To worship in truth as well as in spirit we must learn to identify with the death and resurrection of Christ. If we are “in Him" then we have died with Him, and are also raised with Him. To “die with Him” means that we become helpless to the world, Satan and the flesh because He took our sin upon Himself on the cross, and there defeated the forces of hell that are against us to draw us there. At the same time, as Romans 6:5 says, “if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection.” Therefore, by identifying with the cross and resurrection we experience everything He experienced by faith alone.
Christ was made sin for me that I might be made the righteousness of God in Him (II Corinthians 5:21). I am made something I am not by His power. At the same time, as Paul said, there’s the law of sin that is present in me “bringing me into captivity.” These two principles operate side-by-side. How do I deal with this dichotomy?
Philippians 2:12 tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling “that we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” I’d like to think that by faith in God’s grace, and the work Christ did when He came to die for us, I could be automatically like Jesus. The truth is that even though I understand and have faith in the work He’s done for me, the manifestation of it is not evident in my life automatically. What do I do?
First of all, something must be sparked inside me to desire change, and that something came to me and to you when we were born again. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit in us to transform us into the image of Christ. He puts the desire to grow in us. True worship, meditation on Scripture, and prayer cause us to love the Lord and His people. I want to go to a church where I find love and not judgment in the flesh. I want to see the kingdom glory shared among us fresh each day. I want to tell you what God’s doing in my life and I want to hear what He’s doing in yours.
It’s here that the problem creeps up inevitably. Just as sure as the desire to grow is there, so is the law of sin and death working side-by-side with grace as Galatians 5:17 says – “for the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that you would.” This law works in me, in you, in the church and in the world to “steal, kill and destroy” the kingdom of God among us. It doesn’t take much for something to come between me and another person. Sometimes it’s as small as just a feeling. Other times it’s things a person may say or do, or not do, etc. Whatever it may be, the blame lies with the law of sin and death that is always at work against us to oppose the work of God.
To deal with this I must go back to the cross and begin to identify with Christ’s death again. A couple of Webster’s dictionary definitions of “identify” are: 1) to consider as identical; equate, and 2) to associate with. I associate with His death by seeing myself “in Him.” I know in my mind that I am on the cross with Him and that my sin nature is crucified there. I know that there He also destroyed all the works of the devil. I remind myself that although sin entered the world through one man, by one man also I am made righteous (Romans 5:19). I “reckon myself to be dead to sin,” and by identification with His resurrection I am empowered to be “alive unto God.” Faith identifies with the Word of God, and not with what I “see” or even know to be operating within me. I don’t have to beg and plead with God to deliver me from the law of sin that works in me. All I have to do is deal with it (work out my salvation) by faith.
I think we’ve stopped our growth just before identification. We’ve acknowledged that the law is good and holy, that “I am carnal, sold under sin,” that Jesus died to set us free from sin, but we’ve failed to properly identify with the power of the resurrection. We believe in it all, but we fail to work it out in our lives daily. We stop short of the glory of God. I Corinthians 15:56 says that the strength of sin is the law. The power of the law holds us in guilt until we know enough of the truth that sets us free. We’re dealing with powers that are bigger than we are, and the only thing that will deal with these powers is truth. We need to evangelize ourselves once again and let the Word of God strengthen us and empower us as we meditate on it in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to minister to us His truth. We must allow our spirits to soak in God’s presence through worship, and express our love for and praise to the Lord. This is where we will be transformed from what we “are” to what He “is”—Who is the “Great I AM”!
So, to worship God “in spirit and truth” means taking an active role and not a passive one we might interpret “trusting in God” to mean.
When Paul said “in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (I Thessalonians 5:18) I believe he meant more than just obediently accepting the bad that comes our way. To identify with Him during bad times we can give thanks that Jesus has overcome the world so we have overcome the world, that because He has destroyed the works of the devil they are destroyed in our lives also because we are identified with Him in everything. Everything He is we can be because we’re “in Him.” There is so much work we can do through identifying with Him. We don’t have to sit back and let Satan run over us because we’re “waiting on God.” A lot depends on how we handle the trials in our lives and what we do when we come into temptation or come under the power of the law of sin and death that works in us.
If we worked out our salvation like this every day, as simple as it is, we would have new cause to worship. We’d not only be coming into His presence but we’d be truly expressing thanks for the work that we know He’s doing in us now, even though we do not see the evidence of it at the moment. We’d truly be in partnership with Him and the sensitivity of the movement of the Holy Spirit would become stronger. Through this the fullness of the kingdom could be restored because we will have dealt with the obstructions.
After dealing with our sin by identification, we need to go deeper and identify with the fullness of God revealed to us through the manifestation of His name. Jesus is the “fullness of the Godhead bodily,” and that means that everything God has ever been revealed as in the Old Testament or the New is in Jesus. If we’re “in Him” then this also applies to us by identification. He’s “the God who heals us,” so we should expect healing in our lives. He’s our righteousness, our defense, our shepherd, our provider, our shield and fortress, our strong tower, the lover of our souls, everything the Word says He is. We are complete in Him only when we identify with Him.
Every time we’re not experiencing what He can be to us, it’s then that we need to work out whatever it is that’s in the way. It may be fear, it may be doubt and unbelief, guilt or lack of wisdom. Whatever it is we need to recognize the lack is on our part and that He desires to fulfill us in these areas, thereby bringing a little more of the kingdom into our lives daily. We must not allow anything to come between us and our God.
Together we could bring true reform into our midst. We could make the Word come alive as in a revival. What would follow would be no less than what followed the apostles as they lived and witnessed the Word of God ? signs and wonders confirming the truth.
We have been identifying with “what is” (our humanness) instead of “calling those things that be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17). Let’s not “stagger at the promises of God through unbelief” but “be strong in faith, giving glory to God” (Romans 4:20) as we “look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen, which are eternal and not temporal” (II Corinthians 4:18). God has called us to “salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth...to the obtaining of the glory of Jesus Christ” (II Thessalonians. 2:13, 14). Let’s meet His call and “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God.” Let’s fight the “fight of faith” with our spiritual weapons which are “mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (II Corinthians 10:4). This can all be accomplished by identifying with Christ’s death and resurrection. “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). Because He rose from the dead and is glorified, I have risen from the law of sin and death and live by the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” I’ll accept nothing less.
The Gospel
Just as natural laws govern the physical universe, spiritual laws govern operations in the spiritual realm. They are as absolute in that realm as the law of gravity is in the natural realm. In other words, just as what goes up must come down, the forces in the spiritual realm activate spiritual laws as well.
The following are a few spiritual laws relevant to salvation:
A. Man is born under the curse of sin.
B. Jesus preached a gospel of repentance.
C. Jesus is God's provision for salvation.
D. Man's cooperation is necessary to receive God's provision.
E. God is faithful to His promises
A. MAN IS BORN UNDER THE CURSE OF SIN
1. The Curse of Sin
The power of sin is the power scripture calls the law of sin and death. It is a curse which sentences us to sin and death, everlasting destruction, and the power of Satan on this earth. The whole earth is under this curse, bound by the evil which entered the world with the first sin.
