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VII. Redefined even what a Christian is.

These "grace" regardless teachers have even "rightly divided" all of Christendom into two classes.

One is no longer a pagan or a believer. There are now two kinds of Christians, one can act like a pagan and believe like a pagan and still go to Heaven, and the other can be very "spiritual" and live a very pious life and quote many scriptures. The first they call a "carnal" christian, and the second they call a "spiritual" Christian.

This two class system of Christians is another invention of Chafer, never before known to the church. This invention is so subtly devilish in implications and meaning that we must understand exactly what is involved in this terrible teaching that is so commonly accepted in Fundamentalism. It is memorized as a dogma and everything interpreted with that as an assertion form the start. This is deductive thinking again. One of the prominent exponents of this New Age heresy says, "If only committed people are saved people, then where is there room for carnal Christians?" ¹ A good question.

Christ said a man can only serve one master.  The carnal christian, the liars say, gets to Heaven while he serves the other master.  This is really denying plain scripture, but it makes a very inclusive One World Gnostic gospel with the Leaders and the lowly worldly initiates, and everybody can be happy, everybody goes to Heaven, regardless.  This is called "grace" regardless. 

When Chafer first introduced this classification in 1918, he wrote, "The 'carnal' Christian is ....characterized by a 'walk' that is on the same plane as that of the natural [unsaved] man."² In 1918 and as late as 1940's this was totally foreign to these generations and met with much severe rebuke,³ but this is all forgotten today and has become totally accepted as common sense "orthodoxy" within this modern apostasy today.

I think this needs in depth comment here to expose this new heresy for what it is and what it has caused.

Carnal Nature

Carnal (sarkinos) is an interesting word. It is an adjective that describes a noun. Such as a carnal act or a carnal thought or a carnal emotion, or a carnal reaction, or even a carnal man.

This adjective we are told is made from a noun. The noun in this case we are told is flesh (sarx). We know that flesh means simply "body-nature" or the sinful nature of those possessing a body (soma). Spirit beings have body-natures (flesh) just as they have spiritual bodies. 1 Cor 15:44 and Luke 24:29 They do not have human bodies (soma) or a human body-nature (flesh) relating to a body (soma). They have spiritual bodies and spiritual body-natures that are much different than our flesh (body-nature) and bodies. We know that we will be Holy (Col 1:22), sexless(Matt 22:30 and Gal 3:23), raceless (Matt 22:30 and Gal 3:23), and ageless (Luke 20:36) in our spiritual bodies. Our body-natures will adopt these characteristics also. Then shall death be swallowed up in victory for us. Praise God.

From inferential study of the scriptures we may conclude that carnal means "relating to body-nature," or "of body-nature." Let us substitute this definition for carnal: an act "of body nature," a thought "of body-nature," an emotion "of body-nature," and a man "of body nature." Carnal means "relating to or of body-nature." A carnal man is a person "of body nature." This means all of us are carnal--of a body-nature.

Paul himself said, "I am carnal", Rom 7:14 Even Paul said he was a carnal person, "sold under sin." Paul as all of us in these human bodies (soma) are carnal people, that is "of body-nature" as long as we are in our human bodies. This is why we are exhorted "to put off (aorist middle--done by you--infinitive) yourself according to (kata) the former behavior the "old man" being corrupted (present passive participle) according to (kata) the desires of the deception, to be continuously renewing" (present passive infinitive) in the spirit of our mind and put on (aorist middle--done by you-- infinitive) the new man which is created (aorist passive participle) according to (kata) the God in (en) Righteousness and Holiness of the Truth. Eph 4:22-24.

Paul said, "I die (present active--he does it--indicative--in reality) daily" 1 Cor 15:31 "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh (body-nature) the law of sin." Rom 7:24-25 As long as we are in these bodies we are carnal (of body-nature). As carnal humans born-again we must focus our minds on the things of God continuously, or our present carnal natures will direct our thinking. This is the lot of every Christian every second of the day. This process is called sanctification. This is why the scripture promises are to the present tense believing (committing) ones.

This is the sanctification process that carnal Paul had to live: "I am still crucified (perfect passive indicative) together with (dative) Christ: nevertheless I am living (present active indicative); yet not I, but Christ is living (present active indicative) in (ev) me: and the life which I am now living (present active indicative) in (ev) the flesh (sarx) I am living in (ev) the faith of the Son of God (Christ's faith, not his own), Who loved (aorist active participle) me, and gave (aorist active participle) Himself in behalf (uper) of me." Gal 2:20 This is the sanctification process that begins at the moment of the new-birth.

When Paul was writing to the Corinthian church with all its carnal behaviors. He said, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.......we have the mind of Christ." 1 Cor 2:12 and 16 Then in the very next verse he said, "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are being yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye being not carnal, and walk as men? 1 Cor 3:1-3 Of course, they were yet carnal, as all Christians in a carnal body. He was telling them they were living with their minds in the wrong place, being yet carnal, directed to their flesh (body-nature) and not to the Holy Spirit within them as he himself and all saints must do..

