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Carnal Stage of life. ( In green for green represent growth and life and that is what we want to guide the youth into a growing stage toward the Spiritual Circle of Life)
One knows of Jesus Christ, so within the circle of life so is Jesus known but Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit do not control and govern ones life circle. There is knowledge of Christ, but no growth. One still falls to the flesh. Just as a baby sucks on milk, in the Carnal stage of the life circle one never grows to eat of the meat. One has a problem receiving the truth of God, continues to fail and is overcome by fears. One remains in a 'traditional, ceremonial state, of going through the motions'. In this stage of the life circle one is not in darkness of the Natural stage but not growing. No power...
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 we read the following, " 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ. 3:2 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. 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
One has to realize his carnal state, before the spiritual life can be of any benefit. In the above text, there are four principal marks of carnal state as follows:- The carnal state is when a Christian is not growing. Paul said, "You are babes in christ".
1. State of protracted infancy.
2. State of sinfulness and failing.
3. Lack of graces of the holy life.
4. Incapacity for receiving spiritual truth.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:3 said, " 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" Such are the works of flesh. Their quarreling was the reason why he wrote chapter 13 of Corinthians. Spiritual gifts may still be found in the man in the carnal state.
In 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 paul said, " 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;' Paul to the church members in 1 Corinthians 3:1 said, "3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, [even] as unto babes in Christ."
Paul realized the problem of their in ability to receive spiritual truth. It was not that they were in darkness, not at all.They were a cultured, enriched people. In 1 Corinthians 1:5 he said "1:5..ye are enriched........in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge;"
The book of Galatians 5:20-21 cites the works of the flesh as follows, " 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
1 Corinthians 3:3, Paul then says, "3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
A Christian who is carnal, does not benefit from the spiritual truth UNTIL HE RECOGNIZES THAT HE IS CARNAL. The carnal state is not capable to receive spiritual truth. With such knowledge comes POWER.