These two names best describe the church of today and may best describe you as well.
The Corinthian church was not ready to meet Jesus.
The Laodicean church is not ready to meet Jesus.
The Corinthian church was very worldly.
The Laodicean church is very worldly.
Both churches thought they were close to God. Both churches were wrong.
Both churches thought they would go to heaven. Both were wrong.
Neither church saw or understood sin the way Jesus did.
Both churches got lots of correction. Both churches did not change when they were corrected.
The people of both churches were self-centered, not Christ-centered.
Both churches heard God’s Word, but did not understand as Jesus meant it to be understood.
Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked describes the Laodiceans, and perhaps, you as well. They were also blind to their sin and did not understand how sinful they were in the eyes of a holy God.
Arguing, strifeful, contentious, lots of wrong thinking, self-centered and little conviction they were doing wrong—were some of the characteristics of the Corinthian church, and perhaps, you as well.
Neither church could examine themselves by God’s Word correctly.
To be a real Christian, a person must have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His-ref Rom 8:9. He is not saved.
Point one—most people that claim to be saved do not really have the Holy Spirit, yet they are positive they do.
The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin.
If a person does not feel any sense of wrongdoing when they do what is contrary to God’s Word, it is a positive sign they do not have God’s Spirit.
If a person has an “I don’t care” attitude when corrected, it is a good sign they are not saved.
If a person does not change to be more like Jesus, it is a good sign they are not saved.
If a person does not hate every evil or sinful way, it is a good sign they are not saved.
If a person reads or hears God’s Word a lot, but it does not change their thinking and lifestyle, it is a good sign they are not saved.
The indwelling of the Holy Spirit inside a person, gives them the power to overcome wrongthinking, to overcome sin. He makes sin to be more sinful in a person’s thoughts.
Jn 16:8-And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,
and of righteousness,
and of judgment:
Jn 16:13, 14-Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. HE SHALL GLORIFY ME: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Does your life reflect Jesus, or does it reflect the world?
If your life a life of self-denial, or of accumulating more and more, and disregarding God’s Word?
Do people see Jesus in you?
I’m not talking about people doing what appears to be the work of God. I am talking about a person’s life and thinking reflecting Jesus.
I can hear the words of anger in people’s hearts, saying, “No one is going to tell me what to do. I’ll do as I want. I’ll work things out my own way. No man or God is going to reign over me.”
When a person is born, the way they act, the way they think, the things they do, the plans they make are all centered in the ways of the world. The center of each person’s life is usually one’s own self. They are what the Bible calls worldly or carnal.
Most people grow into adulthood and some live to be very old. During these years, in some way, each person should be confronted with making a decision. That decision is between what they spiritually believe versus what the Bible teaches. They will be confronted with what they believe versus the claims of a man called Jesus. Life is a test.
The Bible relates that a person must repent of their sins, surrender their life to Christ, and put their trust in Him as their only hope of salvation. They must begin to deny themselves, to sell rather than buy, to humble themselves and put off pride. They must begin to see sin as Jesus sees it—an abominable thing.
A person no longer reads or hear God’s Word because they have to—they do it but because they want to. Newborn babes crave God’s Word as a newborn baby craves milk.
For those that do begin the journey of following Christ, many stumbling blocks lie ahead to test their faith. They can expect to have people lie about them, accuse them, ridicule them, persecute them, just to mention a few. Their faith will be tested through the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, the lusts of the flesh and other lusts, and the pleasures of this life. Parents may disown them. Sex and drugs may be used to tempt them to sin. Over and over, Satan will put every deceitful thought imaginable in their mind.
As Adam and Eve were tested, as the Israelites in the wilderness were tested, as Jesus was tested, so shall you be tested.
If you are not being persecuted, then perhaps you are not letting your light shine before men as you ought to.
Once a person surrenders their life to Jesus, they must unlearn much of what they think they know. They must put off the old man and their worldly way of thinking. They must learn through much correction, trials, hardships, sufferings, and patience to be transformed to be like Christ. They must learn to be obedient to God’s Word in all ways.
