2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Over the past several blogs, I have brought you revelations concerning the reality of the word of God as it applies to his born-again children and the relationship afforded us through the atonement of Christ blood sacrifice. This is the truth concerning the great and marvelous grace and tender mercy of God to each of us. These truths are the only things you can count on to make you truly free. It’s certainly worth shouting about.
Before Christ, you and I were dead in our trespasses and sin, bound for an eternity in hell. Something stepped between you and your destiny with hell. His name was Jesus Christ. Because you dared believe by faith the work of the cross, you entered into a relationship you probably never knew existed or thought possible for a lowly sinner like yourself. But it happened none the less and here you are now, a new creature in the kingdom of God, according to the promises of scripture. You may have thought nothing really changed outside of your faith acceptance of Christ. But something marvelous did happen, though unseen by human eyes. In a reality that you probably didn’t even know existed at the time, your old nature, or spirit man, died and was done away with, never to return. It passed away and was laid in the eternal grave; a place where there is no resurrection. A wholly new creation event took place when you received Christ. That new spiritual man, created by God in righteousness and true holiness, now stands in that former dead spirit man’s place. This is the new temple of God, where Christ says he’ll never leave or forsake us. This new man was then sealed with that promise and now nothing can ever impact or change it.
Over the past three weeks I have laid a foundation of truths so you could see for yourself the greatness of God’s word as it applies to this newly created man, and why it is imperative that we now don, or put on this new man.
So what does donning the new man actually mean? Perhaps it can best be expressed by showing you what some of the synonyms for donning means. These should help give you a better word picture so you’ll be able to grasp its meaning.
To don something means to…
1) Put on.
2) Throw on.
3) Get into.
4) Pull on.
5) Dress yourself in.
6) Slip on.
How much simpler can it be? All of these synonyms are action related, meaning that it is our responsibility to actually do something with this new man.
It should be now be apparent what God desires for his children. He intends for them to take full advantage of everything the new man is, but how to do that is another matter completely. Most Christians feel they already know everything about their salvation experience because of the religious teachings. Most church attending believers are taught to don only the teachings of their particular denomination; to embrace the dogma that they’ve been raised with.
The reality is that few believers actually have even a rudimentary understanding of what scripture says about putting on the new man, which leads to confusion when presented with the true message of the gospel.
I’ll agree with one thing, learning truths about the new man takes some time, but there are so few Christians who are willing to step out and explore the word of God for them self. Many are simply content with the comfort of the church’s apron.
Listen, no natural child ever grew up without exploring the natural world around them without the aid of their parents. Obviously parents are necessary, but so is individual exploration. That’s how we grow in the Lord, through the renewing of our minds.
If a church or denomination restricts, or discourages your right to explore the word of God for yourself, then perhaps you need to find another fellowship. If your church encourages it, then maybe you’re where you need to be.
Don’t be intimidated by those who want restrict your growth because of church doctrine. You actually have a greater right as a child of God to know him first and foremost – above all else, in fullness – to the length, breath, depth, and height, which is his greatest desire for you.
If you have the opportunity to talk with other Christians, it becomes quickly evident that most, who have been in a denominational setting for a period of time, think they know more than you do. These people have been well indoctrinated and are unwilling to put aside the errors of religious teaching they’ve grown up with. They are hardened against learning, or accepting scriptural truths, even when presented with irrefutable scriptural evidence.
Sadly, most people don’t even recognize the spirit man as being a necessary or functioning part of their make up as human beings. The word of God tells us that man is made up of three distinct parts - spirit, soul, and body.
Since Christians don’t actually feel the spirit within themselves and they can’t see it, they feel it must not be important. People easily recognize the functioning elements of the body through their five senses - seeing, hearing, and tasting, feeling and touching. They can also recognize the soulish realm by their emotions and their intellect; the ability to reason. In most cases, this is as far and deep as they’ll ever go.
Let’s look to a better source for the answer.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Interestingly God recognizes and understands the value of the triune man. After all, this man creature was created in his very own image.
Of the three parts, what is the least important to man is actually the most important to God – your spirit. In God’s eyes, the real you is your new created spirit. When the old man [former nature], was in control, God knew that it needed a Savior, so he sent Christ his son. When by faith you accepted the message of the cross, Christ came into your life, and replaced your dead and dying spirit with a brand new spirit, untouched by sin. It was in your spirit alone that you became this new creature – a new creation made in the very likeness and image of his son. In this spirit, behold all things became new. The old nature passed away completely.
Ephesians 4:24 tells us to put on that new man - that was created after God in both righteousness and true holiness.
