CHAPTER 3
LAW OF THE SPIRIT
Romans 8:1-5, tells us this is a NEW LAW, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the SPIRIT. For the LAW of the SPIRIT of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE from the LAW of SIN and DEATH; for what the LAW could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending HIS own SON in the "likeness" of sinful flesh, and for SIN, CONDEMNED SIN in the flesh: That the righteousness of the LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED in us, who walk NOT after the flesh, but after the SPIRIT; for they that are after the flesh do MIND the things of the flesh; but they that are after the SPIRIT, the things of the SPIRIT.'
Remember this statement of Paul in Romans 7:24, 'O wretched man that I am! WHO shall deliver me from the BODY of this death?' Read on to Verse 25 where he says, 'I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the MIND, I myself serve the LAW of GOD; but with the flesh the law of sin.'
The New Living Translation explains Verse 25, 'Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my MIND, I really want to obey God's LAW, but because of my sinful nature, I am a slave to sin.'
There is an inherent evil in our human nature that does not want to obey God. Paul tells us the only answer to overcoming it is in our CHOICE to serve Christ. He says he chooses to serve Christ and His RIGHTEOUSNESS and finds his FAITH has liberated him and set him free from the bondage of this evil. This FAITH gives him the POWER to overcome sin.
In Romans 4:5, ‘FAITH IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ It is considered a RIGHTEOUS act. He chooses CHRIST and HIS WORKS over his own evil works with the MIND OF FAITH. The FRONT LINE of the Spiritual struggle to OVERCOME "Individual" sin is in the MIND. We defeat the Devil by purposing in our MIND to obey God and then we have the ability to RESIST EVIL tendencies. This is called FAITH in CHRIST.
James 1:8 says, 'A DOUBLE MINDED man is unstable in all of his ways.' The New Living Translation says of this scripture, 'They can't make up their MINDS. They waver back and forth in EVERYTHING they do.'
James 4:8 tells us, 'purify your HEARTS, ye DOUBLE MINDED.'
Romans 8:1-5 describes WALKING in the SPIRIT with a "Made-Up" MIND, is the key to SANCTIFICATION provided in the 2nd REDEMPTION of the HEART and MIND of the BODY.
O HEART, WHERE ART THOU?
"Where is the HEART: In the SOUL or the BODY?" If we use our reasoning that the SOUL is either HOLY or EVIL, then we must find that the HEART is in the BODY because it is evident that a struggle between good and evil is waged there. Can any Christian deny that he has evil thoughts and sees corruption in his HEART? Not only is the physical body of the Christian subject to sickness and physical death; but the evil tendencies in the HEART and MIND of the "Born Again" is in need of constant SANCTIFICATION by the HOLY SPIRIT of God. Jeremiah 17:9, 'the HEART of man is desperately wicked: Who can know it?'
The HEART reveals motives, desires, and IS the SEAT of the MIND, which brings forth thoughts. Jeremiah 17:10 tells us, 'I, the LORD, search the HEART; I try the reins, even to give every man according to the FRUIT of his doing.'
Matthew 12:34. 'For out of the ABUNDANCE of the HEART the mouth speaketh.'
You might wonder, "Am I really saved if my HEART has evil (SIN of "Old Adam") in it?"
The Apostle Paul had the same question. In Romans 7, he describes perfectly the BORN AGAIN and his struggle against THE SIN that still remains in his mortal BODY (the HEART). The apostle Paul describes a warfare and wrestling with evil in his HEART and MIND against THE MIND OF CHRIST living within him. Some theologians would argue that Romans 7 is to the "Unsaved", but Paul, in his beginning salutation in Romans 1:7, fully states that the letter of Romans is to those "called to be saints" that were in Rome. In addition, an unsaved person does not have the struggle against SIN in his mortal BODY, because he is a SERVANT of that SIN and follows wherever "It" leads. Paul also mentions a WARFARE going on within the BORN AGAIN in Ephesians 6 that can only be concluded to be going on in the BODY and not the SOUL of the BORN AGAIN.
HOW CAN WE OBEY GOD WITH EVIL IN THE HEART?
