CITIZENS OF HEAVEN

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21, NASB)

Devotion 9 of 24

THE ILLOGICALNESS OF A CARNAL CHURCH

A carnal church has no promise of blessing from God. No hope is held out to it unless it leaves its despicable condition! It holds no advantage whatsoever, but treads over the bottomless pit on rotten boards!

A professed believer that is anchored to this world is a living contradiction, a reproach to Jesus, and an affront to the God of salvation! Citizens of heaven cannot blend with this world without losing their heavenly citizenship! This is not conjecture. James wrote to believers that were in a backward stance. His words were sharp and to the point. "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4, NKJV).There is no place in heaven for God's enemies. That is a category from which deliverance is imperative!

Flesh and Spirit Cannot Mingle

The word of God makes clear that while believers contend with both the flesh and the Spirit (Gal 5:17), they cannot be joined together. In an exhortation to the Corinthians to zealously avoid unequal yokes, the Spirit appeals to this fact. "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people. Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty'" (2 Cor 14-18).

Who would dare to affirm that righteousness and lawlessness (unrighteousness) can have fellowship? Is there any sense in which light and darkness can have communion? Is it possible for there to be accord between Christ and Belial (Satan)? Can a believer be an integral part of an unbeliever? Can the temple of God be sanctioned as place for idols? If any of these conditions are possible, the admonition would be pointless, and an insult to the Spirit of God.

This is spoken to believers. They are solemnly reminded that God receiving them and being a Father to them is conditioned upon SEPARATION from the world, not affinity with it. I am fully aware this clashes with some views of salvation. But, as it is written, "Let God be true, and every man a liar" (Rom 3:4).

Carnal Christians?

You have probably heard this expression--"carnal Christians." First, this phrase is not found in Scripture. It is purely of human origin. It is based upon a flawed understanding of First Corinthians 3:3-4. "For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not carnal?

Note, the Spirit does not say the Corinthians were "carnal Christians," but that they were "carnal." There is no need to descend into a lengthy theological argument on the matter. Jesus has told us "no man can serve two masters" (Matt 6:24). The Spirit has also declared "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Gal 5:17). In further elaboration He has affirmed, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (Rom 8:13). Like he did with Eve in the garden, Satan has convinced some believers they will NOT die, even if they do live after the flesh. However, God is true, and the devil is a liar.

A "carnal church" is like a godly host of demons--it is illogical and impossible. A worldly Christian is like a holy Satan. Neither an individual nor a church can be anchored in this world and heaven at the same time. It is surely possible to respond to both realms, but not simultaneously.

As citizens of heaven, believers resist the devil, deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and crucify the flesh. When they sin, they confess it and abandon it. They do not attempt to explain it.

We do have a word from God concerning those who have a "form of godliness," but reject the power of it. These are people who live in the flesh, but wear the name of Jesus. The word is, "And from such people turn away!" (2 Tim 3:5, NKJV).

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to keep myself unspotted from the world.

-- Tomorrow: MORE THAN A LEGAL MATTER --