vomits, and like a washed pig, going back to the mud.
The fundamental basic standard of individual’s judgment and approval or dissaproval before God shall be on the sanctified spiritual life, it’s worth, fruitfulness, profitableness, quality, and the positive effects of their spiritual life in Christ Jesus while they live on earth: for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judge according to men in the flesh, but lived according to God in the spirit. 1 Peter 4:1-7. If the salt lose its swetness, how can it be sweetened? Let the carnal brethren be thoughtful and ready for the future harvest of sowing to the works and lusts of the flesh because their lifestyle and behaviors is a stumbling block of offense causing others to fall or causing others to sin in the world and in the church. It could have been better if they were not born, than to make a believer to sin or an unbeliever to blaspheme the holy and worthy name of Jesus Christ through them.
The Lord shows by example that spiritual life, duty and loyalty to God should prioritize every other relationships, duty and affection, no matter how godly and good it seems to be, if such should seems to stand in opposition to fulfill the will of God as we can see from his response to his parents question that they shouldn’t be searching for him while he must go about doing his Father’s business. Luke 2:49: (b) he also shown by example when he willing gave himself up to the death of the cross, submit himself to the will of God, that he, by the grace of God, should taste death for all men. Hebrews 2:9.
Sin in the flesh is the carnality in the flesh. The life in the spirit is the new life in Christ Jesus designed for us to overcome the sin in our flesh, even as Christ died to condemn sin in the flesh, so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us if we are not walking after the flesh, but after the spirit. Romans 8: 3-4.
Carnal believers live for the world and for the Lord, but the scripture speaks about the doubled sided crucifixion, whereby a believer should be crucified against the world, and the world is crucified to him. This is the true live style we are saved abd called to live over any possible carnal lifestyle or behavior. Galatians 6:14. Also, it speaks of the impossibility of any spiritual soldier ( a believer) who may likely desire to live like a civilian though he is enlisted as a military for service: for no man called to be a soldier should entangle himself in the affairs of this world, so that he may pleases him who has chosen him to be a soldier. 2 Timothy. 2:4.
The carnal believers want to eat their cake and have it at the same time. They want to enjoy the world and identified with the world and the Lord. They lie, dispute and twist the word of God to to their taste. God will also rebuff them at the end because he will not honor them that despises his word. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. The Spirit of God will never lead us to do anything to please the flesh or to conform in any way to the fashion, style and ways of the world: rather, the spirit strive against the flesh and he’s jealous in us against any conformity to the world, seek to protect us from the defilement from the world and of the flesh. James 1:27.
Far be it from the carnal believer to tremble to the word of God, to accept what is written as it is written and abide by it, his fleshly lusts would not permit! He will betray the truth, telling you that what the bible says doesn’t really matter because the world is changing and is evolving, that we should integrate to the system of the world at the expense of the word of God: this is how they bring worldliness and carnal lifestyles to the church to corrupt the pure worship of God.
God pronounced divine sentence and condemnation against the flesh, but its glorious victory and liberty could only be found in Christ Jesus who has died and rose from the dead to deliver his people from their sins. Christ by one offering hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. If we do not see that there is nothing to trust from the flesh, and there is nothing good in it, we can never have power for victory and liberty promised and given by Christ against it. Now, if we don’t have the power and victory over the sin that dwells in us, how can we expect to receive an incorruptible body at death from the Lord? Why are born again by the incorruptible word of God? Is it not to live an incorruptible life for an incorruptible future spiritual body at the resurrection of the just? Sin, the works of the flesh should never be justified or appealed against according to the verdict of God against it – sin is condemned and the body if sin which is the flesh is also condemned – knowing this, that our old man, – the flesh, is also be crucified with him, that the body of sin – the flesh, might be destroyed, that henceforth, we should not serve sin again. Romans 6:6.