He said they were spiritual and had the mind of Christ and then immediately said they were being carnal. Of course, this is the state of all Christians until they die. We are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and mind of Jesus and, also, still live in bodies with carnal natures. Any Christian, no matter how advanced, always has the option of putting his mind on Christ's thoughts or on selfish carnal thoughts walking as man.

Paul was telling the Corinthians that their acting according to their carnal natures made them appear as any other man. He refused to teach them deeper things relating to the Spirit life they had in Christ, because their minds were so filled with selfish concerns. They would not be able to appreciate it nor apprehend it because their personal spiritual experiences and insights were not progressing, as they should.

Our understanding this carnality in all of us and even Paul is a concept that is basic to learning to walk with the mind of Christ that is indwelling us. We are to be "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." Titus 2:12. This begins at new birth and throughout our lives, our sanctification.

And we can only do this if we continually focus our minds on things of Christ, the Word and His Holy Spirit leading us. Remember the new-born state?

    Human spirit      <<<<   human soul   >>>>        human body

(with Holy Spirit of Christ) <<<< (MIND emotions, and WILL) >>>> ("flesh," nature)              
                   Life <<<<                                >>>> Death

5. For 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.
6. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Apparently, Paul is saying here something that is hard to be understood which some wrest (twist) "to their own destruction." 2 Peter 3:16. He makes his statements as speaking to our legal position in Christ but, at the same time, speaks to our responsibility as debtors, therefore, not to the flesh, but to the Spirit. This is plainly our choice, to mind the flesh and die, or live through minding the indwelling Spirit and live. What are you doing with your mind? Where is your focus?

Anyone of us, no matter how advanced in spiritual knowledge and experience, with all the manifestations of the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit, may deliberately focus our minds continuously on our flesh (body-nature) and become reprobate as an unbeliever. 1 Cor 9:27. If you haven't already, do an inductive word study (as instructed in Hermeneutics) on "castaway," or reprobate.

In First Corinthians chapter 3, Paul was giving them a sharp rebuke to show them how they were living, despite having the mind of Christ and coming behind no one in spiritual gifts. Paul by no means was saying or teaching, as can be seen in the context of this passage, that there are two kinds of Christians: carnal and spiritual. Indeed, as in all scripture throughout the Old and New Testament, he taught that all Christians are certainly new creatures in the Spirit, spiritual, and also were still carnal, as long as in their bodies. The expected Spiritual Life simply depended upon which nature the person focuses his mind and behavior.

Understanding this about our carnal natures is basic to learning the spiritual walk with our Father. We (ourselves, our responsibility) must "keep (guard) our hearts with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." Prov. 4:23. The warnings throughout the scriptures whether in the Old Testament or New are about this very responsibility of all under Christ.

The Historic Calvinists and Arminians both believed this about the carnal nature, but they differ in their further interpretations. The Calvinists say, "Yes, this is all true about the carnal nature, but those truly born-again will not act totally carnally (according to "body-nature") as anyone else in the world; they will bear fruit; and they will continue until they die." The Arminians say, "Yes, this is all true about the carnal nature, but those truly born-again can act totally carnally, develop an evil heart of unbelief, and depart from God just as the Isaelites. But, as the Israelites, if they repent and turn to God, He will forgive and restore them to fellowship with Himself. Eventually, the Israelites rejected God and went too far. Then they died and did not enter into the promised rest. Hebr. 3:5-4:9 "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." 1 Cor 10:6 In summary, the promise is to the (present tense) believing, committing, into Christ ones." We can discuss "death" and "rest" later.

Hebrews 10:38-39, clearly states our responsibility as Christians quoted to us by God Himself: "Now the righteous out from (ek) faith of Me (not our faith) will Live (future middle--done by us-- indicative): but if any might draw back (aorist middle--done by us-- subjunctive, meaning it is possible), My soul is having (present active indicative) no pleasure in (ev) him." (Notice the middle voice meaning the person himself is to live by God's faith and that he can draw back) Then the writer of Hebrews adds: "But we are not being (present active indicative) of withdrawal into (eis) perdition (referring to being just told by God Himself that it was possible); but of faith into (eis) possessing of soul." How could it be stated any plainer-er.

Certainly, a born-again person may be more or less going by their carnal nature, deliberately or ignorantly, whether seemingly very advanced in knowledge and spiritual experience or not. Also, the most advanced may at any time yield to their carnal natures and engage in very sinful behavior for short or long periods of time, even years. Two separate classifications, classes, of Christians as either carnal or spiritual is not functionally reasonable and not supported by scriptures.

The Apostle Paul, the early church leaders, all the scriptures, history, and our own personal experience teach us this truth very clearly. Historic Christianity has always taught this whether even Calvinistic or Arminian in regard to sinning or backsliding. We are all "of a body-nature," carnal, as long as we are in our bodies (soma). Just as Paul, a spiritual giant, said he was. We all have before us, "Which master will you serve?" The flesh (body-nature) or the Spirit within us; one leads to death, the other unto Life. Rom 8:13 This must be remembered by all Christians. All Christians have a carnal nature, and as Paul himself said, "I am carnal." The answer is "What do we do with our minds?"