"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin..." (Galatians 3:22)
"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23)
"For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now...waiting for the...redemption of the body." (Romans 8:22, 23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin and so death passed upon all men ... even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression". (Romans 5:12, 15)
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one... (Romans 5:17a)
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners..." (Romans 5:19a)
2. A Look at Some Results of the Curse
Following are some of the attributes of natural life (death) under the power of the curse:
Abusiveness
Adultery
Anger
Arrogance
Avarice
Bitterness
Boastfulness
Confusion
Depression Egotism
Envy
Fear
Futility
Greed
Hard Heartedness
Hatred
Hostility
Impurity Insensitivity
Jealousy
Lust
Moral Weakness
Murder
Paranoia
Power Hungry
Pride
Rage Rebellion
Restlessness
Rivalry
Sedition
Self Indulgence
Self-Centeredness
Suicide
Suspicion
This is surely a picture of death and not life. It's called spiritual death, just as Adam and Eve did not physically die because of their sin but were banished from the bliss of Paradise as a result. Since that day every child who is born enters into a cursed world, banished from the presence of God, which is life itself. (Genesis 3:23, 24)
3. A Look at the Contrasting Kingdom of God
In contrast, the Kingdom of God invites us to a quality of life that far supersedes the natural life under the curse. Following are some of the characteristics of Kingdom living:
Contentment
Courtesy
Dignity
Faith
Faithfulness
Fearlessness
Forgiveness
Generosity Gentleness
Goodness
Happiness
Health
Honor
Hope
Humility
Integrity Joy
Kindness
Love
Moral Strength
Patience
Peace
Purity
Respect Serenity
Tenderness
Trust
Truth
Understanding
Wisdom
Following is a further contrast of the two kingdoms.
The Kingdom of Darkness
(Law of sin and death - Rom.8:2) The Kingdom of Light
(Law of Spirit of life – Rom.8:2)
a. Life is filled with restless voids. a. The life God gives fills the restless voids. He gives peace that passes understanding. He fills the hungers of the soul.
b. Situations and people cause anger and bitterness. b. Anger and bitterness are replaced with peace, love, forgiveness and acceptance.
c. Getting even is a strong driving force. c. Getting even holds no importance.
d. The "me first" attitude governs man's actions because "I've got to take care of myself; no-one else cares". d. Others are regarded as more important than me; God takes care of me.
e. Man has a strong desire to be right. His opinions are the only thing he has that's really worthwhile and he'll defend them at all costs. e. Humility is more satisfying than the arrogant need to be right; sharing life is more meaningful.
f. Man often desires power and manipulates others to get it. f. Love for others doesn't allow manipulating or dominating them.
g. Man's pleasure is found in receiving. He doesn't perceive the value of giving. g. Giving provides deeper satisfaction than receiving. (In giving you receive.) Life and freedom is found in dying to selfishness.
h. Man is greedy. Money often is his main objective.
h. The Kingdom is the main objective. God is trusted to provide all needs.
Kingdom of Darkness (Cont'd)
i. Man desires to be entertained, stimulated. Kingdom of Light (Cont'd)
i. The desire to serve God is the motivation. Other things seem to be a waste of time. As much as he enjoys good entertainment he doesn't need it.
j. Man elevates himself by putting others down. j. The desire is to edify others, to give life and not destroy it.
k. Man is often aggressive in his pursuit to be "on top" of situations and events in his life. k. Letting God rule and taking a back seat brings a certain authority over life that the power-hungry lack or forfeit.
l. Man is confused, resulting in the various religions, philosophies, and political positions held in this life.
- humanism
- creationism
- metaphysics
- democratic vs. republican
- self realization
l. God answers the questions of His children and truth and wisdom are found rather than empty and vain philosophies.
God's word is truth and the Spirit gives it life.
It's supernatural.
m. Man carries heavy burdens and tries to solve life's problems. The pressures often weigh him down, influencing him to lean on drugs or alcohol to lighten the load and free him for a while. In actuality the load becomes heavier as he suffers the effects of these "spirits". m. Casting all burdens on the Lord provides freedom from the ordinary pressures of life and problems too big to handle. Jesus is the "higher power".
n. Man needs to identify with a hero. He looks for strength and inspiration in people. Sadly to say there is little to emulate in people. n. God is our hero; in identifying with Him His life and power fill us in a way no other hero's can.
o. Man tries to "be somebody" or do something to justify his existence or make his life more meaningful while he's here. o. With God there's no need to "be somebody"; the source of life is in Him. He is all in all.
p. Man often becomes depressed without a cause or suffers anxiety or other symptoms of emotional disease without inviting it. He consequently spends much time and money working out the problem. p. In God there is peace and restoration. The power of forgiveness brings freedom from hurts of the past. Also, there is freedom in God from the oppression of the enemy, Satan.
q. Man also suffers much physical sickness, again spending time and money trying to overcome it. q. Sickness is often a result of the curse. God has also provided healing and health for His people.
B. JESUS PREACHED A GOSPEL OF REPENTANCE
"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near'."
"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9)
"...but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38, 39)
C. JESUS, GOD'S PROVISION FOR SALVATION
1. God Provides Salvation from Sin
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16, 17)
"Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5)
"And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life i s in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." (I John 5:11, 12)
2. The Cross, God's Instrument
At the cross Jesus died to take upon Himself the punishment for sin.
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us..." (Galatians 3:13)
"For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:21)
3. Transfer from Kingdom of Darkness into Kingdom of Light
Christ's death on the cross made it possible for us to be delivered from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light.
"Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Colossians 1:13)
"...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (I John 3:8)
And now, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)
D. MAN'S COOPERATION A NECESSITY FOR RECEIVING GOD'S PROVISION
1. Man's Response to God's Provision
It is up to a person to receive Jesus Christ and His Kingdom into his life. It is a decision he needs to make which, once made, will alter the course of his entire life.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
"And you will not come to me, that you might have life." (John 5:40)
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7 )
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:20, 21)
2. Man's Natural Goodness is Not the Answer
Man's righteousness will never be sufficient to satisfy the just demands of God's standard for holiness. This is because man's goodness is still part of the fallen nature. The only way to satisfy God is to accept the righteousness He sent into the world, His Plan and provision for our lives.
"And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Philippians 3:9)
"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment . . . and there is no one who calls on Thy name." (Isaiah 64:6, 7)
3. Faith, God's Requirement for Man
The way a person receives God's provision into his own life is by faith. To repent of his sin means to acknowledge his fallen state and turn to God for deliverance which comes through belief in and acceptance of Jesus' death for his sin nature in exchange for the righteousness of God.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21)
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace. . . (Romans 4:16a)
E. GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES
1. God's Faithfulness
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord." (Isaiah 55:7, 8)
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (II Corinthians 9:8)
2. Jesus Transforms Us Gradually into His Image
From this point on the christian is transformed gradually in order to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ...
"But we all...are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:18)
...to the extent that he cooperates with God through a relationship of prayer and faith. We'll always have the sin nature to deal with, even though we have the power over it. We have a choice daily to walk in life or death.
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God..."
(Romans 8:7, 8)
"You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)
IT'S UP TO YOU AND I HOW MUCH OF GOD (LIFE) HE CAN HAVE.
