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NASB | 1 John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God's will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God, nor is the one who does not [unselfishly] love his [believing] brother. |
Bible Question (short): What is a "carnal" Christian? |
Question (full): What is a "carnal" Christian? Greetings, CurtMan: I'm not sure exactly what it is you are asking in your post, ID# 91690. Do you mean: What is a "carnal" Christian?; and Can a "carnal" Christian fall from grace and lose his salvation? If this is what you are asking, then let's take one question at a time. Q: What is a "carnal" Christian? A: Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 'carnal 'Compare 1 Corinthians 3:1,4. "Carnal" ("fleshly") is Paul's word for the Adamic nature, and for the believer who "walks," i.e. lives, under the power of it. "Natural" is his characteristic word for the unrenewed man (1 Corinthians 2:14), as "spiritual" designates the renewed man who walks in the Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:1; Galatians 6:1.)' (Scofield, C.I. "Scofield Reference Notes on Romans 7". "Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition)". (http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/ScofieldReferenceNotes/) I would go with this definition of carnal. It seems justified by Paul's use of the term in Scripture. So one definition of a "carnal" Christian is: 'the believer who walks, i.e. lives, under the power of the Adamic nature ("human nature" (GNT); "the sinful nature" (NLT); "the corrupt nature" (GOD's WORD)).' Q: Can a "carnal" Christian fall from grace and lose his salvation? (CurtMan, I realize this is not how you worded your question, but am I correct in assuming that this is what is implied in your question, "at some point and time their eternal resting-place becomes an issue. My focus is on the fact that they were Carnal and they were Saints, What’s your take on this?"?) A: Are they Christians? Were they ever Christians? 1 John 3:9-10 (ESV) No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. [10] By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. If they are born-again believers, carnal or otherwise, is it possible for them to fall from grace and lose their salvation? 'Scripture abundantly affirms the Christian's eternal security; therefore it is not true that believers in Christ can lose their salvation. See Jn 3:15-16, 36; 10:27-30; Rom 8:35,37-39; Eph 1:12-14; 4:30; Phil 1:6; Heb 10:12-14; 1 Pet 1:3-5" (note at Heb 6:4, New Scofield Reference Bible, Oxford, 1967).' CurtMan, if I have answered questions you did not ask or not answered questions you did ask, please let me know. Also, if my answer needs more explanation or clarification, let me know. I'll do my best to address your question(s). Grace to you, Radioman2 |