Nothing Short of All!

by John Greene

When discussing the hard saying of Jesus that caused some 18,000+ people turn and leave Him (John 6), we are asked the question about His depcition of drinking His blood and eating His flesh. That question is very simple, what did He mean? Is this a physical, literal perspective as so many have decreed such as Catholicism, one of the 95 reasons that Martin Luther broke away from the church or is it or is it figurative? Now if it is figurative, why did He even tell those listeners that day and see fit to record it for our reading and application?

The figurative interpretation ALWAYS has a literal application otherwise there is no value to using figurative symbolism. However the proper application of something figurative must taken as all things in context, and in light of the rest of kingdom principles. The aspect of Christ's flesh and blood, although not encouraging canabalism as many of those Jews thought, does lead to something that we as Christian reject simply because we want Christ and eternal bliss without it costing us anything. What we fail to realize with the Godhead is that commitment with Jesus and a relationship with the world are contrary to what we want, and thus makes void our relationship.

Rom 12:1-2 ¶ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

In this passage we are sacrifices, our whole lives must, must, must be laid down as Jesus laid His flesh and blood down for His friends. This Romans passage reveals in the Greek the critical nature of service to the Lord and uses a technical term for the priesthood. We get the word liturgy and liturgical from the Greek word used here. As you are aware, He makes us priests and kings in the Kingdom of God to rule and reign with Him! To be a part of His kingdom requires our lives to be relinquished, our desires to be given up, our control of our lives to given into His hands. Paul says that we are sacrifices, living, breathing, walking sacrifices for the glory of Him! Paul tells the Corinthians this: 1 Cor 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. We have no rights! Too many are mistakenly told they can have Christ added to their lives and they will see heaven. Paul told the Corinthians that we have no rights! Paul told the Romans that we have no rights! Paul said that they must be living sacrifices to our holy Lord!

Many have misundertood what the Lord did when He put on flesh and lived among His creation. Many have termed the Lord's life as something that it is not, even to the point of saying in the same breath, carnal and Christ. The usage of carnal must never be applied to the Christ. Carnal does imply sin whereas sarx reveals the potential to sin yet chooses each and every time to walk in the Spirit and be sinless as Hebrews reveals so clearly about our risen Lord! Jesus vanquished death by rising from the grave and ascending into the heavens with His captives (Eph 4:8-10).

Strong's 4559 sarkikoV sarkikos sar-kee-kos'

from 4561; TDNT-7:98,1000; adj

AV-carnal 9, fleshly 2; 11

1) fleshly, carnal
1a) having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites
1a1) governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God
1a2) having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature
1a3) human: with the included idea of depravity
1b) pertaining to the flesh
1b1) to the body: related to birth, linage, etc

For Synonyms see entry 5912

This word is an adjective and must be understood as a descriptive word placing the emphasis on being fleshly or carnal. As you can see that it is used 11 times in the NT and NEVER in a good way because there's nothing good about being carnal.

When Paul used it concerning the Corinthians, he used in a negative way, but the reality was these Corinthians despite their carnality responded positively to the Word when the Holy Spirit convicted them through Paul's teaching! Thus the usage when in conjuction with Christians was negative and proper for the word. However in keeping with the whole Bible, this person would become a backslider should they reject the conviction of the Holy Spirit which leaves them in a precarious position. The next step is becoming an apostate.

Strong's 4561 sarx sarx sarx

probably from the base of 4563; TDNT-7:98,1000; n f

AV-flesh 147, carnal 2, carnally minded+5427 1, fleshly 1; 151

1) flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts
2) the body
2a) the body of a man
2b) used of natural or physical origin, generation or relationship
2b1) born of natural generation
2c) the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature"
2c1) without any suggestion of depravity
2c2) the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin
2c3) the physical nature of man as subject to suffering
3) a living creature (because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or beast
4) the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God


This is the noun and root word of carnal in the Greek. Now consider what is said of this word. Using carnal and Christ in the same sentence or breath violates His sinlessnes, yet for Him to put on flesh reveals the extent of our Master's love.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

He 2:14-15 ¶ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

Notice that Jesus put on the frailties and possibilities of sin when He put on flesh! He was made in flesh and blood form because He wanted to destroy the works of the devil when He hung on Calvary! He wore the same flesh that we wear today! He was NOT super-spiritual and walking in some state that prohibited Him from real life! Jesus experienced real life just as we do, BUT with one exception, without sin because He chose each and every moment to walk in the Spirit and NOT fulfill the lusts of the flesh! Jesus left His characteristics that revealed His deity and glory in the hands of the Father to whom He returned and sat down at His right hand when He ascended into the third heavens.