"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation." (Psalm 91:14 16)
The following are a few spiritual laws relevant to salvation:
A. Man is born under the curse of sin.
B. Jesus preached a gospel of repentance.
C. Jesus is God's provision for salvation.
D. Man's cooperation is necessary to receive God's provision.
E. God is faithful to His promises
A. MAN IS BORN UNDER THE CURSE OF SIN
1. The Curse of Sin
The power of sin is the power scripture calls the law of sin and death. It is a curse which sentences us to sin and death, everlasting destruction, and the power of Satan on this earth. The whole earth is under this curse, bound by the evil which entered the world with the first sin.
"But the scripture hath concluded all under sin..." (Galatians 3:22)
"For the wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6:23)
"For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now...waiting for the...redemption of the body." (Romans 8:22, 23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin and so death passed upon all men ... even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression". (Romans 5:12, 15)
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one... (Romans 5:17a)
"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners..." (Romans 5:19a)
2. A Look at Some Results of the Curse
Following are some of the attributes of natural life (death) under the power of the curse:
Abusiveness
Adultery
Anger
Arrogance
Avarice
Bitterness
Boastfulness
Confusion
Depression Egotism
Envy
Fear
Futility
Greed
Hard Heartedness
Hatred
Hostility
Impurity Insensitivity
Jealousy
Lust
Moral Weakness
Murder
Paranoia
Power Hungry
Pride
Rage Rebellion
Restlessness
Rivalry
Sedition
Self Indulgence
Self-Centeredness
Suicide
Suspicion
This is surely a picture of death and not life. It's called spiritual death, just as Adam and Eve did not physically die because of their sin but were banished from the bliss of Paradise as a result. Since that day every child who is born enters into a cursed world, banished from the presence of God, which is life itself. (Genesis 3:23, 24)
3. A Look at the Contrasting Kingdom of God
In contrast, the Kingdom of God invites us to a quality of life that far supersedes the natural life under the curse. Following are some of the characteristics of Kingdom living:
Contentment
Courtesy
Dignity
Faith
Faithfulness
Fearlessness
Forgiveness
Generosity Gentleness
Goodness
Happiness
Health
Honor
Hope
Humility
Integrity Joy
Kindness
Love
Moral Strength
Patience
Peace
Purity
Respect Serenity
Tenderness
Trust
Truth
Understanding
Wisdom
Following is a further contrast of the two kingdoms.
The Kingdom of Darkness
(Law of sin and death - Rom.8:2) The Kingdom of Light
(Law of Spirit of life – Rom.8:2)
a. Life is filled with restless voids. a. The life God gives fills the restless voids. He gives peace that passes understanding. He fills the hungers of the soul.
b. Situations and people cause anger and bitterness. b. Anger and bitterness are replaced with peace, love, forgiveness and acceptance.
c. Getting even is a strong driving force. c. Getting even holds no importance.
d. The "me first" attitude governs man's actions because "I've got to take care of myself; no-one else cares". d. Others are regarded as more important than me; God takes care of me.
e. Man has a strong desire to be right. His opinions are the only thing he has that's really worthwhile and he'll defend them at all costs. e. Humility is more satisfying than the arrogant need to be right; sharing life is more meaningful.
f. Man often desires power and manipulates others to get it. f. Love for others doesn't allow manipulating or dominating them.
g. Man's pleasure is found in receiving. He doesn't perceive the value of giving. g. Giving provides deeper satisfaction than receiving. (In giving you receive.) Life and freedom is found in dying to selfishness.
h. Man is greedy. Money often is his main objective.
h. The Kingdom is the main objective. God is trusted to provide all needs.
Kingdom of Darkness (Cont'd)
i. Man desires to be entertained, stimulated. Kingdom of Light (Cont'd)
i. The desire to serve God is the motivation. Other things seem to be a waste of time. As much as he enjoys good entertainment he doesn't need it.
j. Man elevates himself by putting others down. j. The desire is to edify others, to give life and not destroy it.
k. Man is often aggressive in his pursuit to be "on top" of situations and events in his life. k. Letting God rule and taking a back seat brings a certain authority over life that the power-hungry lack or forfeit.
l. Man is confused, resulting in the various religions, philosophies, and political positions held in this life.
- humanism
- creationism
- metaphysics
- democratic vs. republican
- self realization
l. God answers the questions of His children and truth and wisdom are found rather than empty and vain philosophies.
God's word is truth and the Spirit gives it life.
It's supernatural.
m. Man carries heavy burdens and tries to solve life's problems. The pressures often weigh him down, influencing him to lean on drugs or alcohol to lighten the load and free him for a while. In actuality the load becomes heavier as he suffers the effects of these "spirits". m. Casting all burdens on the Lord provides freedom from the ordinary pressures of life and problems too big to handle. Jesus is the "higher power".
n. Man needs to identify with a hero. He looks for strength and inspiration in people. Sadly to say there is little to emulate in people. n. God is our hero; in identifying with Him His life and power fill us in a way no other hero's can.
o. Man tries to "be somebody" or do something to justify his existence or make his life more meaningful while he's here. o. With God there's no need to "be somebody"; the source of life is in Him. He is all in all.
p. Man often becomes depressed without a cause or suffers anxiety or other symptoms of emotional disease without inviting it. He consequently spends much time and money working out the problem. p. In God there is peace and restoration. The power of forgiveness brings freedom from hurts of the past. Also, there is freedom in God from the oppression of the enemy, Satan.
q. Man also suffers much physical sickness, again spending time and money trying to overcome it. q. Sickness is often a result of the curse. God has also provided healing and health for His people.
B. JESUS PREACHED A GOSPEL OF REPENTANCE
"From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near'."
"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9)
"...but, except you repent, you shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3)
"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38, 39)
C. JESUS, GOD'S PROVISION FOR SALVATION
1. God Provides Salvation from Sin
"For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16, 17)
"Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (I Timothy 2:5)
"And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life i s in his Son. He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life." (I John 5:11, 12)
2. The Cross, God's Instrument
At the cross Jesus died to take upon Himself the punishment for sin.
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us..." (Galatians 3:13)
"For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:21)
3. Transfer from Kingdom of Darkness into Kingdom of Light
Christ's death on the cross made it possible for us to be delivered from the Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of Light.
"Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." (Colossians 1:13)
"...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (I John 3:8)
And now, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)
D. MAN'S COOPERATION A NECESSITY FOR RECEIVING GOD'S PROVISION
1. Man's Response to God's Provision
It is up to a person to receive Jesus Christ and His Kingdom into his life. It is a decision he needs to make which, once made, will alter the course of his entire life.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)
"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)
"And you will not come to me, that you might have life." (John 5:40)
"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." (Revelation 2:7 )
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:20, 21)
2. Man's Natural Goodness is Not the Answer
Man's righteousness will never be sufficient to satisfy the just demands of God's standard for holiness. This is because man's goodness is still part of the fallen nature. The only way to satisfy God is to accept the righteousness He sent into the world, His Plan and provision for our lives.
"And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." (Philippians 3:9)
"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment . . . and there is no one who calls on Thy name." (Isaiah 64:6, 7)
3. Faith, God's Requirement for Man
The way a person receives God's provision into his own life is by faith. To repent of his sin means to acknowledge his fallen state and turn to God for deliverance which comes through belief in and acceptance of Jesus' death for his sin nature in exchange for the righteousness of God.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21)
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace. . . (Romans 4:16a)
E. GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES
1. God's Faithfulness
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord." (Isaiah 55:7, 8)
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (II Corinthians 9:8)
2. Jesus Transforms Us Gradually into His Image
From this point on the christian is transformed gradually in order to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ...