New Age Carnality Acceptable

The new Age has brought a satanic new twist to this scriptural and historic understanding of the carnal nature that is totally ruinous to Christianity. Unfortunately, the Fundamental "orthodox" have winked at this false teaching, with ruinous results in their families and society. Everything is relative. The Christian life is no longer Yea, in the Lord, but both Yea and Nay, to their own destruction. 2 Cor 1:18-19 A little leaven. If a Christian can be indistinguishable from the world, "the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." Matt 5:13 And we wonder why the church is powerless and society has become demonic.

The present false doctrines started with the Sandemanians and finally the New Age America came to a bud with Scofield and Chafer of Dallas Theological Seminary. Chafer's published new invention of the "carnal" christian in 1918 made Christians into two separate groups and revolutionized fundamentalism as it is known today. I am waiting to see it all come to full bloom in these last days. It should be interesting.

Chafer divided all Christians into two categories: the "carnal" christian and the "spiritual" Christian. His followers teach that the carnal christian was one who was (1) said to be born-again by believing (a mental affirmation and trust) in a promise of Christ, (2) not committing his life into the hands of his Lord God and Master, (3) not following Christ or his teaching in discipleship, (4) continuing to go his own way and do his own thing, (5) later believing whatever he wished about Christ, (5) no moral imperatives or responsibilities are necessary, and (6) be guaranteed a home in Heaven regardless. All of this is said to be due to the "grace" of God.

The "spiritual" Christian was the born again person who perceived the truth of the gospel about Jesus Lordship and Holiness and repented (turned from his own way) and committed his life to Lord Jesus Christ in discipleship to do his Lord's will. They teach that this "spiritual" Christian may became so only after further enlightenment after his new-birth and guarantees given to him as a carnal Christian. ⁴

Chafer's invention of the "carnal" christian has revolutionized Christianity for this New Age. The implications are enormous and totally ruinous to historic doctrines of the church from the time of Christ. Indeed, one can see that it is the beginning of the end of so-called fundamentalism that accepts this teaching. Now a whole society can say it is Fundamental Christianity and be totally reprobate, doing and believing whatsoever.

And the preachers of these "grace" regardless doctrines have, of course, considered themselves among the "spiritual" group preaching the unsearchable riches of the "grace" regardless doctrines to their followers and encouraging them to become "spiritual" Christians as a second optional step. This is Gnosticism in disguise.

Superior Attitude

Much of their assurance that they are becoming spiritual Christians is if they go to their Bible schools and learn to become missionaries and pastors of this "grace" regardless gospel. The pastors of their churches naturally hold themselves as superior in knowledge and spirituality over their followers, tending toward abusive authority in some groups. After all, their followers are carnal, inferior in knowledge, and "proper progress" of doctrines of dispensations, and "grace" regardless salvation must be taught them. They must learn to "rightly divide" the scriptures, they say.

Additionally, these preachers hold their doctrines of "grace" regardless and Dispensations above all other considerations. They separate themselves from other Fundamentalist, perhaps very spiritually advanced in doctrines and Holiness. The "grace ' regardless think they are superior because these others teach that one must show forth fruits of walking in faith. Not understanding what faith is, they condemn this saying it is seeking justification by works. If anyone says any works of any nature is necessary, they are immediately branded as Pharisees, by the "grace" regardless.

They maintain that they should hold themselves separate from such false teachers (all the rest of Christendom). They claim that they have the pure gospel of the "grace" regardless of God and knowing the "proper progress" of scripture in understanding Dispensations. They think most other fundamentalist Christians are sad and just ignorant lost people, trying to be saved by works. In all these aspects, they function and act exactly like any cult, yet within Fundamentalism.

By accepting this carnal christian classification, Christianity is becoming full circle, first from paganism to Full Christianity and now back. We again are having the ecclesiastical class and the laymen class in the church, those spiritual who can understand the scriptures and those carnal who are still ignorant. But, of course, all are said to be Christian.

Historic Fundamentalism being destroyed from within.

Additionally, after being a teacher with Scofield, Chafer is also responsible for popularizing and giving scholarship status to dispensational inventions of Darby. But these doctrinal teachings from Chafer's Dallas Theological Seminary, because of sending their professors into other Bible schools, have become acceptable in Fundamental Bible schools throughout the country. This respected and accredited so-called scholarly Bible teaching has been blindly accepted within Fundamentalism. Indeed, the people of the United States since the 1920's have heard little else in their main line denominational churches.

Of course, since most Bible schools teach that faith is believing (total foolishness of man), it is easy for them to fall into accepting these very scholarly and pedantic teachings. All scriptures, being reinterpreted according to dispensational assertions and "grace" regardless deductive reasoning. As we have said earlier, if one believes that a human simply believing or trusting in something is faith, then one can be led to believe just about anything. This is not historic Christianity. This is scriptural nonsense, but then so are most Bible schools that teach deductive reasoning.

