The True Gospel of Christ vs. The False Gospel of Carnal Christianity by L. R. Shelton, Jr.

What are your opinions? Are they based on scripture or your own stinking thinking? There has been so much division over opinions, what color the carpet should be, and the list could go on & on. everything in our lives should be guided by the Word of God.

The Church is so full of Carnal people and that is why there is so many problems. If we will go to HIS Word and be Transformed into HIS image by the sacrifice of HIS Son he will have changed us, changing us and in the end we will be changed. to HIS Praise & Glory. Enjoy

Their Opinions Are All Wrong

2 “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 “Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; - II Timothy 3:2-4

But these 10 words and expressions are not all that are given here to describe the unsaved carnal Christian. There are more, and we would describe them as: their opinions are all wrong. Yes, since their behavior is all wrong, then their opinions are wrong.

First, their opinion of themselves. II Timothy 3:2 says, they are “boasters”-boasting of what they do and what they are. The word describes them as being conceited, swell-headed, self-applauding, self-flattering, and vain glorious. All of this the world loves and applauds, but it is just the opposite of the Christ-like spirit which is humble, contrite, self-emptying, and which looks upon others as being better than oneself.

Then they have wrong opinions because they are “proud.” The word haughty is fitting here, for it describes those who look upon others who are humble as beneath their consideration, even beneath their notice. Let us remember that the Holy Spirit is not describing the world here, but those who have embraced Christianity and say they are saved, but who by word and deed deny the power of the true Gospel to save them. What an awful state to be in. These poor, deceived souls are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” that they are helpless, lost, guilty sinners before God. They are ever reading books, tracts, and pamphlets about the Christian or “Spirit-filled life”; and they are ever reading about how to overcome depression, worry and anger, and how to get along with people; but nothing ever works in their lives because they have never come to the knowledge of the truth that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (I Peter 5:5). They do not know that they stand guilty before God as helpless, hell-deserving sinners.

They are for ever going here and there, searching out this truth, looking into that group, trying such and such a method, hearing this or that preacher, and learning all that is new in prophecy, but are never able to come to the knowledge that all their trouble stems from a heart and will that is hard, unbroken and stubborn! They are building their house upon sinking sand and know nothing about Christ the Chief Cornerstone, being laid in their hearts. These have never been regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit; they have never been born again into the family of God. Oh what an awful thing, my friend, to have it said of you that you are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth”!

Next, their opinions are all wrong because they are described as “high-minded.” They are eaten up with self-esteem, bloated with self-importance. Their lives, like the Pharisee in Luke 18, is “I, I, I, I, I”! Yes, five times in two verses the Pharisee declared the high opinion he had of himself. His whole life was centered around self, and not around Christ. Just so are the lives of those who are deceived by the false gospel of carnal Christianity. Their lives are self-centered and not Christ-centered. Everything they do or say is calculated to bring attention to self.

Then the opinion of these deceived souls about others is expressed as: “despisers of those that are good.” They are against, even despise, those who live godly in Christ Jesus, who take seriously and desire to put into practice the things spoken of in Philippians 4:8, “Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.” Yes, it is strange but true: those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And from whom?-from religious professors who have never been saved, but have only a form of godliness. Do you know why? Because the life of a godly man or woman condemns the ungodly; the mere sight of them becomes a rebuke to their ungodliness. Sinfulness cannot abide such saintliness. This hatred of the good is born within them, and can only be removed by the new birth.

Personal Application

But those who are born of God are just the opposite, for one of the marks of the true child of God is love-love for the brethren. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (I John 3:14). Again, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (I John 4:7).

Have you been given a new heart whereby you are enabled to love God and your neighbor? Or are you caught up in this false gospel of carnal Christianity that allows you to go on producing these fruits of the flesh in the name of religion? Surely the Holy Spirit has given us a mirror in which to look from II Timothy 3. My prayer for you who are deceived by this false gospel, has been that as you look, you will see your picture, and by the grace of God will hear God’s Word, “from such turn away;” and that you will turn to God in repentance.

If you see yourself to have been deceived, ask God to illuminate your understanding so you will know yourself to be a guilty sinner before Him? Then, as He illuminates your heart with the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, you will be humiliated before God as you see yourself as God has seen you all the while. Then all boastings will be gone, and you will begin to cry that God will clothe you in the righteousness of Christ. Also, as the Holy Spirit works in you to show you your heart in illumination, and to bring you t humiliation before Him, He will give you a detestation for yourself and sin. Not only will He give you a hatred for sin, but a longing to be freed from its power and tyranny. And then, praise His name, by His power He will bring in transformation, as the heart turns by faith to embrace the blessed Lord Jesus Christ in all of His work of redemption. Yes, by the power of the blood of Christ your life will then be transformed, and will show it in true repentance.

Repentance is to leave The sins we loved before,
And show that we in earnest grieve, By doing so no more.

May the Holy Spirit work God’s gracious and glorious salvation in you by His almighty power, giving you new desires, new hopes, new ambitions, and a new life! (II Cor 5:17).