Results 1 - 6 of 6
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | carnal Christian? | Rom 7:14 | New Creature | 91963 | ||
Is it possible to be "carnal" and "Christian" at the same time? Or is the term "carnal Christian" an oxymoron? New Creature |
||||||
2 | carnal Christian? | Rom 7:14 | Radioman2 | 91964 | ||
New Creature: The answer to your questions (or the answer you accept) depends on one's definition of the following words: . carnal . spiritual (the antonym of carnal) . Christian Until questioner and answerer agree on the meaning of key terms, there can be no agreement or meaningful dialogue on any given question. Grace to you, Radioman2 |
||||||
3 | carnal Christian? | Rom 7:14 | New Creature | 91987 | ||
Radioman; Good point The reason I asked whether or not a person can be carnal and be Christian at the same time, or whether the term; "carnal Christian is an oxymoron, is because the term "carnal Christian" is used so much by various preachers and lay people. Vines gives this definition of the term "carnal" Greek sarkikos. having the nature of flesh, i.e., sensual, controlled by animal appetites, governed by human nature instead of by the Spirit of God. Looking up the word "spiritual" from the same source, I find the following definition; "The spiritual man is one who walks by the Spirit both in the sense of Gal. 5:16 and in that of 5:25, and who himself manifests the fruit of the Spirit in his own ways.... According to the Scriptures, the spiritual state of the soul is normal for the believer, but to this state all believers do not attain, nor when it is attained is it always maintained. Thus the apostle, in 1 Cor. 3:1-3, suggests a contrast between this spiritual state and that of the babe in Christ, i.e., of the man who because of immaturity and inexperience has not yet reached spirituality, and that of the man who by permitting jealousy, and the strife to which jealousy always leads, has lost it. The spiritual state is reached by diligence in the Word of God and in prayer; it is maintained by obedience and self-judgment. Such as are led by the Spirit are spiritual, but of course, spirituality is not a fixed or absolute condition, it admits of growth; indeed growth in "the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Pet. 3:18, is evidence of true spirituality." It appears from the contrasting definitions of the words "carnal" and "spiritual" that the term "carnal Christian" may actually be an oxymoron. How is it possible for an individual to be "controlled by animal appetites, governed by human nature instead of by the Spirit of God." (Vines) And still be called spiritual or Christian? Wouldn't it make more sense to rather call those not controlled by the Spirit of God unspiritual? God Bless New Creature |
||||||
4 | carnal Christian? | Rom 7:14 | Radioman2 | 91988 | ||
New Creature: You write: "According to the Scriptures, the spiritual state of the soul is normal for the believer, but to this state all believers do not attain, nor when it is attained is it always maintained." All believers are not spiritual all the time. The opposite of spiritual is carnal. So when a believer is not spiritual, he is carnal, is he not? "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6 (NKJV) I see only two alternatives here: to be carnally minded or spiritually minded. It is one or the other; there is no in-between. As you say, carnal means "having the nature of flesh, i.e., sensual, controlled by animal appetites, governed by human nature instead of by the Spirit of God." When a believer is not walking by the Spirit, then it must be that he is governed by human nature (the mind of the flesh, the carnal mind). When this occurs, is he not carnal? Although my understanding of the matter seems to line up with Scripture and reason, I'm not being dogmatic here. I merely pose these questions for your consideration. Grace to you, Radioman2 |
||||||
5 | carnal Christian? | Rom 7:14 | New Creature | 91995 | ||
Radioman Thank you for your response and thougths on my question. First I will address your questions. you asked; 1) "when a believer is not spiritual, he is carnal, is he not?" (To that I would say yes) 2) "When a believer is not walking by the Spirit, then it must be that he is governed by human nature (the mind of the flesh, the carnal mind). When this occurs, is he not carnal?" (To this I would answer yes) I did a search in 1 Cor. 3:1-5 where it talks about those who were acting "carnal" or "unspiritual" 1 Cor. 3:1- 5 (KJV) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? Considering the rendering and wording of different versions, one can, and is able to draw various conclusions. Let me quote sections of the above text as it is found in various translations and then finish with what conclusions could possibly be drawn. "my brothers, I could not talk to you as I talk to people who have the Spirit; I had to talk to you as though you belonged to this world, as children in the Christian faith." 1 Cor. 3:1 TEV "We are simply God's servants, by whom you were led to believe." 1 Cor. 3:5 TEV "aren't you acting like those who are not Christians?" 1 Cor. 3:4 NLT "you are not yet spiritual. You are jealous and argue with each other. This proves that you are not spiritual" 1 Cor. 3:3 CEV "you are still unspiritual" "are you not plainly unspiritual?" "you came to believe" J.B. Phillips New Testament "you are still only baby Christians, controlled by your own desires, not God's" 1 Cor. 3:3 The Living Bible paraphrase If you were to take these quotes from the above translations, one can conclude that: 1) Those spoken of had come to believe 2) Those spoken of were acting like those who don't believe, being controlled by their flesh rather than by God's Spirit. (It may be possible that, those mentioned here, are experiencing a war. The old nature, and the new nature competing against each other, and it appears at the writting of this text that the new believers are allowing the old sinful nature to be in control. 3) Even though it is mentioned that those spoken of had been led to believe, at the same time it is also said they were unspiritual. 4) Those mentioned are called "baby Christians" which would definitely indicate that were unmature in their new-found faith So can I state and affirm that there truly is such a thing as a "carnal Christian?" Do these two words go hand-in-hand? I'm not sure, thats why I asked this forum for their input on this. In the perfect sense I would prefer to believe that there is no such thing as a "carnal Christian" but in reality, and according to God's word is there a group of people who could be labeled as such? Grace be unto you also New Creature |
||||||
6 | carnal Christian? | Rom 7:14 | Radioman2 | 91999 | ||
New Creature: You've made some good observations here. Nice work. Radioman2 |
||||||