How to Stop Living a Carnal Life
A Biblical Study on Walking in the Spirit
Introduction
The
New Testament frequently warns believers about the danger of living according
to the flesh. Although a Christian has been born again and given new life in
Christ, the old sinful nature still seeks to influence behavior, attitudes, and
desires. The Bible calls this the “flesh,” and when a believer allows the flesh
to dominate their life, Scripture describes that condition as carnality.
Romans
7:18–19 (NKJV)
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will
is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good
that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I
practice.”
Galatians
5:16 (NKJV)
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh.”
1. Understanding the Carnal Life
The
word “carnal” means fleshly or controlled by human nature rather than the
Spirit of God.
1
Corinthians 3:1–3 (NKJV)
“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to
carnal, as to babes in Christ… for you are still carnal. For where there are
envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like
mere men?”
Carnality
appears through jealousy, pride, selfish ambition, anger, bitterness, and
worldly thinking.
Galatians
5:19–21 (NKJV) lists the works of the flesh including adultery, fornication,
hatred, jealousy, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, and drunkenness.
2.
Why Carnality Persists
Hebrews
5:12–13 (NKJV)
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach
you again the first principles of the oracles of God…”
Romans
13:14 (NKJV)
“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to
fulfill its lusts.”
John
15:5 (NKJV)
“I am the vine, you are the branches… without Me you can do nothing.”
3. Recognizing the Spiritual Battle
Galatians
5:17 (NKJV)
“For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and
these are contrary to one another.”
4. How to Stop Living a Carnal Life
Walk
in the Spirit — Galatians 5:16
Renew
the Mind — Romans 12:2
Crucify
the Flesh — Galatians 5:24
Set
the Mind on Spiritual Things — Romans 8:5–6
5. The Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians
5:22–23 (NKJV)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
Conclusion
Romans
8:12–13 (NKJV)
“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the
flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the
Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
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