Carnal Christians — Do They Exist?
In the Flesh
“What about carnal Christians? They sin, but they are still saved, right?” In order to answer this question, I needed to find the words related to carnal in the Bible. This also included the phrase in the flesh. See if you are able to conclude what in the flesh means from the following texts:
1 Corinthians 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh. but I spare you.
2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh.
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, to buffet me lest I should be exalted above measure.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with the Messiah. Nevertheless I live–yet not I, but the Messiah liveth in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Colossians 2:1 For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you and them at Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh…
Colossians 2:5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order and the stedfastness of your faith in the Messiah.
1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness! God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Philemon 1:16 …not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved–specially to me, but how much more unto thee–both in the flesh and in the Lord?
1 Peter 3:18 For the Messiah also hath once suffered for sins, the Righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit…
1 Peter 4:6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
1 John 4:2 By this ye know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Messiah Yeshua is come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit that confesseth not that Messiah Yeshua is come in the flesh is not of God. And this is that of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come, and even now already it is in the world.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world who confess not that Messiah Yeshua is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as the Messiah hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. For he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin 2that he no longer should live the rest of time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3For the time past of life will suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings and abominable idolatries 4wherein they think it strange that ye run not to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you 5who shall give account to Him Who is ready to judge the alive and the dead. 6For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, and live according to God in the spirit.
Ephesians 2:11 Why remember that ye, in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands, 12that at that time ye were without the Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13And now in Messiah Yeshua ye who some time ago were far off are made nigh by the blood of the Messiah. 14For He is our peace, Who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition, 15having abolished in His flesh the enmity, the law of commandments being in ordinances, to make in Himself of both one new man, making peace, 16and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby. 17And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to them who were nigh.
Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of the Messiah. 13For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law, but desire to have you circumcised so that they will glory in your flesh. 14And God forbid that I should glory, except in the cross of our Lord Messiah Yeshua by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world. 15For in Messiah Yeshua neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is the Messiah and to die is gain. 22And if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour. Yet what I shall choose I know not. 23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart and to be with the Messiah, which is far better. 24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith 26that your rejoicing will be more abundant in Messiah Yeshua for me by my coming to you again.
Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Messiah Yeshua and have no confidence in the flesh, 4though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more–5circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews. As touching the law, a Pharisee. 6Concerning zeal, persecuting the church. Touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7And what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for the Messiah.
Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? 27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law, judge thee who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? 28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, neither circumcision who is outward in the flesh, 29but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God. 1What advantage then hath the Jew? Or what is the profit of circumcision? 2Much every way–chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God.
I understood that the expression in the flesh meant physical or physically.
Carnality
I next desired to see what the Bible meant by carnal or carnally. See if you can discern the meaning from the following texts:
Leviticus 18:20 And thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour’s wife to defile thyself with her.
Leviticus 19:20 And whosoever lieth carnally with a woman who is a bondmaid, betrothed to an husband and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her, investigation shall be made. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
Numbers 5:13 …and a man lie with her carnally and it be hid from the eyes of her husband and be kept close and she be defiled and no witness against her, neither she be taken…
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual. And I am carnal, sold under sin.
Romans 15:27 It hath pleased them verily. And their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.
Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah, of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15And it is yet far more evident that after the similitude of Melchisedek there ariseth another Priest 16Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17For he testifieth, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek.”
Hebrews 9:6 And these things were thus ordained. And the priests went always into the first tabernacle accomplishing the service, 7but into the second the high priest alone once every year–not without blood which he offered for himself and the errors of the people, 8the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was yet standing, 9which is a figure for the time then present in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices that could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience, 10only in foods and drinks and divers washings and carnal ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 11And the Messiah being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, 12neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.
I understood that the words carnal and carnally meant physical and physically respectively. The following texts, however, showed me that the word carnal means something more, having to do with evil fleshly desires and actions.
1 Corinthians 3:1 “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal–as unto babies in the Messiah. 2I have fed you with milk and not with food. For up to now ye were not able, neither yet now are ye able. 3For ye are yet carnal! For whereas among you is envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men? 4For while one saith, ‘I am of Paul!’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos!’ are ye not carnal? 5Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6I have planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase. 7So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth, but God Who giveth the increase. 8Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one. And every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9For we are labourers together with God. Ye are God’s husbandry, God’s building. 10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation. And another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Yeshua the Messiah. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble, 13every man’s work shall be made manifest. For the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire. And the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss. But he himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. 16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. For the temple of God is holy, which ye are. 18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool that he may be wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. 20And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. 21Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours, 22whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come–all are yours, 23and ye are the Messiah’s, and the Messiah is God’s.
