carnal – Ministry of Grace Church

Tag: carnal

1 Corinthians 3:4 – Only One Master

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Will

For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

Truth to Learn

When preference leads to arguments, we leave the realm of the Spirit and enter the realm of the flesh.

Behind the Words

“Says” is translated from the Greek verb legō, which literally means “to lay forth.” Figuratively, it means “to relate in words” or “to say something.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating possibility or probability. So, it could be translated as “one might say.”

The word translated “carnal” is sarkikos, which we have seen several times in the past few verses. It refers to someone who lives and acts like an unsaved person, following the thoughts and emotions of the human nature rather than the Spirit of God. The best Greek texts use the word anthropos rather than sarkikos. If this is the correct reading, then Paul is saying, “are you not men?” In other words, Paul is saying, “are you not acting like natural, unsaved men?”

“Another” is from the Greek word heteros, which means “another of a different kind.” By using this word instead of allos (another of the same kind), Paul is emphasizing the difference in the way these people think about their preachers.

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse sounds very much like the comment Paul made when he started out this section of teaching:

Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 1:12)

As we have already learned, the Church in Corinth was divided by contentious factions, different groups of people claiming different leaders as the people who they were following. In 1 Corinthians 1:12 four different leaders were identified, but in today’s verse only Paul and Apollos are mentioned. The reason for this is likely the fact that Paul and Apollos were the first two leaders of the Church in Corinth.

Paul, along with Sylvanus and Timothy, started the church in Corinth. After they moved on to Ephesus, Apollos was sent to Corinth where he took over the leadership responsibility of the church there. Paul, by his own admission, was not a great preacher (see 1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Apollos, on the other hand, is referred to in Acts 18:24 as an eloquent preacher. This could easily explain why some people preferred one over the other: Paul, with his simple, straight forward style and Apollos, with his more intellectual and stirring presentation.

There is nothing inherently wrong with preferring one style of preaching over another. However, when we let that preference develop into arguments of who is better or who is the real leader, we leave the realm of the Spirit and enter the realm of carnality. As Paul will point out in the upcoming verses, both of these men were nothing more than God’s servants doing the will of their master.

Application

Doesn’t it seem silly that people should argue over which servant is the best leader? By definition, a servant is a follower, not the master. There can only be one master: God!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Corinthians 3:1 – Eternal Babies

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Will

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

Truth to Learn

Some Christians don’t grow in their relationship with Christ.

Behind the Words

The word “could” is translated from a form of dunamis, meaning “to be able” or “to have power or authority.”

“Speak” is from laleō, which refers to the use of words in speech or writing. It is a reference to the ability to communicate rather than the quality of it.

“Spiritual” is translated from pneumatikos. It describes those who exist in the spiritual realm, as opposed to the physical realm. It refers to those who communicate with the God of creation. Therefore, pneumatikos describes those who have a spiritual relationship with God.

Sarkinos is the Greek word translated “carnal.” It is based on the word sarx, which refers to the flesh of a living creature. Thus, sarkinos refers to those who live in the realm of the flesh as opposed to those who live in the realm of the spirit.

The word “babes” is from the Greek nēpios, which is made up of nē, meaning “not” and a form of epō, meaning “to speak.” Hence, nēpios literally means “non-speaking.” It is equivalent to the Latin infans (an infant). So, we see that nēpios refers to someone who is like an infant who hasn’t yet learned to speak.

Meaning Explained

In the previous chapter, the Apostle Paul compared the “natural man” to “the spiritual man.” The natural man is one who does not have God’s Spirit (a non-Christian). As a result, he (or she) lives under the influence of the sin nature, rather than the influence of the Spirit of God.

In today’s verse Paul introduces a third type of person, “the carnal man.” This person is barely distinguishable from the natural man because both the natural man and the carnal man are controlled by the flesh (human nature). A carnal Christian is in a most unhappy condition. He or she has been given the Holy Spirit of God as a guide, but does not communicate with the Spirit or, at best, ignores what the Spirit says.

A carnal Christian is further described by Paul as an infant in Christ. Let me point out that there is nothing wrong with being an infant in Christ – if you have recently been “born again.” Every Christian starts out as an infant in Christ. Here Paul is referring to Christians who haven’t grown in their Christian life. For whatever reason, they have decided to remain a baby and not grow in their relationship with God.

Unfortunately, we see this kind of Christians all around us. These “Sunday morning Christians” come to church wearing their Sunday-morning-go-to-church clothes, they sing the songs, they sit patiently (sometimes) while the preacher gives his message, then they walk out and live like the devil the rest of the week. Christianity is easy for them. They don’t have to put any work into it and they typically don’t suffer from spiritual attacks. Our enemy doesn’t have to attack them because they are infants who don’t pose any threats.

Application

Christianity may seem easy to the carnal Christian, but he or she is missing out on the rich blessings of a close personal relationship with the God of creation. Where are you today, my friend? Are you still a baby Christian, or are you growing?