There are two major particular things the enemy always seeks to draws man’s attention and appealing into before he gains access to lay any claim over his soul; namely, the flesh and the world. Worldliness and carnality in the life of a believer is the rebellious attempt to reverse the verdict of God against the flesh and the world in the church today, just as the enemy once used the same tactic to seduce the first parents in the garden to destroy. Adam did not deny himself of the fruit God denied and forbade him to eat when the enemy appealed to his flesh to eat. Christ preached self denial, but carnal believers disqualify themselves by their failure to deny themselves before the Lord of the lusts they allows to thrive in them – let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yields you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:12-14.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:40-43. It is at your risk to tolerate the idea of being a carnal believer. This far has been the damage done by the Devil to weaken and corrupt the flesh to fight against you since the time of Adam’s fall – For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelled no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelled in me. Romans 7:18-20.
You alone cannot fight to overcome your flesh with its lusts without grace, watchfulness and power through consistent fasting life and through prayer. This is the reason Christ is now in you as the second Adam, the new man, to strengthen you with power to be able to resists the flesh with its lusts if you will walk in the spirit.
Oh wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? This was the Apostle fear and experience before his new birth in Christ Jesus, the agony of a religious man who is serving the law of God with his mind, but with the flesh, the law of sin. Romans7:24 -25. But the new birth put a new demand on you with power through divine ability, not only to be spiritually minded, but to sanctify and glorify God in your body (flesh) and spirit which are God’s (1 Corinthians 6:20): so that, not only should you serve God’s law in the mind, but also with your body – the flesh, which is now the temple of God: now, you are now washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves –this means you don’t have to hide your sin like Adam attempted to hide his sin. Job 31:33. 1 John 1:8. Also, the text doesn’t mean that you should go on sinning because you can’t overcome the sin in the flesh, or you are condemns to live in sin, for he says, this then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5. Note: there is no occasion to fall before those that walks in the light of the word of God; nothing shall offend them, their ways and life shall be cleansed; but to ignore the light is to walk and fall into darkness and to sin. Psalms 119:9.
The text from 1 John 2: 1: my little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous – this imply that not everyone in the kingdom is walking in darkness or walking in the flesh to sin – not everyone is living a carnal Christian life – let those that are spiritual seek to restore the carnal believers to live right, not walking in craftiness and renouncing secret dishonest things – brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfils the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2.
Carnal believers are the fools in the kingdom as they build their houses on the sand, hearing the word of God, but chose not to obey it to walk after the imaginations of their corruptible heart – fools plays with sin. Proverbs 14:9. They do not prioritize walk and life in the spirit above their walk and life in the flesh. They refused to see themselves as God sees them that they are no more in the flesh, but in the spirit, because the Spirit of God now lives in them to stop living a carnal Christian life. Romans 8:9.
Have you seen a believer always in need of deliverance prayer? It is the carnal believer. He is always troubled by the demons responsible for his lusts. How can you overcome the world and Satan if you cannot overcome the fleshly lusts which war against your soul? You cannot resist the devil victoriously, if you have not first subdued the flesh, but to this, you must learn and discipline yourself to cultivate and harvest the fruit of the spirit in all things. The dominion over your the flesh is the proof of your submission to God which gives you the spiritual legal right and power to resist Satan effectively: but if his things are in you (works of the flesh) while you are trying to resist Satan, it is a lose battle because of the door you’ve opened for him through the fleshly lusts, for Christ says, the prince of this world comes, but has found nothing in me. John 14:30.
Carnal believers are stubborn. They seek to please themselves and partially obey the Lord. Whatever the voice of bleating in your flesh, it should not be spared because all iniquity in the flesh must stop its mouth. Psalms 107:42.
There shouldn’t be heard the voice of any bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the cattle in the life of anyone in the kingdom as we seek for total deliverance from the body of sin of the flesh before the Lord. As you die daily to the flesh, you will likewise be receiving the increase of his divine fullness from grace to grace, even from God who has made your body his habitation through the holy Spirit. John 1:16.
The continuous repetition of the same sin and its confession before God is like forcing him to understand that the sin should be justified and not be condemned in the flesh to reverse his verdict and condemnation against the sin in the flesh. The actions of an ungodly moral behavior will not stand forever, but God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goes on still in his trespasses. Psalms 68:21.