CARNAL CHRISTIAN? Could the walks of a disobedient and worldly born-again child of God and an unsaved person look similar? Could someone lose his or her salvation because of being disobedient to God? For years I have dismissed the concept of a carnal Christian and those who proclaimed belief in Jesus Christ but acted fleshly or whose lifestyle did not meet my expectations of a Christian lifestyle. My perspective is changing after studying the early parts of the letter known as 1 Corinthians and written by the apostle Paul. I present my analysis and conclusion with mild trepidation, always concerned about handling the Word of God correctly but trusting in the wisdom that I believe God has given me up to this point in my journey. My purpose with this study is to provide encouragement to those of you who earnestly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ but may be struggling in your walk of faith. The Corinthian church appeared to have an unwarranted high opinion of itself and was puffed up (see 4:6, 18-19; 5:2). However, the reality was that the majority of the people in the church were carnal (fleshly) and not spiritual. Therefore, Paul was not able to teach them the meatier doctrines of Christ but rather had to feed them spiritual milk (3:1-3). They boasted about and followed after men rather than God, which resulted in envying, strife and divisions (1:10-11; 3:3). They allowed a fornicator to continue to fellowship without correction (5:1-2). How could these be children of God and behave so badly? After digesting the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians, I identified the following terms by which Paul addressed this carnal group: Church (1:2) Sanctified (1:2) Saints (1:2) Confirmed (1:6) Blameless (1:8) Called unto the fellowship of [God s] Son Jesus Christ our Lord (1:9) In Christ Jesus (1:30) Brethren (six times 1:10, 1:11, 1:26, 2:1, 3:1, 4:6) God s husbandry and God s building (3:9) Temple of God (and indwelled by the Spirit of God) (3:16, 17) Christ s (meaning belonging to Christ) (3:23) Beloved sons (4:14) [Begotten] in Christ Jesus through the gospel (4:15) Throughout the entire letter, Paul addressed them personally as brethren a total of 20 times (that s how many I counted in the KJV)! For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal 3:26) Does Paul consider them Christian brothers despite their carnal behavior? I believe that the answer is yes, even though they are just babes in Christ (3:1). Now, you may say that I am promoting an easy form of Christianity. I defer to Paul s counter argument in his letter to the Romans: 2012 Andrew S. McCleaf Page 1 ephesians516.wordpress.com
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom 6:1-2) As Christians, we should not live any longer in sin because we have been set free from the law of sin and death (Rom 8:2). However, I believe that we should recognize that we are at different points in our journey towards maturity as believers some of us are still babes and some are mature in our faith. Furthermore, I present these two passages of Scripture to chew upon: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1Co 3:11-15, emphasis mine) It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1Co 5:1-5, emphasis mine) The implication in these passages appears to be that, if we are born-again believers in Jesus Christ, our salvation is secure. Our works that we perform after salvation determine our eternal rewards via judgment by fire. If our works were valuable to the Kingdom of God, we shall receive a reward. If we have wasted our time on worldly efforts, we will suffer loss but not the loss of our salvation. Even further, if we unrepentantly continue to engage in sin, it appears that God may destroy our body in order that our spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. (1Jn 5:16-17) Again, I am not condoning this as an easy form of Christianity, but it reinforces to me that my salvation is not dependent on my works. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10) Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (Joh 6:29) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (Joh 3:3-6) 2012 Andrew S. McCleaf Page 2 ephesians516.wordpress.com
I am learning that when I study a particular topic in Scripture I should consider the council of the entire Word of God. I also examine the context of a verse by reading the surrounding passages and understanding the main theme of the book in which the verse appears. I believe that God has given us His Word so perfectly to avoid going to extremes but instead to walk that narrow path. For, while considering the reassuring passages above, He also gave us warnings such as (note the added emphases are mine): Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1Co 10:11-12) This passage follows the description of the Israelites lusting and idolatry and God s displeasure with them. Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (1Co 15:1-2) It appears possible to vainly believe in Jesus Christ. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Php 2:12-13) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Mat 7:22-23) Verses 15-21 seem to implicate that this passage refers to false prophets not entering into the kingdom of heaven. I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:15-20) Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1Pe 4:16-19) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2Pe 1:10-11) 2012 Andrew S. McCleaf Page 3 ephesians516.wordpress.com
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. (Heb 6:4-6) The term fall away is translated from the Greek word, which means to fall aside, apostatize. Note that it is worth reading all of Hebrews 6. In verse 9, the writer indicates that we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. Also, could someone be enlightened, taste of the heavenly gift, be a partaker of the Holy Ghost, and taste the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come and yet not be a born-again believer in the first place? Note that they only tasted and partook. Did they fully receive these things (is there a difference)? I also think of the Spirit of the Lord departing from King Saul (see 1Sa 16:14) and David s plea to take not thy holy spirit from me (Psa 51:11). While I m uncertain about my understanding of this passage, a pastor friend shared his insight with me: Abou h ss ge n Heb ews 6, he u ho (unknown) s us ng hy o he c l s u on. The nsl on he e could read, "Even if you could fall away," because he assumes that the reader (Jewish Christians) has the matter settled. They were still dependent upon the law, and some of them were leaving the doctrines of the faith that Paul taught and returning to their merit system. They were believers, because it says that they tasted of the heavenly gift, which means that they possessed it. The author uses this phrase in Heb. 2:9, it says that Jesus tasted death, therefore, the writer assumes that his readers understand that tasted literally means "partook." The Greek word geuomai means to feel, make trial of, or experience, and it is the same word used in both these verses as well as verse 5. (Partakers of the Holy Ghost means that they had Him living inside, and according to Eph. 4:30, we are sealed by Him, so that negates any possibility of loss of salvation.) As far as the part of "impossible to renew them again to repentance", [it] is not a relational issue at all, but rather a fellowship problem. They would be unable to renew themselves to repentance, that is, if they did it in their own strength. However, now that they are under grace (remember that the theme of Hebrews is the author's case to these baby Christians that Christ is better than the Old Testament sacrifices), they must rely on the faith which they placed in Christ, and not on the O.T. law. They were having problems completely breaking with Judaism. Mo e oof h hey we e s ved s found n Heb. 3:1, whe e he u ho s ys, "Whe efo e, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly gift..." His goal in chapter 6 was to make them leave the immature state that they were in (elementary discussion), and lay their works upon the foundation of faith (Heb.6:1). So, it all comes down to the ssue of fellowsh, no sonsh. So, what is my conclusion from studying this? I believe that people may be true born-again believers in Jesus Christ and act worldly at the same time because they are just babes in Christ. Believers should seek to mature in their relationship with Jesus Christ, or they may face some form of destruction of the flesh in order that their spirit may be saved (not that all destruction of the flesh is for this cause). We should be careful to make sure that we are in the faith, but have confidence in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross on our behalf. The evidence of a disciple abiding in Jesus is the fruit that he or she bears (see Joh 15:1-8). Our belief in Jesus Christ must be from the heart, for: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom 10:9-10) I am also learning that not everything is as it seems, for: 2012 Andrew S. McCleaf Page 4 ephesians516.wordpress.com
But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (1Sa 16:7, emphasis mine) So, I ask again, could the walks of a disobedient and worldly born-again child of God and an unsaved person look similar? Could someone lose his or her salvation because of being disobedient to God? What is your conclusion on this topic? 2012 Andrew S. McCleaf Page 5 ephesians516.wordpress.com