The Fatal Results of Carnal Christianity
“These also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” - II Timothy 3:8
We come now to II Timothy 3:5-9, which show the fatal results of this false gospel. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.”
False Teachers
Let us look first at the expression in verse 6: “For of this sort are they.” This “they” are those preachers, teachers, evangelists, personal soul winners, and counselors, who have heard and lived under the power of this false gospel of carnal Christianity, and who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God in salvation to break sin’s captive hold upon them. They are “blind leaders of the blind,” who preach and teach error and false doctrine, bringing in damnable heresies, thereby leading captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts. Having embraced this false gospel themselves, they now proceed to teach, preach and feed it to others, making them twofold more the children of hell than themselves (Matt 23:15). They not only proclaim this false doctrine and error from the pulpit, but they have great success getting into the homes. They worm their way in there, to lead away after them the women, called here “silly women” (spiritually-dwarfed women). These women are ever willing to learn, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth about themselves, or the holy and sin-hating God.
We have also a description of these in II Peter 2-“There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways [their immoral ways and lascivious doings]; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of [God’s name brought in disrepute, maligned and defamed]. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words [cunning false arguments] make merchandise of you [that is, they will exploit you for their lustful use]...having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children; which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray...while they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage” (vv1-3,14,15,19).
From these verses, again we see that these men who have embraced this false gospel of easy believism and carnal Christianity, are now the proclaimers of it. These have set themselves against the grace of God, the love of God and the holiness of God, by leading captive silly women laden with sins. They lead them astray with their many lusts, their immoral practices, into a way of life that leads to destruction! They teach them a way that makes no demands upon their sins, but leads them into sin by saying-”Once saved, always saved. The blood covers it all; it makes no difference how you live.”
Liberty?
They promise you liberty, yet you have not renounced sin, “brought forth fruit for repentance,” or desired a life of holiness. Neither have you seen the death grip that sin has upon you. They desire to bring you under their control, so you will follow their pernicious ways, their immorality and unbridled lust. And as Satan seduced the woman Eve and then her husband, Adam, so Satan (through these false preachers and teachers) seduces the women of our day, and not only the women, but all who follow the pernicious ways of his ministers (II Cor 11:3,13-15).
For many years I have observed and counseled men and women, and watched the lives of some missionaries, preachers, teachers and church members. More than anything else, I have been grieved to see that the prevalent sin among them is this sin of unbridled lust, adultery and fornication, free “love” and petting, all done under the guise of “liberty” in Christ! They excuse themselves by saying: `We are under grace and not under law, you know. Sin is not the concern, for my sins are all put to the account of Christ. This was all taken care of when I got saved. I don’t have to confess sin any more, for I John 1:9 is not for the believer, but it’s for the sinner? So sin doesn’t bother me!’ Yes, while they promise you liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption.
More and more as men and women, young people, boys and girls, are brought into the church on mere lip profession with no vital knowledge of sin or repentance, then this sin of lust will run rampant. And these false prophets and teachers will resist the truth and hold the truth in unrighteousness and ungodliness. No wonder Paul says they are men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith! These men are hostile to the truth, utterly corrupted in their mind, and are counterfeits so far as faith is concerned. “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:15-16).
This is a sad, sad picture painted upon the pages of Holy Writ concerning men and women who hold the truth in unrighteousness, palming themselves off as Christians, while they live in the secret or even open sins of adultery, fornication and uncleanness. And the fatal part about all of this is that men twist the Scriptures to suit their own sinful ways and their corrupt minds, so they can go on sinning while yet they think they are safe for heaven!
Real Life Illustrations
Let me illustrate this: I heard of a man who pastored a church where soon it became known that he was a practicing homosexual. His elders had him admit this, and then asked for his resignation. Then he asked them a few questions: “Gentlemen, don’t we believe that if one has the experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaks in tongues, then he is a saved man?” They said, “Yes.” “All right; did you see me get the baptism and speak in tongues?” They again answered, “Yes.” “All right,” he said, “if I have spoken in tongues and have the baptism of the Holy Spirit, then I am saved; so if God accepts me in my lifestyle, why can’t you?” They all looked down; and he stayed on as pastor! These men and this pastor went directly against the Holy Scriptures, for the practice of homosexuality is an abomination unto the Lord (Deut 23:17-18)! God does not save a man in his sins, but from his sins, giving him a hatred for them. If he yet loves them and stays in them, rest assured that he is deceived!
Again, I knew of a pastor who said God told him to leave his wife and children and take up with another woman in his congregation, so he would have more time to peach and wouldn’t be cumbered with a large family. But God told him nothing of the kind! He just twisted the Scriptures for his own use. I tell you what God’s Word does say: “Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” (Heb 13:4). And in I Corinthians 6:18 God tells us: “Flee fornication.” He gives no man the license to take advantage of a woman who is laden with the guilt of sin and led away with divers lusts, saying to her: “God doesn’t mind for us to give over to our natural feelings for each other, for surely it would not be lust, but love. Are we not one in the family of God? Why then can’t we be one in our natural feelings for each other?” God will bring into judgment those who take advantage of the sacred office of the ministry, to use it as a cloak under which to give in to their lusts!
Personal Applications
Again I say, we must beware of this religion that puts the emphasis on emotions, for if emotions are not directed to God and His glory, they will always lead to the satisfaction of the fleshly nature. We are aroused in our emotions when we start hugging and kissing, passing it off that “we are members of one family, the family of God, so it is surely all right for us to do this.” This leads to nothing but sensuality, the indulging in sensual pleasure and lust. I have seen the results of this with my own eyes, and it is not a pretty sight. And how much more does God hate it. If I had the time, I could give you many more illustrations from my own observation, for I have come in contact with many; but this will suffice.
I must cry unto the living God to hold me and keep me by His Holy Spirit, and not let me fall into this same pit, for I am a man subject to like passions as any man. Daily I hear the words, “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness” (II Tim 2:22). “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation [behavior], in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (I Tim 4:12). “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, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil 4:8).
This word was not only meant for every man who claims to be an ambassador for Christ, that he would give heed to how he conducts himself in that sacred office. It was also meant for my own heart, that I would keep myself unspotted from the world (James 1:27) and do all things for the glory of God. And it was meant for every woman who is seeking the knowledge of the truth of God and of yourself, that you would be careful to try the spirits, so you will not be carried away with every wind of doctrine. In fact, this word was meant to try all our hearts, to see if we be in Christ and have embraced His Gospel, or if we have been deceived by this false gospel, which is another gospel and leads to hell.
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