Most Christians ignorantly look to Jesus of Nazareth’s earthly ministry to try and get their doctrine and instruction. They just don’t know any better, that’s what religion has taught them. So, when they read the verse below and try to aply it to believers today ... they become disheartened, frustrated, or confused as it plainly says Jesus of Nazareth’s followers can be lost and burned if they do not ‘abide’ in union with Him in their life and service.

“If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” (John 15:6)

Again, they don’t realize Jesus of Nazareth was speaking to Israel ONLY. There were no Christian’s of today’s “dispensation of the grace of God” in view yet. “he (Jesus) answered and said, I am not sent but (or except) unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt. 15:24) This verse is totally at odds with the words of Paul that beleivers are securely "sealed with the Spirit." (Eph. 1:13)

Look as you might and you will never find where Paul refers to anything that Jesus said or did in His earthly ministry… except for Jesus’ work of the Cross on behalf of all mankind.

Many ignore the words above in their Bible reading and study. The Bible may be viewed as a mailbox with mail in it specifically addressed to God’s two people groups, individually… these two distinct groups are Israel and “the Church, the body of Christ.” The Biblical mail for one party does not necessarily apply to the other.

Many unknowing preachers today are quite disappointed and even angry after reading or hearing the eternal words of the everlasting God in Paul’s verse below. Why? What is so controversial here?

“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh (as Jesus of Nazareth): yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” (2 Corinthians 5:16)

What exactly does it mean to “know we no man after the flesh?” How can Jesus be “known after the flesh”? Actually, how can He not be “known after the flesh”? The “flesh” here simply means a human person in the physical and literal sense, such as Jesus of Nazareth who was on earth as the “Son of man.” (Dan 7:13, Matt. 9:6) (The Bible’s other usage of the term “flesh” in Rom. 8:1 is as a metaphor for the ‘sin-nature.’)

Specifically, 2 Cor. 5:16 (above) refers to “flesh” as a circumcised (Jew) or uncircumcised (non-Jew, or Gentile) as seen below. In other words, it refers to the differentiation underscored here:

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in ‘time past’ Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; ¹²That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:….” (Ephesians 2:11-12)

NOTE: ‘Covenant Jews’ under “the Law” were referred to as having “the Circumcision in the flesh” outwardly,’ which was a token or metaphor for an ‘inward “circumcision of the heart.” Thus, Paul wrote;

“… they are not all Israel, which are of Israel (racially): 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 (of the lineage to Messiah).” (Rom. 9:6b-8)

“circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. ²⁶Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? ²⁷ And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? ²⁸ For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Rom. 2:25-29)

Back to Eph. 2, continuing with verses 13-18; these describe the current new standing for Gentile believers during today’s “the dispensation of the grace of God” as the opposite of their standing in “time past” (vs 11-12).

“¹³But Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴For he (Jesus) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” (Eph. 2:13-18)