The BORN AGAIN must "die" to the EVIL tendencies still in the HEART. A dead man does not become angry. We must crucify this inherent evil by submitting to daily cleansing by the SPIRIT, and by the WORD, in our daily walk in fellowship with Christ by right CHOICES and a SURRENDERED life to CHRIST.
Hebrews 2:3, warns us not to NEGLECT so great a salvation, as possible DEFILEMENT of the SOUL could take place. If evil is not put away and resisted, it could result in the LOSS of the KINGDOM of GOD. 'How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.'
In Matthew 16:24 Jesus says, "If any man will come after Me, let him DENY himself, and TAKE up his cross and FOLLOW ME."
Romans 6:6 tells us, 'Knowing this, that our OLD MAN is CRUCIFIED with HIM, that the BODY of SIN might be destroyed, that henceforth we should NOT serve SIN.'
Even though we still have the corruption of SIN (Old Adam) in our BODY (HEART and MIND) for as long as we live, we are to resist and fight against it. That SIN cannot control us, because we have the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST living in our SOUL, WHO CLEANSETH us from all unrighteousness when we submit ourselves to him. It is the “putting on” of Christ and the “putting off” of SIN. In our struggle we have victories and we have failures, but because God’s MERCY and GRACE are so vast, HE rescues us and keeps us if we TRUST in HIM. HE is greater than our hearts and the battles of the mind, I John 3:20. Again, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH, Galatians 3:11.
It is not OUR righteousness that we are trying to achieve in our daily walk: It is the RIGHTEOUSNESS of CHRIST in the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. Isaiah 64:6 plainly states that man's righteousness is as "filthy rags" to God. The New Living Translation says, 'We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.'
There is only ONE way to change “Old Adam's” HEART and MIND to bring forth the RIGHTEOUSNESS (Fruit of the Spirit) that God requires; and that is for GOD to IMPUTE (or add to the HEART) His Son’s RIGHTEOUSNESS to the BORN AGAIN.
Psalms 32:1-2 says, 'Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.'
II Corinthians 5:19-21, 'To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: We pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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.'
The New Living Translation explains, 'For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself: No longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ Himself were here pleading with you, "Be ye reconciled to God!" For God made Christ, Who never sinned, to be the offering for our SIN, so that we could be made RIGHT with God through Christ.' This REDEEMING POWER OF CHRIST covers FORGIVENESS of sins committed "before" or "after" conversion for the BORN AGAIN.
In Romans 12:1 the Apostle Paul tells us, 'I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye PRESENT your bodies, A LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Be ye not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the RENEWING of your MIND, that ye may PROVE what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, WILL of GOD.' This is our part in the keeping of THE KINGDOM of GOD within us until the 2nd REDEMPTION of the physical BODY in the Rapture when we are free from the struggle with SIN in our mortal bodies (in the HEART and MIND).
PROOF OF A SPIRTUAL LIFE
Galatians 5:24, 'And they that are Christ's have CRUCIFIED the flesh with the affections and LUSTS.'
WHAT ARE THE WORKS OF THE FLESH?
Galatians 5:19-21 according to the New Living Translation, 'When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will NOT inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD.'
WHAT IS LUST OF THE FLESH?
You might say, "I always thought I had to get my HEART right to make Heaven. How can I make my HEART right when I have all these evil tendencies tugging at me?"
First of all, there is no way you can make your HEART right. The SIN still in the HEART is the inherent SIN Paul spoke of. God has to do the cleansing of the HEART by the Spirit of God living within you, when we put our TRUST and FAITH IN CHRIST and kill the LUSTS that war against the SPIRIT, then we have CRUCIFIED this inherent FLESH of the HEART by the POWER of CHRIST living within. The HEART deceives and has flaws and is vulnerable to LUST that tempts one to SIN. James 1:14 tells us, 'Let no man say when he is tempted; I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own LUST, and enticed. Then, when LUST hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.'
