1 Cor 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 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; 3 for you are still carnal.
Bang! That's a hard indictment. Have you ever been humbled like that in an area that you thought you are 'strong'? Has your self-assessment failed you miserably when tallied with the reality of other's assessment? Have it right here, right now.
Paul delivers a scathing assessment to an affordable, growing and thriving Church at Corinth that considered itself Spiritually mature and strong and wants to get deeper. Paul challenges them on their self-assessment points how different are the the 'vital signs of health' that Paul and the Church are reading (rest of the chapter).
From the very founding of the Church and even now, they are not yet ready for solid food as they live like 'mere men'. Its not a matter of giving but they cannot receive them even if given. The Church knows the truth of Gospel and saved but their life does not reflect the faith they profess. Paul demands for 'living deep' in the simple, basic Truth they know before 'learning deeper'. The word 'carnal' Paul uses here in Greek is 'sarkikos' means 'fleshly' compared to the word 'sarkinos' that means 'fleshy' that Paul uses in 2 Cor 3:3.
A Natural Man is driven by the 'flesh' doing 'fleshly' things, void of any Spiritual insight rejecting them outright. That is majority of the World.
A Spiritual Man is driven by the Spirit but still living in the flesh, knows the things of God, desires making life's choices with Spiritual insight.
Then, who is the 'Carnal Man' referred here? Quite often we see 'Carnal Christian' as an oxymoron and consider ourselves 'Spiritual'. Well, Paul reminds us otherwise in Rom 7:24-25 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.
Carnality is the reality of a Spiritual Man living in the flesh, being sanctified every day until the day of the Lord when he'll be free from the presence of sin itself. Jesus granted us freedom from the 'Penalty of sin' (Rom 8:1) and Holy Spirit has granted us freedom from the 'Power of sin' (Rom 6:14) but we continue to live in the 'Presence of sin', until we dwell with our Lord.
As long as we are in the flesh, the 'prince of this world' wars against the freedom we've inherited by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! The freedom of living like 'Natural man' entices many in the world leading to bondage. Yes, there is a freedom that leads to bondage.
But there is a bondage that leads to freedom now and in eternity. That's our allegiance to faith in Jesus Christ. A 'Natural Man' is void of Spiritual insight; A 'Spiritual Man' knows the Truth that set him free and a 'Carnal Man' is simply someone saved.in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit but still mastered by the flesh from time to time. Desires to do God's will but struggles in life's journey.This struggle is real and it is natural as long as we are in the flesh (Rom 7:15-20).
This struggle and the choices we make every day is the process of sanctification, leading up to redemption of the inheritance promised is what Jesus called as 'endurance' in Matt 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. So, your every day choice in simple, small matters means much in life's journey towards being the Man/Women as God called you to be.
There is nothing wrong in being fleshy ('sarkinos') as God created us in flesh and has given us things to do in life with family, job, church etc. But all along the way, the choices you make will reveal your true identity. Are you 'sarkikos' meaning 'characterized by the flesh' or just 'sarkinos' meaning 'living in the flesh but characterized by the Spirit'.
If you are the latter, then let daily choices reflect to the world not only WHO you are and your true belonging. May the Holy Spirit lead you in making simple choices in life carefully with eternity in mind!
Have a blessed week ahead.
Comments