God admonishes us to put it on; wear it like a suit; walk in it; to be one with it.
After you become born again, your spirit is complete. It doesn’t need further work; to become righteous, or holy, or to mature through some process of learning. The new spirit creation that God gave us was made perfect in every area from the get go.
Think about these things...
1) You can’t make something perfect that is already completely perfect.
2) You can’t teach it anything, when it already knows all things.
3) You can’t hope for an eventual maturity, when it is already fully mature – lacking nothing
4) You can’t protect it from harm or sin, when it has been sealed by the Holy Spirit against anything that man or the devil can do.
Your spirit was created after God…
I John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
The only way you can understand this scripture is when you understand that it was your spirit that was born again. This is accomplished by faith.
Your spirit is just like Jesus Christ, and so are we in this world. Your soul and body aren’t like Jesus, just your spirit man.
1 Cor 6:17
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
1 Cor 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Notice, that word one is singular only.
I dealt with this last week, but I wish to tell it again in a different way. Why do that? Repetition is necessary. It helps the word stick.
What I’m teaching is so radical to modern Christianity, so out of the box for most believers. It’s about time we came to understand the truth of it. You must agree that it is a radical departure from most of God’s people think or believe today. The early church understood it; walking and living in it constantly. Their lives were changed by it when they embraced its truth, and they never looked back.
We need to hear the truths over and over and over again. You need to be pregnant with it and watch it come alive inside of you. You need to have these revelations transform your thinking (your soul) by the renewing of your mind.
Scripture clearly says, “As a man so thinketh in his heart so he is”.
Your mind is a road that has many ruts in it. Every time you go down that path you keep falling into the same ruts, the same “stinking thinking”. This is like the un-renewed mind, thinking the same old man fleshly thoughts, forever stumbling along.
People fall into the same religious ruts time and time again.
It’s the things you’ve been taught all of your life. When you become born again you no longer easily relate with the newly created spirit man because your mind has not been renewed. You find comfort in the thoughts of your former self and easily revert back to those familiar things of your old nature – the old carnal man. Let me tell you, death is in the old nature. Your mind must be renewed to God’s word, as it is rightly divided.
To have success in your walk with Christ, you must learn to relate with the brand new you, which is your new spirit man, created in the image of the master – perfect.
It takes effort to come out of that old way of thinking. It’s a brand new road – less traveled. It takes effort to walk in the knowledge of the new spirit man, but it can be done. It takes effort to don the new man, but it is well worth it.
I would tell you to start focusing in on the good things that you now know are inside of you because of what Christ has done for you, instead of the limitations and the failures that are in your mind, caused by religion.
Philemon 1:6
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Isn’t this a tremendous scripture verse?
This is the key to your success as a born again child of God. That (your) faith might become effective by acknowledging and accepting every good gift that is in you in Christ.
The average Christian does not grasp the significance of acknowledging the good within them, through the finished work of Christ. Instead, they see only their human failures and inadequacies as children of God. They’re certain they don’t measure up and therefore couldn’t be loved by God because of these continual carnal failures.
The scripture you just read tells you emphatically that your faith becomes effectual the moment you begin to acknowledge the good work of Christ in your spirit man.
Understanding this will set the captive (you) totally free.
Romans 7:18
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Do you understand what this scripture verse is telling you? Your soul and body are places were no good thing dwells. Paul summed it up perfectly by confessing the truth about his unregenerate soul and body in this scripture. You and I can say exactly the same thing. But thanks to God for our regenerated spirit man which makes it entirely possible, through our renewed, or soon to be renewed minds.
Rom 7:24-25
O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank god through Jesus Christ our lord.
Focusing on the soul and body is not what makes your faith effectual. In fact it hinders all things spiritual. What gives you victory in your Christian life is your acknowledgment of every good gift inside you.
Everybody should remember where they’ve come from. Doing so enables us to understand why we needed God in the first place. By recognizing your total inadequacy, we see that God is completely adequate in all things. He changed us by changing the core of our nature. He gave us the new man; a nature cast in the image of Christ - complete.
To walk in the victory of the Jesus Christ, you need to now put on this new man, who after God was created in righteousness and true holiness, and then to begin acknowledging the good gifts which have been given to you freely through his son Jesus Christ.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
As stated before, in your flesh “no good thing dwelleth in you”. Yet the medical profession, psychologists, and psychiatrists, even the churches today, embrace the concept that people ought to feel better about themselves in their humanness. This is a falsehood on every level and has deceived multitudes. It is a work of futility and false hope to believe or teach that we can be anything, or of any worth apart from Christ. Without the new man, through salvation, there is virtually no hope for the individual.