Most of the entire Fundamental church today in the United States is given to (1) respecting of persons; ordination from a government accredited Bible school is helpful to be a church pastor; (2) more or less teaching these false doctrines of "grace" regardless and dispensational hermeneutics, with saving faith and believing of an unregenerate man as synonymous; (3) eternal security "regardless" is not at all rejected but accepted within their circles; (4) pretribulation rapture and dispensational hermeneutics is almost universally accepted; (5) accepting the idea of their being two classes of Christians; and (6) the almost universal use of irrational deductive thinking and teaching.

To say that the Scofield Bible and Louis Sperry Chafer and those who have come after him at Dallas Theological Seminary have not had profound and pervasive changes upon Historic Christianity in this country would be a great understatement . Historic Fundamental Christianity is indeed being destroyed from within in the United States from its most respected and scholarly schools headed by them.

Remember some of Jesus' last words, "Beware of the leaven (false doctrines, v. 12) of the Pharisees and the Sadducees;" those who hold the highest most respected places among the people of God (Matt 16:6 and 12). And remember the soon following Great Commission of Christ to his disciples: ".....Go ye into all the world teaching them all things, whatsoever I have commanded you......." Matt. 16:28-29


This New Age Carnal Classification Must be Rejected for Twelve Good Reasons

1. The misuse of 1 Corinthians 3 ⁵

As explained, Paul in this single scripture spoke of Christians acting carnally, according to their body-nature. As explained, no other scripture calls Christians carnal, except one where Paul calls himself carnal. It is obvious from the context of these two scriptures as well as all scriptures that Paul is referring to the ability of all of us to act according to our body-natures with its impulses and desires, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. 1 John 2:16

Paul's answer to this as well as his rebuke and exhortation to the Corinthian is to focus our minds and actions on the things of God instead of the law of sin and death in all of us. Rom 7:24-25 Paul sums it all up in one clear statement: "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." Gal 5:16 This is another way of saying, not "being carnal." Paul as well as the Corinthians and all of us must be, "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Cor 10:5

By no means must we make a doctrine that there are two classifications of Christians that are destined to Heaven from this one statement in 1 Corinthians 3, saying that the Corinthians were being carnal.  Paul had explained what the use of the Christian mind was, either focused on the spiritual or upon the carnal, and the consequences or either.   "It is a wise saying of one of the church fathers , 'If you have one Scripture only on which to base an important doctrine or teaching you are most likely to find, on close examination, that you have none.'" ⁶

2. Denial of repentance for salvation.

The New Age "grace" regardless professors say that repentance is the same as believing so to preach repentance is to lay too much upon the unregenerate. Also, they say that for someone to turn from sin or show fruit of a changed mind, this would be salvation by works. So repentance cannot be imposed, since salvation is by grace and grace alone. This would make a work involved, they say.

Repentance is nothing more than a heart felt understanding of personal sin before a Holy God and a changing of mind's intent toward serving God and seeking His mercy. This is "a Godly sorrow that leads to repentance (a changing of mind)." 2 Cor 7:10 The gospel response of any individual is to repent (change mind, to God from sin) and believe (committing to pleasing our Lord and Master). At the moment a person does these two things he is born-again by the Spirit of God. After the new-birth, acts appropriate for his repentance will come to fruition as the person then continues believing (committing) and living in faith, being led by the Spirit of Christ.

Without repentance there is no remission of sins. "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." 2 Cor 7:10 The "grace" regardless preachers teach that one need not have repentance but simply believe and trust in their heads the promise of Christ for salvation. Nothing else need be necessary, they say.

This takes us back to Robert Sandeman's teachings in the New England Churches in 1900. From his background, one cannot help but wonder how much Chafer, who ministered at that time in New England and who invented the "carnal" christian classisfication, was influenced by these teachings.

Now, Zane Hodges (a former Professsor at Chafer's Dallas Theological Seminary for 27 years) has recently added a new idea that repentance can also refer purely to prolonging life for unbelievers without any implication of salvation. He says this will be available during the great tribulation.

By this denial of the necessity for repentance in salvation, they justify their "carnal" christian who may live and believe like any reprobate in the world.

3. A Cavalier Attitude Toward Sin

The fruits of this teaching are not new to Christianity even though the teaching appears on the present scene under a new mask. It is the old doctrine of Antinomianism. Paul attacks this in Romans 6:1,2 when he asks, 'What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid.....' By implication, the answer of the two-category (of Christians) teaching to Paul's question is, 'Yes , you can continue in sin and be a carnal Christian'. That is Antinomianism, or lawlessness, pure and simple. And the more converts we get, the more "carnal" christians we will have. Then "grace" will truly abound.

4. A False Teaching about Christ Himself

It has been said that at the heart of every cult there is a deviation from who Christ is. This concept of a separate classification as a"carnal" christian is the mother of one of the most soul destroying teachings of our day. It teaches that you can take Jesus as your Saviour and yet treat observance of his Lordship and Holiness as optional. They can disregard His very Being and Character as Holy Almighty God and do whatever pleases themselves and think of themselves as Christians guaranteed a home in Heaven. He is a Saviour but not Holy or a Lord over us. And they still say they are "in Him." This is blasphemous.

