Micah J. Sturm

There are only two kinds of Christians:

carnal ones and spiritual ones.

Andrew Murray wrote, “The Master’s Indwelling,”in 1895. He begins with an exposition of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and examines the characteristics of the “carnal Christian.”

It is a question worth asking still today—

“Am I a carnal Christian?”

If so, I need to be sanctified—made holy by yielding to His Holy Spirit.

Murray notes the four times the word “carnal” is used in the letter as a diagnostic tool:

“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?”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

MARKS OF A CARNAL CHRISTIAN:

(1) Protracted INFANCY

• always keeping others occupied with serving them
• needs to be cared for constantly 
• always wants to be helped
• cannot contribute…only consumes

(2) Continual Sin and Failure

• has a temper
• involved in strife
• holds bitterness and envy
• fuels divisions
• unloving attitudes and behaviors 
• worldliness 
• seeks attention and applause

(3) Confuses Grace and Gifts

• “I do so much for Jesus”…performance based
• equates spiritual with talent and time

(4) Cannot Receive Truth

• offended by spiritual truth
• oppose those in spiritual authority 

This is a tremendous need in the Church today!

What a privilege to share the good news that Christ has provided the remedy for being “carnal!”

Believer, seek His fullness…yield everything to Jesus and He will sanctify! Praise the Lord!