In Second Corinthians 5:16,17 we find Paul addressing the religious people of his day. He notes that many of these people know Christ “… in the flesh”–according to the doctrines, customs and “truths” of man’s religion. Today this refers to Catholicism/Protestantism. Though we all have come through a religion system that taught us that, from day one we “knew” the Godhead, in reality we knew Them only according to the dictates of our respective religious organizations–according to the flesh. These globe-encircling, successful, soul-winning organizations claim that, having gone through their prescribed rituals, one is instantly a “new man.” Is this true? Is one automatically “in Christ” at the point at which one is pronounced “saved?” Verse 17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature (creation); old things have (all) passed away, behold, ALL things have become (been made) new.” In verse 16 Paul said, “… though WE have known Christ according to the flesh …,” he was referring not only to some members of the congregation, but also to the apostles. Paul spoke to the dying to self scenario when he said, “… I die daily” and “I am crucified with Christ.” The very subtle message in verse 17 is that even though the 12 apostles had spent 3 1/2 years in the Lord’s presence, listening to Him, watching Him, ministering for Him in God’s power (Mat. 9:37-10:42), etc., they still only knew Him in the flesh. At His death they were still unconverted–the process of creating a new man had not begun in them. This is graphically revealed in two passages which can easily escape one’s attention. In Matthew 18:3 we find Jesus chastising His disciples, telling them that unless they were CONVERTED and became as little children, they could not enter God’s kingdom–they would be treated the same as all other sinners. In Luke 22:32 we find Jesus saying to Peter, “… WHEN (in the future) thou art CONVERTED, help thy brethren (the other apostles).” Recall in Matthew 10:1,7 that early on in His ministry Jesus had given them power to cast out demons, heal the sick and preach the Word. For more than three years they had been doing so. Today, anyone who preaches great sermons, heals the sick and casts out demons is assumed to have been saved, born again, converted, sanctified and heaven bound. The old man having been put to death, the new man is shining forth. But Jesus told the apostles that at that point in their lives (just prior to His death) they were not spiritually where they must be in order to spend eternity with Him; they still had to do a spiritual 180. Having not yet died to themselves, they were still in the flesh. Jesus knew that fleshy Peter would deny Him at His point of greatest need. He also knew that Peter would be the first apostle to die to himself (put the old man to death) and become a new creation. At that point he would be able to help his fellow apostles who would also have to undergo the same excruciating process. Let us not forget that the man Jesus was the first human to die to self and submit to the Father’s will. This was a voluntary act on His part and must be voluntary on our part.

The point I am making here is that all that glitters is not gold. Just because one can do what the disciples did does not mean that one is no more right with God than they were in Matthew 10. Remember that Simon Magus was so spiritually gifted that the people said of him “… this man is the great power of God” (Acts 8:10). Because Simon amazed them with miracles, the people believed that he was God’s power in human form. Again, glitter does not necessarily equate to oneness with God. Another teaching moment occurs in the Acts 8 episode. Notice that Simon “… BELIEVED and was BAPTIZED,” followed the teachings of Philip and joined the local congregation. In today’s church he would soon be enrolled in a seminary where he would be indoctrinated in the proper theology and would soon be pastoring a church, missionarying or evangelizing. Instead we find Peter telling him that he would burn in hell. What happened? Nothing happened, which is the point. Simon “got saved” during one of Philip’s services, “got baptized” and “joined the church.” In today’s church, the fix would be in. Sin being an accepted and expected aspect of the “Christian walk,” no matter what he did or did not do following his “salvation experience,” his future would be sure. Simon, like his modern counterpart, was an “affirma- tive action” Christian, needing only show up to maintain his salvation. And like today’s “sinner saved by grace” he would have a church-issued disclaimer–“I’m not guilty; see Jesus.” Peter would disagree; he would call the “new man” nothing more than the “old man” whitewashed. To be continued. L.J.