What is Carnal Christian? alliancenet.org

What is a Carnal Christian? The term "carnal Christian" garnered a lot of attention during the so-called "Lordship controversy" of almost thirty years ago. Essentially, the argument went like this: one can accept Jesus as Savior but not as Lord, lest works be introduced into salvation. This teaching, in turn, leads to what was called a "carnal Christian." The term itself comes from 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, where Paul refers to some of the Corinthians as "carnal" or "in the flesh" (ESV). In response, both ideas - that of having Jesus as Savior but not as Lord and that of a carnal Christian - are patently false because unbiblical. First, if one claims Jesus as Savior, he will necessarily have Jesus as Lord too. In the Gospels alone the passages that teach this are too numerous to list. To put it in theological terms, if one is justified (i.e. counted righteous) then one will of necessity be sanctified (i.e. becoming more righteous). This happens in union with the risen Christ, as Paul clearly teaches in Romans 6:1-11, among many other places. Indeed, Paul's favorite term for a Christian is someone who is "in Christ." Second, the point of Paul's rebuke to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 is not to distinguish between a "spiritual" (i.e. wholly committed) Christian and a carnal Christian. Rather, the contrast is eschatological. That is, Paul is contrasting this present evil age (the age of "the flesh") with the age to come that has broken in by the resurrection of Christ (the age of the Spirit). Thus, Paul is saying that some at Corinth, though they had claimed Christ, were acting like they still belonged to this present evil age - like they were still in the flesh. Instead, says Paul, we must be those who are Spiritual, i.e. filled with the Holy Spirit. The "s" in spiritual here in 1 Corinthians, as with all of Paul's writings, ought to be capitalized because it is a reference to the Holy Spirit. So the argument for someone being a carnal Christian misses the point of what Paul is saying entirely. For Paul, one is either in Christ or in Adam (cf. Romans 5:12-21); there are no "halfway Christians." To be sure, those who are in Christ can act sometimes as if they were still unregenerate, still in Adam. Paul rebukes this behavior and calls for personal holiness by obedience to God's law. Such can only happen because the person is united to Christ by faith alone. Works play no part in justification. Further, sanctification itself is by grace alone in union with Christ. Nevertheless, as Calvin put it, if one is united to Christ by Spirit-wrought faith, then that person will not fail to grown in grace and holiness. Therefore, a carnal Christian is an impossibility. Gabriel Fluhrer is Executive Editor at reformation21