These "grace" regardless teachers refuse to use any Bible tracts that present Jesus Christ as Lord, or any literature that would make the unsaved think they must commit to Him as Lord of their life. They sneer and curse such evangelistic endeavors, saying they are satanic and false teachings, preventing people from being "born-again," they say.

When our Lord appeared in human form in history the angel announced His coming in the words, 'For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord' (Luke 2:11) He cannot be divided, the Saviour and Lord are one. As Tozer said, either "He is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all." Despite their arrogant calling of this statement simply a cliche, it is the Truth, whether they will admit it or not.  Blindness and arrogancy are inseparable brothers, related to their father, the devil.

The Apostles and all those of historic Christianity have said, "for we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." 2 Cor. 4:5 The immediate baptism of all believers was an indication of their fully understanding the message of death to self to serve their Lord in His Life.

When sinners truly receive Him, they can only receive Him as Lord. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him." Col. 2:6 The new-birth fully qualifies the person to walk in obedience and sanctification thereafter. There is no place in scripture where Christians are exhorted to receive Christ as Lord as a second step in order to be a "spiritual" Christian. This is a cult teaching.

Again, we see that this is treating our acceptance of His Lordship as something additional to salvation, when in fact, recognition of Him as Lord is an integral and necessary part of conversion. A. A. Hodge has written:

"You cannot take Christ for justification unless you take him for sanctification. Think of the sinner coming to Christ and saying, "I do not want to be Holy; I do not want to be saved from sin; I would like to be saved in my sins (I want to continue sinning); Do not sanctify me now, but justify me now." What would be the answer? Could he be accepted by God?

You can no more separate justification from sanctification than you can separate the circulation of the blood from the inhalation of the air. Breathing and circulation are two different things, but you cannot have the one without the other; they go together, and they constitute one life.

So you have justification and sanctification; they go together, and they constitute one Life. If there was ever one who attempted to receive Christ with justification and not without sanctification, he missed it, thank God! He was no more justified than he was sanctified." ⁷

This false teaching of a divided Christ, one for justification of salvation and another for living sanctification, is not found in scripture. Nothing teaches that you can receive Him for salvation but deny Him for Living in sanctification. Then at a later time it is your option as to whether you wish to recognize and bow to His Lordship for Living or not, they say.

When Peter preached the first sermon after our Lord's ascension at Pentecost he made it abundantly clear that He is Lord. The first message proclaimed Christ's Lordship. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." Acts 2:36 God made Him Lord! "For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that He might be Lord of the dead and living." Rom 14:9

Are any so bold as to say, "Well, the gospel has changed since Peter's time." Yes, unfortunately, there is accepted into Fundamentalism these "grace" regardless teachers. They say you're salvation does not depend on bowing to His Lordship. You can be a carnal (never any intent to turn from sin) "christian" and still be born again and go to Heaven.

Matthew Henry, in his Introduction to the Gospel according to Matthew said: "All the grace contained in this book is owing to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour; and, unless we consent to Him as our Lord we cannot expect any benefit by Him as our Saviour."

It is vital to notice how the Apostles preached the Lordship of Christ. The word Saviour occurs only twice in the Acts of the Apostles (5:31; 13:23). On the other hand the title Lord is mentieoned 92 times, Lord Jesus 13 times, and the Lord Jesus Christ 6 times in the same book! To a repentant person, the gospel is: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31

Charles Haddon Spurgeon warned his students: "If the professed convert distinctly and deliberately declares that he knows the Lord's will but does not mean to attend to it, you are not to pamper his presumption, but it is your duty to assure him that he is not saved. Do not suppose that the Gospel is magnified or God glorified by going to the worldlings and telling them that they may be saved at this moment by simply accepting Christ as their Saviour, while they are wedded to their idols, and their hearts are still in love with sin. If I do so I tell them a lie, pervert the Gospel, insult Christ, and turn the grace of God into lasciviousness."

When anyone redefines the nature of Christ, historical Christianity immediately rejected them as heretical. Instead, YESTERDAY we called them cults. They did this with Arius, and Pelagius, and countless others throughout history. But TODAY, we call them our "orthodox" fundamental church in the United States, which has allowed this cancer of Godless heresies to grow within even the teaching institutions from which our pastors have come. And just one of these horrible heresies is this teaching of a Christ who is not Immutable, not Truth, not yea and Amen, but who will save people as a Savior but deny Himself of His very Immutable Character, fully Lord, inorder to take uncommitted reprobates to His Holy Heaven. This is heresy in your face.  And who is so blind as not to see it?  Answer: most everyone today, in this latter days of blindness of men as foretold in prophecy.   

5. Denigrates the Grace of God into the Dirt

Saying that our Savior and His Holy Spirit and Our Heavenly Father could even condone a person with a heart and soul intent upon sinning and going his own way; so that They in the Holy Spirit would enter such an evil heart and regenerate it with the indwelling Eternal Life of Christ is blasphemous. There is absolutely no scripture to support it nor is there any sane person that would preach it. This "carnal" christian who receives salvation is not found in scripture. If this is the way a person is saved, why not save the devil himself?