"But we all...are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (II Corinthians 3:18)
...to the extent that he cooperates with God through a relationship of prayer and faith. We'll always have the sin nature to deal with, even though we have the power over it. We have a choice daily to walk in life or death.
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God..."
(Romans 8:7, 8)
"You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. (John 15:16)
IT'S UP TO YOU AND I HOW MUCH OF GOD (LIFE) HE CAN HAVE.
"Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I will deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation." (Psalm 91:14 16)
What Is The Meaning Of Life?
When I was a teenager someone challenged my faith, and I reacted with a desire to defend what I believed, so I went home and grabbed the Bible, only to discover that I didn’t know anything about it, nor did I have a clue how to begin finding out. I had gone to Catholic schools through high school, and I had somewhat of an understanding of God, and a love for Him, but no real knowledge of things like why Jesus came, or other things the Bible talks about. I understood bits and pieces, but it didn’t come together for me. Now that I understand the Bible, it all comes together for me, and I love to tell people about the Lord, Jesus Christ, since the Bible has given me so much life. His Word truly does bring life.
So, what is “life”? What is the meaning of “life”?
Jesus, the Creator, breathed life into every living thing when He created them. The animals, the plants, the trees – every living thing lives because of the breath of life that comes from God when He creates. This breath of life, however, is in the soul, and there’s a higher form of life that comes from God that’s made to dwell in the spirit of man. Who was it that said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”? Jesus IS life. He’s the source of true life, which emanates from the spirit vs. the soul.
You are made up of body, soul, and spirit. The life of your soul manifests itself in everything that you are – the expression of your “self.” It contains your intellect, your will, and your emotions. This is the “natural” life.
There’s a part deep within you that was born dead. This is your spirit. The reason it was born dead is that when Adam and Eve sinned, death moved in to reign over the whole world. Adam and Eve were told that on the day they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. On that day they didn’t physically die, but their spirits died. Their spirits had been alive with the life of God inside, but when they disobeyed, doing the one thing God asked them not to do, their spirits died and they lost the life of God within them. This “death” came over every person who would be born after that (Rom. 5), and became known as the “law of sin and death” (Rom 8). It became a law in the same way that gravity is a law. What goes up must come down no matter what anyone says about it. Likewise, every person is born under the law of sin and death, with a dead spirit, and the natural inclination is to go the wrong way, or away from God, rather than get close to Him and love His ways, because He is not there to make the heart good.
This death principle reigned over the whole earth until Jesus Christ. So, the big question of all time is “why did the Son of God, who lived in glory that transcends any glory on this earth, and which the human mind cannot even comprehend, come into this world for the purpose of dying on a cross?” What is the significance there?
The purpose Jesus came to earth to die on a cross was to reverse the effects of the “law of sin and death” and supersede it with the “law of the Spirit of Life.” He came to make the “great exchange,” much like the movie of the father and son swapping lives for a day, where the father becomes the son and the son becomes the father. I Cor. 5:17 says that He BECAME sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. On the cross He swapped natures with us, and took on all humanity, and the evil that dwells in the spirit, and all evil itself so that anyone who would believe in Him could share in His divine nature by faith. This made it possible for us to become “one” with Him, as two people become “one” when they marry, sharing everything in their lives.
When Jesus was on the earth He was approached by Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, who acknowledged Him to be a great person, and Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus asked Him what He meant – did he have to go back into his mother’s womb? Jesus told him that flesh begets flesh, and spirit begets spirit, and that the spirit must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. A person is born naturally, but he must also be born spiritually to be truly alive. To be “born again” means to have the life of Christ enter your dead spirit and make it come alive by the power of the Holy Spirit coming in to live there.
And so, how can we apply this to us? How can we have the life of God come and live in us? We have been given one tool only to make this happen, and that’s faith. However, you can’t have faith without knowledge, because you won’t know what to believe in to make it happen. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. So, if you listen to the Word of God as it’s read and preached, your faith will grow.
What is the knowledge you need to make your faith work for you? You must first know that there’s nothing inside you that can cause you to reach the Kingdom of God on your own. You can’t be good enough, pray enough, do enough good works, etc. This is because God is spirit, and you are flesh, and they are in two different dimensions. The spiritual realm is outside the reach of human nature. Faith is the only tool God gives us to enable us to reach the supernatural realm.
And so, when you begin to recognize that nothing inside you compares with the true life of God, then by faith you can offer up to Him those things in your nature that you want to exchange for things in His nature. He took all the death that reigned over the world upon Himself on the cross. This does not mean that you won’t die physically, but that by having His life in you your dead spirit will come alive. By believing this and inviting Jesus into your life, He then becomes in you those things you need, like love, goodness, peace, joy, and everything He desires to be in you, as He begins to change you to be like Him, as the Bible says the potter molds the clay.
So, that’s why God sent His Son into the world to die on a cross to bring the supernatural nature of God Himself down to us in a way that we can receive Him, since He is beyond the reach of human nature. He has made it possible for us to become one with Him, which is what He wants. That’s why all true believers are part of the “Bride of Christ.” In a marriage, two people commit their lives to one another out of love. Likewise, if you commit your life to Christ, He will become your spiritual husband, your God, and you will be His bride. This is why the first commandment says “thou shalt not have any strange gods before you.” As your husband, He will not share you with any other god. Either you belong to Him alone, or you turn away from Him. If you turn to Him, then you can go to Him at any time and tell Him about what’s happening inside you, because you now understand that depending on yourself is not where it’s at, but that true faith is depending on Him to supply you with everything you need to live the spiritual life. If you open yourself up to Him, He moves in and changes your very desires, and you will find yourself becoming more like Him and desiring the things He desires as you grow. You will also find yourself hating the things He hates as well.
There are a few things that will keep this whole process from taking place. In the parable of the Sower and the Seed, Jesus tells His disciples that the Word of God falls on different kinds of soil, and it depends on the condition of the soil (heart) whether it will take root or not. If your heart is shallow, or proud, or the cares of this life are too important to you, or if riches have deceived you into thinking you don’t need God, then your heart will reject Him, and He will not be able to move in. If, though, your heart is soft towards Him, and you love His Word and feed on it, desiring more and more of Him over the things of the world, then you will find Him there. If your pride seeks to elevate your soul (self), then your spirit will remain dead, because the two cannot live side by side. The soul and the spirit are in constant warfare to win you over. Only love of God will make you choose Him over your self. This doesn’t mean that He doesn’t want you to succeed in life, but that He doesn’t want it to go to your head. That’s what He always feared would happen with His people in the Old Testament when He prospered them, and guess what, that’s exactly what did happen. As soon as they started to prosper, they forgot about Him every time.
And so, what I would like to ask of you is to think of a future with God. Walk with God, and allow Him to enter your heart; turn your whole life over to Him so that every decision you make is made with Him, and you might have a fruitful life. If you keep Him out of your life, you might be successful, but you will never have the happiness that comes only with His life being lived in you. Your spirit will remain dead, and you’ll go through the mechanics of life without any real life.