The very foundation of all this is study, study, and more study. For it is written: Ro 10:17-SO THEN FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD. A person must begin to devour God’s Word, as a baby devours milk. For it is written: 1 Pe 2:2,3-AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY: IF SO BE YE HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS. A person cannot grow in faith and in understanding God apart from His Word. A newborn Christian will crave God’s Word like a baby craves milk. Jesus said in Mt 11:29-LEARN OF ME.
To illustrate the enormity of the change that needs to take place in a person’s life, consider that they must learn to act like Christ, to think like Christ, and to do as Christ did-ref 1 Jn 4:17.
They need to have a whole new nature within them-Col 3:9-10.
The potter needs to soften the hard clay and then remake the vessel from scratch. That vessel is you. The process can be very painful at times. To reshape a spiritually dead, worldly person that lives in sin and pleasure into one that is conformed to the image of Christ—is a miracle work of God. It is written: THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US. GOD…WORKETH IN YOU. THE WORD OF GOD…WORKETH…IN YOU THAT BELIEVE-Eph 3:20; Phili 2:13; 1 Thes 2:13. God’s Word reveals the following that God must do to reshape the vessel, to prepare the vessel to be used for His purpose. The vessel must:
REPENT-Acts 3:19.
BE CONVERTED-Mt 18:3.
Be BORN OF GOD-Jn 1:13.
Be BORN AGAIN-Jn 3:3.
BORN AGAIN OF INCORRUPTIBLE (seed) BY THE WORD OF GOD-1 Pe 1:23.
Must stop lying-Col 3:9.
Must stop doing things according to the way the world does things-Eph 2:2.
Must stop conforming to this world-Ro 12:2.
Must stop fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind-Eph 2:3.
OLD MAN must be CRUCIFIED WITH Christ-Ro 6:6.
Must put the old nature to death with its PASSIONS AND DESIRES-Gal 5:24 JNT.
No longer are to serve SIN-Ro 6:7.
Must PUT OFF the FORMER CONVERSATION—the worldly, deceitful, lustful way of talking, which is the OLD MAN-Eph 4:22.
Must put off the old man with his deeds—the old ways of doing things-Col 3:9.
Must die to self—must be DEAD WITH CHRIST-Ro 6:8.
A person needs to put off the fruits of this world, and
must put on the fruits of the Spirit of God, which IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE-Gal 5:22,23.
Must become as a new cloth-Mt 9:16.
Must become as a new bottle-Mt 9:17.
Must become a NEW CREATURE-2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15.
ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW-2 Cor 5:17.
Must begin to live UNTO GOD-Ro 6:9.
Must have your mind and thinking renewed in SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND-Eph 4:23.
Must put ON THE NEW MAN, the new way of thinking, the new way of doing things which is God’s way-Eph 4:23; Col 3:10.
Must be renewed in the knowledge of God’s Word-Eph 3:10.
Must be renewed and be transformed to the image of Christ-Col 3:10; Ro 8:29.
Must have your mind and thinking transformed and renewed-Ro 12:2.
This process of change begins the moment you give your life to Christ and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Some begin this journey, but then fall away and return to the old ways.
Some begin this journey and are faithful. They grow until Jesus calls them home.
Those that resist change, grow more slowly.
Those that will not repent, regarding being entangled with the affairs of this life-ref 2 Tim 2:4, are in much danger. For it is written: 2 Tim 2:4-NO MAN THAT WARRETH ENTANGLETH HIMSELF WITH THE AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE; THAT HE MAY PLEASE HIM WHO HATH CHOSEN HIM TO BE A SOLDIER.
Those that resist obeying God, usually grow at a much slower pace, or they fall back, because they remain worldly.
Their mind is on the world, and their mind is on Jesus. They are double-minded-ref Ja 1:8.
A person’s love for God is demonstrated by the degree to which they obey His Word completely.
Most people that claim they are a Christian do not reflect that these changes have taken place in their life, as they are still very worldly or carnal. They talk about the things of this world.
They have not conformed to the image of Christ.
