The False Gospel of Carnal Christianity

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” - Galatians 6:7

A False Gospel

There is rampant in this age a false gospel of carnal Christianity which has deceived many souls. The vast majority of Christendom today have not bowed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. These are on sinking sand and are an easy prey to such a teaching which has permeated our land and our pulpits. So our purpose is to bring out the true gospel and the false, showing clearly the warnings from God’s Word that we should not sow to the flesh, but rather to the Spirit. May you have an open heart and an open Bible, as we pray that God will deal with us all by His Spirit.

We are warned concerning this false gospel of carnal Christianity in Galatians 6:7,8: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” This to me is a most solemn warning to all of our hearts, and especially in this day of free-believism and carnal Christianity which is preached on such a large scale. You see, the vast majority of Christendom today is deceived as to the state of their never-dying souls before God. What is happening is justification in Christ is preached alone, at the expense of holy living; and the hearers of this one-sided gospel are left in the dark as to God’s requirement of the necessity of a holy life. God’s grace has been turned into lasciviousness; the attitude of most has been: “A little sin won’t hurt-I’m just a `carnal Christian’ you know, and besides, doesn’t grace cover it all?”

Holiness Required by God

But my prayer is that God would so work by His Spirit as to make blind eyes to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that there would be a mourning over it, for this is our only hope. Oh, how our hearts should cry to the Lord for the truth of His Word that appeals not to our fleshly desires or to our fleshly emotions, but to that which cuts off our flesh and lays us bare before God in confession and repentance! We should cry to Him to so work in our hearts by His Spirit, that holiness of thought, word and action would characterize our hearts and lives.

This false teaching of carnal Christianity has so permeated our churches that no one ever questions his interest in Christ, no matter how he lives. People are told that if they have believed, that is all that is necessary, and therefore all is well with their souls. But the Holy Word of God declares no such teaching, but in fact declares just the opposite! For we read in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Yes, holiness must characterize our lives, “for God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (I Thess 4:7). “He hath chosen us in him [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph 1:4). Again, He “hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling” (II Tim 1:9). This is the same One Who says to be “obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:14-16).

Our warning text from Galatians 6 declares the same thing. God would have us to understand and not to be deceived about this false teaching, that no matter what false preachers and teachers say about it: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” My friend, if you sow to your flesh, you shall of your flesh reap corruption. I don’t care how many professions you have made or whose church you may belong to; you cannot mock God! He is no respecter of persons. Each and every one who sows to his flesh shall of his flesh reap corruption.

Repentance Is Given

A man who sows to his flesh continually has never been saved; he’s never been born again. Why? Because under Holy Spirit conviction we are given the grace to repent, and in repentance we learn to hate sin, to abhor it, to loathe ourselves, and to flee by faith to Christ for deliverance from sin. We know that sin has not been eradicated, for it is still the plague of our hearts; but sin is no longer the practice and rule of our lives. It cannot be, for the soul whom God saves has had a new nature and a new heart put within; and he now desires holy things and walks in the way of righteousness. He knows in himself that this is true, because the Holy Spirit has worked in him the things found in God’s Word. He reads in Ezekiel 36:26 about the new heart that God has given him; and in II Peter 1:4 about the new nature he has been given. He finds in I John 3:9 that he has been born of God, and that he who is born of God does not make sin the practice and rule of his life.

Why? Because His seed (the seed of God) remaineth in him, and he cannot make sin the practice and rule of his life anymore. He hears the Word say, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15). Having been taught by the work of the Holy Spirit that he is a lost, hell-deserving sinner, having laid at the feet of God in repentance, having looked by faith to Christ as his Lord and Savior, having seen that his sin put Christ to death, then he wants no part of the world. The love of God has been shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit’s work in him.

He learns well that “all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh [the desire to indulge]...is not of the Father,” so he hates it and cries out against it because it put Christ to death. Again, he learns, “all that is in the world, the lust of the eyes [the desire to possess]...is not of the Father,” so he hates it and cries out against it because it put Christ to death. He learns that “the pride of life [the desire to attract to oneself]...is not of the Father, but is of the world”-the Satanic world system of sin -so he hates it and cries out against it because it put Christ to death on the cross. He also learns that “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (vv. 16,17), so he desires by grace to do the will of God, which is to walk in “righteousness and true holiness” (Eph 4:24).

