Can Born-Again Believers Still Be Carnal?
Let’s take a look at the church at Corinth. Corinth was one of the most important trade cities in the Roman Empire. It was a city of diversity, with people from various cultures, languages, and religions. Corinth was known throughout the ancient world as a city of wealth and opulence. It was a main trading port that drew all kinds of trade and commerce and was also known for it’s lack of moral compass. The city itself, being dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of sex, and home to many other gods dotting the landscape.
Paul began preaching the gospel in this city around 50 AD. After some time, Paul establishes a Christian community (church) consisting of Jews and gentiles from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Their commonality was based on faith in the message of the cross through Jesus Christ. (As our churches are today.)
Paul spent 18 months in the city before he departs, but he hears news of divisions, moral issues, and factions that he needs to address. Paul writes letters to the Christian community in Corinth, offering some spiritual guidance and support for this fledgling church. He uses the imagery of the body and it’s parts being able to fit together for the good of all it’s members.
He tackles the moral dilemma that was prevalent in the church, which included sexual sin that even the pagans living around them considered unacceptable behavior. Paul clarifies to the church at Corinth that their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit set apart for God. He reminds them to flee from sexual immorality as their bodies have been bought with a price, even the blood of Jesus, and they should glorify God with their bodies. He instigates disciplinary strategies as a means for bringing members to a place of repentance for their sinful ways and restoration back into the body of Christ. He instructs the church at Corinth to take decisive action against those living carnal lifestyles. He encourages them to seek a life that honors God as a testimony of new creations in Christ.
Although the community at Corith was established by Paul, founded on the message of the cross, and it's members had the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, some were still living carnally. Salvation is a free gift, but sanctification is a walk, a work in progress, and a journey with the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that new creations in Christ may grow in their faith and become more like God and less like the world they came from. Sanctification also requires discipline and repentance, particularly as Spirit battles against the carnal nature who desires to gain control, since the carnal nature (flesh/old man) does not want to be crucified. (even though Christ had already done this at the cross. Romans 6:5-7)
God did not remove sin from those who walked carnally in the Christian community at Corinth. (As some today advocate the doctrine of OSAS.) Once a believer genuinely repented of their sins in the early churches, they were forgiven by God, cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and eventually restored back into the body, which is the church.
Our relationship with him is not autonomous; it is a personal, intimate, one-on-one relationship with the author and perfecter of our faith.
1 John 1:9 says
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Glory!
Angelina 15/02/2025