REFERENCES
Matthew 16:26
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Mark 12:28-34
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
John 3:3-8
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Galatians 5:17
But the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--
Romans 5:14
Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
Romans 5:17
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:19
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:21
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Colossians 1:12-14
…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
So, what is “life”? What is the meaning of “life”?
Jesus, the Creator, breathed life into every living thing when He created them. The animals, the plants, the trees – every living thing lives because of the breath of life that comes from God when He creates. This breath of life, however, is in the soul, and there’s a higher form of life that comes from God that’s made to dwell in the spirit of man. Who was it that said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”? Jesus IS life. He’s the source of true life, which emanates from the spirit vs. the soul.
You are made up of body, soul, and spirit. The life of your soul manifests itself in everything that you are – the expression of your “self.” It contains your intellect, your will, and your emotions. This is the “natural” life.
There’s a part deep within you that was born dead. This is your spirit. The reason it was born dead is that when Adam and Eve sinned, death moved in to reign over the whole world. Adam and Eve were told that on the day they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would die. On that day they didn’t physically die, but their spirits died. Their spirits had been alive with the life of God inside, but when they disobeyed, doing the one thing God asked them not to do, their spirits died and they lost the life of God within them. This “death” came over every person who would be born after that (Rom. 5), and became known as the “law of sin and death” (Rom 8). It became a law in the same way that gravity is a law. What goes up must come down no matter what anyone says about it. Likewise, every person is born under the law of sin and death, with a dead spirit, and the natural inclination is to go the wrong way, or away from God, rather than get close to Him and love His ways, because He is not there to make the heart good.
This death principle reigned over the whole earth until Jesus Christ. So, the big question of all time is “why did the Son of God, who lived in glory that transcends any glory on this earth, and which the human mind cannot even comprehend, come into this world for the purpose of dying on a cross?” What is the significance there?
The purpose Jesus came to earth to die on a cross was to reverse the effects of the “law of sin and death” and supersede it with the “law of the Spirit of Life.” He came to make the “great exchange,” much like the movie of the father and son swapping lives for a day, where the father becomes the son and the son becomes the father. I Cor. 5:17 says that He BECAME sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. On the cross He swapped natures with us, and took on all humanity, and the evil that dwells in the spirit, and all evil itself so that anyone who would believe in Him could share in His divine nature by faith. This made it possible for us to become “one” with Him, as two people become “one” when they marry, sharing everything in their lives.
When Jesus was on the earth He was approached by Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, who acknowledged Him to be a great person, and Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus asked Him what He meant – did he have to go back into his mother’s womb? Jesus told him that flesh begets flesh, and spirit begets spirit, and that the spirit must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. A person is born naturally, but he must also be born spiritually to be truly alive. To be “born again” means to have the life of Christ enter your dead spirit and make it come alive by the power of the Holy Spirit coming in to live there.
And so, how can we apply this to us? How can we have the life of God come and live in us? We have been given one tool only to make this happen, and that’s faith. However, you can’t have faith without knowledge, because you won’t know what to believe in to make it happen. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. So, if you listen to the Word of God as it’s read and preached, your faith will grow.
What is the knowledge you need to make your faith work for you? You must first know that there’s nothing inside you that can cause you to reach the Kingdom of God on your own. You can’t be good enough, pray enough, do enough good works, etc. This is because God is spirit, and you are flesh, and they are in two different dimensions. The spiritual realm is outside the reach of human nature. Faith is the only tool God gives us to enable us to reach the supernatural realm.
And so, when you begin to recognize that nothing inside you compares with the true life of God, then by faith you can offer up to Him those things in your nature that you want to exchange for things in His nature. He took all the death that reigned over the world upon Himself on the cross. This does not mean that you won’t die physically, but that by having His life in you your dead spirit will come alive. By believing this and inviting Jesus into your life, He then becomes in you those things you need, like love, goodness, peace, joy, and everything He desires to be in you, as He begins to change you to be like Him, as the Bible says the potter molds the clay.
So, that’s why God sent His Son into the world to die on a cross to bring the supernatural nature of God Himself down to us in a way that we can receive Him, since He is beyond the reach of human nature. He has made it possible for us to become one with Him, which is what He wants. That’s why all true believers are part of the “Bride of Christ.” In a marriage, two people commit their lives to one another out of love. Likewise, if you commit your life to Christ, He will become your spiritual husband, your God, and you will be His bride. This is why the first commandment says “thou shalt not have any strange gods before you.” As your husband, He will not share you with any other god. Either you belong to Him alone, or you turn away from Him. If you turn to Him, then you can go to Him at any time and tell Him about what’s happening inside you, because you now understand that depending on yourself is not where it’s at, but that true faith is depending on Him to supply you with everything you need to live the spiritual life. If you open yourself up to Him, He moves in and changes your very desires, and you will find yourself becoming more like Him and desiring the things He desires as you grow. You will also find yourself hating the things He hates as well.
There are a few things that will keep this whole process from taking place. In the parable of the Sower and the Seed, Jesus tells His disciples that the Word of God falls on different kinds of soil, and it depends on the condition of the soil (heart) whether it will take root or not. If your heart is shallow, or proud, or the cares of this life are too important to you, or if riches have deceived you into thinking you don’t need God, then your heart will reject Him, and He will not be able to move in. If, though, your heart is soft towards Him, and you love His Word and feed on it, desiring more and more of Him over the things of the world, then you will find Him there. If your pride seeks to elevate your soul (self), then your spirit will remain dead, because the two cannot live side by side. The soul and the spirit are in constant warfare to win you over. Only love of God will make you choose Him over your self. This doesn’t mean that He doesn’t want you to succeed in life, but that He doesn’t want it to go to your head. That’s what He always feared would happen with His people in the Old Testament when He prospered them, and guess what, that’s exactly what did happen. As soon as they started to prosper, they forgot about Him every time.
And so, what I would like to ask of you is to think of a future with God. Walk with God, and allow Him to enter your heart; turn your whole life over to Him so that every decision you make is made with Him, and you might have a fruitful life. If you keep Him out of your life, you might be successful, but you will never have the happiness that comes only with His life being lived in you. Your spirit will remain dead, and you’ll go through the mechanics of life without any real life.
REFERENCES
Matthew 16:26
What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-
the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.
John 14:21
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Mark 12:28-34
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: `Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. The second is this: `Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
"Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
John 3:3-8
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
Galatians 5:17
But the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Peter 1:3-4
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--
Romans 5:14
Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
Romans 5:17
For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:19
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Romans 5:21
so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Colossians 1:12-14
…giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Faith Vs Legalism
Why do people repent in spirit, but never seem to be able to carry it out in practice? It's like the alcoholic sitting in a bar crying about how much he really does love his family, but unable to show it.
Is it possible that our attitudes toward sin can help keep people bound?
A Spirit of Legalism
Something unexplainable, and only discernable, happens when you look at someone and see your sin or weakness reflected in their eyes. They may want you to work out your sinfulness, but their very attitude of disapproval is enough to put you on the defensive, thus strengthening your sin (I Cor. 15:57). Condemnation is an attitude that can't be hidden. It comes across even through forbearance. It's not the attitude towards sin that's wrong, but that towards the sinner.
How, then, does a parent or spiritual leader, who's responsible for others, deal with sin (rebellion) when he sees it operating? By FAITH! He must not judge, but call upon God in faith.
