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

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.

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

This is were we must agree, The True Gospel demands Repentance not just one time but continual Repentance. This is one of the greatest evidences of salvation, you have repented and you are continuing to repent ever being conformed to the image of HIS Son. Are you continuing to be Transformed?

The True Gospel Demands Repentance

The true Gospel of the grace of God demands repentance, the laying down of your arms of rebellion before God. Here is where you learn to take the blame for your sins and lost condition. You can’t blame your mother, your wife, your husband, your sister, your children, your environment, or even your own helplessness, but you take the blame, and plead guilty before Him. You confess in specifics and not in generalities: “God, oh my God, I stole those goods; I took your name in vain; I lied; I cheated; I hate my mother; I hate my sister; I am the adulterer, the adulteress; I am to blame for my unbelief and for my evil nature.” You see? Sin is confessed, the heart is laid bare before God, and you take the blame before Him because you are to blame. Yes, you come like David did in Psalm 51:4, crying to God: “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight.”

“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter” - II Corinthians 7:11

The repentance that is godly and works godly sorrow in you because of your sin against God, is described in II Corinthians 7:11. It is that repentance which produces carefulness, clearing, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, and revenge. This godly sorrow for sin produces the fruit of repentance in this way as the Holy Spirit works in you, showing to you your sin before God.

First, there is carefulness wrought in you-carefulness to confess every sin and lay bare your heart before God.

And then there is a clearing of yourself before God-a coming clean with God, confessing all, hiding nothing, and taking the blame for all your sins.

Then the word indignation is used-indignation against sin, a hatred for it, a crying out against it, and a fleeing from it.

Then we see the word fear-fear of sin, fear of sinning, and fear of adding iniquity to iniquity.

Then there is vehement desire-the desire to be through with sin and to know Christ. In other words, you want Christ and His salvation more than you want anything else in the world.

There is zeal-zeal in fighting against sin and fleeing from it. And then there is the word revenge-carefulness to acknowledge the righteousness and justice of God in sending you to hell as your just desert for sin.

Personal Application

Have you ever asked God to take vengeance against your sins? Have you ever confessed to Him that if you receive your just wages, it would be punishment in hell? In other words, you want God to be just in whatever He does with you. When you come there, taking the blame before God, you can reckon that God will have mercy upon you for Christ’s sake, for this is true repentance-that which God both requires and provides.

Now we have seen some of the reasons so many are deceived today by this false gospel of carnal Christianity. Because they do not know God’s way of grace and salvation, they are strangers to the power of the true Gospel, strangers to the power of the blood of Christ, and strangers to the reality, beauty and glory of this risen Christ. There is no vital, living union between their souls and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

The Deception of Carnal Christianity

“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” - II Timothy 3:2-5

My heart is heavy because of the spiritual darkness of our day and the unconcern for holiness and righteous living that is so manifested among so-called Christians. As I face this sad spiritual condition, my soul cries unto our living God, “O Lord, rend the heavens and come down; in wrath remember mercy, pour out Thy Spirit of grace and supplication upon us, for we need Thy redeeming grace in this hour!”

Never were there so many millions of nominal Christians on earth as there are today. Never was there such a small percentage of true believers. Not since before the days of the great reformation has Christendom been so crowded with those who have a form of godliness, but who are strangers to its transforming power. I seriously doubt whether there has ever been a time in history of this Christian era when there were such multitudes of deceived souls within and without the churches who verily believe that all is well with their soul, when in fact, the wrath of God abideth on them.

“A Form of Godliness”

Surely the Scriptures we have been using from II Timothy 3 apply to the condition we find today in Christendom, as verse 5 expresses: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Surely there is more light today upon the Word of God than there has ever been, for Bible Study groups are springing up everywhere; but there is less life in Christ than ever before. There are more professions today than there have ever been, but less sanctification of life. Seemingly everybody seems to be “born again”; but where are the fruits of the new birth? There is more fasting, praying and preaching than ever, but where is the practice and the power of true religion in Christ? As Isaac said to Abraham, “Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb?” (Gen 22:7). Where is the Christ-like life?-those to whom the Lord Jesus Christ is precious and a living reality?

Yes, we see many works and many duties; but where, is the life, the power, and the truth? Surely the voice is Jacob’s voice-everybody is “saying it right”-but the hands are the hands of Esau, for the man has never been made a new creature in Christ Jesus. The problem today is that the vast majority of Christendom has missed Holy Spirit conviction; and therefore men are ignorant of their sinful condition before God, and His holy requirements. For only the Holy Spirit of God can give a man a new heart and nature, and give him power to turn to God from his idols. Without Holy Spirit conviction, there is no new birth; and if you miss the new birth, you miss conversion; and if you miss conversion, you miss repentance; and if you miss repentance, you miss saving faith; and if you miss saving faith, you miss Christ!

