"CAN a Follower of the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE be Carnal?”
Let’s first define the term “carnal.” The word “carnal” is translated from the Greek word sarkikos, which literally means “fleshly.” This descriptive word is seen in the context of Followers of the Way in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3. In this passage, the apostle Paul is addressing the readers as “brethren,” a term he uses almost exclusively to refer to other Born Again Believers; he then goes on to describe them as “carnal.” Therefore, we can conclude that Followers of the Way can be carnal. The Bible is absolutely clear that no one is sinless (1 John 1:8). Every time we sin, we are acting carnally.
The key thing to understand is that while a Born Again Believer can be, for a time, carnal, a true Followers of the Way, Truth, and Life will not remain carnal for a lifetime. Some have abused the idea of a “carnal Believers” by saying that it is possible for people to come to faith in Messiah (Christ) and then proceed to live the rest of their lives in a completely carnal manner, with no evidence of being born again or a new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Such a concept is completely unbiblical. James 2 makes it abundantly clear that genuine faith will always result in good works. Ephesians 2:8-10 declares that while we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, that salvation will result in works. Can a Follower of the WAY, in a time of failure and/or rebellion, appear to be carnal? Yes. Will a true Follower of the WAY remain carnal? NO.
Since eternal security is a fact of Scripture, even the carnal Believer is still saved. Salvation cannot be lost, because salvation is a gift of YAHWEH that He will not take away (see John 10:28; Romans 8:37-39; 1 John 5:13). Even in 1 Corinthians 3:15, the carnal Believer of the WAY is assured of salvation:
“If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”
The question is not whether a person who claims to be a Follower of the WAY but lives carnally has lost his salvation, but whether that person was truly saved in the first place 1 John 2:19.
Followers of the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE who become carnal in their behavior can expect YAHWEH the Heavenly Father to lovingly discipline them (Hebrews 12:5-11) so they can be restored to close fellowship with Him and be trained to obey Him.
Our Heavenly Father’s desire in saving us is that we would progressively grow closer to the image of Yahshua Messiah/Christ (Romans 12:1-2), becoming increasingly spiritual and decreasingly carnal, a process known as sanctification.
Until we are delivered from our sinful flesh, there will be outbreaks of carnality. For a genuine Born Again Believer in Messiah (Christ), though, these outbreaks of carnality will be the exception, not the rule.
