To be carnal is to be controlled by the flesh—the old Adamic nature—and Scripture applies it both to lost people who remain in spiritual death and to saved believers who are still spiritual babes.
In Romans 8, Paul links carnality to the flesh and the old Adamic nature, warning that the carnally minded person faces death and stands in enmity against God. In 1 Corinthians 3, however, Paul applies the same word to believers whom he calls spiritual babes. Les Feldick explains that Paul uses the word carnal in these two distinct ways: the totally unsaved and the saved believer who is still controlled by the old Adam rather than the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:6 — This is the definitive verse: to be carnally minded is death, while to be spiritually minded is life and peace—it directly defines the consequence of carnality.
1 Corinthians 3:1 — This shows Paul using the word carnal of believers themselves, calling them 'babes in Christ'—the other main biblical use of the word.
Romans 8:5-7 draws a clear contrast between two kinds of people: those who are 'after the flesh' and those who are 'after the Spirit.' Those after the flesh 'mind the things of the flesh,' while those after the Spirit mind 'the things of the Spirit.' Verse 6 states plainly that 'to be carnally minded is death,' whereas 'to be spiritually minded is life and peace.' Verse 7 explains why: 'the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.' In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul addresses believers—'brethren'—and tells them he could not speak to them as spiritual, 'but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.' They were fed with milk, not with meat, because they were not yet able to bear it. The evidence of their carnality is stated in verse 3: 'for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?'
Les Feldick points out that Paul uses the word carnal in two distinct ways. In Romans chapter 8, Paul applies it to the unsaved individual who is still of the flesh and outside of Christ. For such a person, being carnally minded means spiritual death and eternal doom—separation from God, not annihilation. The carnal mind is the mind we are born with, inherited from Adam, and it is enmity against God (Clips 1, 2, 4, 6). In 1 Corinthians, however, Paul uses carnal of believers who are genuinely saved and in the body of Christ but who are still controlled by the old Adam rather than the Holy Spirit. These carnal Christians are spiritual babes, fed with milk rather than meat—recently converted out of paganism, still carrying their hang-ups, yet nonetheless in grace (Clips 1, 3, 5, 7). Les also emphasizes that one of the first marks of true salvation is a change in lifestyle and appetites: 'The things Paul says, I once hated, now I love. And the things I once loved, I now hate' (Clip 0).
Les Feldick shows that Paul uses the word carnal in two distinct ways. The carnal Christian is a genuine believer—saved and in the body of Christ—who is nonetheless still controlled by the flesh rather than the Holy Spirit, a spiritual babe fed with milk (Clips 1, 7). These recently converted Corinthians still had their hang-ups with immoral practices, yet they stood in grace (Clip 5). The totally unsaved person, by contrast, is outside of Christ and still of the flesh; for such a person, being carnally minded is spiritual death and eternal doom (Clips 1, 3, 6).
Romans 8:7 says plainly that the carnal mind is enmity against God and is not subject to His law. Les teaches that this is the mind 'we're born with, that we've inherited from Adam' (Clip 2)—the old sinful nature of lost people (Clip 6). He points out that when the verse asks what the carnal mind is, all good people want to say, 'No, that's not me,' but the answer applies to every person who remains in old Adam, no matter how good they are (Clip 4).
Romans 8:6 declares that to be carnally minded is death. Les Feldick explains this as spiritual death—separation from God, not annihilation of existence—and eternal doom for those who never step into salvation (Clips 2, 4, 6). This separation is not just for this life, but forever (Clip 4). By contrast, to be spiritually minded is life and peace, the eternal life believers will have forever (Clip 2).
Les teaches that one of the first marks of true salvation is a change in lifestyle, appetites, and thought processes. Where believers were once under the control of the world, the flesh, and the devil, they are now under the control of the Spirit of God. 'The things Paul says, I once hated, now I love. And the things I once loved, I now hate' (Clip 0). This complete change in desire is the evidence Les looks for in a genuine salvation experience.
True Salvation Changes Lifestyle and Appetites
Les teaches that one of the first marks of true salvation is a complete change in lifestyle, appetites, and thought processes—moving from control by the world, flesh, and devil to control by the Spirit of God.
Carnal Believers vs. Carnal Unbelievers
Les distinguishes the two uses of carnal: in 1 Corinthians it describes saved believers still under the control of the old Adam, whereas in Romans 8 it describes the unsaved; carnal believers are spiritual babes fed with milk.
The Carnal Mind Brings Death and Enmity
Les explains that flesh is another word for the old Adamic nature; being carnally minded is spiritual death and eternal doom, and the carnal mind inherited from Adam is enmity against God.
Paul Uses Carnal in Two Ways
Les shows that the word carnal can describe a saved but fleshly-minded Christian who is still in the body of Christ, or a totally unsaved and lost person.
Carnal Mind Means Separation From God
Les teaches that to be continuously carnally minded is spiritual separation from God forever—not annihilation—and that every person who remains in old Adam, no matter how good, has a carnal mind.
Carnal Corinthians Were Still in Grace
Les explains that recently converted pagans could be carnal with hang-ups and moral struggles, yet still be believers standing in grace, with every spiritual gift available to them.
Outside of Christ, Carnally Minded Means Death
Les applies Romans 8:6-7 to those outside of Christ: being carnally minded is spiritual death, and the old sinful nature of lost people makes them enemies of God.
Carnal Believers Can't Handle Strong Meat
Les teaches that carnal believers, still controlled by the flesh, remain on the milk of the Word and cannot handle deeper doctrinal truth; he begins to explain how God divides the human race into categories.
Romans 8:5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
This verse sets up the contrast between two kinds of people—those governed by the flesh and those governed by the Spirit.
Romans 8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
This is the core answer: being carnally minded results in spiritual death.
Romans 8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
This explains why carnality is so serious—the carnal mind is an enemy of God and cannot submit to His law.
1 Corinthians 3:1: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
Here Paul applies the word carnal to believers themselves, calling them babes in Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:2: I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
This verse shows that carnal believers are not ready for the deeper things of the Word.
1 Corinthians 3:3: For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
This verse gives the evidence of carnality among believers—envying, strife, and divisions.
Yes. In 1 Corinthians 3:1 Paul calls believers 'carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.' Les Feldick says these are saved people who are in grace but still controlled by the old Adam rather than the Holy Spirit—spiritual babes fed on milk rather than meat (Clips 1, 5).
Yes. Les teaches that the carnal mind is the mind we are all born with, inherited from Adam. No matter how good a person is, the carnal mind is enmity against God and remains so until that person steps into salvation (Clips 2, 4, 6).
Romans 8:6 says it is death. Les explains this as spiritual death—separation from God, not annihilation—and eternal doom for those who never step into salvation. The separation is not just for this life, but forever (Clips 2, 4, 6).
Watch the Teaching: Carnally Minded Is Death — What Romans 8:5-8 Really Means