Photo by Linus Belanger on Unsplash
By Mike Chaffin
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:6
We wrap up the vices in this series with the worst one, carnality, a catch-all term for may sins and vices we have already covered. However, as we delve deeper into the Word we discover its true strength in keeping us from walking with God if we aren’t a Christian, and in tearing at us if we are.
Peter gives us a vivid description of carnality and its draw on us. He starts by saying if we have accepted Christ and He lives in us we have the power to move away from living in the flesh (carnality) and live in the Spirit. But the flesh is still out there and those who don’t know Christ revel in it.
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. 1 Peter 4:1-3 NLT
Peter can rightly say we shouldn’t live a carnal life if we have Christ in us. Paul said as much,
And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24
However, earlier in Galatians 5 Paul explains the battle going on inside us. Even after accepting Christ as Savior, we don’t easily walk away from some sins. We pray daily for strength to fight the temptation driving us to dive right back into the mud we were saved from.
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Galatians 5:16-17
The fight isn’t easy. The devil tempts us to fall back into sin. Again, Paul gave us a great strategy to fight against these temptations. The formula is to put on the full armor of God, stay in the Word and in prayer.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints- Ephesians 6:10-18
Carnality is a major problem for Christians. In fact, a common term for this condition is ‘carnal Christian.’ This is the state of Christianity where non-Christians most find hypocrisy. They see no evidence of Jesus in the carnal Christian. Furthermore, Jesus will say to these people at the judgement seat, “Go away, I never knew you.”
So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:8
Carnality brings death. The Holy Spirit brings life. Which path will you follow?
Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive me of the sin of living in the flesh. I want to walk with you daily. I want to follow where you lead. I don’t want to give into the temptation of the flesh the devil throws at me. Shod my feet with peace as I put on the helmet of salvation. Gird my loins with truth and I put on the breastplate of righteousness. Help me to carry the shield of faith by which those fiery darts of the devil get blocked, and use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of the Lord, the Bible to defeat the enemy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
