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 Cor 3:1-3 NKJV
How we would put ourselves above others. How we make comparison to another saying, “I am a Christian and you are a sinner,” while church-goers sometimes remain as carnal as anyone else.
fleshly, carnal
having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites
governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God
having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature
human: with the included idea of depravity
pertaining to the flesh
to the body: related to birth, linage, etc
Yet the Apostle cautions us that we do not know as much as we might think. We do not act as if we are mature in Christ Jesus, who set before us a perfect example and within us a desire for the spirit and not the flesh.
We are torn in our new faith: young in the spirit, yet mature in the flesh as were we before. Our guilt now burdens us, though carnal things continue to do, sin which formerly did not bother our distracted minds. And seemingly to make our guilt worse, sermon after sermon convicts us of our continued love of the flesh.
Romans 7:
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 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. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
GUILT! I do not want to commit the sin I do.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice…
Along come former friends, family who claim to care for me and co-workers of different belief and they say, “See, you are just like us.”
Listen to our wisdom learned of this world. Why should you feel guilty to a Law written thousands of years ago? Why not just be moral like most of us? You are smart enough and good enough to decide what is right and what is wrong. Why not return to our religions of tolerance? Why not choose to be as good as me?
Then you return to the argument of the preacher for repentance, the plea of one who loves you in Christ for righteousness.
Romans 8:
5 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.
6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
What will it be then? Carnality? The constant cravings of the flesh?
- Is it a reward in this life I seek?
- Or do I look to the hope of the resurrection and eternal joy?
Is the lasting reward of the love of God in Christ Jesus not worth some suffering at the hands of the wise of this perishing world?
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12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 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. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God…
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…
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Are you the prey of Satan? Or are you his bait for the snare of the Pit?
Jesus Christ has saved you! He has all authority over sin and death.
Let us look to Him who IS now looking over us, Christ who suffered and died for the very sins which burden us before the watchful eyes of the worldly.
Let us follow after Him, who not only set forth the way, the truth and the life for all who willingly bear the weight of his Cross, but Christ Jesus our Lord who has called us in love in the beginning before time and conception.
Our Lord has loved us before the knitting of our flesh in the womb and the spirit of life flowed though our beating heart for Him.
“This woman is a sinner,” you say. “That man is a carnal man,” you say.
And with the smile of Christ’s love you hear in the answer of a beloved of the Lord,
“I know. That was once me. But now I am saved in Christ Jesus, my Lord.”
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