They have not denied themselves.
Their thoughts are more on this world than on Christ.
Their thoughts are more on buying than on selling.
Their thoughts are more on comfort than on sacrifice.
When people look at them, they do not see Christ.
Does this fit you?
Let’s look at how the Laodiceans and Corinthians were. For they clearly represent most professing Christians today. They claim to be Christian, but their heart is far from Jesus. They may do some works that a Christian might do, but their life itself does not reflect Jesus. They are worldly in both their lifestyle and thinking. And when they die or when the Rapture comes, they can expect to be left behind, crying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” But His words to them are, “I NEVER KNEW YOU.”
Day after day, year after year, the Laodiceans and Corinthians didn’t change.
Some may have been in Christ for 5, 10, or 20 years, yet they were still as worldly as they were in the beginning. They tried to be moral people, but that is not Biblical repentance.
They had never conformed to the image of Christ.
They had never Biblically repented.
They had never truly Biblically denied themselves.
They had never put on the mind of Christ.
They had never picked up their cross and followed Jesus.
They had never come to the understanding of—O God, what a wretched man, I am!
They had never allowed themselves to have an attitude of—Not my will be done, but Thy will be done in my life.
They had never put off the old man and put on the new man.
They had never been willing to sacrifice themselves or to be poured out from bottle to bottle, so they might change.
So 5, or 10 or 20 years later, they remain the same as they were when they called on Christ to save them.
Is this you?
You can no longer do the things that you want to do, if you are to follow Christ. Only those that obey Him and faint not, will inherit eternal life.
Ro 8:2-8-FOR THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS HATH MADE ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH. FOR WHAT THE LAW COULD NOT DO, IN THAT IT WAS WEAK THROUGH THE FLESH, GOD SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, AND FOR SIN, CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH: THAT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, WHO WALK NOT AFTER THE FLESH, BUT AFTER THE SPIRIT. FOR THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE FLESH DO MIND THE THINGS OF THE FLESH; BUT THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE SPIRIT THE THINGS OF THE SPIRIT. FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH; BUT TO BE SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE. BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD: FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, NEITHER INDEED CAN BE. SO THEN THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.
Ro 8:13-14-FOR IF YE LIVE AFTER THE FLESH, YE SHALL DIE: BUT IF YE THROUGH THE SPIRIT DO MORTIFY THE DEEDS OF THE BODY, YE SHALL LIVE. FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD.
Beyond any doubt, if a person is a “Laodicean” type of Christian, that is, a worldly, carnal type of Christian—they shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. A person whose mind is centered on the things of this world, rather than on Jesus and His Word, shall not enter the Kingdom of God. It is written:
Rev 3:15-19-I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert (or was) 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…increased with goods,…and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
These people are naked. They cannot see their true condition. …be zealous therefore, and repent.
Beyond any doubt, a person that is a “Corinthian” type of Christian also shall not enter into the Kingdom of God. Their mind is centered on themselves, on what they want, on where they want to go, and on what they want to do. Their mind is worldly, not spiritual. They look at things from a worldly perspective, not from God’s perspective. It is impossible for them to understand what a spiritual Christian is, for they have not yet attained, or they have backslidden from being one. It is like a child in kindergarten. Can they understand college level teaching (or what is beyond them)?. Like a Laodicean Christian, a Corinthian Christian can expect to perish—unless they repent.
Both must break away from being a worldly and self-centered. They must grow into a spiritually-minded Christian, or they will perish. They must become Christ-minded and Christ-centered, for without holiness no one will see the Lord. They must grow from being a babe to being one of full age, WHO BY REASON OF USE HAVE THEIR SENSES EXERCISED TO DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL. They must repent of having an accusing attitude, a jealous or envious attitude. They must grow out of getting uptight over trivial matters, as Paul said, NOTHING MOVES ME. They must grow out of being troubled over many things and learn to place their trust in Christ, even in the most difficult matters. They must stop being conformed to this world and start conforming to Jesus.
If you get upset over small matters, then you are not like Christ. You must stop loving this world and the things that are in this world.
