Carnal christranity
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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 were 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?
carnal the nasb uses men of flesh niv uses people who are still worldly
Anything related to the fleshly or worldly appetites and desires rather than to the godly and spiritual desires. Basic human nature is carnal, sold out to sin and thus living in the realm of death, unable to observe God’s spiritual law (Rom. 7:14). People walk either in the flesh or in the Spirit, leading to death or to life. The carnal person is hostile to God, unable to please God
The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Savior from Hell rather than a Savior from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.
- A. W. Pink
If I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity. The old cross slew men, the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.
- A. W. Tozer
We are raising a generation on the spiritual junk food of religious videos, movies, youth entertainment, and comic book paraphrases of the Bible. The Word of God is being rewritten, watered down, illustrated, and dramatized in order to cater to the taste of the carnal mind. That only leads further into the wilderness of doubt and confusion.
- Dave Hunt
There is no such thing as a continuously carnal Christian. If Jesus Christ isn't strong enough to motivate you to live biblically, you don't know Him at all.
Paul Washer
So for Paul this was not the thankfulness for the church in Chapter one no This was Paul Prophesying
Fore Telling + the Future
Forth Telling The sharp truth or warning
against THE people speaking TRUTH A HARD TRUTH A SHARP REBUKE
The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Three: Be Wise about … the Local Church (1 Corinthians 3))
Paul already explained that there are two kinds of people in the world—natural (unsaved) and spiritual (saved).
But now he explained that there are two kinds of saved people: mature and immature (carnal). A Christian matures by allowing the Spirit to teach him and direct him by feeding on the Word. The immature Christian lives for the things of the flesh (carnal means “flesh”) and has little interest in the things of the Spirit. Of course, some believers are immature because they have been saved only a short time, but that is not what Paul is discussing here.
Paul was the “spiritual father” who brought this family into being (1 Cor. 4:15). During the eighteen months he ministered in Corinth, Paul had tried to feed his spiritual children and help them mature in the faith. Just as in a human family, everybody helps the new baby grow and mature, so in the family of God we must encourage spiritual maturity.
What are the marks of maturity? For one thing, you can tell the mature person by his diet. As I write this chapter, we are watching our grandson and our granddaughter grow up. Becky is still being nursed by her mother, but Jonathan now sits at the table and uses his little cup and (with varying degrees of success) his tableware. As children grow, they learn to eat different food. They graduate (to use Paul’s words) from milk to meat.
What is the difference? The usual answer is that “milk” represents the easy things in the Word, while “meat” represents the hard doctrines. But I disagree with that traditional explanation, and my proof is Hebrews 5:10–14. That passage seems to teach that “milk” represents what Jesus Christ did on earth, while “meat” concerns what He is doing now in heaven. The writer of Hebrews wanted to teach his readers about the present heavenly priesthood of Jesus Christ, but his readers were so immature, he could not do it (note Heb. 6:1–4).
The Word of God is our spiritual food: milk (1 Peter 2:2), bread (Matt. 4:4), meat (Heb. 5:11–14), and even honey (Ps. 119:103). Just as the physical man needs a balanced diet if his body is to be healthy, so the inner man needs a balanced diet of spiritual food. The baby begins with milk, but as he grows and his teeth develop, he needs solid food.
It is not difficult to determine a believer’s spiritual maturity, or immaturity, if you discover what kind of “diet” he enjoys. The immature believer knows little about the present ministry of Christ in heaven. He knows the facts about our Lord’s life and ministry on earth, but not the truths about His present ministry in heaven. He lives on “Bible stories” and not Bible doctrines.
Read verse on
now lets
Look To verse 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;
Consider
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Everyone is out for themselves ....what are they getting ,,,,,,,,this is the wrong question we should be asking what are we willing to give.
This blesses God this Honors God for it takes the Worship off of our self and puts us back into the position God called us to be His mere servants
Vs. 3
for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
Evidence of Carnality in ones life in ones marriage in ones workplace in a church
Let us consider our times
“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Vs 3
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.” It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
So Let us leave the Milk Let us Leave the ever so tempting temptation of pleasing of seeking self self gain self empowerment, self esteem, self importance, let us leave this idea that we are to be served let us remember Christ is our Model He said He came here not to be served but to serve And this is what we need to do.
I get it we all have our own troubles some greater than others lets not start by comparing whos problems are worse instead lets as Paul wrote in Chapter 2 determine Lets be intentional on Rolling our sleeves us to help this Church to Serve where ever is needed in the church in the community be a loving neighbor or a cheerful husband or wife
lets not compare whether others are serving us
forget about that that's carnal at its worst lets instead focus what can we do to brighten someones day, to make them feel loved make them feel appreciated what can I do this week.
How will we ever expect to hear well done my good and faithful servant if we are unable or on willing to serve
How can we call ourselves Christians if we don't model Christ in His Love in His Service
Expound
Close
I challenge you all do this today and throughout this week. If you miss your opportunity Pray that God will give you another Pray that He will give you the courage to say yes Lord Here am I