The Carnal Man
The carnal man is also called the ‘babe in Christ’, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.” Although his spirit is alive by receiving Christ, he has not learned to allow the spirit to take control of his actions. Consequently, the flesh controls some of his actions, thereby exhibiting some qualities of the natural man, “for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” He is an underdeveloped believer who is still at the milk level of spiritual development. Because he is a spiritual babe, he is ignorant of the doctrine of righteousness (Hebrews 5:12-14). He has not yet fully yielded himself to the Spirit of God (Romans 6:13), hence his body drives him into actions peculiar to the natural man. Most of all, he has not learned to renew his mind with the word of God (Romans 12:2), hence he is not yet able to discern what is good, acceptable, and perfect. He is always in the position to learn again the first principles of Christianity (Hebrews 5:12). His problem is the lack of appropriate development.
