Mythbusters: Carnal Christian Edition

‎"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their mind on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:5-8

     "The flesh" and "The Spirit" are not two options for Christian living, but instead they are two realms; two dominions.  We were in the flesh, (Rom. 7:5) under the power of sin, imprisoned there by the law, (Gal. 3:22-24) unable to please God and hostile to God, but now we have been transferred from this dominion of sin and death to the kingdom of righteousness and life and grace, (Col. 1:13-14) not to walk in sin any longer.

     We may sin, because we are still in this world and influenced by the things around us, but we will not walk in sin.  Or as John puts it, "practice sin" (1 John 3:4-10)  If you are walking in sin you are not a "Carnal Christian"; you are not any kind of Christian.  You are simply still in "the flesh".  You have never been transferred.  You are still locked up in sin and the law (your prison guard) (Gal. 3:24) is still on duty.  You cannot please God because you are still an enemy of God, (Rom. 5:10) and by your constant disobedience you reveal that you are still under His wrath. (John 3:36)

     If this is you, good news!  There's repentance!  Don't be deceived any longer, repent!  Stop quoting Romans 7 to yourself to get back to sleep.  That person that Paul is describing cannot be a Christian.  He describes himself as, "sold under sin" (7:14), "captive to the law of sin" (7:23), and totally defeated. (7:24)  This goes against everything that Paul has been teaching for the last three chapters.  So either Paul is off his nut or we are.  The answer for this man is found in 8:2-4.  Instead, Christians have been: "set free from sin" (6:8), "free from the law of sin and death" (8:2), and "more than conquerors" (8:37) through Christ Jesus.

     If you are consistently walking in sin, unable to break free, unrepentant, hard-hearted to your sins; then you are only deceiving yourself and others by naming yourself as Christian.  God is not fooled and He is the one to judge.  So please don't take offense, take alarm.  Confess your sins, and repent of your sins, and put your faith in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross.  Then you will be transferred into the Realm of Grace; set free from the sin's prison, no more under the guard of the law.  Free to serve and please God.

   Myth busted: there is no such thing as a carnal Christian.  No back slidden saints.  Only those that have been justified and redeemed by faith in Christ and those that remain in the Dominion of Sin and Death, held captive to the passions of their master, unable to please God.  So repent and believe and be transferred.