If that were not enough, they call this "good news" of theirs the finished work message of the "grace" of God. And then loudly proclaim their victory over the flesh and the devil in the unsearchable riches of this "grace" of God bestowed upon sinners. There need be no repentance or committing of their lives in death to self or turning from sin, they say.

There is no need of following Christ as His disciple and certainly no need to make Him your Lord and Master. His Lordship is just an empty title of ability, they say. No one need be expected to make Him Lord for their salvation. That is just an option if you want to be "spiritual."

And they make great speeches in quoting Titus 2:12-13, about how this "grace" of God is "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." They not only make this "grace" regardless lasciviousness, but then preach that it is this accepted lasciviousness of this "grace" that is teaching us to deny ungodliness and to wait to be removed from the world from any persecution for the name of Christ, Lord. Blasphemous and deceitful workers.

6. Teaches Assurance Only from Man

Since they teach that saving faith is the same as any unregenerate man believing, they teach that their assurance comes from putting their trust in the promise of Christ for salvation to whosoever would believe (exercise their faith). They redefine the word "believe" from commit to just affirming in your mind that you are trusting in the promise of Christ. They call this trust in Christ to fulfill His promise their assurance of salvation, or "objective" faith. "I know I thought this at one-time. This is my assurance."

This is salvation by an unregenerate man, for an unregenerate man (to escape Hell), and assurance by an unregenerate man. It is pure Humanism. The carnal christian category justifies even the unregenreate man to go his way in any humanistic endeavor or life style and still be accepted as a christian in the church fellowship in Heaven.

7. Saving Committal and Counterfeit Believing not Distinguished.

Simon Magus "believed" and was baptized but his heart was "not right in the sight of God." Acts 8: 12-22. In other words, it was belief without a changed heart of repentance. Because of this Peter says he would perish unless he came to true repentance: He was "in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity" (v. 23). And the evidence that Simon Magus was indeed unsaved can be seen in his prayer. He, like all unregenerate people, was only concerned with the consequence of sin and made no request to be pardoned and cleansed from the impurity of sin. "Pray ye, " he says to Peter, "to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me." Like the so-called "carnal christian", he wanted Jesus as a kind of hell-insurance policy but he did not ask for deliverance from sin or his sinful condition!

Without repentance (change of mind, intent to God from sin) any amount or kind of believing is worthless in the sight of Heaven. Unregenerate man is intending to be unregenerate in sin still.

In the scriptures: "Many believed in His name ....But Jesus did not commit Himself to them." John 2:23-24 "Many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him." John 12:42-43. When Jesus was in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover many believed on His name. "But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because He knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man." John 2:24-25 There is a head believing and their is an existential believing (committing), committing your life to His Life (a life for Life transaction). Christ made the rich young ruler understand this.

The grace which truly saves sinners brings them to realize he is Lord. But the two category Christian teaching invites, but only as an option, these so-called carnal christians to recognize Christ as Lord of their lives and thus become a spiritual Christian. But regardless of whether they do or not they are all guaranteed Heaven, regardless. This is not the grace of God that teaches us to deny ourselves.

8. False Spirituality and Pharisees

This teaching breeds Phariseeism in the so-called "spiritual" Christians who have measured up to some man-made standard of spirituality. There ought to be no professed spiritual Christians, much less "super-spiritual" ones! This teaching makes two classes: those professing "spirituality" because they have gone to Bible school or distinguished themselves with some such accreditation, and the "carnal" class who must submit to the doctrines and teachings from those of the "spiritual," and must work to support the "spiritual."

In addition, in certain of their groups, often while in Bible schools to be accepted among the "spiritual," they are taught that the pastor of a church is the only authorized teacher, so that they call themselves Pastor-teachers. This is taken from a false grammar interpretation of the Greek text of Ephesians 4:11. This helps keep them as the soul authorities over their flocks in all things.

Since some wish to maintain more authority, they use their dispensational assertions to assume that since there are no more Apostles, they are today like apostles sent out by their earthly leader at the Bible school or some such person. This pyramid system provides this "spiritual" group with more ecclesiastical status to be "lords" over God's flock. 1 Peter 5:3

God's submissive sheep tolerate much abuse. If indeed, they are real believers. But, of course, if they stay "carnal" they will still go to Heaven. Just show submissiveness to the "spiritual" apostle-like pastor-teacher for conscience sake.

This tends to return us to the feudal days of the Priests having the scriptures and the peasants who must look to the priests for the Word and the way to God. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is what we can discern within these dispensational "grace" regardless preachers today when we really get to know them.

Witness what happens when someone attacks their eternal security regardless teachings and redefinitions, they will react with self-righteous rage and scream at the offender for being so ignorant as to question the "grace" of their God. There is no end of denigration they will make about such an ignorant person who would question them. Then they will further rage on and on justifying their rage saying it is a righteous anger to defend "their God." Little do they realize how they reveal the real spirit motivating them, they are so blinded in arrogant self conceit. We begin to get only a glimpse of the rage and hatred that the High Priests and Pharisees of Jesus day heaped upon Him, finally crucifying him in their self righteousness.

