What is Carnality? Part 3 (Understanding God's Great Salvation #22)

The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:15-16: "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more."

Allow me to share with you some commentary on this passage from the Bible Knowledge Commentary by Dr. John F. Walvoord and Dr. Roy B. Zuck:

As a result of his conversion Paul no longer evaluated people on the basis of externals. He implied that his opponents, and to a certain extent those influenced by them, did. At one time this had been true of Paul also. He had opposed Christ and His followers because he had regarded Christ from a worldly point of view. He had information about Jesus, but this was not the same as believing in Him. Mere information about Jesus cannot transform a person from self- centeredness to selflessness. Only conversion could effect that, as it had done for Paul.

Today's quote is from John Owen. He said: "Poor souls are apt to think that all those whom they read of or hear of to be gone to heaven, went thither because they were so good and so holy. Yet not one of them, not any man that is now in heaven (Jesus Christ alone excepted), did ever come thither any other way but by forgiveness of sins through Christ.”  

Our topic today is titled "What is Carnality? (Part 3)" from the book, "So Great Salvation: What it Means to Believe in Jesus Christ" by Dr. Charles Ryrie.

EVIDENCES OF CARNALITY

What were the evidences of the Corinthians’ carnality? In general terms Paul characterizes them as walking or living "like mere men." Certainly other Christian people are not meant, but unsaved people of the world. Paul can only mean that these carnal Corinthians lived like unsaved men...