The Night Is Far Spent
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12.
MEANING OF CARNAL
adjective
pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites; sensual: carnal pleasures.
not spiritual; merely human; temporal; worldly: a man of secular, rather carnal, leanings.
Reference Source: https://www.dictionary.com/browse/carnal
CHAPTER THREE
Christian Carnality & A Tidbit Of Thought
Christian Carnality:
“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6.
True believers in the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ should naturally want to work for the Lord. True believers should naturally want to live a holy lifestyle that is pleasing to the Almighty God. Sadly some Christians enter a stage of carnality. Backsliding is indeed deadly to a genuine believer spiritually. For one, I can attest to the fact that I had lived in a phase of carnality for a very long time. This doctrine, although biblical, is not how a genuine Christian man or woman should live. A backsliding Christian should, eventually, repent and turn from their sins.
The Holy Scriptures teach us that a true believer in Jesus Christ should bear fruit. This fruit indicates one’s conversion. However, a truly converted Christian can backslide and show virtually no fruits for periods that can last a long time.
WARNING TO FAULS BELIEVERS
This “carnality doctrine” is NOT speaking to those who haven’t sincerely been SAVED by God’s merciful grace. I would dare say that many individuals claiming to be Christians but living in carnality are not actual believers in Jesus Christ. The Bible clearly illustrates that although a true believer can live in a state of carnality, a sincere believer should, at some point, return to his heavenly Father.
The Holy Scriptures teach that a true genuine believer should bear fruits. These fruits are not a work-based salvation doctrine. When individuals get genuinely saved, they are a new creature and naturally desire to work for the Lord. If a claiming believer never gets chastised for their sinful living, the Church members of Christ’s actual body should question the individual state of conversion. Biblical doctrine teaches this without any doubt. As the Bible proclaims, “But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” Hebrews 12:8. The scriptural doctrine also informs us that if “they” actually are saved by God’s merciful grace, they should eventually return to the Lord in faithful God-fearing repentance. Without fearing the Lord, a person would assumably naturally not want to return to the Lord. Without a genuine repented heart would be an indicator that such an individual is “MOST” likely not genuinely saved. Our modern-day apostate churches sadly do not teach this doctrine. Instead, they tell their congregations that these people, for sure, are partakers in the family of Christ but are backsliders in the faith.
Matthew 7:15-22 Proclaims – “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in they name done many wonderful works?
Following Verse (Very Scary & “Key”) Proclaims –
“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Mathew 7:23.
The verses, as mentioned above, groups these individuals who “claim” to be part of Christ’s Church as unbelievers. These peoples are heretics. They do not partake in the actual doctrine of sanctification. These heretics have not sincerely entered into God’s family by His offering of REAL SALVATION. They are wolves pretending to be sheep. These types of individuals vary, but let us try to expose some of these heretics.
These heretics range from religious leaders leading the sheep into the slaughterhouse run by wolves. Some of these teachings include the following: 1. Easy-believer-ism, 2. Denying Salvation as a gift granted by grace by teaching a work earned Salvation, 3. Institutions that deny the Trinity (Example: Jehovah’s Witness (JW) and many more), and 4. religious zealots that run cult religions that thrive on controlling their members by human-made doctrine (Example: Roman Catholic Church and several more). Why is Matthew 7:23 “Key” because the verse mentioned above claimed, “ye that work iniquity.” These individual leaders and following members NEVER entered into a real relationship with God. They claim to know God, but inwardly they are wolves. These people are not helping the Great Commission. These people need SALVATION.
“Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the Earth: for one is your Father, which is heaven”. Matthew 23:1-9.
Matthew 23:1-9 informs us that heretics were upon the multitude during biblical times of Jesus Christ. This same-type of heresy lives today and has spread like wildfire in our modern-day churches. These people will die in their iniquity (SIN), and they are sending millions more to hell yearly because real God-fearing evangelism has become unpopular and, therefore, rare to here.
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2nd Timothy 4:1-5
B.C. or A.D., nothing has changed from ancient times to modern-day (2020). Heretics thrive because God-loving congregants are NOT practicing do-diligence.
If a Church doesn’t preach a sound doctrine of Salvation, I urge you to RUN and do not stop running away. Seek God and pray that you can find a true-loving God-fearing old fashion Independent Fundamentalist Baptist Church. These simple rules will help such a person in need of a real sound biblical church. 1. Is the doctrine of Salvation correct? 2. Do they believe in the entire Word of God? 3. Do they believe in the Post-Rapture? These guidelines will help those in need.
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4.
Leave the apostate church and cry out to God for help. The Almighty is loving and will guide anyone sincerely seeking him to shelter. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6. I can promise you this without a shadow of a doubt. Come out of the churches of heresy. These heretics will “meet thy God” (Amos 4:!2) on the day of judgment. Please do NOT join them in their damnation.
We need to work for God as His Ambassadors. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20. A new birth regenerates those who are indeed God’s children. The Holy Bible proclaims this new birth. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3.