Reasons for the Deception

The reason why this false gospel of carnal Christianity has been so widespread and so widely received is because it makes no demands upon you. It gives only a “form of godliness,” a covering, which allows its converts to indulge in any of the sins enumerated in II Timothy 3:2-4, and yet claim they are saved and on the road to heaven. And we know that the Holy Spirit is here describing these so-called “Christians” and not the world, because of verse 5 where He says, “Having a form of godliness.”

Why are so many deceived today concerning God’s way of salvation? Men are deceived because they do not know that regeneration is imperative. “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Yes, people are using the term “born again” today, but they know not what it means. They believe it is something that man does-a decision he makes, a commitment or rededication. But the new birth is something that God does. It is wholly and completely of God’s power and of God’s grace! In regeneration the sinner lies passive; it is in conversion that he is active to repent and believe, and to turn to God from his sins. So it is because a person has been born again by the Holy Spirit of God that he repents and believes, in conversion. This is the evidence of his regeneration. He is not born again because he repents and believes; but he repents and believes because he has been born again by the Spirit of God. It is God’s work, not man’s!

Why are so many today deceived as to God’s way of salvation? They know not that there must be a new creation, a miracle of grace worked in the soul to make fallen man a new creature, that it may be said of him, “Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The new Jerusalem in heaven is for new creatures. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people, not for those with only a form of godliness, but for those who have a new heart and a new nature. Those who have been changed by the power of the Gospel of the grace of God in Christ.

Men are deceived because they are ignorant of the fact that God must communicate to the heart a principle of holiness before there can be any holy affection, holy motions or holy fruits. And certainly, without holiness “no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). But by nature man does not possess one grain of holiness! This must be worked in the soul by the regenerating power of God’s Spirit. And this is why you must experience His convicting work-to convince you that you have no goodness or righteousness that God will accept. Yes, He shows you that all you can bring to Him is sin, for that is all that you are! As he tells us in Isaiah 1:5-6, “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.”

So ignorant are the vast majority today of God’s way of salvation, and so blinded by their love of sin, they do not take time to hear God’s Word which says there must be a denying of self before anyone can become a follower of Christ (Matt 16:24). This is setting aside all of our wisdom, righteousness, strength, desires, will and interests (Rom 5:6; Isa 64:6). Yes, by the Holy Spirit’s operation in us, we must be cut off from all that which is of the flesh and see ourselves before God as a lost sinner. “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Have you ever been lost, spiritually lost before God, not knowing the way out of your ruined, spiritual condition, where God, for Christ’s sake must save you or you would be eternally lost? Has Christ ever found you, the lost sinner? If not, this is the reason you have missed Christ, and why He is not precious and real to you-It is because you have never known your lost, ruined condition before God. Christ saves only lost sinners; He died only for lost sinners!

Men are deceived by this false gospel of carnal Christianity because they have never known that there must be a renunciation of the world before anyone can be a follower of Christ. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I John 2:15). There also must be a crucifixion of the world to us, and us to the world, or we shall never enter into the blessings of the atonement purchased by Christ on the cross (see Gal 6:14).

Also, men are deceived because they have never known that to walk with Christ in that living, loving, and lasting union, there must be a plucking out of right eyes and cutting off of right hands. A mortifying of the flesh with its affections and lusts that we die daily (Matt 5:29-30).

Those deceived by this false gospel know not that there must be a taking up of the cross if any man will come after Christ; and this will cost him ungodly companions, the scorn of professors, and many a tear and groan (Luke 14:27). They know not that the Christian life is a fierce wrestling and a continual fight (Eph 6:12); it is a race that has to be run with patience (Heb 12:1). There is no discharge from the army of Christ (Eccl 8:8). They know not that God requires truth in the inward parts, which shows itself in a life of self-denial. If the professed Christians of today really knew all these things, they would not be so confident of heaven, when in actuality they are total strangers to the requirements of the kingdom of heaven. They would rather embrace a gospel that makes no demands upon them, and walk on the broad way that leads to hell, deceived by the false gospel of carnal Christianity.

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

What is it that we truly love? the battle with self is one of the biggest if not the biggest battle that we have. D.L. Moody one said "I have more trouble with D.L. Moody than any other man on the planet" that is so true, Thank God for salvation & the Grace of God to not have to yield to the flesh any more. What do you yield to most of the time? Read on and let's see.

The False Gospel: No Change in Affections
“Lovers of Pleasures”

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;

5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” - II Timothy 3:2-5

Another fruit of carnal Christianity which comes under the heading of wrong affections is: “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,” (II Tim 3:4). And I say, what a sad commentary upon the poor, deceived, so-called “carnal Christian,” to believe that he can be saved, that he can be a child of God, an heir of heaven, and yet love pleasures more than he loves God! “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt 6:21); and if your treasure is this world and its pleasures, then your heart is not right with God; and fruit will not be brought forth unto perfection! When the seed, the Word of God, is sown among thorns, it is choked with cares, riches and pleasures of this life, and cannot bring forth fruit unto life, or unto perfection (Luke 8:14).