Did you know that most churches don’t believe that your spirit becomes brand new when you’re saved? They, like the world believe it’s now entirely up to you and your efforts to do right from here on out. Neither do they believe that old things passed away with the new birth, through though they preach salvation and a relationship with the God.
The church of today wants its membership to know the following things.
1) They want you to dress up the old man by your own efforts – to appear to be something it isn’t.
2) They want you clean up the old man yourself by getting your act together.
3) They want you to call the old man by a newer friendlier, less confrontational name.
4) They want you to feel good about the old carnal man that is now dressed up in this new suit.
So, remember these things…
1) Religion cannot make you feel better about your sinful condition.
2) Medicine cannot heal your spiritual or inner man.
3) Counseling cannot make you feel good about yourself - long term.
Simply stated, the flesh, on its own, will never get better.
Reread this with me.
Romans 7:24-25
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1) It’s Christ alone who redeems you.
2) It’s Christ alone who makes you spiritually whole.
3) It’s Christ alone who makes all things new.
4) It’s Christ alone who breaks down the barriers of sin.
5) It’s Christ who desires to bring you into intimate relationship with the Godhead.
I therefore admonish you to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Everyone who does has never been sorry!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Saturday, September 3, 2011
YOUR SPIRIT—A NEWLY CREATED WORK
2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
For the past two blogs, I have been giving you scripturally based revelations about putting on the new man. What an awesome revelations they have been, but there is still so much more to learn. Stay with us.
This is a vitally important aspect of your Christian walk that cannot be ignored if you hope to achieve everything God has prepared for you. Putting on the new [spirit] man who is created in righteousness and true holiness is our heritage because of the born again experience.
Rom 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The past two chapters introduced you to the stark reality that each of us is a triune creation – body, soul, and spirit, though two-thirds remain, for the moment, unchanged – that being the body and soul.
Here is one of many scriptures which confirm your triune nature.
1Thes 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Man is made up of three equal parts…
1/3 spirit
1/3 soul
1/3 body
When you became, a born again child of God, not all three of these parts became “Saved”. The portion that was “saved” involved one of the unseen elements of your triune being, called your spirit. At the moment of salvation, your spirit changed completely and forever. It [your spirit] was then sealed in its new state of perfection, by the Holy Spirit of God. This perfected and sealed state, or condition, now makes it virtually impossible for your regenerated spirit to be influenced or affected in any way by any outward experiences of either your soul or body.
In the portion of your triune being, called the soul, the old things of the soul did not pass away, or become new. In other words, your soul did not get saved, as many falsely believe and are taught. Your human character, thoughts, and actions continue on as though nothing happened. The same with your physical body; it didn’t get saved either. As I illustrated to you previously, if you were overweight, before you got saved, then you were overweight after you got saved, if you smoked, or drank, then those too likely continued. Both of these parts – soul and body – remained unchanged or unregenerate.
Not so with your spirit. This is where everything takes place, or changes at the moment of salvation. When you become born again, your spirit became a newly created work; the handiwork of God himself, where old things [your spirit nature] passed completely away. Your “old man”, the sinful nature died and was replaced with your new man, who was created in righteousness and true holiness, as scripture clearly states. The grace of God made the allowance for it when Christ died at Calvary. Your faith, upon hearing the preached word of God made it happen, or brought it into existence. This is exactly the same type of faith that worked in life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The promise was presented [preached] to her by the angel Gabriel; she received the message by faith, and it happened.
These next few scriptures tell us exactly what our wicked and sinful condition [nature] is like, and in fact the dilemma of all men and women born after the fall of Adam. The resulting transformation which takes place in our spirit at the very instant salvation occurs restores us once again to God, bringing us into sonship with the Godhead. From that moment, your spirit is changed forever.
Eph 2:3-6
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The word of God is awesome to behold.
Here are some interesting questions to consider…
1) Just how does a person ‘put on’ this new man?
2) How can the human mind grasp the greatness or significant of this salvation event with anything but faith?
3) How can you fathom the utter and complete transformation which takes place on the inside of you [your spirit] through your humanity?
Many people think that they can answer these questions by pondering them and conferring with others using the power of their human intellect. But that is not the answer. In fact, the word of God clearly tells us that it is impossible to understand spiritual things by human sight, feelings, or intellect. Spiritual matters can only be discerned by the spirit, through faith.
2 Cor 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
If we’re to walk by faith, then what exactly is it? This next verse will help get you started.