In order to be accounted "spiritual," among the fellowship, one is told they must accept their Saviors Lordship as an optional second step. And upon this occurrence, they are then expected to enter their own Bible schools for pastoral or missionary work to show that they are now among the "spiritual." This not only means that those of the working laymen class must forever be regarded with suspicion as among the "carnal" class and not allowed significant ministries among them, unless no one else wants to do it or can do it. But they will seldom be allowed to have a significant work in the scriptures within the church fellowship or outreaches. They are quite happy to receive their tithes and offerings.

9. Teaches a second spiritual life, a second salvation of grace.

When one reads the sermons of these "grace" regardless preachers, it becomes quite apparent that they very openly teach a second work of grace or a higher life, by this "carnal" and "spiritual" classification of supposed believers. When they are preaching Lordship one would think they are very Fundamental. But their church memberships may measure in the thousands by their salvation invitation and the profuse quoting and use of the scripture to interest those really seeking Truth.

Their invitation for believers to become "carnal" christians, is "Won't you trust Him today as your Saviour? He came to save sinners. Are you a sinner? Don't you want to go to Heaven when you die? Then trust Him now. Tell Him in your own words. Now let's pray."⁸ At the moment, they don't tell them this invitation is just for you to become a "carnal" christian. That is quickly told them later so that their carnal ways won't discourage them and they will continue to church and possibly seek a second option of higher ground in Lordship.

They're evangelistic efforts yield many praying for salvation but very few really ever get involved or are seen again. Like all such evangelistic events in the past 100 years, big crowds, many professions, little change. Preaching repentance and Lordship have nearly disappeared in evangelistic efforts.

Their beliefs go like this, "the surrender of the life to the Lordship of Christ is a beautiful and wonderful thing; but when you make a surrender a requirement for salvation , it becomes an ugly, dirty, wicked thing and frustrates the marvelous grace of God!" ⁹

10. The New Covenant (Testament) in His Blood is Denied



A New Covenant

We celebrate our Lord's shed blood and broken body by taking what we call communion. At that time we remember the Lord's shed blood and broken body for our sins and diseases. "And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." Luke 22:19-20

In the Old and New Testament the word testament and covenant is used interchangeably. But it is clear that it is a Testament which our English ears understand in the legal context of a testament instead of a covenant. This is clearly explained in Hebrews 9:17-24:

17. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20. Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

31. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33. But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

24. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

15. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before.
16. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

So we clearly see that the Old and New Testament promises, among others of great significance, were principally two things: the forgivenss of sins and a changed heart indwelled by God Himself for leading. Therefore, whatever else is attainable to man by the old and new testament, the primary blessings are forgiveness of sins and a new heart for pleasing Him.

Since the forgiveness of sins and the imputation of Christ's righteousness is the primary part of justification, or being righteous in the sight of God, what is a new heart? Remember the covenant statements quoted above, it is the heart of man indwelled by God Himself with His righteousness and to follow Him. This righteousness imputed to man is reckoned (imputed) through the indwelling righteousness of Christ. This is the new heart. So in God's Providence the forgiveness of sins and a new heart are only by the indwelling Spirit of God.

It must be clearly understood that the righteousness of God cannot be accounted to us except we are indwelled by Christ's righteousness and Holiness.  There is no "as if" bookkeeping transfer of righteousness or a "play act" of God playing the monkey with his hands over His eyes while the "carnal" Christian practices all sins and even unbeliefs, so God will take Him to Heaven later.  God is not a monkey. 

God of Truth cannot reckon anyone righteous unless there is the righteousness of Christ in them by which they may be reckoned righteous. It is only the righteousness of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the mind of Christ, by which we can be accounted, reckoned, or imputed as righteous, right related to God. This imputation is not just God saying, "Well my Son died for them so now I'll just make a new entry in My accounting books, and mark them down as righteous." It is not a legalistic or court secretary forensic recording in God's bookkeeping, without the person actually and truly is righteous and Holiness.   It is forensic in that it answers God's Holy demands of a righteous and Holy relationship to Him. And this is only accounted because of the present imparted indwelling of His Son, Lord Jesus Christ into those who are born-from-above to provide for all future obedience to Him.

One cannot have forgiveness of sins with reckoned righteousness without the indwelling of Christ (which is faith of God, mind of Christ). "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification (Holiness), and redemption (Restoration): That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 1 Cor 1:30-31 And the indwelling of Christ is nothing less than initial justification and also sanctification begun.

"But the 'carnal' christian teaching appeals to those who are supposed to be justified, as though a new heart and Life are optional, and the righteousness of impartation of Christ in us is regarded as a sterlile book keeping accounting of God.  Sanctification is spoken of as though it can be subsequent to forgiveness of sins and so people are led to believe that they can be justified even though they are not being sanctified."¹¹ They haven't chosen the optional deal, as the Dispensational "grace" regardless teach, of sanctification to follow His Lordship in Holy living.  Just "carnal" Christians, they say. The scriptures say, "Not Christians at all!"

