The Carnal Church

The Carnal Church

My Bible, My Help; My Hope

Jude 1:3-6

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Introduction

Tonight, we'll examine three main points: Carnality and Its Manifestations in the Church, the Consequences of a carnal church, and Countering Carnality with Spirituality.

Carnality and Its Manifestations in the Church

When we talk about carnality, we're referring to the desires and appetites of our flesh.

It's the part of us that is drawn to the things of this world that are contrary to the Spirit of God.

It's the part of us that is selfish, prideful, and lustful.

It's the part of us that seeks our own pleasure and satisfaction above all else.

And unfortunately, it's a part of us that can often find its way into the church.

In the church, carnality can manifest in many different ways.

It can show up as gossip and slander, where congregation members speak ill of one another, spreading rumors and causing division.

It can manifest as envy and jealousy, as congregation members resent one another's gifts, talents, or blessings.

It can manifest in pride and arrogance, where congregation members think highly of themselves and look down on others.

It can also manifest in lust and immorality, where members of the congregation engage in sinful behaviors and justify them under the guise of grace.

The first manifestation of carnality in the church that we'll look at is gossip and slander.

This is a particularly insidious form of carnality because it often disguises itself as concern or care for others.

But in reality, it's a form of judgment and condemnation, a way of tearing others down to build ourselves up.

It's a way of asserting our own righteousness at the expense of others.

And it's a way of creating division and discord within the body of Christ.

The second manifestation of carnality in the church that we'll look at is envy and jealousy.

This form of carnality stems from a lack of contentment and gratitude.

It's a form of covetousness, a desire for what others have that we don't.

It's a form of discontentment, a dissatisfaction with what God has given us.

And it's a form of idolatry, a worship of the gifts rather than the Giver.

The third manifestation of carnality in the church that we'll look at is pride and arrogance.

This is a form of carnality that stems from a high view of self and a low view of God.

It's a form of self-exaltation, a desire to be seen and admired by others.

It's a form of self-righteousness, a belief that we are better than others.

And it's a form of self-deception, a denial of our own sinfulness and need for grace.

Lust and immorality are the fourth manifestations of carnality in the church that we'll examine.

This form of carnality stems from a misuse of God's good gifts.

It's a form of idolatry, a worship of pleasure rather than the Giver of pleasure.

It's a form of rebellion, a rejection of God's design and purpose for our bodies.

And it's a form of self-destruction, a pursuit of fleeting pleasure at the cost of lasting joy.

In all these ways, carnality can infiltrate the church, harming and hindering the body of Christ.

But as we'll see in the next part of our study, there are consequences to this carnality that should motivate us to contend for the faith and strive for spirituality.

Consequences of a Carnal Church

Having examined the manifestations of carnality, we now turn our gaze to the consequences that a carnal church faces.

The first consequence is that the church becomes a breeding ground for false teachings.

Jude warns us of certain individuals who have "crept in unaware or secretly slipped in among you" (Jude 1:4).

These individuals pervert the grace of God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ, our only Sovereign and Lord.

The church, which should be the light of truth, becomes a platform for lies when carnality takes root.

False teachings are like leaven; they spread and permeate the entire church, leading many astray.

The Apostle Paul warned the elders in Ephesus that "savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your number men will arise and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30).

The second consequence of a carnal church is a loss of spiritual power.

When the church is carnal, it loses its spiritual vitality and effectiveness.

The church is meant to be a powerhouse of spiritual activity, a place where the Holy Spirit moves and works in believers' lives.

But when carnality creeps in, the Holy Spirit is grieved, and His power is quenched.

The church in Laodicea provides a stark example of this.

In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus rebukes this church, saying, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

This church had become lukewarm, complacent, and ineffective because of its carnality.

The third consequence of a carnal church is a loss of witness to the world.

The church is meant to be the world's light, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14).

But when the church becomes carnal, its light dims, and its witness to the world is compromised.

The church in Corinth was a prime example of this.

Despite having many spiritual gifts, the church was known more for its divisions, lawsuits, and immorality than for its love, unity, and holiness.

As a result, its witness to the city of Corinth was severely tarnished.

Let's look at the original language of a key term from our main scripture passage.

The term "ungodly" in Jude 1:4 is translated from the Greek word "asebeis." This term is used in several other passages in the New Testament.