Why is faith so important in this area? Because we're dealing with powers. We know we were born under the power of sin. We don't need to have the knowledge of our sin constantly tormenting us. We need the power to overcome it.
Why did Paul go to such great lengths to talk about justification by faith? Could it be that he understood the dangers of operating under the law, which "worketh wrath"?
The Jews sought to be accepted by God by establishing their own righteousness and not the righteousness that comes by faith. What significance does this have to God? Enough for us to spend some time in meditation on it? It was enough for Paul to write two epistles significantly devoted to the subject —Romans and Galatians. And, it can apply to the way we relate to holiness (without which no man shall see God) and what we expect to "see" in others, which can either bring us into the realm of "the substance of things unseen" by our faith or into the realm of legalism by sight.
When I look up to someone, and all I sense emanating through their eyes is their awareness of or judgement of me as a sinner, or as a Christian walking in the flesh, the offense is so strong that it holds no motivating desire to overcome whatever sin may be operating, should there be any. If nothing actually is operating, I may come away with doubts about myself that weren’t there before. This is not conviction, but a nagging cloud of haze which serves no other purpose than to destroy the confidence necessary to overcome sin. If someone sees us differently than we see ourselves, we either assume they're right and we're wrong or we are forced to deal with bitter resentment caused by their judgmental attitude toward us.
The important point here, though, is what happens to our confidence. Getting hung up in innuendos destroys confidence. When our motives and intentions are questioned by someone else, or even by our own selves, we are torn down instead of built up. People lack confidence and need guidance by those who have it. Fear of our unholiness is putting faith in the flesh. We become removed from the "law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus," which is the only thing that can empower us. Cults gain power in this area. They take advantage of people's ignorance and prey on their neediness. No leader or church group should be able to interfere with a person's relationship with God. The Holy Spirit teaches. The ministry should build up faith, not tear down confidence.
What is the “flesh”? Is it the soul? Is the spirit to be developed at the expense of the soul? Does the soul need to be crucified, or is it sin in the soul that must be dealt with? Sure, in my flesh is no good thing, but in my spirit resides the Holy Spirit, and I won't let anyone convince me I'm walking in the flesh when I’m trying to put my faith in action. I need to trust in the work of Christ; I don't need my flesh destroyed, but my spirit raised up by faith.
We need to be careful in our judgment of what's operating as flesh vs. spirit. Do we allow Satan to magnify sin in the flesh by our judgments instead of forgiving sin in ourselves and in others and treating it with prayer and love, thus overcoming evil with good? I realize it's a codependent symptom to "enable" someone in their weakness by making excuses for them, and I'm not talking about this. The power of love diminishes the force of the guilt that brings us into bondage and strengthens sin, and redirects the focus to the power of God, our source of goodness. This does not condone or encourage sin, but is actually the only way to deal with it.
"Judgement begins in the house of God." It's Scriptures such as this one that cause parents and leadership to rise up and take the “necessary” actions to deal with problems and situations, but I know, as a parent, that if I see things through the eyes of the flesh because I don't have understanding in a particular area, I will destroy God's work --the very opposite desire of my heart. I will tear down instead of build up because my expectations as a parent have not been met. In actuality, my children's destinies are in my hands because God has given me His authority in their lives, but this power can only be activated when it's yielded to God by faith, which comes from seeking Him earnestly on their behalf. If I can't walk in the Spirit in this area, knowing myself, I'll operate in legalism, which is worse than doing nothing at all. My sense of responsibility will dictate to me rather than the Spirit of God and cause me to dictate rather than encourage and train.
If I can't sense the Spirit of God leading me I'd better pray and wait for His leading before operating in the wrong spirit. The spirit of legalism has disastrous effects on another person's life, and I want to see the stronghold destroyed! It is generated out of sincerity, but in our ignorance masquerades as concern. It's not true concern because when we're truly concerned we'll seek God's ways, knowing that ours will be futile to accomplish His goals. We can't interfere with God's ways out of a sense of responsibility. We must seek God on every matter to receive direction from Him alone. If we do this I think we can trust that He'll guide us every step of the way in every situation.
The very reason it's easier to be a grandparent than it is to be a parent lies in the burden of responsibility. As a grandparent I'll always do what's in the best interest of the child, but I'm "free" to love the child alone, with no burden. My tenet is that training a child should not be a burden but a joy. Children should see joy in our eyes and not worry or disapproval. Burdens are assumed when we fail to treat problems with prayer and faith, watching and waiting for God to move in our midst and give us direction and power. He always comes through, and what could be disastrous confrontation becomes real and interested communication where the love comes across rather than disappointment and condemnation.
We need to be careful that we're not in the area of trying to control others, because we'll never help them that way. We need to build their faith in areas they're bound --help them to remove themselves from their attachment to their sin by helping them to see it as a power they're born under which was destroyed at the Cross. As long as they're attached to their responsibility for removing their sin, they'll remain bound in helplessness, because they don't have that kind of power. Like the Jews, they'll be trying to establish their own righteousness.
But to comfort them in the fact that it's not their fault they were born under its power, they have a starting point if they can detach themselves from the burden of guilt. This is the freedom the Gospel offers. Again, it's not to excuse or encourage the sin we need to be accountable for, but to build faith. The ability to be detached from the guilt which causes us to beat ourselves up is the first step to overcoming.
I firmly believe that many people will never experience the true power of the Resurrection because they can't accept the freedom offered by the reality of the Gospel. Their spirits have become so oppressed and downtrodden that growth is an overwhelming burden they simply cannot cast on the Lord, instead of an exciting opportunity to experience that power that transforms us from what we are to what He is, from glory to glory. We need to shake up this morbid sense of "unworthiness" and convince them that their problem is not too big for God if they could only release it to Him and go on to something else, all the while proclaiming His victory.
That's how I've overcome weaknesses. I could become totally absorbed, introspective and analytical of areas of personal weakness, but I've learned how devastatingly destructive it is. It holds you in perpetual bondage, unable to concentrate on doing the things you can do as you trust in God's sanctifying power to be able to handle those areas yielded to Him. The fight of faith is the struggle to hold on to the truth, not one of trying to rid ourselves of our sin. If we continue to hold on to a false burden, focusing our gaze on improvement, we destroy the space necessary for God to work in the area of "things unseen", and our faith is not faith at all, because it hasn't been activated.
Don't call it presumption or making excuses when a person says "God, you have a big problem." That person is trying to be set free from the burden that's too big for him to carry, for which the Lord was crucified. That person knows he's powerless and needs to cling to the conviction that God's power is available to him for as long as it takes to receive the victory. If I, who have struggled for many years to cling to faith which is foreign to me but which the Word of God has convinced me of, how much more do we need to carry and build up those who can't free themselves from guilt and condemnation long enough to see the power of God work in their lives!
I have dared to believe because I had confidence enough to give it a try. If all we see in others is the problem, our focus is in the wrong place. We need to see Jesus, His salvation, sanctification and imputed righteousness and believe that His grace is able to meet our every need and conquer every weakness in our lives. This will reduce the immensity of the responsibility to a level a person can live with and function under until he's totally set free.
Webster's definition of "condemnation" is: "to express disapproval of; censure; criticize. To pronounce judgement against; to sentence; to doom; to demonstrate the guilt of; to convict."
