What is a religious fleshly Christian?
A “religious fleshly Christian” is one whose faith is largely held within their earthly minds, not their spirits.
The religious flesh is defined as when the natural mind apart from Jesus’ Spirit is in control, and has the preeminence.
Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind … Col 2:18
In reality the spirit and mind are integrated into a person, but the Bible plainly distinguishes between “carnal” or “fleshly” believers, and – sadly – such ones are prevalent today, though they may not know it.
The proof of religious flesh is obvious:
Christianity has devolved into mutually separated camps. They all say they read the same Bible but come away with contradictory teachings on innumerable issues. God on the other hand is not divided, and He never contradicts Himself – in the Bible or by imparting His direction by Jesus’ “voice.”
That the Christian world is divided shows mankind has taken things into its own hands in so many cases. Jesus called for the people to be “one” and united (Jn 17:11, 20-23), but the independent opinions, research, feelings, and so forth of fallen people have created belief systems such that many have irreconcilable differences. This is not the work of God, and can only be the work of religious flesh – aided and abetted by “deceiving spirits” to create “doctrines of demons” (1 Tim 4).
The very nature of the flesh is to not wish to “die” or be subordinated – although it is commanded to Jesus by who said we must die to self desires and rely solely on our spirit united with His. The fleshly mind is also ignorant enough to presume to contemplate the things of Christianity, read and study the Bible, pray, and teach, and serve – all in its natural capacity.
This is an abomination. The flesh is also the root cause behind every false teaching and fruitless work since the beginning of the faith – aided and abetted by “deceiving spirits” of false religion who masterfully weave lies from strands of truth.
The New Testament decries the “flesh” of the “natural man,” also known as the “old man.” The first century Christians who wrote the New Testament all knew the living reality of Jesus Christ’s voice subtly spoken into their spirits.
They knew the New Covenant was to be a profound paradigm shift of uncompromised devotion. They were warned not to let the flesh dominate, but rather walk according to the Spirit united with their spirits made alive.
This message delves into some major points about the flesh, but much more could be said. The solution is one must come to Jesus, and connect with Him.
Message Notes – What is a religious fleshly Christian?
If not happy, filled with joy, guided by voice of Jesus, know His presence, have sense of purpose in life.
• Is this God’s will?
• Is this all Christianity is?
• Is this the solution by the Maker?
• Is this the best God can do?
• Are we just hanging on until Jesus comes and rescues us?
Western style Christianity – Sterilized, pre-packaged spiritual recipe to get people to heaven. Message marketed and sold.
Sinner’s prayer, easy believism, nominal Christianity, pew sitter, C&E Christian …
Abuse and confusion over grace, and what the gospel really is
Take name of Christ
Told by teachers you are OK
Woman who takes name of king. Pure presumption
NO –
• Bride of Christ cannot get enough of Jesus
• We do all because we want to PLEASE God
• A servant looks out for interests of his Master. He knows his Master will take care of him
• Lose the subtly and unashamed self-centric motivations
• Wake up to how western Protestantism markets and sells the wrong order
• We are not as focused first on our own salvation
• (David unafraid of Goliath, Christ faced the Cross, Paul would have died for Israel)
• We are focused first on obeying and loving God
• We therefore trust we will be saved
• Learn and obey rules of being a spiritual person
• Develop faculty of spirit united with Christ
• Flush the house
• Deliver from demons and iniquities
• Aware and moved by tremendous need (see below)
• Moved by love
John 14 – 15 – “If you love Me, [d]keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [e]Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
1 John 5 – For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Motive – Love. Belief in something better. Wanting not to hurt God’s heart.
Flesh – the natural man, also known as the old man, carnal man, and flesh. Person apart from Christ. The fallen self. Untethered to Christ, not governed by Him, not heeding His voice. Independent intellect or feeling or sensibility
Religious flesh – Col 2 – 18 Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has [l]not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.
Imagine – Southern Baptist thinking about a Roman Catholic. Or Charismatic thinking about a Greek Orthodox. Or Catholic thinking about Protestants. Evangelicals thinking of Amish. Etc. …
It is impossible for everyone to be right
• God does not contradict Himself
• The Bible does not tell one person something is right, and another it is wrong’
• It does not lay out the way of the faith to one person, and a totally different way to another
Is it OK if we all do what we want? Will God grade us on a curve? Is that the purpose of grace? To allow for thousands of different sects of Christianity
The result:
• Different flavors of Christians
• Marred witness and testimony to the unbelievers
• Confusion within those who name the ename of Christ
2/3 of Christian kids will leave the faith after high school – because they were taught a philosophy. Data in, data out.
• New data overwrites old data. Faith fails.
• Self – Religious mind serves self
• Tells itself it is obeying the Lord
• Maybe in some things it is
• Cannot hear God to correct
Capacity of mind – doctrines of demons
• Intellectual sleight of hand
• Subjective feelings elevated to status of revelation
• Never perceive anything is wrong
• Devoted Christians who go their whole lives and never mature beyond carnal “babe.”
• Devoted Christians who hold to erroneous doctrines or even fanciful theories and never self-right themselves their whole lives.
• Capacity of individuals to call darkness light
• Capacity of individuals to shove major issues under the rug (Mt 7:5)
• Desire for most to settle on comfort zone (This is an outcome of the clergy/laity error and merger of Christ’s bride with Satan’s kingdom, the world)
• Capacity of church leaders to call darkness light
• Capacity of institutionalization of error
• Stronghold of indoctrination
• Defend error
• Persecute those who teach truth
John 5 – 31 – “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not [e]true. 32 There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. 37 And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe.39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Jesus voice
John 10 – 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
If you cannot hear Christ’s voice, you are on your own
Stranded on a desert island, left to pick path as best as you can.
Matt 7 – 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Matt 7 – 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
Keep commands of Christ
Matt 7 – 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
Solution:
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
• Repent
• Come to Jesus
• Obey Him in as much as you know
• Ask Him what else is out of order
• Seek the Lord
• Lock in His voice