In God's service, for His glory,

Romans 8:7 – Submission or Rebellion?

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Will

Romans 8:7

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

Truth to Learn

When we’re controlled by our flesh, we’re not submitted to God, we’re in open rebellion to Him.

Behind the Words

This current verse starts off with the Greek word dioti, which is a compound word made up of dia, meaning “through” and hoti, meaning “that.” So, literally it means, “through that” or “because of the fact that.” In other words, this verse explains why it is true that “to be carnally minded is death.”

The word translated “enmity” is the Greek word echthra, which means “the hatred and hostility openly displayed against one’s enemy.” It is most often translated as “enmity,” although in Galatians 5:20 it is translated as “hatred.”

“Subject” is from the Greek word hupotassō, which is made up of hupo (or hypo), meaning “under” and tassō, meaning “to arrange in an orderly manner” or “to rank.” It is a military term meaning to place in rank under someone else’s authority.

Meaning Explained

The current verse answers the first half of the previous verse:

For to be carnally minded is death

The reason, according to Paul, is:

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God

The reason that being fleshly minded is death is because it is in open hostility to God. Therefore, it cannot be in submission to God or His law. When we place ourselves in a position of submission to another, we are by definition at peace with them and recognize their authority over us. When we refuse to be in submission, we rise up in revolt and are by definition in open hostility and rebellion against their authority. They are opposite ends of the spectrum and are mutually exclusive. That is, you can’t be both in submission and in rebellion. You are either one or the other. In fact, Paul goes on to tell us that when we are being controlled by our flesh, we cannot place ourselves in submission to God. It’s impossible!

When we are being carnally minded, when we are allowing our fleshly lusts to control our thoughts and actions, we are not being submissive to God and we are, in fact, in open rebellion to His will. When we are in open rebellion to God, we have separated ourselves from Him. This, by definition, means that we are dead to God; we have broken fellowship with Him and we are not at peace.

Application

Do you have those times when you feel lifeless and totally separated from God? That’s the effect of sin. It breaks our fellowship with God. Were it not for the grace of God through the blood of Christ, we could never restore that fellowship. But because of what Christ did for us, we can come to the throne of grace, confessing our sins and having our fellowship restored because God has declared us righteous.

Do you feel lifeless and separated from God right now? Do you? Be honest with yourself!

If you do, get down on your knees and do something about it!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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Romans 7:14 – Flesh Versus Spirit

Posted on April 29, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:14

For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Truth to Learn

There is a constant battle between our flesh and our spirit.

Behind the Words

The word translated “spiritual” is the Greek word pneumatikos, which means “that which pertains to the nature of spirits and the spirit world.”

“Carnal” is translated from the Greek word sarkikos, which means, “that which pertains to our body, our human flesh.”

The word translated “sold” is pipraskō. It is based on the verb peraō, meaning “to traffic” or “to travel, especially overseas.” It is a reference to those who travel overseas to obtain merchandise which is then sold for profit. Hence, pipraskō refers to something that is sold.

Meaning Explained

The remainder of the chapter, starting with this verse, has been the subject of much debate for at least the past several centuries. The discussion is over whether this description of Paul’s is in reference to a time before his conversion or subsequent to his conversion. I believe that there is sufficient evidence to understand that Paul is making statements about his condition after conversion. First of all, it is the most obvious explanation of what Paul is teaching. Secondly, Paul has already shown that the Law doesn’t produce righteousness; rather, it makes sin more sinful and the sinner guilty. He doesn’t have to prove that again. Thirdly, the expressions that are used are not those that an unrepentant sinner would use. Instead, they express the same frustration that all Christians feel regarding their continued propensity to sin. And fourthly, there is a change made here from past tense to present tense, so Paul is expressing what is currently happening in his life as a born-again Christian who is still struggling with his sin nature.

He starts off this section restating what he already said in verse twelve; the Law is spiritual. That is, the Law is a spiritual entity, it was developed in the realm of spirituality and it was developed to show mankind what spirituality looks like. It is holy, that is, without sin itself, and it is basically good.

Mankind, of whom Paul uses himself as a representative, is not inherently spiritual. Rather, we are carnal according to Paul. The sentence structure is one that contrasts spirituality (that which pertains to and is controlled by the spirit world) with fleshiness or carnality (that which pertains to and is controlled by the non spiritual part of man, called the flesh).

It is this dichotomy and conflict between the realms of spirituality and carnality that Paul will spend the remainder of this chapter on. Though we were created with both a body and a spirit, it is the sin nature (which is part of our body) that controls much of what we do, rather than our spirit.

Application

If you have ever been frustrated by the fact that you sin at times and in a manner in which you don’t want to, stay with us because we are going to find out that Paul had this same battle. The Apostle Paul, one of the foundation stones of the Church of Jesus Christ and one of the greatest spiritual leaders of the early church, battled with his sin nature. And so do we!

In God’s service, for His glory,

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