A New Nature

Therefore, since God gives every sinner whom He saves a new heart and a new nature, and puts His Holy Spirit within him to guide him into all truth, that saved sinner now searches the Word of God, not to find things that will justify him in his sins, but to find that Word which warns him against sin and tells him how to flee to Christ from sin. He reads Romans 8:6: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace”; so he begins to cry to the indwelling Holy Spirit to deliver him daily from a fleshly, carnal mind, and to give him that spiritual mind of life and peace in Christ. No, he is not seeing how close he can walk to the world and sin, but how he can walk close to God in Christ by His Spirit. He is not searching the Word of God to find out the sins of others recorded there so he might use them as a means of justifying his walking in sin, but he reads these things as warnings to him not to walk where others have walked and failed.

You see, the man or woman, boy or girl, whom God saves, and unto whom He gives eternal life in Christ, hears these words from Colossians 3:2-5: “Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify [put to death, reckon as dead] therefore your members which are upon the earth.” How then could any soul justify living a life to the flesh? No, for because of what Christ has done for him and because Christ’s life is now his life, this saved soul now desires to put to death the things of the flesh, that he might sow to the Spirit and walk after the Spirit. Beloved, this is the way God deals with our souls-I know first hand: I know what the difference is between carnal Christianity and the life which is lived by faith in and upon the living God by the Holy Spirit, for I have lived them both. The only difference between me and the carnal Christian is the grace of God, and I praise Him for it!

Therefore, when the saved soul hears God’s Word: “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry”; and “put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another”-now he desires to mortify them, and why? Because he has “put off the old man with his deeds” and “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him” (Col 3:5,8-10). So his desire is for Christ and His life, to walk in a way pleasing to God and not after sin, because he has been born of the Spirit of God and has a new heart.

Also in Colossians 3:6 the Holy Spirit gives us another reason for walking in the Spirit and not after the flesh. He says we are not to walk in these sins, “for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.” Yes, those who walk in such a way of disobedience to God’s revealed will, shall find themselves under His curse and wrath.

A Holy Life Follows Salvation

My friend, I would not have you deceived! A holy life, a sowing to the Spirit, must follow the salvation that God gives in Christ, or it is not God’s salvation; for Christ came to save His people from their sins, and not in their sins (Matt 1:21). A holy life, a sowing to the Spirit, must follow the salvation that God gives us in Christ or God’s purpose in saving us would be defeated, and this cannot be. Did we not read that God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph 1:4). We cannot thwart the purpose of God toward His people. Listen again to this definite and positive statement-”For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness” (I Thess 4:7). Yes, a holy life must follow the salvation that God gives in Christ, or God’s will would be turned aside, and this cannot be-”For this is the will of God, even your sanctification” (4:3). Sanctification is your being set apart from sin by the progressive work of God’s Spirit in your heart and life.

Again, a holy life, a sowing to the Spirit, must follow the salvation that God gives in Christ, or the grace of God would not reign in the believer’s life; and this cannot be, for we read in Titus 2:11,12: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” I want you to pay particular attention to these verses and pray that the Holy Spirit will write them upon your heart. When the grace of God that brings salvation appears to all, it teaches them the same thing. And what does God’s grace teach us?-that we will be self-denying ones. In what way?-saying no to the world and denying ourselves ungodliness and worldly lusts, because we hate sin, self, Satan and the world of ungodliness. “All” learn this lesson, not just some of God’s children. “All” of them are taught by the Holy Spirit to hate sin and deny self. If this self denial and hatred of sin is absent from the life, then God’s salvation is absent (John 16:13,15; Isa 54:13).

But this Scripture does not end only in giving us the negative; the Holy Spirit shows the grace of God that brings salvation will teach us something positive as well-how to live soberly, righteously and godly. Where? in heaven? No, in this present evil world, right at home, on the job, or wherever we walk! For by His grace and blood He has delivered us from “this present evil world” (Gal 1:4).

Remember this: the same Holy Spirit teaches all of God’s children the same lessons. What are they? He trains us to reject and renounce all ungodliness, and worldly, passionate desires; and He also trains us to live sober, temperate, self-controlled lives in an upright, devout manner (Titus 2:12). In other words, He teaches us to live spiritually-whole lives controlled by Him, here in this present evil world.

The False Gospel - no power over sin

What a far cry this is from the present-day gospel that is preached-a gospel that gives no new heart or new nature, a gospel that does not break the power of sin, but allows one to live on in it, a gospel that gives only an insurance policy against hell and knows nothing about holiness of thought and action, a gospel that will let you indulge the flesh, and puts no restraint upon your passion, pride and evil heart! Oh, this is not a gospel, but a false thing! I say false because it says that all one has to do is say “yes” to the four spiritual laws and believe in a historical Jesus; and after he “believes” he is saved and saved for ever, no matter what he does.