Matthew 4:1-11, tells us Jesus was tempted three times. How could Jesus be tempted when II Corinthians 5:21, says, 'Jesus knew no SIN.' The LUST referred to in James 1:14 must refer to a NATURAL LUST (a human nature). Other words used to describe a human LUST could be: "desire", "need", "want" or "craving".
I John 2:16-17 says, 'For all that is in the world, the LUST of the flesh, and the LUST of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the LUST thereof: but he that doeth the WILL of GOD abideth forever.' KJV
The New Living Translation explains I John 2:16-17 as, 'For the world offers only the LUST for physical pleasure, the LUST for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the WILL of GOD, you will live forever.'
THE THREE TEMPTATIONS of JESUS - Matthew 4
First, He was hungry, which is a natural "LUST of the flesh". Jesus was tempted by the Devil to use HIS power as the Son of God to turn stones into bread in order to satisfy His physical appetite. If Jesus had done the devil’s bidding, it would have been a presumptuous SIN of obeying the voice of Satan at his command, rather than trusting God in His fast and devotion to God.
Secondly, He was tempted with a natural "LUST of the pride of life". His desire was to fulfill his destiny as the SON of God, a goodly thing. The Devil, twisting the scripture, tried to convince Jesus to throw himself off the pinnacle of the temple in order to tempt God, which would have been another presumptuous SIN.
Thirdly, Jesus was tempted with a natural "LUST of the eyes". The Devil had shown Him all the kingdoms of the world and told Jesus he would give them all to Him, if He would fall down and worship him.
In all these temptations, Jesus did not do what the Devil wanted Him to do. He was without SIN. The Devil takes advantage of our NATURAL LUST, to tempt us through the vulnerability of a less than perfect HEART.
The WARFARE is LUST, mostly natural in a fleshly heart against our (perfect) SEALED SOUL, where CHRIST LIVES. The SOUL is SEALED by the HOLY SPIRIT so that Satan cannot attack us there, but he can attack us in the LUST of the HEART.
Paul warned in Ephesians 6:10-18, exactly who we were warring against, ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’
Without diligence through prayer, the unchecked HEART and MIND can once again become so wicked and corrupt so as to defile the SOUL. An example of such a situation is recorded in Hebrews 12:15, 'Looking diligently, lest any man, fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.' These evil inclinations must be dealt with by resisting evil and making right CHOICES.
The HEART is influenced by the SOUL. If the SOUL is HOLY with Christ living within, Christ produces RIGHTEOUSNESS in the HEART. If the SOUL is EVIL, unrighteousness is in the HEART. The entirety of the man is found in his SOUL. Is it HOLY? Or is it DEFILED?
Revelation 22:11, 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: And he, which is filthy, let him be filthy still: And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: And he that is HOLY, let him be HOLY still.' These scriptures are not referring to the BODY, but to the SOUL.
The goal of this website is to reveal this: The WARFARE going on in the BORN AGAIN is NOT in the SOUL, but is in the BODY that "groans" to be released in the 2nd REDEMPTION, which is the "raising" of the BODY of the saints, for both the living and the dead "in Christ".
THE MECHANICS OF SALVATION
1st REDEMPTION of the SOUL - JUSTIFICATION
To pardon One's Guilt: It is the releasing of a penalty for a wrongdoing to the extent of restoring the offender to the pre-offense condition; with complete purging of all records of the offense to insure that the offense can never be used against the offender in any court or proceeding. Absolution does NOT consider any redeeming qualities of the offender, because he has none. The PARDON is granted solely at the discretion of the Highest Authority, which is a work of GRACE.
2nd REDEMPTION of the BODY - TWO EVENTS:
EVENT 1 – SANCTIFICATION of the HEART and MIND of the living saint while on Earth, Evidence of Justification. Two parties are involved in Sanctification:
1. The Former Offender ( the REDEEMED) - To diligently pursue submission to the WILL of God by PRAYER and RIGHT CHOICES, depending entirely upon the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT living within.
To reject temptation, resist evil, in order to prove to the Court that Justification was worthy of the "Individual" receiving it by Walking in the Spirit and not obeying the Lust of the flesh. James 4:7-8, 'Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil, and he will FLEE from you. Draw night to God, and He will draw nigh to you.'