Note the characteristics of the Corinthian Christian. There were divisions among them-1 Cor 1:10.
They were contentious-v.11. They were divided v.12. Paul was upset with them-v.14.
Paul said, I determined not to know anything…save Jesus Christ-2:2. Are you full of wisdom of the things and devices of this world, rather than of Jesus? Then you are a Corinthian, lukewarm Christian.
Do you use man’s wisdom or the wisdom of God? Are you worldly or spiritual?-2:13.
The natural man, the worldly man, the man whose mind is on the things of this world is not spiritual, but carnal—he needs to repent-ref 1 Cor 2:14. They do not have the mind of Christ-2:16.
Can you imagine Paul and Peter talking with each other about the electronic devices, showing each other the wonderful things of this world? Can you look at yourself and see how worldly you really are?
As Paul said-BRETHREN, I COULD NOT SPEAK TO YOU AS UNTO SPIRITUAL, BUT AS UNTO CARNAL-BABES IN CHRIST. Most Christians today need the basic doctrines of the Bible, they are not ready for the teaching of perfection. They are not even close to being ready for the teaching of perfection and holiness-ref 1 Cor 3:1-3.
More characteristics of the worldly Corinthians: there was envying among them, strife, and divisions. They were worldly, not spiritual v.3. They were building their Christianity upon the things of this world, not on the things of Christ-3:13. Regarding the things of this world, Paul told them to become a fool that they may be wise in the things of the Lord-3:18; for the things of this world are foolishness with God. Their thoughts were vanity-v.20. A person that glories in the things of this world, such as their possessions, is far from being spiritually-minded-v.20-21.
The Corinthians were not faithful in the things of Christ-4:2. The Corinthians thought they were wise in Christ. They thought they were strong in Christ, but they were really very deceived-4:10. Paul told them he wrote these things to them not to shame them, but to warn them-v.14.
The Corinthians did not hate sin-5:6. They kept company with the unsaved v.9. Some of them were covetous, they railed on each other. They could not judge matters with a Biblical attitude-6:1-4. Their judgments were shameful. Their understanding was shameful. They argued with each other. They were overbearing. They wronged each other. They did not glorify God in the things they said and did. They were not examples of Christ in what they said and did-6:19-21.
End Part 1. Begin Chapter 7.
They did not love one another as Christ loved them.
1 Cor 6:20-For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
1 Cor 7:23-Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
The Corinthians were admonished to put Christ first, even ahead of their spouse. It is written:
1 Cor 7:28-35-But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. NEVERTHELESS SUCH SHALL HAVE TROUBLE IN THE FLESH. In other words, when a person marries, there will be difficulties. All is not going to be perfect as a person often believes.
29-BUT THIS I SAY, BRETHREN, THE TIME IS SHORT: IT REMAINETH, THAT BOTH THEY THAT HAVE WIVES BE AS THOUGH THEY HAD NONE;
30, 31-How are we to be regarding this world? v.30…AND THEY THAT BUY, AS THOUGH THEY POSSESSED NOT; And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32-…he that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33-But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34…The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35-And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for…that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. In other words: A married person will be distracted at times from serving God.
1 Cor 7:37-40-Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity (or distraction but remains single), but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart…doeth well.
39-The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; ONLY IN THE LORD.
40-But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Regarding losing salvation, Paul writes: 8:11-THE WEAK BROTHER PERISH, FOR WHOM Christ died. Paul warns us not to do something that would offend our weak brother in Christ, that might cause them to perish-ref v.12,13.
1 Cor 9:16-WOE IS UNTO ME IF I PREACH NOT THE GOSPEL!
v.27-But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Cor 10:2-The children of Israel WERE ALL BAPTIZED…THEY DRANK OF THAT SPIRITUAL ROCK…THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST. BUT WITH MANY…GOD WAS NOT WELL PLEASED. …THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES…WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS…NEITHER LET US TEMPT CHRIST…AND WERE DESTROYED OF SERPENTS. NEITHER MURMUR YE, AS SOME OF THEM…AND WERE DESTROYED…v.11-THESE THINGS HAPPENED…FOR EXAMPLES…FOR OUR ADMONITION.
