What does it mean to be carnal?

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k450ofu3k-gh-5ipe

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The carnal man dwells on worldly things. These things include any and all sin, not merely sexual. In other versions, "carnal" is translated as "worldly".

Also, Paul describes being carnal in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
 
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Romanseight2005

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That's a great scripture! Here is another loaded passage that we can ponder.

Rom 8:1-11

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
NKJV
 
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I keep thinking of the book of James about this subject. It's like we forget how to be Imitators of Christ. So when we know that Christ lived without being ruled by fear, why are we fearful? If we know that Christ absolutely was generous believing in the provision of God, why are we stingy? If we know Christ was forgiving believing in Gpd's judgement, why are we eager to be judgmental? If we know that God's ways lead to wisdom and to fruitfulness, why are we covetous?
 
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So then not being carnal is a challenge...so being spiritual instead is less about how much you are prophetic and all that and perhaps more about how you walk in truth instead of in lies. It seems very hard sometimes to talk about this among Christians in practical terms without getting caught in the two extremes of holiness and super spirituality. How can we do that?
 
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Conservativation

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If too many people are being called carnal, that shouldn't be, isn't that a good reason to clearly define the meaning? I mean, we can't just throw it out since it is something brought up in scripture many times. In fact, it's a core concept of Christianity. So, understanding it's meaning clearly is quite important.

I dont know why, but you just dont understand whats been said. I didnt say people that shouldnt be are being called carnal. I said people need something else to busy themselves with than worrying so much that others are carnal.

Please.....get the difference
 
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mkgal1

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I dont know why, but you just dont understand whats been said. I didnt say people that shouldnt be are being called carnal. I said people need something else to busy themselves with than worrying so much that others are carnal.

Please.....get the difference
Where was it ever said that the question was asked in order to point ANY fingers.....to be worried about others at all?

The verse that DSRohe posted seems to have given some indication.....it said,

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
 
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mkgal1

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Another relevant passage I found is in 1 Thessalonians 4:

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given[a] us His Holy Spirit.

9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
 
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mkgal1

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2nd Corinthians 4:7--the "new" way of being human......

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side (natural man), yet not crushed; we are perplexed (natural man), but not in despair; 9 persecuted (natural man), but not forsaken; struck down (natural man), but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death is working in us, but life in you.
 
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Romanseight2005

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Its being a ferris wheel operator


On the serious side....what McScribe said. We could do with less people walking around pointing at people and saying CARNALLLLLL


If you think too many people(hence the, we could do with less...) are pointing at people and calling them carnal, then how was my response to you misunderstanding your meaning? How are you not indicating that it's wrong for all of these people to be doing this? How is that not indicating that some kind of error is being made when people do this? Or, are you saying that we shouldn't be discerning right from wrong? This thread isn't about accusing others, btw. It is about having a clear understanding of what the Scriptures mean. Should we not try to understand, and live by the Scriptures?
 
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mkgal1

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Since this is the list of things that we are told our LORD HATES....then, I would assume these are the things we are to "put off", when we become a new creation in Him:

  • (4) Arrogant Eyes​
  • (5) A Lying Tongue​
  • (6) Hands That Shed Innocent Blood​
  • (7) A Heart That Plots Wicked Schemes​
  • (1) Feet Eager to Run to Evil​
  • (2) A Lying Witness Who Gives False Testimony​
  • (3) One Who Stirs Up Trouble Among Brothers​
 
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Conservativation

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If you think too many people(hence the, we could do with less...) are pointing at people and calling them carnal, then how was my response to you misunderstanding your meaning? How are you not indicating that it's wrong for all of these people to be doing this? How is that not indicating that some kind of error is being made when people do this? Or, are you saying that we shouldn't be discerning right from wrong? This thread isn't about accusing others, btw. It is about having a clear understanding of what the Scriptures mean. Should we not try to understand, and live by the Scriptures?


Nope not the same at all. Generally, across many topics, not even specifically defined as yet topics, to say best to focus on self and not be so bothered splitting hairs about others is not the same as painting people as carnal.

Somehow I am confident you have been able to file this all in such a way that for you it is not about pointing at others. In the mix of posts here lately about sex and virtue and sos then this, its clear that you and a couple of others are VERY bothered about men being carnal, and in need of this definition.

You have the scriptures, Im not sure you will gain, or accept any insight from the very people who you see AS carnal. So, there is no spiritual profit margin in the topic in this context of these recent threads. Please don't try and tell me this came up out of the blue, and not as a response to not getting what you wanted out of the efforts to paint lust negatively.

Things dont get to mean the meaning that gets you the feelings you want. They mean what they mean, independent of your feelings. Seeking this definition, so to speak, is like a form of vindication, lacking a perfect word
 
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dallasapple

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Somehow I am confident you have been able to file this all in such a way that for you it is not about pointing at others. In the mix of posts here lately about sex and virtue and sos then this, its clear that you and a couple of others are VERY bothered about men being carnal, and in need of this definition.

I dont understand why you are on HER thread..tryign to analyze why she even posted the thread topic?

Its CLEAR that YOU are the one 'bothered" that she is looking for a discussion on what the carnal man is..Because you are focussed on her interest in knowing opinions on that scripture rather than discussing the OP ...

You are focussing on ROMANS not the content of her OP...so I find it humorous you are calling her "bothered"..

Dallas
 
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mkgal1

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Things dont get to mean the meaning that gets you the feelings you want. They mean what they mean, independent of your feelings. Seeking this definition, so to speak, is like a form of vindication, lacking a perfect word
That's the whole purpose of asking others, Cons. If she were looking for a particular definition......based on HER feelings......wouldn't she just come up with it herself and claim HER definition as THE definition and leave it at that? Saying......"when I say, "carnal"...this is what I mean........".
 
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