He 2:16-18 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

I am so thankful that when I speak to the Lord, I know that He not only hears me, but He knows how I feel because He has been there, not in a mental assertion, but He has been there because He lived in the same flesh that I wear, but conquered the flesh using the Word of God and walking in the Spirit. In this truth and comfort I am able to be the sacrifice in my life that Paul told the Romans! I can live a holy life in the truth of God's Word and not demand my rights because my Jesus has been there and is able to comfort me while I am struggling and desiring to be the overcomer He desires me to be.

He 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

We have a great big wonderful Lord who left His atributes and glory as God in the heavenlies to put on the frailties of man to suffer and nail them to a tree! Wow, and to think that I can find any excuse I want to justify why I should sin all the time Jesus is The Example of how to live our lives without sin! Shame on us demanding our rights! Shame on us for calling sin a mistake and taking it in jest! Shame on us for renaming sin so it is acceptable! Shame on us for taking His sacrifice so lightly!

I am appalled at the continuance or propogation of the teachings and statements that I have read in a number of locations these last few days and I am about to pop a cork if I dodn't say something. I am so disgusted with the liberality and anti-responsibility that has been stated about living in the Lord, about tatoos, about eternal sercurity, about doing one's own thing, about living a free life in the new covenant, about the charismania without common sense theology!

I am as grace filled and as grace living as the next man of God but for so many to claim Christianity and bow down to Tammuz is too much for me to bear! I see the church clearly outside the temple weeping for Tammuz (Eze 8:14) wanting to have him and God at all costs not even remotely aware that the Lord is about to enter with His angels of judgment, beginning in that very temple to clean house (Eze 9).

What is wrong with people? They justify and support an evil Bill and think nothing of it, even give him a blessing, because they have money in their pockets (MT 24:11,12) tossing out all common sense. What is wrong with the church? This thinking is clearly in the church because we have such articles as this about compromising and combining and mixing into one big bag their desires with their god(Re 3:14-22)!

If we bow down to anything or if anything separates us in our relationship with God it must be called what it is, sin. We must recognize it, renounce, repent and sin no more. Stop with the tossing out of spin saying I can't judge! That is justification of sin! It is spin from the White House! Sin separates us from God and He is a holy God who will return for a body that is pure, holy, without a blemish!

Let's look again at this verse, this one verse because it says everything so profoundly so succinctly!!

1 Cor 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

For ye are bought with a price!!! The precious life of our Savior was given to wash sin from our lives and we have the nerve to compromise sin, to justify sin, to claim there is no love in those who preach the Word against sin stepping on our toes!!! What is wrong with us??? For ye are bought with a price

Paul didn't pull any punches! Paul told it like it was! We see later in the other Epistle to the Corinthians that telling the truth led to godly sorrow that worked into repentance and the complete clearing away of that sin and all conscience of the sin! God is grace in action and will do what His Word says provided we do what He says to do, repent!

Paul concluded this one statement! Therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Where is the glory when we bow down to the things that harm the temple of the Holy Spirit like drugs, alcohol, gluttony, smoking?? What glory does God get?? NONE, absolutely none! We justify the sin, we condone the sin, we accept the sin, we do everything but repent of the sin leaving it on the altar of Jesus, never again to return to it and pick it up! What did Jesus tell the woman caught in adultery? He said, "Go and sin no more!" Let's quit pussy footing around and parsing words playing the demon game!

We run around and justify our sin why we can keep our sin why anyone that says the Word, and Paul sure did say the Word, is wrong and legalistic! Why, why, why?? Why is it wrong to judge righteously? Why did the Lord tell Ezekiel to judge (Eze 20, 23)? Why did Jesus tell the disciples to judge righteous judgment (John 7)?

I just don't understand why so many who claim Christ trample His blood and make a mockery of His love, His power, His grace!! Paul also told those Corinthians not to receive the grace of God in vain!! 2Cor 6:1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. Hello!!!! Did anyone hear that, we can recieve the grace of God in vain????

There seems to be some copperation on our part. There seems to be some choices to be made on our part. There seems to be some some accountability and responsibility on our part. At some point we need to draw some boundaries, some lines in the sand based on the Word of God: things that the Lord encourages us to do and things that we are told will harm us and destroy our walk in the Lord. Take a look at what Paul went on to say!

2Cor 6:17-18 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." This phrase, And be separate, specifically speaks to setting up those boundaries, to define your position. Think about what Joshua did in defining his position! Joshua 24:14-15 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. ¶ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. This is a clear case of setting boundaries! Joshua said he will put away all idolatry and will serve God with his whole heart!

Doesn't 2Cor 6:17-18 sound familiar?? The same call has rung out through all of time!

Re 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

What is the church doing?? The real church is serving Jesus Christ, but the Laodiceans are hollering, complaining, using spin! Why?? Let's see what Jesus said!

John 3:20-21 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

I must ask myself, do I really have the relationship with the Lord that I say I do??