The Final Events. The Carnal Christian.
Part Fifty-Seven in a Series on the Parousia, Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Let’s discover final events carnal Christian. In the final events series, we are going to look at the carnal Christian. Is this an oxymoron or a reality within Christianity?
https://secondcoming.org/blog/
A person can be a church member for a short time or for many years and still be a carnal Christian. You see membership does not automatically engender or produce spirituality. If to your surprise, you find that you are a carnal Christian now, don’t be upset about it, be glad, because you have the possibility of changing it immediately. You will experience great joy through a life with the Holy Spirit. I am convinced that most carnal Christians are unknowingly in this condition and have a desire to experience more in their faith. Their ignorance is not their fault. Let’s read what the apostle Paul had to say to carnal church members in 1 Corinthians 3: 1- 4:
“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 are 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? For when one says, “I am of Paul” and another, “I am of Apollos, are you not carnal?”
Can you see clearly that the criteria for the designation into this group is the personal relationship with the Holy Spirit? In these few verses the apostle Paul mentions four times that they are carnal. What does carnal mean? It means this person lives from the power of the flesh, that is the normal strength and abilities a person has. Furthermore, it means that he isn’t filled with the Holy Spirit or isn’t sufficiently filled with the Holy Spirit.
Some people think this group only consists of people who live in blatant sin. But that is only one of the many shades within this group. I want to stress that there are lots of differences within each of these groups. Paul addressed the carnal people as “dear brothers.” This shows that he was dealing with church members. Paul couldn’t speak to them as to spiritual people. That means they weren’t filled with the Holy Spirit or weren’t sufficiently filled with the Holy Spirit. He had to speak to them as babes in Christ. This shows that they haven’t grown in faith as they should have. A person can have great biblical knowledge and still not grow spiritually.
Spiritual growth has to do with our complete dedication to Jesus and a constant life in the Holy Spirit.
The Final Events will end with the splendor of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ also known as the Parousia. The Signs of Parousia are detailed in the Final Events Blog series and emphasize the Imminent Return and Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and the Love of the Father for all mankind.
Many carnal Christians feel dissatisfaction, disappointment, purposelessness or are under constant stress in their spiritual life. Other carnal Christians have gotten used to this condition or are satisfied with this condition. They might say we are just sinners we can’t do anything about it. Other carnal Christians might be enthusiastic. They are glad that they know biblical truth. Carnal church members can be very active and even have leading positions in the local church or even in the church administration. They may even do a lot for God.
Matthew 7: 22-23 “Many will say to me in that day Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name? And then I will declare to them I never knew you, depart from me you who practice iniquity.”
Where did the problem lie? Jesus said he didn’t know them. They didn’t have a real relationship with Christ, but rather only a feigned relationship. Either there hadn’t been a real commitment, or it hadn’t been maintained. Jesus didn’t live in their hearts through the Holy Spirit. Sadly, they had no personal relationship with Christ. There may be an apparent connection with Christ. When is Christ not in us?
A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ would deny Him, whatever the profession. Men may deny Christ by evil speaking, by foolish talking, by words that are untruthful or unkind. They may deny Him by shunning life’s burdens by the pursuit of sinful pleasure. They may deny Him by conforming to the world, by uncourteous behavior, by the love of their own opinions, by justifying self, by cherishing doubt, borrowing trouble, and dwelling in darkness. In all these ways they declare that Christ is not in them.
This can quickly change for the carnal Christian, however, only by the grace of God.
There is no such thing as a partial surrender. It’s no more possible to be partially surrendered than it is possible to be a little pregnant. Either you are or you aren’t. There is no middle ground.
Only those who would become coworkers with Christ, only those who will say, Lord, all I have and all I am is thine will be acknowledged as sons and daughters of God.
There are only three basic attitudes towards God:
- No relationship- the Bible calls this the natural or worldly man
- Full real relationship- the Bible calls this person spiritual, or spirit filled
- Divided or feigned relationship- the Bible describes this as a person of the flesh or carnal. The final event carnal Christian.
Which one are you? There is hope and room at the cross for you.
The Final Events. The Carnal Christian.
Part Fifty-Seven in a Series on the Parousia, Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
The Final Events will end with the splendor of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ also known as the Parousia. The Signs of Parousia are detailed in the Final Events Blog series and emphasize the Imminent Return and Second Coming of Jesus Christ, and the Love of the Father for all mankind.