1 Cor 10:13-There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Cor 10:21-22-Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
1 Cor 11:3-But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1 Cor 11:9-Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
1 Cor 11:16-But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
1 Cor 1:31-He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. We should not glory regarding earthly or worldly things. For it is written:
1 Jn 4:5-They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
Jn 3:31-He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth. Show me a person whose speech is continually on the things of this world, and I will show you a person that is very worldly, and their mind is not centered on the things of Christ or of the Bible.
A person that has their mind centered on anything, other than God’s Word, God’s work, and Christ—is a person that will surely perish unless they repent.
1 Cor 13:1-13-If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
2-If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3-If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4-Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5-It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6-Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
8-Love never fails.
11-When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Are you a child in following Jesus, or a man? Are you worldly-minded or spiritually-minded?
12-And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Cor 15:2-By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
2 Cor 1:9 shows us we are not to trust in ourselves, but in God.
Trusting in yourself shows you are either unsaved or very worldly, not spiritual, and not close to Jesus.
2 Cor 2:11-Paul tells the Corinthians, we (meaning Paul and others) are not ignorant of Satan’s devices. A sign of a worldly or unsaved person is that they are indeed, ignorant of Satan’s devices and schemes. They do not understand that Satan puts thoughts in their head, and their impure heart agrees with it, and then they do contrary to God’s will.
They do not understand that Satan knows what is in their heart, and he knows exactly how to tempt them to do contrary to God’s will. To be blunt, the unsaved and the worldly Christian are ignorant and unwise when it comes to the workings of Satan and the demonic realm. They are easy prey for the devil to mislead them. They are ignorant of the fact that Satan can make them think that good is evil, and evil is good.
Paul also tells the Corinthians in 2:17 that WE ARE NOT AS MANY WHICH CORRUPT THE WORD OF GOD. If many corrupted the Word in Paul’s day, how much more is it done in this Laodicean age.
God’s prescription to enhancing oneself to understand God’s Word is to obey the truth. Amazing, the carnal Christian does not want to obey the truth so their heart can be purified, so they go from year to year, and no change takes place in their life. They were carnal or worldly 40 years ago, and they will be carnal or worldly when they die.
In 2:1, Paul tells the Corinthians WE FAINT NOT. And have renounced dishonesty and do not handle the Word of God deceitfully. Thus, another sign of a worldly Christian is they handle God’s Word dishonestly and deceitfully. We may say they willingly choose to deceive themselves, because, in their heart, they do not want to change to be like Jesus. They want to go on the way they are, hoping they will go to heaven, yet they want to continue in their worldly ways. Such people are usually experts at making excuses. Paul indicates in v.4, the God of this world has blinded their minds.
A lack of repentance was in the hearts of the Corinthians and Laodiceans. Does this describe you? Few people in this deceived generation bear the marks of the dying of the Lord Jesus-ref v.10.
It is God’s will that the life of Jesus might be made known in our mortal flesh. Does this fit you? Have you conformed to the image of Christ?
We are not to focus on the things which are seen, but rather the things which are not seen, which are eternal-ref v.18. The worldly and unsaved walk by the appearance of things. But the Christian which is weaned from milk walks by faith and trust. Which best fits you?-v.7. Thus, we labour that we may be accepted of Him-v.9.
v.11-KNOWING THE TERROR OF THE LORD WE PERSUADE MEN. Have you been persuaded to repent and give up your worldly-centered lifestyle? Are you like most that have their mind distracted with the world? v.14-The love of God constraineth us, but does it persuade you to finally begin to change? We are no longer to live for ourselves. Does this fit you? v.17-We are suppose to be a new creature, but few people are and few are willing to become a new creature. If you are born again, you are to be an ambassador of Christ-v.20. Yet most are far better ambassadors of this world and the things in this world, then they are of Christ. Though you hear these words of God, chances are you will not be persuaded to repent and let God change you. You are probably like a vehicle stuck in a rut, and you are comfortable remaining there.
