The Corinthian Church was very gifted (1 Corinthians 1:7). But it was also very divided (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). They had forgotten how the message of the Cross unites us and we all stand as equals around it (Galatians 3:26-29). When that is forgotten schisms occur.
The Corinthian Church was very carnal (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). They were divided over personalities, gifts, immorality, possessions, the Lord’s supper, love, church order, the resurrection, and a special offering for the poor saints in other places. They also had some among them who believed that they had insight into spiritual realities that others did not have (1 Corinthians 2:6-9). The Apostle Paul proceeded to show them the revelation that God had given when he said, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches (reveals) all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10).
Over the years I have heard many Christians refer to 1 Corinthians 2:9, where it says, “But as it is written, ‘eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him’ as referring only to what we will discover when we get to Heaven. But here Paul is saying that the revelation from God reveals those things to us by His Spirit now. “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:11-12).
It seems to me that they, in their carnality, had failed to see how the present work of the Spirit of God reveals things about ourselves, and God, that will product spirituality instead of carnality.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians, and us, in Galatians 5:16-26 showing the differences between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. He said, “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. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
The works of the flesh are those areas of a disciple of Jesus that have not yet been submitted to the Lordship of Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit is those characteristics that the Spirit of God produces in us as we submit to His Lordship.
So, carnality and spirituality are determined whether one is submitted to Jesus’ Lordship or not! And obey His Word and the voice of His Spirit!