Carnal Christian: What 1 Cor. 3 Does Not Teach

The point: Listen to this message as a matter of life and death, not merely academically, to discover if you are afflicted with this spiritual disease.

Martin uses the analogy of a dread, undiscernible disease spreading in the community to impress upon listeners the life-and-death seriousness with which they should approach the sermon's teaching on the carnal Christian theory and self-examination.

you'll recognize it. Then I want us to consider, secondly, an exposure of this doctrine in the light of the Scriptures. Now, as we do this, I don't want us to do it academically. I don't want us to do this from the standpoint of just gaining more information. I want you to do it from this standpoint. Suppose it were suddenly announced over all the radios in this area, and printed up on the front page of the Caldwell Progress on Thursday, that a number of people in the Essex County area...

7:11 - 7:41 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Now beloved, either these verses mean what they seem to teach, and the doctrine of a carnal Christian is a damning heresy, or I've got to rip out page after page of my Bible and twist the obvious meaning of the Holy Scri…

He uses the metaphor of a tree with 'hard nubby fruit' or 'rotten apples' to illustrate the quality of spiritual fruit in a believer's life, emphasizing that if there's 'nothing but rotten apples,' one needs to question the nature of the tree itself.

You dare not. Are you Christ? Do you belong to him? Then demonstrate that the flesh and the affections have been basically crucified and that the fruit of the spirit is manifested. Oh, sometimes I know in my life it's hard nubby fruit. At times there's even some rotten apples hanging on the tree. Beloved, if there's nothing but rotten apples in the tree of your life, then you need to hear what Jesus said. Make the tree good and its fruit good while the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt for a tree is known by its fruits.

35:01 - 35:42 Read in full sermon

The point: Soberly reflect upon your own heart and ask, 'Am I at home in the realm of sin? Am I at ease in my present state, having made a ritualistic decision?'

Martin shares the anecdote of his roommate from Columbia Bible College, who was raised in a Christian home and headed for the mission field but was never truly born again, to underscore that outward profession and religious activity do not equate to genuine conversion.

My roommate at Columbia Bible College on his way to the mission field converted several years ago already setting his sights for the mission field reared in a Christian home graduate from a Christian college member of gospel churches never been born again. Converted several years ago. We ought to just bow in prayer and soberly reflect upon our own hearts and ask ourselves the question am I at home in the realm of sin? Am I at ease in my present state? Having made a trip to an altar five or ten years ago have I breathed easy ever since? I've done the ritual. I've made my almighty decision there...

45:22 - 46:28 Read in full sermon