The carnal Christian is often comfortable with other worldly people like themselves, and they sometimes feel a bit uncomfortable around spiritual Christians-ref v.14. The Christian is to depart from those unbelievers, but what do most do? They say in their deceived heart that such and such is really born again to justify their ungodly fellowships.
The Corinthians v.12 were OK in their own eyes, but they were not OK in Paul’s. They yoked themselves with unbelievers, they had fellowship with the unrighteous, and they had communion with those that walked in darkness. Such are the worldly Christians of then and today. Is this you? Paul commanded them to be separate from these. Will you obey this command of God?
Paul told the Corinthians in 7:1-cleanse ourselves from all filthiness-perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The carnal or worldly Christian has never done this. Have you? But cleansing can only come as you repent, deny yourself, quit making excuses, and pick up your cross and follow Jesus, not in word, but in what you do and think.
Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation. The sorrow of the world works death in you-7:10. Are you broken for your sins? Do you have even the slightest idea of what your sins are, or are you just in darkness?
True repentance is something many do not understand. One reason is there is no godly sorrow for sin. Most do not see themselves as a sinful person. They do not see sin as God sees it. Paul uses these words-SORROWED TO REPENTANCE…AFTER A GODLY SORT-7:9. 7:10-FOR GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE, (TO SALVATION) NOT TO BE REPENTED OF. Do you see yourself as a wretched person? Do you see yourself as a sinner with no hope of going to heaven? If you don’t truthfully see yourself as a rebellious, sinful person that wants their own way, then you are going in a wrong direction. Do you see yourself as having a need of being cleansed and forgiven? If you see yourself as having little sin to be forgiven, then you also love God only a little.
Many might say they love their preacher, but when they are corrected by him for sin, this love often turns to bitterness. Does this fit you?
Paul dealing with the Corinthians tells that some of them thought he and those with him were walking according to the flesh-10:2. Do you misjudge your God-fearing preacher in this way—that he walks in a worldly way, lives an ungodly life, and is not being led of the Spirit? This maybe another sign that a person is a Corinthian or lukewarm type Christian, or perhaps not even saved. We make many judgments every day. The carnal Christian makes many of his judgments based on his own experiences and worldly standards and not on God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s leading. They are not subject to God’s Word, neither can be. They need much correction to grow. As a baby needs much correction and help, so does the new Christian, and so does the old Christian that has not grown. Note the plants in a garden. Some grow tall and strong, others grow slowly, while some may grow deformed, even though they are all fed with the same good soil. Which kind of a plant are you?
The weapons of a Christian are not worldly, but mighty through God. But the baby Christian, the worldly Christian, the lukewarm, Corinthian Christian has little understanding of this. They have little understanding of casting down their wrong thoughts, and every thought or thing that comes into their mind which contradicts the Bible. They have little understanding of casting down their wrong thinking that persuades them not to obey Christ-ref 10:5.
Paul said of himself-OH WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM. Ro 7:4. Do you see yourself in this manner? Do you see yourself as a wretched, sinful person that does many things that they ought not?
Ro 7:18-19-FOR I KNOW THAT IN ME (THAT IS, IN MY FLESH,) DWELLETH NO GOOD THING: FOR TO WILL IS PRESENT WITH ME; BUT HOW TO PERFORM THAT WHICH IS GOOD I FIND NOT. FOR THE GOOD THAT I WOULD I DO NOT: BUT THE EVIL WHICH I WOULD NOT, THAT I DO.
A new Christian, and even many older ones, are carnal, worldly, lukewarm. They are as a Corinthian Christian. They are in kindergarten or first grade when it comes to obeying God’s Holy Word. They understand little of God and His ways. They have a very false view of themselves in relation to God’s Word. Their answer to the many problems and tests they go through lies in worldly answers, in worldly endeavors. They do not know and understand many of God’s ways. They do not understand how to deal with the many things they go through in a spiritual way. They have a very wrong impression of themselves in light of God’s Word. It is far from the way Paul saw himself.