Did you know that the average individual tells you that he made a profession when he was 6, 8, 12, or 15 years of age; but he drifted off into sin, and after 10 years or so he came back and rededicated his life and now gives himself to religious service? It is from this group that the majority of our missionaries, teachers and preachers come, and they know nothing of heart-felt repentance or standing before God as a guilty, lost sinner! If you are in this group, I tell you in love, you have mistaken the call to salvation -to come to Christ as a guilty, needy, lost sinner-as the call to service; and therefore you have become two-fold more the child of hell than you were before, unless the Holy Spirit by His Word and grace gives you a heart to see your desperate need of Christ. You see, you have mistaken the call to a broken heart and a contrite spirit, to repentance and faith-the call to break with sin and to walk in holiness of life in conversion-as a call to the ministry! I know this does happen, for I have heard so many testimonies given along this line. It even happened to me! I mistook the call to salvation as the call to the ministry, and only by the grace of God was I awakened to see that I had missed true repentance and faith, and was still in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity.

Therefore, let me proclaim today that I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for that Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth (Rom 1:16). This salvation is the deliverance from the power of sin, which I have experienced by the grace of God in Christ; and beloved, I praise the Lord that Romans 6:18 is true: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness,” servants of Him Who has delivered us from the law of sin and death! (Rom 8:2).

C. H. Spurgeon has said it so well:
Each creature brings forth after its own kind: the old nature being radically evil continues to produce and to send forth swarms of sins; it is not reconciled to God, neither indeed can be, and therefore its thoughts and acts are those of rebellion and hatred toward God. On the other hand, the new nature “cannot sin because it is born of God”; it must have its fruit unto holiness, for it is holiness itself. Out of a dove’s nest we expect only doves to fly. The heavenly life breeds birds of paradise, such as holy thoughts, desires, and acts; and it cannot bring forth such unclean birds as lust, and envy, and malice. The life of God infused in regeneration is as pure as the Lord by whom it was begotten, and can never be otherwise. Blessed is the man who has this heavenly principle within, for it must appear in his life and cause him to abound in holiness, to the glory of God. Reader, have you this divine seed within you, or do you remain under the dominion of a corrupt nature? This question deserves a present and thoughtful reply.

WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT?

Descriptive Words

To understand the nature of spiritual gifts we must first look at the words which the writers of Scripture used to describe them. I Corinthians 12 lists them for us. Each word, it seems, views the gifts from another standpoint, showing another aspect of their purpose, function, or source. Viewing these terms together yields a more complete description of the gifts they are describing.

"Spirituals"

In verse 1 the Authorized Version (KJV) mentions "spiritual gifts." The Greek simply reads "spirituals" (ton pneumatikon), meaning "things characterized or controlled by the Spirit." Spiritual gifts, then, are first of all things controlled or characterized by the Spirit.

"Gifts"

In verse 4 we find the word "gifts" which translates from the Greek word charisma; hence, our term "charismatic." The root word (charis) means "grace." So now if pneumatikon tells us that spiritual gifts are things characterized by the Holy Spirit, charisma teaches us that they are gifts of God's grace. They are not something we earn or deserve. They are gifts of grace. Regardless of what the term "charismatic" has come to mean and imply today, there really is no such thing as a non-charismatic gift. All gifts are charismatic; that is, all gifts are freely given by a gracious God.

This term is used also in Romans 12:6 and I Peter 4:10. (It should be noted that when Paul speaks of gifts in Ephesians 4:7-8, he employs another term, dorea, which stresses virtually the same truth; i.e., that spiritual gifts are just that -- gifts, not rewards.) This is further emphasized throughout the first half of chapter 12. For instance, verse 7 tells us they are given; again in verse 8 is the same. Verses 11 and 18 declare that the gifts are given sovereignly by the Spirit of God: He distributes them as He sees fit.

