UNDERSTANDING CARNALITY

 Today, we want to understand the meaning of the word “CARNALITY.” To make it to Heaven in the life to come, you MUST first of all “eliminate carnality from your life” in this present world.

Romans 8:5-8 says, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after 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, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

What is carnality? According to the Greek dictionary, it means to have the nature and characteristics of the flesh.

What is the nature and characteristics of the flesh? “Now the flesh is characterized by works which include: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21).

“For all that is in the world, (1) the lust of the flesh, and (2) the lust of the eyes, and (3) the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 Jn. 2:16).

Based on this meaning of the word “flesh:” To be carnal means to be characterized by things that belong to the unsaved life.

“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:2-3).

To be carnal means to be fleshly. To be carnal means to be under the control of the flesh. To be carnal means to be under the control of “self.”

To be carnal means to be ruled by “self” (the flesh) and not by the Word of God.  To be carnal means to do things according to the dictates of the flesh.

What then does it mean to be carnally minded? The carnal mind is a mind that is 'not subject to the law of God.' Such a mind refuses to take orders from God. 

Here is the truth: The mind set on the flesh refuses to take orders from God's Word. 

The carnal mind aspires to nothing higher than a hostile, self-centred, and selfish state.

What does it mean to be a carnal Christian? To be a carnal Christian is to be spiritually immature – as Paul said; feeding on milk. It is when the Word of God isn't in your heart.

Who then is a carnal Christian? A carnal Christian is one in whom the flesh is in control. These are Born Again believers, but there has been no transformation in their lives because their mind is not yet renewed with the infallible Word of God.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that 1) good, and 2) acceptable, and 3) perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:2).

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Cor. 3:18).

Such Christians have not spent enough time in His Word since they got Born Again, and as such they wrongly divide the Word of God.

What are the characteristics of a carnal Christian? Some of the characteristics of a carnal Christian are 1) independence, 2) self-confidence and 3) self-reliance. 

1. A carnal Christian often makes himself the centre of attraction; he wants everyone to notice him. 

2. A carnal Christian values self-will above God’s will. He has a stubborn and unteachable spirit; He has an arguing, talkative spirit. He is harsh and sarcastic in his expressions. He has an unyielding and head-strong attitude. 

3. A carnal Christian is a soulish Christian, which means his self-life rules. 

4. A carnal Christian has a secret sense of pride. He has an exalted feeling in view of his success or position, because of his good training and appearance; because of his natural gifts and abilities. 

5. A carnal Christian loves the praise of men. He nurses a secret fondness to be noticed; he has the love of supremacy; he loves to draw attention to self in conversations.

6. A carnal Christian manifests the stirrings of anger or impatience. But worst of all you call it nervousness or holy indignation; he is touchy. He has a disposition to resent and retaliate when reproved or contradicted.

7. A carnal Christian can do righteous deeds and do them very well; however, Scripture tells us that any good deed that the flesh does is an abomination in the sight of God.

In Luke 16:15 Jesus said unto them, “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”

8. A carnal Christian is ruled by self-centeredness, self-glory, self-exultation, self-love, self-pity, self-importance, self-ambition and pride.

9. A carnal Christian has a jealous disposition. A carnal Christian has a secret spirit of envy shut up in his heart; an unpleasant sensation in view of the great prosperity and success of another; a disposition to speak of the faults and failings, rather than the gifts and virtues of those more talented and appreciated than himself.

10. A carnal Christian exhibits lustful stirrings. He exhibits unholy actions; a carnal yearning; undue affection and familiarity toward those of the opposite sex, and wandering eyes. 

11. A carnal Christian has a dishonest, deceitful disposition. A carnal Christian evades and covers the truth, covering up his real faults and leaving a better impression of himself than is strictly true; shows false humility, and he exaggerates.

12. A carnal Christian is full of Unbelief. He manifests a spirit of discouragement in times of pressure and opposition, lack of quietness and confidence in God, lack of faith and trust in God; a disposition to worry and complain in the midst of pain, and poverty. 

13. A carnal Christian manifests formality and deadness. A carnal Christian shows lack of concern for lost souls; dryness and indifference; lack of power with God; selfishness, love of ease and love of money.

14. Everything he does, he does for show and to gain something for himself, even if it’s just the praise of men. These things are done for the love of self, not for God or His glory. 

15. A carnal Christian is full of strife. When you have a personal agenda and when that agenda is not followed or put at risk, strife is inevitable. The fighting, backbiting, and quarrelling that takes place in churches is not what God wants for the church or for the home. Your carnality shows when you allow things to affect you personally and lash out through your flesh.

16. A carnal Christian causes divisions. Not everyone in your church may be a best friend to you, but you shouldn’t have a clique in the church (Rom. 16:17-18). It’s alright to have close friends, but you must be very careful not to allow your close relationships to create divisions in the church when you are supposed to be one body, unified under the head, Jesus Christ.

Further marks of identification of a carnal Christian include: Carnal Christians are often talkative and flippant. They tend to use many words and look upon themselves as more advanced than others, and as a result, they are often faultfinders. They walk by sight, not faith. They often are uncommonly gifted, have great talents and majestic personalities. They also may have large spiritual vocabularies. They are usually ambitious and want to attain glory for themselves. They seek spiritual discernment in the light of worldly wisdom rather than depending upon the Holy Spirit to lead them. 

How can one overcome carnality? Remember that “The flesh” is Satan’s workshop – his realm of operation. If by the Spirit of God we overcome “Self,” Satan will be put out of work in our lives.

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the (Holy) Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, (the flesh, Self) ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13).

What are the deeds of the body? Galatians 5:19-21 spells out the deeds of the body (flesh). So to overcome carnality you should: 

1. Present yourself to God daily as a living sacrifice. This implies that you must surrender your life to Jesus Christ daily and deny yourself of your own desires (Mk. 8:34; Lk. 9:23).

2. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The Word of God has the power to change the way you think. 

Transformation will happen when you diligently study and meditate on the Word of God that you have studied (Rom. 12:2; Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1:1-3; 2 Tim. 2:15; Prov. 4:20-22).

3. Walk in the Spirit, so that you will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). It is very important that when we come to Jesus, we should let the Holy Spirit guide our lives so that we won’t be doing what our sinful nature craves (Rom. 8:1-2; Rom. 8:14).

4. Allow the blood of Jesus Christ to purge your conscience from dead works. The blood of Jesus has the power to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:7; Heb. 9:11-15). 

5. Be crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). You must die to self (Mk. 8:34). The Bible says that we must die to self. Paul said, “I die daily.” To die to self is to put to death your sinful nature, and you can do this only by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:13). 

6. Avoid sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:18-20). We must keep our bodies pure and holy. His grace is able to keep you from sexual immorality (1 Cor. 6:19).

Conclusion: Without “eliminating carnality from your life” in this present world, you can never remain holy, and without holiness you cannot see the LORD (Heb. 12:14).

• Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor, HOG)