Have you ever heard the term carnal Christian? Can there really be such a thing?
Carnal Christian usually refers to folks who “got their ticket punched” as I once heard it explained. They asked Jesus for salvation, but they did not go much beyond that. The longer I look at that term and what it supposedly means, the more I have to wonder about its accuracy.
What do you think? Is a carnal Christian someone that said a prayer, and went their own way because they thought that the prayer saved them? Is a carnal Christian someone who really meant the prayer they prayed, but they never dug into God’s Word or experienced any spiritual growth? Is a carnal Christian someone who said the prayer, meant it, but has mixed into their faith a variety of things that have nothing to do with Christianity?
The first person is probably not saved. A prayer does not save. The second person might be saved if they really understood the commitment. But if they really understood the commitment, why didn’t they try to grow? Who knows what the third person believes.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Romans 6:1-7For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Salvation is a matter of the heart, and only God knows for sure where your heart lies and what you really believe. Getting into God’s Word is the only way to find out if you believe in the real Jesus. – If you have not noticed, there is more than one Jesus being preached. You need to find the right one.
There are folks who are babes in Christ. They’ve got the right Jesus, but they have just begun to conform to His image. Often they start out looking a lot like the world because sanctification is a process. However, as they learn to walk in the Spirit, they will become more Christ-like.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to realize that we are not called to walk in sin. We are called to walk away from sin. It’s a challenge to change. Sometimes our friends make it hard to walk in the Spirit. Sometimes we may have to find new friends. Ask God to show you any sins that have a hold on your life. Realize that Jesus died so that you could be free from that bondage. Ask God to give you the strength to walk away.