As has been said, the closer you are to the light, the more dirt you can see. In like manner, the closer you are to the Lord, the more clearly you can see the wretchedness of sin in your life and in your old nature. A carnal, worldly person sees little dirt. They love little. They are strifeful. They argue. They are contentious. They believe they are right in their own ideas and thoughts. Yet they are far from being a spiritual Christian, but this they usually cannot see. They resist correction on the inside. They commend themselves-10:12. They measure themselves by themselves. They compare themselves among themselves-10:12. Paul tells them they are not wise. They boast. They are prideful. They know they are right, when they are absolutely wrong. They are quick to answer. They are often not slow to speak. They are sometimes people of many words, but bring forth little spiritual knowledge. Their knowledge is of the things of this world.
It is not those that commend themselves that shall be justified, but whom the Lord commendeth-10:17. Paul tells them and you-BUT I FEAR LEST BY ANY MEANS AS THE SERPENT BEGUILED OR DECEIVED EVE THROUGH HIS SUBTILITY, SO YOUR MINDS OR THOUGHTS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED…11:3.
Satan can easily deceive the lukewarm, the Corinthian Christian. How easily a child can be deceived by a stranger that waves some candy at him. How easily you can be deceived by the Adversary who does the same. The Corinthians were not good givers-11:8. Satan comes as an angel of light. His ministers look righteous-ref 11:14,15. Paul talked much about Satan and deception to the Corinthian church. Why? They needed it. They were so easily deceived.
They gloried after the flesh-11:18.
They considered themselves wise-11:19.
They were easily deceived but couldn’t seem to understand this-v.23.
Though they had Paul as their teacher, they were still dull regarding the Scriptures. Paul had to compare himself how he was beaten, stoned, and went through far more than any of the others, yet they still had problems receiving the Word that He taught. Paul told them that he should have been commended by them, for in nothing was he behind the chiefest apostles-12:11, but then he told them that the more abundantly he loved them, the less they loved him in return-12:15.
Are you a Corinthian Christian? What were these Corinthians like?
2 Cor 12:20-21-They debated and argued among themselves, they quarreled, they envied and were jealous, had wrath, and outbursts of anger, they strove among themselves. They were backbiters, slanderers, they gossipped and whispered. They were arrogant and disorderly-KJV/NIV.
Paul said: I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented…13:2-Paul indicated that when he came again he would not spare. In other words, they would receive some heavy correction. V.3 shows many times these Cointhinans did not believe Christ was speaking through him, and they wanted proof that Christ was speaking through him.
He told these rebellious, misled, deceived Corinthians to examine themselves, to prove themselves to see if they were really in the faith. For indeed, many were not. Many were reprobate, v.5 indicates.
Paul tells them he wished for their perfection, and told them that if he were present he should use sharpness, not to destroy them but to edify them-13:10.
He begins to end his message by telling them to be perfect, be of one mind, live in peace.
Many here are lukewarm. They are carnal and worldly. Many are dull of hearing and seem unable to correctly discern matters pertaining to Scripture.
You can break free from being a Corinthian Christian by obeying the Bible, which will in turn purify your heart, so you can discern God’s Word more perfectly in looking at yourself.
Free yourself from being a child or baby Christian. Quit being conformed to this world and its ways and its things. Be transformed—but this can only happen if you acknowledge your sin and repent. Most do not want to repent of their comfortable lifestyle, of their old ways; for they say, the old is better. The comfortable Christian is usually dead while they live.
What are you unwilling to give up for Jesus?
your electronic devices
your dreams
your plans
your cats
your dogs
your animals
What possessions won’t you give up for Jesus?
Would you give up your car,
your house
your job
your best friend?
What is more important to you than Jesus?
Some serve God, even full time, but they will not let go of their bad attitude, their anger, their strivings, their unprofitable questioning, their anger—they will not deny themselves. They will not forsake all, neither do they believe they have to. They will not allow Jesus to remold them into the vessel He wants them to be.
Would you give up your fiancee or wife for Jesus?