For instance, in 2 Peter 2:5, Peter uses "ungodly" to describe the people of Noah's time who were destroyed in the flood because of their wickedness.

In Romans 4:5, Paul uses "ungodly" to describe those who do not work but trust God, who justifies the ungodly.

The fourth consequence of a carnal church is a distortion of God's grace.

Jude warns us about individuals who "pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality" (1:4).

When the church becomes carnal, the beautiful doctrine of God's grace is twisted and misused.

Instead of leading to holiness and godliness, it is used as an excuse for sin.

The fifth consequence of a carnal church is a denial of Jesus Christ.

Jude tells us that these individuals "deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord" (Jude 1:4).

When the church becomes carnal, the centrality of Christ is lost.

He is no longer the head of the church, the one to whom all allegiance is due.

Instead, other things take His place – personal preferences, cultural trends, or human traditions.

In conclusion, the consequences of a carnal church are severe.

It becomes a breeding ground for false teachings, loses its spiritual power and witness, distorts the grace of God, and denies Jesus Christ.

May we heed Jude's warning and strive to keep our church free from carnality.

Countering Carnality with Spirituality

As we continue to examine the landscape of our faith, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a crucial understanding: the need to counter carnality with spirituality.

This is a challenging task, but it is necessary.

It demands our full attention, commitment, and surrender to the Holy Spirit.

Carnality in the church, as we've seen, is a pervasive issue.

It's like a weed that, left unchecked, can overrun the entire garden of our faith community.

But how do we counter this?

How do we replace the weeds of carnality with the flowers of spirituality?

Firstly, we must understand that spirituality is not an abstract idea or a lofty ideal.

It's a lived reality, a day-to-day practice.

It's about making choices that honor God, reflect our love for Him, and desire to live according to His will.

It's about rejecting the world's ways and embracing the ways of the Spirit.

In his letter to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul writes, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16).

This is a clear and direct instruction.

We are to walk by the Spirit, to live our lives guided by the Spirit, and in doing so, we will not give in to the desires of the flesh, to the carnality that threatens to infiltrate our church.

Secondly, we must recognize that spirituality is not a solitary pursuit.

It's a communal endeavor.

We are not lone rangers on this spiritual journey; we are part of a body, the body of Christ.

We need each other.

We must encourage each other, hold each other accountable, pray for each other, and bear each other's burdens.

We need to surround ourselves with wise and godly individuals who can spur us on in our spiritual growth, individuals who can help us counter the carnality in our midst.

Thirdly, we must be proactive in our pursuit of spirituality.

It's not enough to avoid carnality; we must actively seek spirituality.

We must seek to grow in our knowledge of God, deepen our relationship with Him, and cultivate the fruits of the Spirit in our lives.

The Apostle Peter writes, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

This is not a passive suggestion; it's an active command.

We are to grow and progress continually in our spiritual journey.

We are to strive for maturity in our faith, not complacency.

Lastly, we must remember that spirituality is not a destination but a journey.

It's not about reaching a certain level of holiness or achieving a certain spiritual status.

It's about continually striving to be more like Christ and to live more fully in the Spirit.

In the words of the Apostle Paul, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12).

We must press on, keep moving forward, and never stop striving to counter carnality with spirituality.

So, beloved, let us take these truths to heart.

Let us commit to countering carnality with spirituality, to replacing the weeds of worldly desires with the flowers of godly living.

Let us walk by the Spirit, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, and press on in our spiritual journey.

And as we do so, remember that we are not alone.

We are part of a body, a community of believers, and together, we can counter the carnality in our midst and cultivate a vibrant, Spirit-filled church.

Conclusion

As we close today, remember we're not alone in this journey.

We're surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who cheer us on and urge us to keep our faith and fight the good fight.

We're not called to be perfect, but we are called to be faithful.

We're called to stand firm, to hold onto the truth, to love God, and to love others with everything we've got.

And remember, we don't do this in our strength.

We do it with the strength that God provides.

We do it with the Holy Spirit's help, which guides, empowers, and equips us for every good work.

We do it knowing that we're loved by a God who is for us, who is with us, and who will never leave us nor forsake us.

So, let's go out there and live out our faith with boldness and courage.

Let's shine the light of Christ in the dark places.

Let's be the salt of the earth, bringing flavor and preservation to a world in desperate need.

And let's do it all for the glory of God, who loved us so much that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Let's pray.