Many Christians Are Still Fleshly

In one of the most pastoral and perplexing moments in Paul’s writings, 1 Corinthians 3:1 opens with a sharp yet fatherly correction: “Brothers, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.”

Paul's words draw a surprising line not between believers and non-believers, but between two kinds of Christians: the spiritual and the fleshly. And yes, they’re both “in Christ.” So who are these “fleshly” Christians? And could many of today’s believers unknowingly fall into the same category?

Three Categories, Not Two

Often we assume the Bible presents only two spiritual conditions: saved or unsaved, believer or non-believer. But Paul introduces a third: the believer who is immature, still dominated by worldly impulses what Scripture calls fleshly, or carnal.

In 1 Corinthians 2:14–15, Paul contrasts the natural person (unbeliever) with the spiritual person (mature believer). But just a few verses later, in chapter 3, he introduces infants in Christ believers who are still acting like the world. These are Christians, but not yet spiritually mature.

This third category may surprise us, but it’s necessary. According to Barna Research, over 60% of professing Christians in the U.S. struggle to connect their faith with everyday behavior a modern indicator that many remain spiritual infants long after conversion.

Fleshly Yet Saved?

In calling the Corinthians “brothers,” Paul affirms their place in Christ. He even says they are a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). And yet, he tells them plainly: they are “of the flesh.” Why?

Their actions reveal their true spiritual condition. Paul points to jealousy and strife (1 Corinthians 3:3) as the evidence of immaturity. They are behaving, Paul says, like mere men as though they don’t have the Spirit at all. The implication is serious: persistent immaturity may eventually unmask a counterfeit faith.

Yet Paul doesn’t condemn them outright. He handles them with great pastoral care, affirming their identity while warning them of the danger. He wants to rouse them from complacency, not crush them under condemnation.

Pride Blocks Maturity

Why were they still babes in Christ, unable to digest the "solid food" of deeper doctrine?

The root wasn’t lack of intelligence or time it was pride. Jealousy and division had infected their community. And pride, Paul knew, is spiritual malnutrition. It blocks the appetite for truth and hardens the heart against correction.

Humility, on the other hand, is what prepares the soul for growth. According to Lifeway Research, churchgoers who regularly confess sin and submit to spiritual authority are 70% more likely to grow in biblical understanding and obedience.

Maturity is not measured by Bible knowledge or church attendance, but by our willingness to humble ourselves under God's Word and under one another. A fleshly Christian resists this. A spiritual one embraces it.

Warning Without Despair

Paul’s words serve as both a warning and an encouragement.

To those who think all is well simply because they’re “in Christ,” Paul says: You are still acting like the world. That’s dangerous. Don’t stay here.

To those who are discouraged by slow growth and repeated failures, Paul says: You are in Christ. You are His. But don’t settle. Press on.

This tension between assurance and warning is intentional. Paul doesn’t want believers to grow complacent in sin, nor does he want them to give up in despair. He calls the fleshly Christian to recognize their immaturity, repent of it, and pursue growth.

How to Help the Fleshly Christian

Paul’s model gives us insight into how we can help believers who are stuck in spiritual infancy:

1. Affirm their identity in Christ if they confess Him sincerely.

2. Expose the signs of fleshly living jealousy, division, pride.

3. Call them upward invite them to embrace spiritual growth through humility.

4. Model maturity offer solid food, but with grace and patience.

This is not just a message for “those people.” It’s for all of us. If we examine our own hearts, we may see signs of the flesh clinging more tightly than we realized. That, too, is grace because it invites us to press into Christ more deeply.

Growing Up in Christ

Maturity is not optional for the believer it is expected. Paul’s rebuke reminds us that spiritual growth is a command, not a suggestion. Hebrews 5:12 echoes the same frustration: “By this time you ought to be teachers, but you still need milk.”

But let us also remember: growth is a process. God is patient. And while spiritual infancy is a phase, it should never be a permanent identity.

If you find yourself stuck in strife, easily offended, envious, or unwilling to receive hard truths, you may still be walking according to the flesh. But you don’t have to stay there.

Today is the day to grow up in Christ.

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