The World Stole the Church
Chapter 3
The World in the Church
“7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”
- Romans 8:
The carnal mind is the fleshly mind with which we are born into this world; it is dead in trespasses and sins; it is against God, God’s true Church, and His Christ, Whom He sent into this world.
The flesh is in the world; and the world is in the church.
“8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
- Romans 8:
“4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
- Romans 8:
“29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.
– Galatians 4:
“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.”
- Romans 8:
The word “World” is used 79 times in the Gospel of John! 0ften in the context of describing the world’s opposition to the true church, those who are born again, having the LIFE of Christ within them.
“18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.”
- John 15:
Christ was rejected and so it is today; especially by the religious establishment.
“1 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended.
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that
whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known
the Father, nor me.”
– John 16:
Jude talks about men who have crept in unawares.
“… 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.”
- Jude 1:4
“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 (for all) 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.”
- Jude 1:
The early church was composed of believers who were persecuted for their faith.
The world has been welcomed into the church today!
The rationale has been that they will hear the Gospel and become Christian.
Thus, key positions of leadership, authority and even teaching have been given to such with devastating results;
devastating damage to the character, testimony and working of the church assembly.
“15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
- 1 John 2:
As I wrote in the Preface,
This book has a word that is not easy, not superficial, but is hard, complex, and difficult,
all because
“The World Stole the Church”;
this book of Scriptures is the Truth of God the Holy Spirit; written in the Words of the Christian Bible, from God the Holy Spirit!
All the early churches of Paul’s day practiced these instructions; they followed the Word from the Apostle for their assemblies. To her great harm, the church abandoned God’s commands of how we are to meet together!
“33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. – 1 Corinthians 14:33
Unfortunately, few may pay attention!”
Therefore, I am not as interested in following the usual protocol for writing as I am in communicating a message. Repetition and redundancy are intended and purposeful.
Our country is very religious! But is it the Christian religion? Is it based on the Bible Word from God?
When the world comes into the church, it brings with it the ways of the world. “Bigger is Better”.
Since they are of the world, that is all they know. Such do not have the Mind of Christ in thinking about the operation of the church.
“11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 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.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
– 1 Corinthians 2:
Why did the Apostle Paul spend 3 years, night and day, warning the Ephesian church, with tears, concerning the future of the church?
Acts 20:
“29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.”
Why did Jesus foretell, in His Mystery Parables (Matthew 13:11,24-33) that the church would suffer tares among the wheat and evil leaven to consume the earthly church?
“33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”
- Matthew 13:
Jesus and the Apostle foretold the future of the church in order
- To provide understanding of what would happen,
- To show that these problems would occur,
- To let us know there are no surprises for God,
- To comfort believers concerning their faith in the midst of persecution; persecution often coming from within the church itself,
- Provide guidance in approaching the problem,
- To help us realize that the Kingdom of God is safe and secure in Heaven and in the hearts of true believers,
- To help us understand, that if we are rejected by a church assembly, it may be the world in the earthly church assembly and not Christ who is rejecting us;
the world rejecting the Light of Jesus Christ, God the Son!
The opposition to Born Again Believers, in the church by the world, is disguised and therefore often subtle, devious and only overt at times.