Exactly What is a Christian?
Malcolm X once said “If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything”. When you acknowledge that you are a Christian that means you are striving to live your life according to the standards and principles outlined in the Holy Bible based on the examples that Jesus Christ the messiah has shown us. In order to live your life Christ like, you have to strive for “balance” in your life and in order to have balance, you have to know what behaviors and characteristics are associated with living a life in Christ. Many people no longer have the “history” or a clear foundation about what being a Christian or know what it truly means to live a life "Christ like". Before we begin looking at what the character and behavior of a Christian is, we have to take a step back and look at what the foundation of being a Christian is all about.
In the bible, Paul identifies three types of men or mankind:
the Natural Man
This is the person what has not received Christ or who has chosen to not acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The “Natural Man” or those who choose to live their lives governed by their emotions and their fleshly desires feel justified in doing whatever feels right to them.
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else (Ephesians 2:1-3).
It is difficult to try and talk to people who have no regard for moral principles about what is right or wrong, or what should be acceptable behavior. For them, everything is acceptable and every human being has the right to do what they choose to do; good, bad or indifferent.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).
the Spiritual man
This is the person who acknowledges Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who is spiritually mature to know they must seek the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction for all things in their life. Paul also tell us that in order for us to be spiritual we need to be led by Holy Spirit;
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (KJV Galatians 5:16).
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would (KJV Galatians 5:17).
But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law (KJV Galatians 5:18).
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God (KJV Romans 8:14).
the Carnal Man
In the Book of Galatians, Paul also tells us about the Carnal Man;
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ (KJV 1 Corinthians 3:1).
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men (KJV 1 Corinthians 3:3)?
Paul also lists the works of the flesh in his writing to the Galatians;
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (KJV Galatians 5:19 - 21).
In these verses, Paul calls them “babes in Christ”, which means he recognizes they acknowledged and accepted who he is. He also realizes even though they know who he is, he could not speak to them about the things of the spirit, because their actions were “carnal”. The carnal man receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior yet, they live like they haven’t. They say they are Christians and yet their behavior models that of carnality. We all know a few people who live like this; they go to church, read their bible and can even hold an “intelligent” conversation with other believers about faith, but they choose to live their life as though they do not know who Jesus Christ is or have accepted to live their lives according to the principles outlined in the holy bible. They are carnal in their thoughts and in their ways thus Therefore they are Carnal Minded Christian.