There IS Such a Thing as a Carnal Christian: Paul Washer Exposed

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5

Salvation is a free gift, but a false gospel always adds works to salvation. Although some people will actually come out and say that you are saved by faith plus works, they are usually subtle about it. They’ll say that it’s not works that save you, but that you aren’t saved unless you do the works. Paul Washer is a false teacher who turns Romans 7 on its head by claiming that, “There’s no such thing as a carnal Christian.”

“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:14-25

The fact that Washer would attempt to twist this clear scripture that is so relatable to the rest of us, immediately flags him as a false prophet. Washer will tell you that Romans 7 is not about the Christian Apostle Paul. He’ll say it’s about unsaved people. The above passage is supposedly the description of Paul’s experience before he was saved. Notice in verse 25 Paul is thanking “God through Jesus Christ?” Before Paul, aka Saul, was saved, he didn’t have any regard for Jesus Christ, remember? “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?”

When you got saved, your spirit was regenerated. The only reason that you sin right now is because of your flesh. Until Christ comes in the clouds, we have this unregenerate flesh. Our bodies are not changed at the point of salvation. This is why people who are saved still experience physical ailments. Our bodies won’t be changed until the resurrection when Christ appears in the clouds:

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52

Anyone who is honest with himself knows that we all struggle with sin in our lives. Like the Apostle Paul, we all feel wretched at times. Whenever I preach on Romans seven, it always resonates with people because the struggle with sin is universal.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” 1 John 1:8

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5: 25

The flesh and the spirit are at war with one another, which is why we need to be reminded to walk in the spirit. Even the Apostle Paul, one of the greatest Christians who ever lived, was humble enough to admit he continued to battle with sin. Paul Washer is a lying Pharisee who is on his way to Hell.

Here is a sermon where I cover this subject in much more detail.