For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace…
-Romans 8:6
Once upon a time I learned about the phenomena known as the Carnal Christian. It was a Christian with just enough Jesus to be saved and that is about as far as Faith goes with this individual. The person was a type of dormant Believer that had no need for God or church or walking in Faith. They could do all the fun things that the rest of us were forbidden from doing, and no matter what they did they were okay because they were saved with nothing to worry about because they repeated a cute prayer, may or may not have been baptized, and went on their merry way.
I remember once thinking how cool it would be to be a Carnal Christian. I could indulge in any and every vice that struck my fancy. I could listen to whatever music I wanted without being bothered because my Brothers and Sisters were content knowing that at least I was Saved.
As I’ve grown both in age and spiritual maturity I have really begun questioning the concept of a Carnal Christian. Does this concept jive with Scripture, or are we not only deceiving ourselves (those who believe in such a concept), but also marching our loved ones into the fires of Hell?
The Battle of Flesh and Spirit: Our Struggle with Sin
For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice…
-Romans 7:13-19
I am confined in this shell of flesh which is corrupt and defiled by sin. Sin is -as I am just as human as anyone else- in my nature. There are many, many sins that I enjoy, and it is against those things I struggle because I know they are sin. They are an offense to God, to myself, and to those around me, but they are also so alluring and so easy to fall into. And so the Flesh and the Spirit battle.
In my Spirit, I want to be free from sin and act only in accordance to the things of Faith and Scripture. I want to grasp perfection and live as my Savior, but this Fleshly cell -corrupt in its passion- is at times stronger and is easier to gratify than the Spirit.
So we Believers -until we are with Him- will always struggle with sin.
In Christ There is Forgiveness and Pardon
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 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, the things of the Spirit.
-Romans 8:1-5
So as long as I am in this imperfect body, I will always struggle with sin in my life. However by the Grace of God through the Work of the Cross by Jesus Christ who was obedient unto death I can be forgiven, redeemed, and justified in Him.
There is, then, forgiveness and life in Jesus Christ. So while I do struggle, I have been redeemed by Jesus by whose Spirit I am being sanctified.
Insufficient is the Flesh for Salvation
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. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
-Romans 8:6-8
The flesh is insufficient for its own Salvation. What I mean by this is that no work, no good deed, no lifetime of doing everything you thought honorable will find you in fellowship with the Father. Nothing outside of Jesus Christ justifies or redeems you in the eyes of God. So if I am of the Flesh -meaning of the unbelievers- I am lost and at enmity — with God.
The Dreaded IF Statements
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
-Romans 8:9-11
If statements: “if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you,” “if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His,” “if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness,” “if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you…”
If I am of God. If Jesus is the Lord and Savior of my life, then the aforementioned applies. I am dead to sin and alive in Christ. If I believe upon the name of Jesus according to God’s Word, then I am justified, preserved, and kept in the hand of God.
But if not…then I am lost in my sin, a slave to my carnality and lust, and at opposition with God.
Sons and Heirs of the Father
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors -not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 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. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs -heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
-Romans 8:12-17
Those who are called by God, who live because of Salvation in Christ Jesus are sons and heirs. Purchased, redeemed, preserved, and kept in the hand of God. There is no question, and we can be confident because the Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
So you are in Christ (John 3:16; John 6:37), or you’re not.
The Missing Piece
So where does the Carnal Christian fit in with this? Where does the individual who at one time professed Faith in Christ, but lives in complete opposition -given utterly to the Flesh- fit into this picture? (Now I am not speaking to the Saint who is backsliding. Those who backslide will return, and we all are prone to sin and backsliding as noted earlier.)
I would say that the Carnal Christian doesn’t fit because he doesn’t exist. Scripture never gives room to believe that such a Christian to exist. There is the Christian who lives carnally (again backsliding), but there is never the discussion of the one says a prayer then walks away forever. As if to say that they met the awesome Creator of all things -Lord of lord, King of kings-, signed their fire insurance card, then walked away with no concern over Him. It doesn’t sound right, but it does sound like cheap and heretical line of doctrine.
Maybe those who created or considered this concept were looking for some sort of comfort to help them rest at ease. It is far easier to believe that my because my brother said a quick prayer to please his parents is saved and not going to Hell, than it is to look at the evidence before me (Matthew 7:15-20), realize that he is lost (Matthew 7:21-23, 1 John 2:19), and know that if I don’t share with him the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and he dies in his sins, he will be lost forever.
Maybe there was a fear of asking a family member or loved one about their Salvation; maybe they didn’t want to deal with the uncomfortable. Maybe they didn’t want to believe that their friends and family could end up lost if they were to die in this hour.
Whatever the reason, if we buy into this (for laziness in not wanting to find another word) crap and are keeping quiet, we may very well be marching our brother, sister, aunt, mother, father, friend, wife, child, etc. straight into Hell because we settled for cheap “Christianity” that made us feel good about ourselves while leaving us shallow and seriously confused by what is meant by “faith.”
Today
To tell you the truth, I don’t believe in the Carnal Christian model anymore. It is contrary to the teachings of Scripture, unhealthy, and very dangerous. We’re not all stellar Christians who have this life down pact. I know that. Some of us (myself) are seriously messed up and struggle with sin and brokenness. But there are things, fruit if you will, that present themselves as a testimony of our Faith and our adoption into the Kingdom.
If you’re not sure, ask. You might introduce someone to Jesus who thought they already knew Him.