When Paul said that they were carnal, what was he saying? Was he saying that they were Saints, ones who are born of God, but are also carnal?
In the Flesh and Carnality
2 Corinthians 10:2 And I beseech that I will not be bold when I am present with that confidence wherewith I think to be bold against some who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds, 5casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Messiah, 6and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 7Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is the Messiah’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is the Messiah’s, even so are we the Messiah’s. 8For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority which the Lord hath given us for edification and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed 9that I will not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.
This text seemed to link the expression in the flesh with carnal.
Enmity
Romans 8:1 Therefore now, no condemnation is to them who are in Messiah Yeshua. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Messiah Yeshua hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh 4so that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. 5For they who are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, and they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7For the carnal mind is enmity against God. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8And then they who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit–if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. And if any man have not the Spirit of the Messiah, he is none of his. 10And if the Messiah is in you, the body is dead because of sin and the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Yeshua from the dead dwell in you, He Who raised up the Messiah from the dead shall also make alive your mortal bodies by His Spirit Who dwelleth in you. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors–not to the flesh to live after the flesh. 13For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. And if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
The above text made the difference in my understanding. Anyone who is carnally minded and who has a carnal mind is an enemy of God (is in enmity against God). Anyone who is in the flesh cannot please God. And no person is in the flesh if the Spirit of God dwells in him. Therefore the expression in the flesh not only meant physical or physically, but it also could mean invested in the physical or physically invested.
According to Paul, it was a terrible thing to have a carnal mind–it was death. If this is the case, what was he declaring when he said, “For ye are yet carnal! For whereas among you is envying and strife and divisions, are ye not carnal and walk as men? For while one saith, ‘I am of Paul!’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos!’ are ye not carnal?” Paul explained the state of unbelievers when he said,
Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins which were by the law did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6And now we are delivered from the law, that being dead in which we were held, that we should serve in newness of spirit and not the oldness of the letter.
When Paul said, “I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal–as unto babies in the Messiah,” he was telling them that he could not speak to them as Saints, or at least as nothing more than baby Saints. When he said carnal, he showed that this was the opposite of Spiritual. When he said babies in the Messiah, he showed that this was the status of a Saint who was totally unlearned in righteousness, unable to do anything except eat, cry and wet.
If carnality is the opposite of Spirituality, no one can be a “carnal Christian.” How can a Christian be an enemy of God? Those who were saying, “I am of Paul!” and “I am of Apollos!” were proving themselves carnal. Paul warned them to stop this and prove themselves Spiritual.
Ending Up Dead
A Saint may stupidly behave carnally, and he may end up dead in the process. See how Paul referred to one man who did this:
1 Corinthians 5:1 It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles!–that one should have his father’s wife! 2And ye are puffed up and have not rather mourned, so that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, him that hath so done this deed!–4in the name of our Lord Messiah Yeshua, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Messiah Yeshua, 5to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Yeshua!
Paul commanded them to set this man up to be killed by Satan!
Anyone who shows himself to be an enemy of God when he should know better, being a Saint, is asking for much greater trouble than an unbeliever who is by nature an enemy of God, toward whom Yehovah shows longsuffering.
What About Carnal Christians?
I will now finish answering the question, “What about carnal Christians? They sin, but they are still saved, right?” Carnal Christians do not exist. No text mentions a carnal Christian. Christians have managed to behave carnally by sinning. They were still saved. Some were dead. Others suffered greatly. Paul warned,
1 Corinthians 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily [i.e., in an unworthy manner], shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of bread and drink of the cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh condemnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep [i.e., are dead]. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord so that we should not be condemned with the world.
Peter did not spare words to a man who was supposedly a new Believer:
Acts 8:9 But there was a certain man called Simon who previously in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one, 10to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God!” 11And to him they had regard, because for long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. 12But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Messiah Yeshua, they were baptized–both men and women. 13Then Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip. And he wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John 15who, when they were come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For as yet He was fallen upon none of them. Only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Yeshua. 17Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit!” 20But Peter said unto him, “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money! 21Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter! For thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 22Repent therefore of this thy wickedness! And pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee! 23For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.” 24Then answered Simon, and said, “Pray ye to the Lord for me that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me!”
Conclusion
Anyone who has the attitude, “I am a Christian, I still sin, and God understands this and accepts me the way I am” does not fear God, is not born of God, will not be chastised as a Saint would be, and is not fit material for Salvation. Simon had more Spirituality, and Peter said, “if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee!”