For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? — 1 Corinthians 3:3 KJV
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? — 1 Corinthians 3:3 NIV
Reflection for Today's Verse
If we live our lives as carnal believers, it means that we put more stock in our own lives than in the life that Christ has given us. Instead of putting our trust in the Holy Spirit who resides within us and acknowledging with humility that we cannot accomplish anything good on our own, we arrogantly put our reliance in our own skills. We make an attempt to function using our own strength, despite the fact that we are aware that this will not allow us to do anything positive. In order for us to fully operate, however, we must first and foremost rely on the Holy Spirit as we walk this new life that Christ has given us.
Although the Christians in Corinth may have used spiritual gifts, there is no evidence that they used spiritual fruit in their lives. They were lacking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As a consequence, we discover that they were the most carnal believers to whom Paul wrote. Carnality results in a stunted Christian life. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Let us not forget that the Holy Spirit resides within every Christian, and that when we choose to live in the flesh, we grieve the Holy Spirit and put an end to His life in us.
Therefore, let us make it a priority to increase both our grace and our understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us make it our goal to grow spiritually as followers of Christ by faith and thanksgiving, mindful of the fact that there is nothing we can accomplish in and of ourselves that will bring God’s approval, but through abiding in Christ, “we can do all things in His strength,”