Are you, dear reader, born again? Have you been given a new life? Only God can grant the soul eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Easy-believer-ism, work-based Salvation, and all other unbiblical doctrine conspired by these wolves will not get you to Heaven. Jesus Christ is the only way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. Will you repent and believe in the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ?
Work-Based Salvation Debunked:
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6.
“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” James 2:18. Do you see it? Christians do NOT work for Salvation. Instead, Christians work unto the Lord by their FAITH. Salvation is a gift. You do not work for a gift. It is FREE. “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” Romans 5:15.
Easy-Believer-ism Debunked:
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3.
Take Heed: Even the devil and his demons believe in Jesus Christ. The problem is they are not given a second chance, unlike humanity. They are DOOMED. God, however, LOVED humankind so much that he offered us a second chance. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” James 2:19. You must be willing to REPENT and believe by FAITH in Jesus Christ. He is the only way to receive eternal life.
Are you carnal, or is it possible you not a partaker of Salvation’s gift offered to humanity by our Lord Jesus Christ?
“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:13.
WARNING TO REAL BELIEVERS
Now let us talk to REAL BELIEVERS that are living in carnality. As previously mentioned in this article, I can attest that I had lived in a carnality state for a very long time. I hope and pray that any sincere believer reading this article understands the cost and will cry out to God for repentance. Understand we are NOT playing a game. I repeat, this is NOT A GAME. I write this with a sincere heart. I do NOT ever want to hear of a Christian having so much sensuality that they ruin their lives and possibly their family members’ lives. God loves you and has offered you the gift of eternal life. Please serve Him. All Christians, to some degree, have a responsibility to help in the Great Commission. Souls need saving, and we need to be witnessing to the lost whenever possible. How can we effectively witness to souls that are lost when we have a darkened heart?
All Christians will still sin while we preside on Earth with our current fleshly bodies. “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.” Romans 7:18-19. However, we must adhere to the biblical teachings of fighting the fleshly lusts and strive not to sin. We must eagerly wait for our Lord’s return to rapture His bride home. Rapture Doctrine: “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17. Please take heed I am not joking with you, brother or sister in Christ.
I do not care what type of sin a Christian’s trapped in because of their backsliding ways. God can grant a sincere heart that seeks Him with true repentance. Only Jesus Christ can break the devil’s chains from your sinfulness ways; this includes addictions, sexual immoralities, idolatries, etc. I assure any believer that if they are carnal, it is because they have not been sincerely searching for God in His Holy Scriptures. I can assure any believer that if they have entered into a deep stage of debauchery, TAKE HEED. The Scriptures tell us that the devil walks around to devour anyone he can. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8.
Emotional and sometimes physical scars of sad regret will happen to Christians who backslide. Take Note: The deeper the slide, the deeper the scar, I guarantee it. Most of my Christian walk has been a failure. Barely yielding fruits have been most of my time while being saved. I have destroyed my family in my sin of rebellion, and my three-year-old daughter will now suffer partially for my sins as she will soon be living in a broken-up home. By my act of rebellion, this will make it harder for me to ensure she gets an excellent testimony of God’s teaching when she hits the age of accountability. Bad communication corrupts good manners. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33. Put on the armor of God, and you’ll be safe.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11. However, before the armor is available, you must cry out for God to grant you repentance if you are currently carnal. “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6. Repentance is KEY; it is always crucial. Without God-fearing repentance, you will not be able to break away from the chains of your sins. I guarantee it.
I do not write this article to boast, but I write this in humility. God loves humanity. Although we sinned against the Divine God, He decided to love humankind. He saves the lost who will seek Him, and He can restore His children that go astray. The Lord is our shepherd. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalms 23:1-3. We are His sheep. Trust in Him shepherding you. Carnality can also be deadly. You have been warned, backslider.
“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. “ 1 John 5:16.
The Holy Bible teaches that a Christian can indeed backslide to the point of death. Do not allow this to happen. God loves you and wants you to work for His purpose. Let Him use you, and you’ll get rewarded with an abounding passionate of LOVE from God. Let him chastise you. Endure His chastisement, and in the end, you will thank God and want to praise Him even more than when you first believed in the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After chastisement ends, stay faithful to God, so just punishment not return.
A Tidbit Of Thought
A verse every that every believer should think upon daily…
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11.
CREDITS & REFERENCES
#1. God Almighty
Above all, let us give credit to God Our Father in Heaven in helping with the publication of this Article One – Titled: The Night Is Far Spent; therefore, let us first give thanks and glory to the Almighty King of Heaven for this publication
“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (1st Peter 4:11).
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1st Corinthians 10:31)
“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;” (2nd Corinthians 3:5).
#2. King James Bible Online (Website Url: www.kingjamesbibleonline.org)
#3. Grammarly Software (Website Url: www.grammarly.com)
Publisher: Brandon Everett Schuchardt. Bible Translation: King James Version (KJV)
Dated: September Eighth Twenty-Twenty
