Can faithful church members be trusting in the flesh instead of the finished work of the cross?
Yes. A person may attend church faithfully yet still depend on something done in the flesh for salvation rather than relying wholly on the finished work of the cross. Paul warns that if salvation rests on any fleshly act, even circumcision, Christ profits them nothing; that cancels the cross’s work.
Les teaches from Galatians 5 that the Galatian believers were warned not to fall victim to legalizers who were making inroads into the congregations Paul had established in Asia Minor. Paul writes, 'Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage'—which is legalism, the law, Judaism. Then in verse 2 Paul says, 'Behold, I, Paul, say unto you, that if ye be circumcised...' Les explains this is talking about salvation: if they depend on something they can do in the flesh for salvation, then Christ shall profit them nothing. Les explains that when he first saw this some 15-20 years earlier, it shook him up and scared him, because millions of good people, church members who would not dream of missing a Sunday morning service, are depending on something of the flesh they have done rather than relying totally on the finished work of the cross. It is any one thing plus the cross, and that cancels the work of the cross. He says we must warn people, not to scare them, but because the Word says that if you do anything in the energy of the flesh, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
What are many church members depending on instead of the finished work of the cross?
Many church members are depending on something of the flesh that they have done—such as circumcision or any fleshly work—rather than totally relying on the finished work of the cross. Paul warns that adding even one fleshly act to the cross cancels its benefit, so Christ profits them nothing.
Are church members who never miss Sunday service really trusting the finished work of the cross?
Not necessarily. Church attendance or never missing a Sunday service does not itself prove trust in the finished work of the cross. Paul says if salvation depends on anything done in the flesh, Christ shall profit you nothing. Any flesh-works plus the cross cancels the cross’s work.