Sensual Pleasures

Now what kind of pleasures are these that men are said to be lovers of, more than the lovers of God? These are sensual pleasures and vain amusements; this is clearly brought out in Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, and in the Amplified Translation of the Bible. This being so, we need to define the word “sensual” and see how it is used in the Word of God.

The word sensual means “fleshly, carnal, self-indulgent, worldly, lewd, sexual, promiscuous in sin, glutton, epicurean, lustful, immoral, and unrestrained lust”; in other words, everything that appeals to the fallen nature of man that would satisfy his depraved heart. This is said to be the fruit of the carnal Christian gospel-lovers of sensual pleasure more than lovers of God-for these very people who practice this love of sensual pleasure, and who love the flesh and the things of the flesh more than God, are told that they are saved because of a profession of faith they made. But again, verse 5 warns us: “from such turn away,” lest we be drawn into the same deception with them!

If you live in and love sensual pleasures more than you love God, no matter what you profess, you are dead, spiritually dead, while you live, and therefore you are an enemy of God and a stranger to grace and the holy ways of the Lord. For without holiness, “no man shall see the Lord” (Heb 12:14).

James 4:1-4

One of the strongest portions of Scripture against you is found in James 4:1-4, where you are called “adulterers and adulteresses,” and enemies of the living God, the Holy God who hates sin. Listen to God’s Word, first in the King James translation as we go verse by verse, and then in the Amplified Version.

Verse 1: “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”

“What leads you to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?”

Verse 2: “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”

“You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask.”

Verse 3: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

“[Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is, [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.”

Verse 4: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

“You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world] and breaking your marriage vow to God! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.”
Hard Questions

Now let us see if we are lovers of sensual pleasures more than lovers of God (spiritual adulterers and adulteresses); or if we are indeed children of God, by asking the following questions: Do we love to watch and feed upon the majority of programs that are shown on television which appeal only to the sensual, fleshly nature? Do we feed upon the magazines, newspapers and books that appeal to our sensual, fleshly nature? Do we secretly desire to do these things, even though we would not openly do them? Has sin become such a commonplace thing that we can indulge in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, and go on saying: “All is well with my soul,” while we actually remain enemies of God and strangers to the way of grace?

Do we love God and His righteousness and holiness, or do our hearts rebel against the narrow way of self denial and a life of separation from the world? Do we secretly despise the way of grace, the way of repentance, the way of bowing to the authority of God’s Word and to the Lordship of Christ? Do we follow after our own will and do our own thing without prayer and waiting upon God for His leadership? Do we love the sexual, lewd, lustful, self-indulgent way of the world; or do we indeed love God and His holiness, and seek to please Him in a life of separation from the world? Let us face these questions, and ask our hearts where we stand before God.

“Love Not the World”

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (I John 2:15-17).

What is the “world” spoken of here? It is the reign or kingdom of the carnal mind, the mind of the ungodly system which is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Wherever that mind prevails, there is the world. It is the “ungodliness and worldly lusts” of Titus 2:12. It is fallen human nature acting out itself under the influences of the devil, the god of this ungodly world. Its spirit is hostile to godliness; because it is dominated by carnal ambition, pride, self-pleasing, and sensuous desires and interests. The principles which govern this world, the powers which operate it, the end which it seeks, all are earthly, sensual, devilish, and not of God and holiness. The opinions of the world are false; its aims are selfish, its pleasures are sinful, its politics are corrupt, its honors are nothing but bubbles and do not last. And since the world is the sphere of rebellion against God, His people are commanded not to love it. They are not to esteem it as their portion or treasure. They are forbidden to set their affections upon it (Col 3:2).

To love the world and its sensual pleasures is to give it the first place in our hearts, to idolize it, to make everything else subordinate to the acquisition and enjoyment of it, and to de­spise whatever comes into competition with it. It is to make its vanities the chief objects of our pursuits, to share its friendships, to court its smiles, to conform to its ways, and to find our happiness in what it yields to us in its pleasures. When the world is loved, it possesses and governs the soul, overcoming conscience, the principles of holiness, and the Word of God. Its influence is subtle, powerful, and perilous, and leads to damnation and hell!

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.” One may renounce the world systems that Satan governs as a whole, and yet the heart secretly still clings to some of its parts. No, it is not sufficient that I just renounce the world, but I should detach my affections from everything which seeks to claim them. I am not to value any object of the world if it hinders the performance of my duties to God, if it dulls my relish for His Word, or chills the spirit of praise and prayer. I am to prefer nothing to spiritual things. I must not delight in anything which would cause me to lessen my esteem of Christ and heavenly things, for I am to love Him supremely; my affections must be set on things above. I may use many of the things that are in the world, but I must not abuse them. I must not put my trust in them; I must not place my happiness in them. In other words, I am to love nothing above God, equal to God, nor apart from God.

Personal Application

Are you living after the flesh and bearing the fruit of the false gospel of carnal Christianity; or are you living after the Spirit and bearing the fruit of the Spirit, which is Christ-likeness? “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. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die [the death of the unrighteous, the ungodly]: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”-live eternally with Christ in glory! (Rom 8:5,6,12,13).