Brief Thoughts on the Carnal Christian Theory
The "carnal Christian" doctrine or category (taught by some Dispensationalists) which claims that Christians can live in a permanent condition without Christ on the throne of their life (viz. the Holy Spirit booklet) is a false doctrine. The Apostle John, inspired by the Holy Spirit declares: "No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:9.) In 1 Corinthians 3 where Paul actually speaks of Christians being carnal he was speaking of the fact that they were acting carnally ... not promoting a permanent condition that Christians can choose to live in. We sin every day but those who sin have God's seed in them and the Spirit will therefore always convict Christians so that they mourn over their sin. Those who remain INDIFFERENT to their sin and have no care to change are simply not born again. God not only imputes Christ's righteousness to us but imparts his Holy Spirit to us that his commands would no longer be burdensome (1 John 5:1-4). In another place the Spirit says "when we judge ourselves we will not be judged by God but when we don't judge ourselves we are disciplined by God so that we may NOT BE condemned along with the world." (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).
Self on the throne, Christ at the feet. :(
Notes:
In light of 1 John 3:9 the carnal Christian doctrine is a denial of the new birth.