To go BOLDLY to the THRONE of God, when offenses occur; where "GRACE to Forgive" abounds because of the ADVOCATE, Jesus Christ, Who intercedes on the behalf of those who seek Forgiveness, I John 2:1,2.
Hebrews 4:16, 'Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of GRACE that we may obtain MERCY, and find GRACE to help in time of need.'
To Study the Bible, the Word of God for enlightenment so as to know the WILL of God: II Timothy 2:15, 'Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.'
To do all things in the only NAME given among men in the service of God, which is Jesus Christ as recorded in Colossians 3:17, ‘And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the NAME of the Lord JESUS, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.’
2. Court Appointed COMFORTER (HOLY SPIRIT) - Appointed by the Highest Authority to IMPOWER the Former Offender to:
- Resist any temptation to offend or be offended;
- Receive ATTRIBUTES (Fruit of the Spirit) which will bring forth actions worthy of reward;
- Seek and maintain a relationship with the Higher Authority in order to be in perfect harmony with the Court.
- To enable the REDEEMED to hear the Voice of the Highest Authority when He calls for him in the Rapture, whether he is living or dead;
- To receive GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT for SERVICE in God's Kingdom
John 16:13 Jesus says, "Howbeit when He, the SPIRIT of TRUTH, is come, He will guide you into all TRUTH: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come."
EVENT 2 -
2nd REDEMPTION of the (Physical) BODY of the saint, whether living or dead:
A NEW BODY to be received in the RAPTURE when Jesus will call forth His followers from the Earth with a Loud Shout. Jesus and the saints will subsequently journey to Heaven, where a marriage banquet is prepared for the reunion. God, the Father, will present the saints, the BRIDE, to His Son FOR THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. The BRIDE will rule and reign with Jesus in God's literal Kingdom in Heaven and in the New Earth that will be prepared. Rewards (gifts) will be given to the BRIDE for her FAITHFULNESS and for all the deeds and actions done in the NAME of JESUS.
The New Living Translation, Revelation 19:7-8, 'Let us rejoice and honor Him: For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen.' (Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.) THINK OF IT! A NEW BODY clothed in HOLINESS! FINALLY! Praise the Name of the Lord forever. The 2nd Redemption of the BODY has taken place.
THE BRIDE IS PERFECT AS CHRIST
No mention of offenses of the BRIDE at the banquet, because all things were judged upon the Earth in the work of JUSTIFICATION and SANCTIFICATION. The curse of the FALL of ADAM has been removed from the BRIDE because she has made herself ready for her LORD, JESUS CHRIST.
Revelation 20:6 tells us, 'Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the SECOND DEATH hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.'
The New Living Translation in Revelation 21:1, John tells us, 'Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was gone. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful BRIDE prepared for her husband.'
'I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, the home of God is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils; are gone forever."
'And the ONE sitting on the throne said, "Look, I am making all things new!" And then He said to me, "Write this down, for what I tell you; is trustworthy and true." And He also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega--the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give the springs of the water of LIFE without charge! All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.'
VICTORY IN OVERCOMING THE WORLD
“If Jesus destroyed the works of the Devil when he rose from the dead, then what is there left to overcome?” you may ask.
We must OVERCOME THE WORLD, which is the LUST of the things of the world, that is in the flesh discussed earlier. Jesus said in John 16:33, ‘In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.’
Jesus makes special promises in the book of Revelation to those who OVERCOME the world:
Revelation 2:7 – ‘I will give to eat of the TREE OF LIFE, which is in the paradise of God’
Revelation 2:11 – ‘Shall NOT be hurt of the SECOND DEATH’
Revelation 2:17 – ‘I (will) give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a NEW NAME written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.’
Revelation 2:26 – ‘I (will) give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.’
Revelation 3:5 – ‘I will NOT blot out his name out of the BOOK OF LIFE, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.’
Revelation 3:12 – ‘I (will) make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him MY NEW NAME.’
Revelation 3:20 – ‘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.’
Revelation 3:21 –- ‘I (will) grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
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