BS – 19 ‘The Carnal Christian’
Introduction
Have you ever thought about what it must be like to claim Jesus as your Savior & Lord but still not live a fulling happy abundant life; sometimes feeling you have no purpose; or be sad most of the time? Maybe at the moment, there’s no JOY in your life; possibly feeling like you are living in a rut. This short devotional is to the Christian; it is a challenge to all of us.
Years ago I heard the statement from an old preacher that to have JOY the people of God need to put Jesus’ first, then Others’ second, and finally Yourself’ third. So, what do we do? If you observe the world very long it appears the old preacher was thinking in reverse or was he just trying to put a spiritual point across?
A comment that the Apostle Paul made to the church at Corinth is something all of us can think about every once in a while. When there is strife in our life with a spouse, your child, or your neighbor; are you full of JOY? If you have just lost your temper and are angry at someone; are you full of JOY? Isn’t it kind of hard to be JOYFULL when your inner spirit is floundering?
- Should the Child of God have JOY; if they aren’t; why is it?
2 Corinthians 12:20, – For I am afraid perhaps when I come [to Corinth] I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances… What is wrong here with these church people? ____ [Comment – The Apostle was telling them that instead of being positive and fruitful followers of Christ they were negative and unfruitful.]
- Should the Child of God be a good example to those we come in contact with?
In chapter 13, the Apostle Paul tells the people that it is the 3rd time he will be visiting the Corinthian church. He tells them to examine themselves to see if they could be recognized as a Christian; He is asking, is Christ in you; are material things more important to you; is living in comfort more important to you OR are you strong in the Lord and are other things in life less important? Is the Apostle trying to tell us that ‘only one life will soon be past; only what is done for Christ will last’?
1 Cor. 13:3, – If you were to give all your possessions to the poor but not have love it won’t profit you at all. What? ____ [Comment – Somehow, each of us has to practice love; if it is a weakness practice it until it becomes a strength; then perhaps JOY will come your way. A second comment – If you are told that you need to tithe but you grumble about it; are you blessed? – NO. But, a person should give, whatever it is, with joy. You don’t have to tithe to go to heaven.]
2 Cor. 6:14, – Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership has righteousness and lawlessness [None-they are opposites], or what fellowship has light with darkness [None]? [Your best friends should be those who are ‘in Christ’. Those friends who are not Christians need someone to remind them that the gate to heaven is narrow BUT the road to hell is wide and many travel it (an example). Love them, in the Lord, but don’t get caught up in their worldly life. Once we become a Christian we are to live in ‘the light’ as Christ is our example]. The next verse explains it.
- What happens to a Child of God when they drift into secularism?
2 Cor. 11:3, – But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. [Comment – The Apostle is telling us; don’t get caught up in the craftiness of the world views, but keep you mind and thoughts on Christ and the future reward we have; when he judges all of mankind. Keep PURE]
- When we are going through a physical or spiritual battle; can we ever expect victory in the battle?
The Apostle is telling about an affliction [physical] he has and in a sense it is humbling him. He writes that the Lord, through the Holy Spirit is speaking to and through him to the people he comes in contact with. Life can be tough for the Christian.
2 Cor. 12:9-10, – And HE [the Lord] has said to me. ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weakness, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ sake; for when I am weak [flesh], then I am strong [spirit]. [Only when we rely on the Lord are we strong in Spirit Being positive all of the time is difficult to do when there is a physical challenge, or you have just lost a job, or someone close has just died. It is a challenge isn’t it?]
Jesus Words to the Disciples
John 6:59-71, – 59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. 60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? 62 What then if you see the Son of Man ascending to where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” [Comment – Even those closest to Jesus had bad days; they had self-pity and grumbled at times. They acted carnal just like we do at times. When we have one of those occasions; find a quiet place and have some one-on-one time in prayer with the Lord. We can only be strong when the spirit within is near to our heavenly Father. HE is the cure-giver to our distress.]
Conclusion, – Living in the most affluent nation on earth is a challenge to putting our whole trust in Christ, who we, in our generation have never seen. It takes Faith to be convicted that scripture is true, that there is a day coming when Jesus will return to earth and ‘judge’ mankind. In America it is easy to become carnal in our actions and just go along with the worldly crowd in everyday life.
Living as carnal or worldly people may seem like there is no harm in it but as a follower of Christ, what are we doing to draw others to Christ and eternity in heaven?
The first generation Christian disciple put all they had on the line; so to speak. They were so filled with the Holy Spirit that they were willing to suffer unto death to proclaim the truths of the GOSPEL to others. Some were burned at the stake as followers.
I ask myself; am I carnal?
Am I or are we putting our total trust in Christ? Would I or would we be willing to lay our life on the line to proclaim the truths or are we fearful of what the worldly view thinks about me or us? That question is to me first, then to others.
The carnal fail to follow the verse of Matthew 28:18-20, “Go and proclaim the GOSPEL to the world; teach them all that Jesus commanded to us…” ..being carnal does not mean we are law breakers; it is a word used to explain that we put worldly things [stuff] as being more important than serving the Lord as we have been asked to do according to scripture. Worldly possessions are not a bad thing but putting them as priority 1 and the Lord lower on the list falls into the category of carnality. A carnal Christian can be a follower of Christ Jesus and have at one time put their total trust in Jesus to save their eternal soul. But for whatever reason, at the moment, maybe they are not motivated to being a good steward toward Christ; not giving their time, talent, or treasures to HIM.
The Question is; what do we do about it?
DG