The definition of "propitiation" is: "to appease and render favorable."
If God sees us this way, why can't we? We know that sin separates us from God, and we've memorized all the Scriptures that refer to sin and its effects, and holiness (without which no man shall see God), but do we focus on these at the expense of the Scriptures that preach the power of the Gospel? Do we “throw away the baby with the bathwater?”
I realize that the meaning of repentance is turning away from sin and resisting Satan, but doing this is impossible unless one has a firm grip on the power the Gospel offers and how to operate it in faith. This is awesome stuff we're dealing with!
When He nailed the law to the Cross, Jesus “disarmed the rulers and authorities, having triumphed over them” (Col. 2:14, 15). The law is what holds us in the power of sin. To be freed from it is to be freed from the power of sin. When we're finally released from the oppression of guilt and have the enabling ability to believe in Jesus' overcoming victory, the joy of the Lord surely does become our strength, and our fight becomes a challenge because the aim is a positive one we know we can reach because we know God's Word is true. If we can be freed long enough from the false burden in order to concentrate on laboring to enter into rest by affirming our faith in His Word, we will see real power enter our lives.
Again, I'm rising up against a legalistic spirit which we, who are so serious about walking in the Spirit, can be vulnerable to. It's that opposite extreme, and an unseen trap very difficult to get out of. God, release us to operate in faith alone.
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Scriptures on Legalism vs Faith
Bondage to the Law
Rom. 6:14
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace.
1 Cor. 15:56, 57
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Gal 3:21, 22
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteous¬ness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Rom. 4:15, 16
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace.
Rom. 3:20
...for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Rom. 7:8, 22, 23
But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
II Cor. 2:14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Rom. 4:14, 15
For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect.Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Gal. 2:21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Rom. 5:13
...but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Rom. 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.
Rom. 11:29
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Rom. 13:13
Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Gal. 3:13
Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us:
Gal. 3:24, 25
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Heb. 10:12
For the law...can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not cease to be offered? because that worshippers once purged should have no more consciousness of sins.
Gal. 4:24
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the Mount Sinai, which gender¬eth to bondage, which is Agar.
Rom. 10:3
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
II Cor. 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.
Phil. 3:9
And be found in Him, not having mine own righteous¬ness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Gal 3:11
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith.
Gal. 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Gal. 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Heb. 12:18, 20
For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and 22-24that burned with fire, not unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest
For they could not endure that which was commanded. And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart;
But ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Gal. 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
I Pet. 4:8
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Gal. 3:3, 5
Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Rom. 10:4, 10
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness;
(In my heart I know He is my righteousness, and my heart believes He's changing me into His image.)
Scriptures to "live" by
Acts 13:39
Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.
II Cor. 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Is. 16:3, 4
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the Lord forever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
Ephes. 1:7
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins...
Psalm 107:2
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
1 Jn. 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Rom. 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Heb. 13:12
Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate.
Rev. 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Gal. 6:2, 3
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
I Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
Heb. 10:38, 39
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
I Cor. 1:30, 31
But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.
That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Rom. 3:24, 25
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemp¬tion that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
James 2:23, 24
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righ¬teousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
(The fight of faith is WORK!)
Col 2:12
Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God...
Trial By Fire
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to transform us into Christ’s image by sanctifying us, changing our carnal natures into spiritual ones: “But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). This transformation doesn’t happen “in the twinkling of an eye,” but comes through trial by fire: “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (I Peter 1:7). We have the spirit man, where the Holy Spirit dwells, which desires this, but for those who’ve not allowed their faith to be tried by fire the carnal man, with all its wants and desires, is still predominantly active. The flesh, with all its cravings, demands satisfaction, convincing the mind that one cannot be happy unless it is satisfied: “For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would” (Galatians 5:17). The truth is that catering to the flesh will never bring happiness: “For he that sows to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption” (Galatians 6:8). True happiness comes only when one allows the person that God created him to be in His image to develop. “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24). The affections and lusts of the flesh only lead to shallowness and despair, once the flesh finds out it still isn’t satisfied.
What does God have for his children? A person will never be happy until he finds that out. He can keep Jesus at a distance, even with spiritual gifts, deceived by the false assumption that operating in spiritual gifts is the same thing as “abiding in the vine”. Spiritual gifts don’t transform a person into the image of Jesus; they are given to us for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ. Further, if a person uses spiritual gifts in the flesh, not allowing himself to be refined by fire, not giving his will over to the Lord but clinging to it, not being changed into the image of Jesus at the same time, Jesus will have nothing to do with him later on: “Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:19-23).
God wants all of you. He doesn’t want us to work for Him; He wants to work through us: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8). He wants us to reflect His character and represent Him for what He really is. The only way this can be accomplished, since we are not of the same nature, is by dying to our nature and coming alive to His. That’s the death Paul talks of when he says “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20a).
Jesus deserves the death of our flesh. He bought us: “For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20), and He alone knows how to live His life in us: “...not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9). If we rebel at that and cling to our own life with all its passions, needs, interests, weaknesses etc., and consider Jesus to be an intrusion with His demands of us, we are ultimately rejecting the life He wants to live in and through us. He must become Lord of our lives. We must yield our flesh over to Him. He only wants to live in the house that’s cleansed of the flesh. He can’t reside in a house that’s already filled with carnality. What we sometimes label “need” He may call “carnal flesh” that needs to be mortified by the work of the cross, which makes the power of the resurrection effective in our lives: “For the preaching of the cross is...unto us which are saved the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).
Mortification is the price we must pay in order to advance in spiritual growth and not stay babes: “For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live” (Romans 8:13). If we’re not willing to step out and lose our “selves” in Christ we will be like a child who doesn’t want to grow up. This child doesn’t want to assume any responsibilities. The pain of growth makes it seem undesirable, but this perspective is short-sighted, far beneath the level of any mature Christian who’s on the “meat” rather than the “milk.”
I thank God for the Holy Spirit who “works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.” He is perfecting us, and causes us to go from one growth phase to another. We find ourselves willing to go through growth pains out of anticipation of His grace operating in us: “For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves.” (II Corinthians 13:4, 5). “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God” (Colossians 2:12). What a tremendous privilege! To resist this privilege is to be like the rest of the world, void of true meaning in life and refusing the depth of the “living waters” that result from growth and keep us alive with the life of Jesus flowing through us. To what extent will we allow God to transform us? To the point of “death”?
“I am crucified with Christ” is by faith. By faith the Holy Spirit releases us from the power of the flesh. Ignorance of this will prevent the operation of God’s processes in our lives. The work of the cross is an intense, intimate daily work in which Christ uses the circumstances which present themselves to mold us. By trusting in Him He will change our reactions to these circumstances and set us free from the hindrances to faith which keep us bound in weakness and immaturity. Many adults have never progressed in their salvation and have consequently become stale by remaining at certain “no growth” stages in their lives in which they are still bound by the flesh and are spiritually dull and ineffective. They cling to the former ways to which they are so accustomed and remain bitter, cynical, critical, hurt, callous, unable to see beyond themselves, sinful and selfish. This is the state of the flesh we’re born into, but certainly not characteristic of the kingdom we’ve been transferred to. We’ve been transferred from the kingdom of darkness, but if we refuse to “work out our salvation” we are not allowing ourselves to “live in the light” and be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Our position bought by the death of our Savior is in heavenly places, but we have our eyes fixed on the fallen condition our souls were in before He saved us. It goes back again to relationship with our Creator. He said that He would be our God and we would be His people. We acknowledge Him as our God when we yield to the Spirit and allow our flesh to be crucified. Only then will His life resurrect our spirits (the “real” us) and nurture the “new creation” brought about by our spiritual rebirth. This life process continues to separate us “from glory to glory” from the bondages of our former life which still fights to stay alive and gradually but surely raises us above our weaknesses. We can’t really “live” until this happens. True happiness is having Jesus reigning on the throne of our heart--His life freely operating through us because of the victory over the flesh. Until this happens we walk in the flesh by sight instead of in the Spirit by faith.
