OUR SPIRITUAL WEAPONS -- Tomorrow:
"Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." (2 Cor 10:1-6)
OUR WEAPONS ARE NOT CARNAL, #2
"For the weapons . . . are not carnal . . . "
Technically, the word "carnal" has to do with man. Things that are "carnal" have their genesis with man. They focus upon man. They have to do with purely human desires and ambitions. When this word is used, it is intended to evoke the proper associations within us. The word "carnally" was used under the Law to denote intimacy between a man and woman (Lev 18:20; 19:20; 5:13). Later versions use more crude language.
The King James versions uses the word "carnal" eleven times (Rom 7:14; 8:7; 15:27; 1 Cor 3:1,3,4; 9:11; 2 Cor 10:4; Heb 7:16; 9:10). The American Standard Version (1901) uses the word seven times (Rom 7:14; 15:27; 1 Cor 3:1,3; 9:11; Heb 7:16; 9:10). The New King James Version (1982) uses the word "carnal" seven times (Rom 7:14; 8:7; 1 Cor 3:1,3,4;2 Cor 10:4). It is not used a single time by the New American Standard Bible (1977), New International Version (1984), or New Revised Standard Version (1989). It is used once by the Revised Standard Version – 1952 (Rom 7:14).
The point is that with the passage of time, this word has been largely eliminated from the
Christian vocabulary – even though it is etymologically precise.
A great deal of pivotal teaching surrounds the word "carnal," so that hearing or reading the word should at once summon certain things to our mind.
1. Natural moral and spiritual corruption. "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I AM CARNAL, sold under sin" (Rom 7:14).
2. Being in a state of spiritual death. "For to be CARNALLY MINDED is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace" (Rom 8:6).
3. A state of enmity against God. "Because THE CARNAL MIND is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom 8:7).
4. Ministering things pertaining to life in this world. "It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in C" (Rom 15:27). "If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your CARNAL THINGS?" (1 Cor 9:11).
5. The opposite of being spiritual, and being spiritually infantile. "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto CARNAL, even as unto babes in Christ" (1 Cor 3:1).
6. Possessing the uncomely human traits of envy, strife, and division. "For ye are yet CARNAL: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not CARNAL, and walk as men?" (1 Cor 3:3).
7. Being sectarian and divisive. "For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not CARNAL?" (1 Cor 3:4).
8. A trait that is not found in our spiritual weaponry. "For the weapons of our warfare are not CARNAL, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" (2 Cor 10:4).
9. The commandments under the Law of Moses, which pertained only to procedures and routines. "Who is made, not after the law of a CARNAL commandment, but after the power of an endless life" (Heb 7:16). "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and CARNAL ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation" (Heb 9:10).
Using these doctrinal statements, we can draw several conclusions concerning the weapons of our warfare NOT being "carnal."
1. They have nothing to do with the unregenerate, or natural, state.
2. They have nothing to do with death, never declining or losing their potency.
3. They are in no way contrary to God, but are fully in harmony with His nature, objectives, and salvation.
4. They have nothing to do with the things associated with our bodies.
5. There is nothing juvenile, simplistic, or rudimentary about them.
6. They do not gender envy, strife, or division among the saints, but promote unity among those who are living by faith.
7. They are not associated with rules, procedures, and disciplines than can be employed without the heart and spiritual understanding.
Thus the weapons of our warfare are totally separate from anything and everything that can be traced back to Adam – the "first man." They have nothing whatsoever to do with the "doctrines and commandments of men" (Mk 7:7), the "will of man" (John 1:15), the "wisdom of men" (1 Cor 2:5), the "sleight of men" (Eph 4:14), the "tradition of men" (Col 2:8), the "doctrines of men" (Col 2:22), or the "word of man" (1 Thess 2:13). The employment of things so characterized have no power in the "good fight of faith." There is no spiritual foe that can be conquered by them. Satan will not yield to them. The spiritual foes against which we wrestle will successfully stand against any "carnal" weapon. The cause of Christ cannot be advanced by such weaponry. No soul can be saved by them. No doubter can be convinced by them. No missionary program can be implemented through them. No church can be built with them. So soul can be stabilized with them. No erroneous philosophy can be exposed by them. No false theory can be thrown down by them.
Judge for yourself whether or not you want to employ "carnal" weapons against staggering spiritual forces and arguments that have, outside of Christ, enslaved the entirety of our race. It ought to be apparent that the weapons we employ cannot be "carnal." They cannot be from the realm against which we are waging war.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, open my eyes to see what is spiritually powerless. Then grant me strength to turn away from it and hate it.