CARNALITY AS COMPARED WITH SPIRITUALITY
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?"
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NKJV)
There are certain things in a believer's life that signified or connoted carnality, being ruled or controlled by the flesh. A believer who envies, strives, creates division, who finds it difficult to receive or embrace the truth in the Word of God, and the one who is into other unwholesome things is still carnal (1 Corinthians 3:3).
In contrast, a believer who is mature would exhibit certain attributes, he or she would be someone who has had their senses exercised to discern both good and evil: "BUT SOLID FOOD BELONGS TO THOSE WHO ARE OF FULL AGE, THAT IS, THOSE WHO BY REASON OF USE HAVE THEIR SENSES EXERCISED TO DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL" (Hebrews 5:14 NKJV).
Note
a. A mature believer would be skilled or knowledgeable, experienced and versed, in the word of righteousness—someone who is sound in the practice of the Word of God (Hebrews 5:13).
b. A mature believer would know that this is good and the other one is bad, they can differentiate, unlike the immature or carnal ones (Hebrews 5:14).
c. A mature believer would know that this is befitting for a believer to do whilst the other one is not right or befitting for a believer to do (Hebrews 5:14).
d. A mature believer would know that It is not right to strive with other brethren, cause division in the fold of believers, and such would not find it difficult to receive or accept the bitter truth of the Word of God, which is known or referred to as solid food (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:14).
A believer who would be angry and would want to quarrel or fight someone who tells him or her the truth is still a baby believer and carnal. This is the reason why Apostle Paul said he could not feed the Corinthians with solid food, tell them the bitter truth, because they would not be able to comprehend it and would not want to accept it (1 Corinthians 3:1,2).
With the simple illustration given in this piece about carnality and maturity, Would you be able to say you are mature? We have highlighted some basic characteristics of a carnal believer and that of a mature believer, Which group would you say you belong? If through the assessment above, you know you are still a babe, you are still carnal, you would do well to be decisive and sit up to work on your spiritual growth. Deal with every fleshly attitudes that are still found in your life.
You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace.