The Spiritual and the Carnal Christian - Can a Genuine Christian Live in Sin?

Whether or not a true born-again Christian can live a life in sin is the central question that has divided Protestant Christians for hundreds of years. The answer that Christians give has been the basis of the two major traditional interpretations of the Bible: Calvinism and Armenianism. I think that it is time that we leave our traditions in the dust, and interpret the Bible for what it says, and not what we have been taught by our traditions. I have met many believers from these two traditions that are convinced of the authority of the Bible, but unfortunately allow their interpretation of the scriptures to be overly influenced.

Colossians 2: 6-9

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."
So to begin with, let's establish from the Bible the two classes of Christians detailed in our title. To do this, we need to examine a few places.  In 1 Corinthians there is a wealth of information given to us about these classes. This is the case because Paul has to deal with the carnality of the Corinthians, and he does so by explaining to them that he could not express the deeper truths to them because of their carnality. It is obvious from good exegesis that Paul is, in fact, speaking to Christians in this letter (1 Corinthians 1:2-3,10, 26, 2:1, 3:1, etc.) in spite of the fact that there were horrible sins being habitually practiced by them.

We will begin with the details of the spiritual man that Paul describes for us.

1 Corinthians 2:9-16 states:

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

Galatians 5:16, 22-6:3

"[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ..
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."  

 spiritual (G4152) -pneumatikos- 1) relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ...3) belonging to the Divine Spirit a) of God the Holy Spirit b) one who is filled with and governed by the Spirit of God.

It is clear from these passages that the man who is characterized as spiritual is one who is attuned to the Holy Spirit. He is able to hear the Holy Spirit, receive His instruction, and chooses to obey His instructions. This person has the mind of Christ.

There never has been any question with either of the traditional interpretations of scripture as to whether or not a Christian can be classified as spiritual. The real controversy begins when we consider the existence of carnality in the Christian. Contrary to both the Calvinism and Armenianism, a Christian can be described as carnal, and even remain in that condition to the point that they die. Of course, both traditions have different explanations for why a Christian could not continue in a carnal state. For the Armenian, a genuine Christian that continues in carnality loses their salvation, while the Calvinist asserts that the person continuing in carnality really wasn't saved in the first place (i.e. a professor, not a possessor). Both views can be easily dismissed with scripture. But first, let's examine what scripture says about the carnal believer.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4
"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?"

carnal (G4561) sarkikos - 1) fleshly, carnal  a) having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites 1) governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God 2) having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature 3) human: with the included idea of depravity b) pertaining to the flesh
1) to the body: related to birth, linage, etc

We have already established that Paul is speaking to Christians in the book of 1 Corinthians. In fact, the passage quoted addresses them as "brethren." Brethren is a term exclusive to the Christian. Paul could not teach these Christian brothers deeper truth (meat) because they were unable to receive it. They were embroiled in envy, strife, and divisions that made them live their lives in the same manner as the world (unbelievers). They were spiritually immature. They were babes. Carnality inhibits spiritual growth into maturity. It inhibits our ability to be led by the Holy Spirit and to obey His commandments.

Carnality is living after the flesh and not after the spirit. Consider another passage.

Romans 8:1-9

"[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

It is a exegetical mistake to assume that the entire Bible only deals with the one subject of salvation of the spirit (or deliverance from hell). Much of the Bible is intended to instruct saved people on how they should behave in order to attain a reward and entrance into the millennial Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. The same is true in the passage above. Paul is not contrasting the unsaved life and the saved life, but the spiritual Christian with the carnal one. He even gives to us the end result of a spiritual life (life and peace in the Kingdom) and a carnal life (death, or separation, from the Kingdom).

Notice the the word "walk" is used in this passage a number of times. It is defined in this way in the Greek text:

walk (G4043) - 1) to walk a) to make one's way, progress; to make due use of opportunities
b) Hebrew for, to live 1) to regulate one's life 2) to conduct one's self 3) to pass one's life

To walk, then, is to live one's life in a certain manner. Some Christians live for themselves, the world, or even the devil. They essentially walk after the "flesh." That is why they can be classified as carnal. Some Christians live for the Lord. They essentially walk after the "spirit." That is why they can be classified as spiritual. Both groups are truly saved, because salvation isn't based on how you live (our works), but on Whom you believed in to deliver you from hell (His work on the cross).

The Armenian allows for a Christian to choose to follow our Saviour, or to not follow the Saviour, to make Him Lord of our lives. His mistake is to assume that the Christian who chooses not make the Saviour his Lord will lose his salvation. That would make salvation of the spirit based in our good works, and imply that Christ's work on the cross was not sufficient. They are essentially saying that we need faith plus good works to be saved and stay saved. Ephesians clearly teaches against that, as do other scriptures.

The Calvinist does something that is of the same detriment. He says that salvation is truly by grace through faith, but then he backs up and says that if you have "true" faith, you will show it through good works. This is just a backdoor method for saying the same thing as the Armenian. This fallacy can be easily dispelled if there is but one example of true Christians living carnally and dying in that state, or as a result of their carnality. I submit to you the following as an example of true Christians who lived carnally and died in that state:

Acts 4:32- 5:11

"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid [them] down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, [and] of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back [part] of the price, his wife also being privy [to it], and brought a certain part, and laid [it] at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back [part] of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried [him] out, and buried [him]. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband [are] at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying [her] forth, buried [her] by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."


Keeping with the context of the passage, Ananias and Sapphira were saved individuals that were walking after the flesh, and not after the spirit. They were carnal believers, and they paid for it with the lives.

Consider the next passage:

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

"Now in this that I declare [unto you] I praise [you] not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, [this] is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before [other] his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise [you] not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the [same] night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake [it], and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also [he took] the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink [it], in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink [this] cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come."

Again, carnal Christians in Corinth had partook of communion in a fleshly manner, and as a result were sick, and some had died.

Lets consider one more passage.

Matthew 24:45-51

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed [is] that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite [his] fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

There is no indication that this evil servant ever repented of their wickedness. Only Christians can be servants. Wise servants can become evil servants. Christians who once served the Lord can choose to not serve Him. What is the result? When the Lord comes back, they will be punished, but not cast into hell. They don't lose their salvation, but they are disciplined by God.

I hope and pray that anyone who reads this argument will understand the spirit in which I write it. I want to help equip other Christians with the truth so that they will be able to stand against any of the "wiles of the devil." He loves our divisions. He wants us to be confused about salvation of the spirit and our future inheritance. If he can keep us from being saved, or progressing in our faith to maturity, his work has been accomplished. We have been saved for a purpose. Let's all seek to be spiritually-minded so that we can attain that goal.