And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
— 1 Corinthians 3:1
PAUL ALREADY described the categories of the natural man and the spiritual man, but now he introduces a new category: the carnal man. Paul calls them “babes in Christ.” The fact that they are in Christ classifies them as Christians, but tragically, they have not developed spiritually. They are still spiritual infants. Sadly, so many Christians are in this state of arrested development that they are not even a novelty.
The carnal Christian has received Jesus as their Savior but they haven’t denied themselves and taken up their cross to follow Him. The flesh still rules in their lives. Jesus is Savior, but He’s not the Lord of their lives.
ABANDON CARNALITY.
What is the cure for carnal Christianity? The first step is to walk in love. If you walk in love you’ll not engage in envy and in strife. If you walk in love you’ll not bring division into the Body of Christ.
The second cure for Christian carnality is to get into the Word of God. True spiritual growth can only come by feeding on the Word. You need to have a good diet to grow, and the Word of God is the diet that promotes spiritual growth in the believer. Get into the Word, and get the Word in you.
Abandon carnality. Grow up, mature, and develop through the Word of God. Let it feed your soul. Then walk in love and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Lord, we desire spiritual maturity. We want to walk in love. May we come into a deeper, richer understanding of Your Word.
in Jesus’ Name, Amen.