The idea of “carnal Christianity” is one of the most dangerous false teachings in the church today. It claims that a person can be saved, yet live like the world—continuing in sin, producing no fruit, and showing no transformation—yet still inherit the Kingdom of God. But this teaching contradicts everything the Bible says about salvation, repentance, and the new birth.
The truth is simple: You are either in the Spirit or in the flesh. You are either saved or lost. You cannot be both.
Let’s walk through the false doctrine of Carnal Christianity, expose its errors, and see what Scripture really says about what happens when a person is born again.
The False Idea of Carnal Christianity
Some people claim that a person can:
- Believe in Jesus but never produce fruit.
- Be saved but live in ongoing sin without repentance.
- Remain “carnal” their entire lives but still enter heaven.
This idea often comes from a misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 3:1-3:
“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 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; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?”
Some take this to mean that there is a category of Christians who can be permanently “carnal” and still saved. But Paul is not approving of this condition—he is rebuking it! He is telling them to grow up and mature in their faith.
The false doctrine of Carnal Christianity ignores what the Bible says about true salvation—that when someone is born again, they are transformed.
You Are Either Carnal or Spiritual—Not Both
Paul never teaches that a believer can stay carnal forever. Instead, he makes a clear contrast:
Romans 8:5-9
“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.”
Paul makes it clear:
- The carnal mind leads to death.
- The spiritual mind leads to life.
- Those in the flesh cannot please God.
- If the Spirit of God dwells in you, you are not in the flesh.
That means if you are truly born again, you are no longer “carnal.” The false doctrine of the carnal Christian allows people to believe they can live in sin and still be saved, when Scripture says the exact opposite.
True Salvation Produces Fruit
A true believer will show evidence of salvation. Jesus made it clear that those who belong to Him bear fruit.
Matthew 7:16-18
“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”
If someone claims to be saved but their life shows no evidence of repentance, holiness, or growth, they are not a “carnal Christian”—they are simply not saved. Jesus goes further:
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
Notice—Jesus never says:
“I knew you, but you stayed carnal too long.”
“You were saved, but never bore fruit.”
Instead, He says:
“I never knew you.”
The issue isn’t that they were carnal Christians—the issue is that they were never Christians to begin with.
Those Who Live in Sin Are Not Saved
Paul constantly warns that those who live in sin will not inherit the Kingdom of God. He never says, “But don’t worry, carnal Christians can still be saved.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Some claim, “But what about backsliding? What about struggling with sin?”
Yes, a believer can struggle with sin. But the difference is conviction and repentance. A false convert lives in sin without repentance. A true believer hates their sin and desires to turn from it.
1 John 3:9-10
“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”
John isn’t saying that a believer never sins—he’s saying that a true believer cannot continue in sin as a lifestyle.
Repentance and Holiness Are Evidence of Salvation
A false convert makes a one-time profession but never changes. A true believer produces fruit worthy of repentance.
Acts 26:20
“But declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”
Paul teaches that repentance is not just a decision—it is a transformation that results in a changed life.
The Holy Spirit Produces Holiness
If someone claims to be saved but lives just like the world, where is the evidence of the Holy Spirit?
Galatians 5:16-17
“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”
If the Holy Spirit is in you, you will desire righteousness.
My Final Thoughts
The false doctrine of carnal Christianity has deceived many into thinking they can live however they want and still be saved. But the Bible says you are either in the Spirit or in the flesh.
Paul never taught that a Christian can remain carnal forever. Instead, he called for believers to walk in the Spirit and warned that those who live in sin prove they are not truly saved.
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Are you in the faith? The answer is not in what you claim—it is in how you live.