Spiritual life comes from spiritual knowledge, and this is not in the mind but in real experience. Scripture says that Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. If He needed to learn obedience, how much more do we need to. This requires going the way of the cross--trusting Him every step of the way--through every trial in your life. We’re not trying to escape our trials, but to go through them victoriously. Escaping is fear. Conquering them is faith. Then we truly experience His power: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:7). Don’t be afraid of anything that comes your way, but “by faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). By His word go through the trials, learn from them, grow from them, and He will establish you and make you strong: “But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10). You will reach a point where nothing will be able to get you down, because when you go to Him you’ll have the confidence that He’s there waiting for you, ready to answer you: “And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (I John 5:15). “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (I John 3:22).
If your spiritual experiences remain only in what you know in your mind, without experience, you’ll be deceived into a false spirituality, a puffed-up mind. But if, through faith, you allow yourself to be molded by trials that come your way, you will find the life of Christ rising up within you, and you will truly experience His power in your life, proving your faith. For faith is not faith until it’s been put to the test. Then, when the heat is turned up, the fire burns away the dross in the soul until the beauty of the nature of Jesus emerges pure and clean out of a heart that knows how to suffer successfully for a higher purpose.
What does God have for his children? A person will never be happy until he finds that out. He can keep Jesus at a distance, even with spiritual gifts, deceived by the false assumption that operating in spiritual gifts is the same thing as “abiding in the vine”. Spiritual gifts don’t transform a person into the image of Jesus; they are given to us for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ. Further, if a person uses spiritual gifts in the flesh, not allowing himself to be refined by fire, not giving his will over to the Lord but clinging to it, not being changed into the image of Jesus at the same time, Jesus will have nothing to do with him later on: “Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:19-23).
God wants all of you. He doesn’t want us to work for Him; He wants to work through us: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8). He wants us to reflect His character and represent Him for what He really is. The only way this can be accomplished, since we are not of the same nature, is by dying to our nature and coming alive to His. That’s the death Paul talks of when he says “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20a).
Jesus deserves the death of our flesh. He bought us: “For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20), and He alone knows how to live His life in us: “...not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9). If we rebel at that and cling to our own life with all its passions, needs, interests, weaknesses etc., and consider Jesus to be an intrusion with His demands of us, we are ultimately rejecting the life He wants to live in and through us. He must become Lord of our lives. We must yield our flesh over to Him. He only wants to live in the house that’s cleansed of the flesh. He can’t reside in a house that’s already filled with carnality. What we sometimes label “need” He may call “carnal flesh” that needs to be mortified by the work of the cross, which makes the power of the resurrection effective in our lives: “For the preaching of the cross is...unto us which are saved the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).
Mortification is the price we must pay in order to advance in spiritual growth and not stay babes: “For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live” (Romans 8:13). If we’re not willing to step out and lose our “selves” in Christ we will be like a child who doesn’t want to grow up. This child doesn’t want to assume any responsibilities. The pain of growth makes it seem undesirable, but this perspective is short-sighted, far beneath the level of any mature Christian who’s on the “meat” rather than the “milk.”
I thank God for the Holy Spirit who “works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.” He is perfecting us, and causes us to go from one growth phase to another. We find ourselves willing to go through growth pains out of anticipation of His grace operating in us: “For though He was crucified through weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves.” (II Corinthians 13:4, 5). “Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God” (Colossians 2:12). What a tremendous privilege! To resist this privilege is to be like the rest of the world, void of true meaning in life and refusing the depth of the “living waters” that result from growth and keep us alive with the life of Jesus flowing through us. To what extent will we allow God to transform us? To the point of “death”?
“I am crucified with Christ” is by faith. By faith the Holy Spirit releases us from the power of the flesh. Ignorance of this will prevent the operation of God’s processes in our lives. The work of the cross is an intense, intimate daily work in which Christ uses the circumstances which present themselves to mold us. By trusting in Him He will change our reactions to these circumstances and set us free from the hindrances to faith which keep us bound in weakness and immaturity. Many adults have never progressed in their salvation and have consequently become stale by remaining at certain “no growth” stages in their lives in which they are still bound by the flesh and are spiritually dull and ineffective. They cling to the former ways to which they are so accustomed and remain bitter, cynical, critical, hurt, callous, unable to see beyond themselves, sinful and selfish. This is the state of the flesh we’re born into, but certainly not characteristic of the kingdom we’ve been transferred to. We’ve been transferred from the kingdom of darkness, but if we refuse to “work out our salvation” we are not allowing ourselves to “live in the light” and be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Our position bought by the death of our Savior is in heavenly places, but we have our eyes fixed on the fallen condition our souls were in before He saved us. It goes back again to relationship with our Creator. He said that He would be our God and we would be His people. We acknowledge Him as our God when we yield to the Spirit and allow our flesh to be crucified. Only then will His life resurrect our spirits (the “real” us) and nurture the “new creation” brought about by our spiritual rebirth. This life process continues to separate us “from glory to glory” from the bondages of our former life which still fights to stay alive and gradually but surely raises us above our weaknesses. We can’t really “live” until this happens. True happiness is having Jesus reigning on the throne of our heart--His life freely operating through us because of the victory over the flesh. Until this happens we walk in the flesh by sight instead of in the Spirit by faith.
Spiritual life comes from spiritual knowledge, and this is not in the mind but in real experience. Scripture says that Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered. If He needed to learn obedience, how much more do we need to. This requires going the way of the cross--trusting Him every step of the way--through every trial in your life. We’re not trying to escape our trials, but to go through them victoriously. Escaping is fear. Conquering them is faith. Then we truly experience His power: “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Corinthians 4:7). Don’t be afraid of anything that comes your way, but “by faith and patience inherit the promises” (Hebrews 6:12). By His word go through the trials, learn from them, grow from them, and He will establish you and make you strong: “But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10). You will reach a point where nothing will be able to get you down, because when you go to Him you’ll have the confidence that He’s there waiting for you, ready to answer you: “And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (I John 5:15). “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (I John 3:22).
If your spiritual experiences remain only in what you know in your mind, without experience, you’ll be deceived into a false spirituality, a puffed-up mind. But if, through faith, you allow yourself to be molded by trials that come your way, you will find the life of Christ rising up within you, and you will truly experience His power in your life, proving your faith. For faith is not faith until it’s been put to the test. Then, when the heat is turned up, the fire burns away the dross in the soul until the beauty of the nature of Jesus emerges pure and clean out of a heart that knows how to suffer successfully for a higher purpose.