Carnality
Today we read 1 Corinthians 2. We looked at some of the background information yesterday and noted that Paul said they had no excuse for their sinful behavior. In chapter two, spilling over into chapter three, Paul puts his finger on a problem that is still plaguing the church today. The church is made up of three kinds of people.
1. The Natural Man 2:14
This would be the non-Christian. It's a picture of an unsaved man who has been conceived in sin and shaped by iniquity. A natural man doesn't have the Spirit of God dwelling in him. Two characteristics to note: a) No Appreciation for Spiritual Things-- They do not receive or accept or embrace spiritual things. b) No Comprehension of Spiritual Things-- He not only doesn't appreciate them, he doesn't even understand them. When a lost person is on the church roll, count on problems and major headaches.
2. The Spiritual Man 2:15-16
Here Paul puts forth the spiritual man as the objective standard for all of us to follow. He is capable of discerning spiritual things, because he has the mind of Christ. He is saved and Christ dwells within him.
3. The Carnal Man 3:1-3
The major characteristic of a carnal man is immaturity. Nothing wrong with being a baby. We all start there--physically and spiritually. When one is born again, he begins his Christian journey as a babe in Christ. Nothing wrong with that. But there is something wrong when a person has been a Christian for 20-30-40-50 years and he or she is still a babe in Christ. And like number one, when a church is full of carnal Christians, expect problems and major headaches. Let me list a few characteristics of a carnal Christian:
A. Babyish: 3:2-3: Self-centered and selfish. Their phrase is "I've got to get my needs met." My question is "when are you going to grow up and start meeting someone else's needs?"
B. Bitterness: (envy) 3:3. This was part of the Corinthian problem and division (see 1:10ff).
C. Battling: (strife) 3:3. Some folks are just born battlers, always in a squabble. If you see someone who always likes to fight in church, you're looking at a carnal person.
D. Brokenness (division) 3:3. Not broken in the spiritual/good sense (like broken over your sins) but in a bad sense--one who is always seeking ways to cause division within the church. This is one who is always seeking a way to cause a break in the fellowship.
E. Barrenness: 3:3 "ye walk as mere men", In other words, you act like you are not even saved. Paul says I look at you and I see a barren fruit tree...no fruit, just like a lost man-barren.
One parting question and thought: How old are you in Christ? 5-10-20-30-40-50 years? Then act your age and keep growing in Christ.
1. The Natural Man 2:14
This would be the non-Christian. It's a picture of an unsaved man who has been conceived in sin and shaped by iniquity. A natural man doesn't have the Spirit of God dwelling in him. Two characteristics to note: a) No Appreciation for Spiritual Things-- They do not receive or accept or embrace spiritual things. b) No Comprehension of Spiritual Things-- He not only doesn't appreciate them, he doesn't even understand them. When a lost person is on the church roll, count on problems and major headaches.
2. The Spiritual Man 2:15-16
Here Paul puts forth the spiritual man as the objective standard for all of us to follow. He is capable of discerning spiritual things, because he has the mind of Christ. He is saved and Christ dwells within him.
3. The Carnal Man 3:1-3
The major characteristic of a carnal man is immaturity. Nothing wrong with being a baby. We all start there--physically and spiritually. When one is born again, he begins his Christian journey as a babe in Christ. Nothing wrong with that. But there is something wrong when a person has been a Christian for 20-30-40-50 years and he or she is still a babe in Christ. And like number one, when a church is full of carnal Christians, expect problems and major headaches. Let me list a few characteristics of a carnal Christian:
A. Babyish: 3:2-3: Self-centered and selfish. Their phrase is "I've got to get my needs met." My question is "when are you going to grow up and start meeting someone else's needs?"
B. Bitterness: (envy) 3:3. This was part of the Corinthian problem and division (see 1:10ff).
C. Battling: (strife) 3:3. Some folks are just born battlers, always in a squabble. If you see someone who always likes to fight in church, you're looking at a carnal person.
D. Brokenness (division) 3:3. Not broken in the spiritual/good sense (like broken over your sins) but in a bad sense--one who is always seeking ways to cause division within the church. This is one who is always seeking a way to cause a break in the fellowship.
E. Barrenness: 3:3 "ye walk as mere men", In other words, you act like you are not even saved. Paul says I look at you and I see a barren fruit tree...no fruit, just like a lost man-barren.
One parting question and thought: How old are you in Christ? 5-10-20-30-40-50 years? Then act your age and keep growing in Christ.
posted by Royce Hendry at
5:42 AM
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