By the indwelling of Lord Jesus Christ of righteousness and true Holiness we are given all the fullness of the Goodhead to live from that moment forward in rightousness (Justification) and true Holiness (Sanctification) from that moment onward.   To separate Justification and call it a mere bookkeeping item, and insist that sanctification (Holiness) is an optional choice by the individual is a blasphemous perversion of Christ's blood bought Restoration of us, and a total perversion of the purpose of His death.  "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (2 Tim 3:5).

11. New Age Evangelism is Death.

As said so often, if people really understood what these New Age false teachers are preaching within fundamentalism there could not be any born-again people under their ministry unless: (1) The hearers misunderstand what they are saying. A little child hearing believe on the Lord Jesus Christ would think that you are accepting him as Lord of your life. With this innocence of understanding, many people truly commit to Christ's Lordship and are truly born-again. (2) The truly carnal unborn people in their ministries, thinking they are born-again, later commit their lives to Christ's Lordship and are then truly born-again.

One of the interesting aspects of these "grace" regardless preachers is that they themselves have committed to him as Lord (I assume, and so they say) but their doctrines of false "believing" deny others His indwelling righteousness to be accounted to them or to be leading them. Their "carnal" christians are denied both justification and sanctification. They assume these "carnal" christians are indwelled but have absolutely no scripture to prove it, except their assertions of redefinitions based on their deductive reasoning on unfounded assertions,circular thinking.

If these New Age "grace" regardless preachers are extremely successful in evangelism many could be saved "by accident," as described but the horror is that multitudes more are being assured of an eternally secure guarantee of Heaven, not being born-again. They say, they don't have to show any fruit at all, but if they should do works they cannot be "good works" directed by the Lord within them. They cannot be done in faith. Their "carnal" christians have a spurious "faith" and their works are dead works of dead men.

I dread the day that the full bloom of their teachings comes to fruition. Think of them being someday able to boldly stand before people and teach them that Christ died for them and rose again for all of them and promises them all eternal life. All they need do this believe this. They don't have to change their conduct; they don't have to change their beliefs in witchcraft, satanism, or whatever. They can believe whatever and do whatever they wish. This all comes to them from the free "grace" of the finished work of God, they say.

Fortunately, they cannot as yet openly preach these beliefs. The society is not yet corrupt enough within this sick Fundamentalism of today to tolerate it. But the mystery of iniquity is working within Fundamentalism, folks. They are deceitful workers preparing us for the New One World Order and its anti-christ. Already, the New Evangelicals are saying the pagan Roman Catholic church's Pope, who claims the name Vicar of Christ (anti, substitute, Christ) is a great Christian leader. Give them time.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2 Cor 11:13-14

12. Gnosticism of First and Second Century is Reintroduced in Form.

Even in heresy 'there is nothing new under the sun.' Ecclesiastes 1:9 Instead of turning to the scriptures only, many have sought to enhance themselves by discovering or inventing some secret knowledge, much like the "grace" regardless people in their ivory towers of academia. In the early church, it appeared in a group of heresies called Gnosticism (gnosis is a Greek word meaning "knowledge." When John wrote his first epistle, he struck a blow at these false teachings. Yet they lingered into the second century, until Irenaenus about 177 AD became bishop of Lyons and happily recalled his acquaintance with Polycarp¹³ who was a personal acquaintance of the Aged Apostle John.

Irenaeus understood that Gnosticism appealed to the human desire to know something others didn't know. He wrote, 'As soon as a man has been won over to their way of salvation, he becomes so puffed up with conceit and self-importance that he struts about with the air of a rooster.' Irenaeus proved himself to be the greatest theologian since the Apostle Paul. In Against Heresies Irenaeus set forth the standard for the church's theology: "All the truth we need is embodied in the Bible." This widely circulated argument dealt a deadly blow to Gnosticism in his age.¹⁴ Wish this could be said for our age.

But what was Gnosticism teaching? Among all it's varied forms, its principle form taught that salvation can be attained by learning special secret teachings; that spiritual persons (pneumatikoi)--that is, Gnostics themselves (the teachers themselves)--are superior to regular Christians (psychikoi). All one need do is substitute the "grace" regardless teachers for Gnostics in this teaching and you exactly have the spiritual Christian and the carnal christian classification of Christians proposed by them today. This is nothing more than old first century Gnosticism in drag as Fundametalism, and was first reintroduced by Louis Sperry Chafer in 1918, the founder of Dallas Theological Seminary in 1924 for our times.

We now know that Chafer reintroduced into this country's Bible schools: (1) Sandemanian doctrines concerning salvation and (2) Gnosticism form, concerning the carnal and spiritual Christian classifications and (3) also Darby's invention of pretrib rapture and (4) Darby's Dispensational hermeneutic of interpreting all scriptures, including those of salvation All these are esoteric "mysteries" that only the initiates can learn under those that are spiritual. The plain implication and frequently explicit words are that to disbelieve these mysteries is just ignorance of things that are spiritual. A typical Gnostic dogma about their teachings.

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