With this truth recognized, a basic principle begins to emerge, a principle which we shall develop later in more detail. We naturally tend to think that a very gifted man must be a very godly man. A pastor, for example, who is especially gifted in several areas (such as preaching, teaching, leadership, counseling, etc.) is almost instinctively assumed to be spiritually mature and further advanced in holiness than the "ordinary" believer. "What else could explain his great giftedness?" we think. The simple fact of the matter is that he may or may not be spiritually mature. His giftedness really has nothing to do with the question, for gifts are not given in proportion to holiness or anything else. Gifts are given freely and sovereignly by God to whomsoever He wills. They are gifts of grace, not merit, and so they are not at all indicative of a person's sanctification. They prove nothing but that God gives gifts freely. Spiritual gifts are "charismatic" -- gifts of grace.

"Administrations"

In verse 5 Paul calls them "administrations." The term in the Greek is diakonia, "service," the same word from which we get the word "deacon," which means "servant." The next fact about spiritual gifts, then, is that they are services to be performed. Their primary function is for others. Gifts are for serving.

"Operations"

Verse 6 calls them "operations." This is the Greek word from which we get our English word "energy" (energema). Spiritual gifts are also energizings. It is likely that this word emphasizes the divine energy enabling us to perform the service. Peter has this very idea in mind when he says to "minister" (serve) with the "ability" (strength) which God gives (I Peter 4:11). God gifts us to perform service in His strength.

"Manifestations"

Finally, verse 7 refers to them as "manifestations." The Greek word (phanerosis) means "to make visible," or "to display." Spiritual gifts, then, are visible displays of service to others. Spiritual gifts are not abilities given to do something for yourself, alone. That is selfishness. They are visible "services" performed for others. They are to be exercised in love, Paul teaches in chapter 13, and "love seeketh not her own" (13:5).

Definition

Putting together all these terms, we find that a spiritual gift is a God-given ability to serve the church effectively. There are longer definitions which can be made, but this seems to say it all. God has graciously, undeservedly equipped each of us with the ability to minister to others within the body of Christ. A spiritual gift, then, more than being a possession, is a channel through which the Holy Spirit ministers to His church. This is the means He has chosen to edify the Church.

Distinctions

Gifts and Gift

At this juncture, some distinctions are in order. The gifts of the Spirit are not the same as the gift of the Spirit. In Acts 2:38 Peter says to those who inquired about salvation, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." The "gift" (singular) of the Holy Spirit is simply the Holy Spirit Himself. The Holy Spirit Himself was the promised Gift to all who believe on Jesus. Jesus spoke of this on several occasions. John 7:38-39 records one such occasion. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." Then John added the interpretive comment, "This spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive." John 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; and 16:7 also speak of the same promised Gift, as does Acts 1:4-5. As will be developed later, the Holy Spirit is Christ's Gift to His church, and this is basic to receiving the gifts (plural) of the Spirit: when we receive Him, we then also receive what He gives; i.e., spiritual gifts. For example, since I married my wife, I have jokingly told her many times, "what's yours is mine, and what's mine is mine!" That may be a little one-sided, but you see the principle -- when I received her, I received also what was hers. All that was hers became mine as well when we became united in marriage. And the same was true for her. Likewise, when I received the blessed Spirit of God, I received Him in all that He had to offer. Among the wonderful ministries of the Spirit in the believer's life is the ministry of gifting for service. This we received when we received Him.

Perhaps it would be helpful to pause here and explain another point in this verse (Acts 2:38). When Peter said to "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins" he was not teaching that baptism is a requirement of salvation. The Greek preposition translated "for" in this verse (eis) carries the idea of "because of." "Repent and be baptized because of the remission of sins." It's like those posters in the police station, "man wanted `for' robbery" -- they are not asking for volunteers! They are declaring that someone is wanted "because of" his crime already committed; he is not wanted in order to commit it! The same is true here; we are to be baptized in obedience to Christ because of our forgiven sins not in order to gain forgiveness.

Gifts and Fruit

Nor should we confuse gifts of the Spirit with fruit of the Spirit. Gifts are services to be performed for others; "fruit" speaks of the graces or character traits of a person indwelt by the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit of God takes up residence in a man, He not only enables him to serve, but He also begins to cultivate holiness, the evidence of which is a deep-seated "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23). Both the fruit and the gifts are essential. Both are manifestations of the indwelling Spirit. But the two are not the same.

Gifts and Talents

Finally, a word about talents. What is the difference between a gift and a talent? It is often said that we are born with certain talents, natural abilities, but when we are born again we are given spiritual gifts -- talents being natural and gifts being supernatural. It is interesting that such sharp distinction is never drawn in Scripture. It is often inferred or just assumed, today, but never is it so stated in Scripture. And with all the facts examined, it seems that this distinction is needless and difficult, if not impossible, to demonstrate.

