NO. 55 THE CHRISTIANS WHO SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
TEXT: GALATIANS 5: 19-21 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murder, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (KJV)
Today I am going to give you a message of the Christians who shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
We see the spiritual Christians and the carnal ones in the book of Galatians. Then, we find very dreadful thing. That is, those, though they are even Christians, will not inherit the Kingdom of God if they are carnal. The verse below shows this.
“of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Here we see that without any doubt. Do we have to take it literally or something as a parable? We know that we have carnal Christians and spiritual ones in churches. We know that we should not be carnal ones, but won’t they inherit the Kingdom? Why won’t they inherit it? How do we take such a thing as this verse? We are now going to learn of it.
When we read the Bible, we know that the Bible provide us with some passages about the carnal Christians. If we learn of them, we will be able to come to the right conclusion.
We find other verses in the same book of Galatians.
GALATIANS 6: 7-9 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap,
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (KJV)
It is written here, “Be not deceived.” Many Christians may mistake the flesh for the Spirit. But it is clearly written, “he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Those who sow to the Spirit, that is, who walk according to the Spirit though they are in this world, will reap the everlasting life from the Spirit.
Then, how about the Christians who walk according to the flesh? How about the rewards for those who walk carnally such as retorting immediately when offended a little or following their feeling, ideas, or taste. It is also written, “he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption.” What do you think it means? Do you take it literally or something like a parable? Though it is my personal opinion, I take it literally as corruption. Why? It is because those who sow to the Spirit will literally reap the everlasting life of the Spirit. If such is the fact, what is written about those who belong to the flesh will be realized as the fact, too.
We should never pervert, misunderstand, or misread the words of the Bible. Because of the words of the Bible we go through hardships to walk in the Spirit. Why do we have to walk carrying the cross, in spite of the fact that many Christians who walk to their own tastes, ideas and thoughts of flesh?
The reason is because it is also written, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Those who continue to walk in the Spirit without fainting will reap the everlasting life some day. We walk this way because we believe in the Word.
The life to the spiritual is contrasted to the corruption to the carnal in this passage. We also find another passage to show the two contrasted words in the Bible.
MATTHEW 7: 13, 14 13 Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (KJV)
This passage of Matthew looks to supplement the above passage in the book of Galatians. The carnal will reap the corruption. The spiritual will reap the everlasting life. And those who enter through the gate that leads to destruction, that is, those who walk in the flesh are many, and others who walk in the Spirit are few.
It should be the greater problem than as we think whether we walk to the Spirit or to the flesh. That is because it relates to the inheritance that the Christian will have. It is written as below;
GALATIANS 4: 28-31 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of freewoman.
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
Here we also find the dreadful. The sons after the flesh, that is, the Christians who walk in the flesh will not be able to be the heirs. What will they not be able to inherit? It will be the Kingdom. So then, it is so serious thing written here if literally taken.
It is supposed that there are those who think that they are all right because they are Christians and still walk in the flesh like natural men. Then, one day, when they stand before the Lord, they will be told that no inheritance or even the Kingdom is for them. That is what the verses mean here.
I know that what I have said does not agree with the traditional theology. But the point is in what the Bible says. God will judge us not based on the theology but on His words.
The word “bond” means probably slaves of sins.
If we are in the Spirit, we are delivered from sins and made free in our walking, for it is written, “the son of the freewoman.” But if we are in the flesh, we become the slave of sins, as written, “the son of the bondwoman.”
If those Christians who walk in the flesh express their anger whenever they want, or shower others with bitter words receive the Kingdom, there will be no difference between the carnal and the spiritual. But it is written, “Nevertheles what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.”
We have the passage of the Bible where the carnal Christians are grieved for. It is as below;
ROMANS 9: 3- 8 3 For I could wish that myself are accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel;
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (KJV)
The passage shows that Paul has grieved for the Israelites who are his kinsmen. But another meaning is hidden here as the parable. It is the spiritual Israelite, the Christians.
So it also says that the Christians of the flesh who are among all the ones as the spiritual Israelites are grieved for. We will see one by one.
The original word for “My kinsmen” is translated as my brothers in English. It is because the Christian brothers are also counted for. It is written, “My kinsmen according to the flesh.” They are counted for as the people in the flesh, or the Christians in the flesh.
So those who are brothers in the flesh or the Christians in the flesh are grieved for in these verses.
As written, “that were accursed from Christ,” what about the destination of those Christians in the flesh? They will be accursed from Christ.
“Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises.”
The Christians in the flesh are also among the spiritual Israelites. Adoption as God’s sons, the glory, the covenants, the laws, the words, and the promises are theirs.
“Whose are the fathers.”
The Fathers in the history, the Saints and the great men of faith are also theirs.
“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.”
Why will they not inherit the Kingdom because of their being in the flesh, in spite of the fact that they are the Christians who are given such wonderful promises? Is the God’s word false or of no effect?
“For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.”
In these verses, we see the expression of both the children of the flesh and of the promise. Not all the children of Israel are Israel. Rather, God has counted that the children of the promise, that is, the children of the Spirit, should be the true Israel, the Christians. In short, there exists the clear distinction among the Christians. And, the latter part of the passage says,
“And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.”
The word “this rule” is used clearly. It implies that there are those who walk according to the rule and others who do not. We know that God has seriously dealt with the Israelites, kinsmen of Paul, when they do not walk according to God’s will. But this is nothing other than the warning to the Christians who walk in the flesh. We should understand that rightly.
Another passage shows the Christians in the flesh.
JOHN 8: 30- 45 30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him. We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. (KJV)
In this passage we find some of the same kinds of expressions as we see in Romans and Galatians. They are the words as Abraham, servants, and freedom. So this passage says of the same meanings.
The outline of the above passage is as below.
1) These Jews believe on Jesus, and so they are the types of Christians.
“Then said Jesus to those which believed on him.”
2) But they are servants of sin. And they are not the true children of God.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”
3) Therefore they will not inherit the house, the Kingdom. But the true Christians will inherit it.
“And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.”
4) They are the type of Christians who are the children of Abraham, the father of faith.
“I know that ye are Abraham’s seed.”
4) They will seek to kill the Spirit who is the Helper. They are the type of the Christians who do not listen to the Spirit. For they seek to kill the Savior, Jesus.
“But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God.”
5) The Christians in the flesh are tares, and their father is the devil.
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.”
But, we would like to walk according to the Spirit.
End.