Would you give up your music for Jesus
Would you give up your hobby for Jesus?
Would you give up talking so much for Jesus?
Would you give up all your sins for Jesus?
Would you be willing to stop talking about the things of this world and begin talking only about Jesus?
Would you give up eating those wonderful things of this world for Jesus?
Many will sell their souls for a piece of bread when they are hungry.
Would you follow Jesus, if you could not buy or sell?
Would you give up your obsession with collecting things, shopping, going to stores, hoping to buy the latest technology for Jesus?
You would be willing to sell all you have, and then pick up your cross and follow Jesus? Few will. Most do perish. Compromise, being lukewarm, being a Corinthian Christian is the road to hell. Is it the road you are on, but you deceive yourself thinking you will make it to heaven?
IS YOUR GOAL GETTING INTO HEAVEN, OR IS YOUR GOAL TO BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS?
If your goal is heaven, you will probably not make it.
If your goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ. You may indeed make it.
You need the mind of Christ. You need to be transformed to be like Christ. Anything less than this can be disaster for eternity.
What takes your time from being in God’s Word?
Are your children more important to you than God? Do they come first no matter what?
What is hindering you from having the mind of Christ?
What will you not forsake for Jesus?
Are you willing to forsake yourself?
What possession would you not be willing to give up for Jesus?
Would you give up your TV, your computer, your cellphone, even your very self, or do you justify yourself and make excuses?
Jesus left His place in heaven and came to this earth in human form just to die for your sins. Would you do the same? If you would not forsake all for Him, as He did for you, then you are not ready to meet Jesus, for you do not have the mind of Jesus. You have not been transformed as He has called you to do. It is written, But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name-Jn 1:12.
You have a need to recognize your wretched condition.
You must want to change. Few do, for they say the old way is better
You must repent, deny yourself, your wants, your desires, your plans, your things, even yourself. Only then can Jesus fashion you into the person He wants you to be. The potter must soften the clay before it can be remolded. Should you resist, and God does not deal with you, then you may be reprobate.
You must have a change of heart.
You must learn to do and think like Jesus.
You need to learn to obey God’s Word completely.
If you resist, as most do, how can you grow? Reading God’s Word is not enough, you must learn to obey it.
Your foundation is faith which works by love, coupled with obeying God and allowing God to reign over you, even His Word.
Are you willing to sell all you have as the rich man was told to do? Or do you resist this by making excuses?
He had obeyed God’s commandments from his youth, yet it was not enough. Will you find at the Judgment that you obeyed God’s commandments from your youth, but will be rejected, because you will not forsake this present world and the things of this world?
Jesus says to follow Him. That is EXACTLY WHAT HE MEANS. Few do. Few inherit eternal life.
The Bible tells you,
Mt 5:29-30-AND IF THY RIGHT EYE OFFEND THEE, PLUCK IT OUT, AND CAST IT FROM THEE: FOR IT IS PROFITABLE FOR THEE THAT ONE OF THY MEMBERS SHOULD PERISH, AND NOT THAT THY WHOLE BODY SHOULD BE CAST INTO HELL. AND IF THY RIGHT HAND OFFEND THEE, CUT IT OFF, AND CAST IT FROM THEE: FOR IT IS PROFITABLE FOR THEE THAT ONE OF THY MEMBERS SHOULD PERISH, AND NOT THAT THY WHOLE BODY SHOULD BE CAST INTO HELL.
Heb 5:8-14-Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9-And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
11-Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
12-For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat (which is perfection).
13-For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14-But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Few Christians, very few, have their senses exercised to correctly discern good and evil, right from wrong, what is God’s will and what is not God’s will.
Few live a Christian life of letting go of things and denying self and few will inherit eternal life. But it is impossible for them to understand this because they have a thought that they can compromise God’s Word, and they want to believe that most of God’s Word does not directly apply to them. Then, they die; and for eternity, they will be crying and gnashing their teeth in torment.
Jesus learned complete and total obedience to His Father. Have you learned complete and total obedience to Him, by surrendering your life to Jesus the Messiah? 