Let me explain. Galatians 1:15-16, for example, declares, in effect, that Paul was gifted to preach at birth. But that gift, obviously, was not exercised until many years later. To be sure, he no doubt preached and taught before he believed, but that preaching or teaching received an entirely new dimension when he was saved. He had the gift (talent) all along; it became "spiritual" when he became spiritual. (A "spiritual" man is a Christian. This is Paul's terminology in I Corinthians 2:14-15.) His "natural" giftedness (which, of course, was sovereignly given also) became spiritual simply because he himself became spiritual. Or to look at it another way, what is the difference between what your Sunday School teacher does each Sunday morning and what your college professor did for you? The difference is obvious: the teaching of your Sunday teacher, or your pastor, although that same talent, gift, could be used in a secular classroom, has an entirely different dimension. That teaching is spiritual and ministers to the church. The talent is the same but has been given a new dimension and a new capacity -- a capacity for spiritual things. Many a teacher has become "spiritual" and so gained the ability to minister to the church with the same talent, the same gift, he had all along. That talent simply became enhanced in its ability to serve the church effectively. It became spiritual. So the contrast is not absolute; nor are such distinctions necessary. God wisely and providentially equips at birth; the spiritual dimension is added at the new birth, but the talent itself is basically the same.

An Observation

Before leaving this matter of definitions, one more observation is in order, and that concerns that word "manifestations." Just what is it that is manifested? What is made visible? It is the Holy Spirit Himself! A spiritual gift is a "manifestation of the Spirit" (I Cor. 12:7, italics added). This is how the Holy Spirit is seen -- in the exercise of spiritual gifts. One of the greatest displays of the Holy Spirit is a church in which the members are exercising their gifts for one another. A church functioning as a gifted body is a beautiful display of the Spirit. So a spiritual gift is not only an ability to serve; it is the channel through which the Holy Spirit ministers to the body. This puts the discussion on a much higher level of importance! When you exercise your gift in the service of other believers, it is to be recognized as the manifestation, the display of the Spirit of God. God has chosen to minister to his people through us! Few things can match the blessing of knowing and experiencing that.

So ask the question of yourself: how has the Holy Spirit ministered through you this week? How will He next week?

Christianity

Christianity is a monotheistic^[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as depicted in the New Testament.^[2] Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God and the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and that the New Testament records the Gospel that was revealed by Jesus. With an estimated 2.1 billion adherents, or approximately 33% of the world's population in 2007,^[3] Christianity is the world's largest religion. It is the predominant religion in Europe, the Americas, Southern Africa, the Philippines and Oceania.^[4] It is also growing rapidly in Africa and Asia, particularly in China, South Korea and the Middle East.^[5] It is shrinking in other countries including Australia.

Christianity began as an offshoot of Judaism,^[6] and includes the Hebrew Bible (known to Christians as the Old Testament) as well as the New Testament as its canonical scriptures.^[7] Like Judaism and Islam, Christianity is classified as an Abrahamic religion (see also, Judeo-Christian).^[8][9]

The name "Christian" (Greek Χριστιανός Strong's G5546), meaning "belonging to Christ" or "partisan of Christ",^[10] was first applied to the disciples in Antioch, as recorded in Acts 11:26.^[11] The earliest recorded use of the term "Christianity" (Greek Χριστιανισμός) is by Ignatius of Antioch.^[12]

About Christian life :

About Christian life :

Christians believe that all people should strive to live in imitation of Christ. This includes obedience to the Ten Commandments. Jesus taught that the greatest commandments were to: “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength,” and to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” This love includes such injunctions as "feed the hungry" and "shelter the homeless", and applies to friend or enemy alike. Though the relationship between charity and religious practice are sometimes taken for granted today, as Martin Goodman has observed, "charity in the Jewish and Christian sense was unknown to the pagan world." Christianity teaches that one can only overcome sin though divine grace: moral and spiritual progress can only occur with God's help through the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within the believer. Christians believe that by sharing in Christ's life, death, and resurrection, they die with him to sin and can be resurrected with him to new life.

Symbols :

The best-known Christian symbol is the cross, of which many varieties exist. Several denominations tend to favor distinctive crosses: the crucifix for Catholics, the crux orthodoxa for Orthodox, and the unadorned cross for Protestants. However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule. Other Christian symbols include the ichthys ("fish") symbol or, in ancient times, an anchor, as well as the chi-rho.