WINNING THE WAR WITHIN: Carnal Christians?

Is there such a thing a carnal Christian? There are those who will argue strongly that there is not. They will say it is an oxymoron—you may as well speak of a heavenly devil. Then there are those that will point to Scripture texts that suggest there is such a creature as named in 1 Corinthians 2-3 and described in Romans 7 that we’ve been looking at this week.

Here’s what Paul says concerning his own experience in Romans Seven.

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.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 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.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not
to do, that I practice.
20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but
sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills
to do good.
22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my
mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of
death?
25 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.
(v.14-25 NKJV)

So, is there such a thing as a carnal Christian? I believe that there is. But, we must understand what that is and what it is not. Some think that so long as you make a profession of faith—that you say a sinner’s prayer—at some point in your life that makes you a Christian. There may be little demonstrable change in a person’s life and the excuse is made that they are just “carnal Christians.” Saved, but stunted in spiritual growth—that’s the thought. If that is what is meant, then that is not a carnal Christian. That is someone that is just carnal—period! It is what Paul called, “the natural man.” They behave according to the flesh because they are of the flesh. These are describe in one of Christ’s parables as “tares” sown by the enemy among the “wheat.” In Peter’s writing he mentions dogs that return to their vomit and pigs that go back to wallowing in the mire. Such a person is a pseudo-saint.

That is not how Paul reflects on his struggle, and that which every true child of God has known. He is no hypocrite; he desperately wants to serve God. His heart is pure. His love and devotion to God is sincere. He doesn’t excuse his sin. He is horrified by it. That is a true child of God.

Although R.C. Sproul in his commentary on Romans would reject the term “carnal Christian,” he does make a vital point: “there is no such thing as a Christian who is carnal-less” (p.222). Even a spiritual giant like the Apostle Paul had this battle within. We all go through this. So, do we just accept defeat? Can we never do better?

That is the problem with the carnal Christian. They are trying to please God in a carnal—a fleshly—way. Having been saved by faith, they purpose to do all within their power to please God. That is an impossibility. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Only by total reliance on Christ can we be saved and only by the same dependence on Christ can we be sanctified! Each of us are so tempted and give in to the seductive call to step out of grace-filled living and into the quagmire of religious ritual and rules and restrictions—sheer legalism!

The way to win the war within is not through trying to resist the world’s pressure, the flesh’s passion and the devil’s power by our own resolve and resources, but instead come to the end of ourselves and rely on the Lord. The way to victory is through surrender.

There is only one person who has ever lived the Christian life—Jesus Himself! Now, He indwells the believer. Let Jesus express His divine life through your humanity and you can win the war within. We are more than conquerors through Him!