Heb 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
“Now faith” is faith you can use to receive something immediately. Now faith is also the substance, or means we use to acquire the hidden or unseen things of God.
The Greek word for the word substance is hoop-os-tas-is, which means confidence or a person with confidence.
It further tells us that now faith is the confidence of things hoped for. The Greek word for confidence is el-pid-zo, which means the things you are expecting, or trusting to receive.
When these words are used in scripture, it is imperative that we understand precisely what the author actually meant when he used it. The original Greek helps us to do just that. With clarity now firmly established, any religious speculation is put to rest. It means exactly what it says, and is not based on ‘religious’ or personal interpretations.
These scriptures will help you.
John 3:2-3
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
This man was Nicodemus, a religious man. He was struggling with the words Christ had spoken to him saying, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.
Jesus then tried to clear it up for Nicodemus in verse 6 by saying…
John 3: verse 6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
This was simply stated for both Nicodemus and to all of humanity; to those who have an ear to hear.
In other words, those things which are physical are limited by the physical, and those which are supernatural are exclusive to the supernatural. They cannot be mixed. They are as separate as the east is from the west.
A person who attempts to comprehend spiritual matters through anything but faith will end up utterly and completely frustrated.
People, religious and heathen alike, constantly try to make contact with the spiritual realm through natural or physical means. To these people, emotions play a pivotal role in that experience. They think that goose pimples are a sure sign that God, or the spirits are moving in their midst, which goes completely against the word of God.
The spiritual realm for the child of God should be a simple concept, but they make it difficult when they’re taught or believe that religion must play a major role in their relationship with Christ and their understanding of all things spiritual.
What have we learned?
1) You cannot receive spiritual truths by human intellect.
2) You cannot receive spiritual revelation through your soul or body.
3) That darkness cannot be penetrated by the light of your humanness.
I’ll even go one step further. Religion as a whole and individual denominational groups are unable to reveal the things of the spirit to their followers, though they profess openly that they can. Their so called truths only become more darkened, and the child of God is pulled further and further away from the Godhead.
There is a gulf that separates mankind from God, which can never be crossed except by faith. This defines flesh from spirit.
Spiritual truths can only be revealed through the quickening power of the Holy Spirit through your spirit man; the regenerated, born again you, which was created in righteousness and true holiness at the moment of salvation, by faith.
In that spirit realm you are oblivious to your humanity. The work of regeneration is done without fanfare and is made complete in Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
Here’s some insight for you.
I am a spirit filled man of God; one who speaks in tongues, dances in the spirit and shouts for the glory of the Lord. I operate in all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and in every aspect of the five-fold ministry. I am in fact a very charismatic Christian by the standards of many; a fanatic if you will, yet one who operates according to the specific dictates of God’s word. My human effort has no value in my worship of God. Emotions have never altered or manipulated the work of God; in fact they can be a hindrance to what God wants to do for his children. The Holy Spirit does all things in proper and holy order. You and I should too, being members of the household of faith.
So why do I mention that? Here’s why. Most people equate most or all of these spiritual things through their humanity [flesh]. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say to me in a church service, “Can’t you just feel the spirit”?
I must say it again. You cannot feel, see, or touch the spirit. But what you can do is believe the word of God, by faith. This is what pleases him. Then the unseen things are made manifest. This bypasses the need for human emotion to claim something which is not true. Human emotions are a good thing and can even enhance your worship experience, but only if they line up with the word of God. God is a God of order, not chaos.
In this faith, which comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, you can tell the difference of what is real and what is not. In this place you can see faith in action; you can rejoice in the handy work of God as it is revealed openly.
There are two things that you can feel and see within yourself, when you operate in the spirit. Those two things are faith and virtue.
Illustrations…
1) When someone comes to the altar to be healed and your spirit bears witness in faith with theirs, you can spiritually see the healing taking place in their body before it even occurs.
2) When another comes for deliverance, and all are in one accord, believing in faith, you can feel the move of God, or virtue, flowing.
This is where so many people become confused. They believe they’re being led by the spirit by the feelings they have in their flesh. To them it feels so good, so it must be true. Denominations are filled with such people, but nothing supernatural is actually happening.
The following is a scriptural example.
Mark 5:30 KJV
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
The widow woman touched the hem of his robe and Jesus felt virtue flow out of him, by way of his robe, to this woman. He felt it in his spirit as it was manifested to her in the natural realm, or physically. You and I can sometimes feel the anointing of God flowing through our hands when we’re ministering to others.
Interestingly, no one else around Jesus, or this woman, felt, or saw anything. In fact the disciples became a bit testy when asked by Christ, “Who touched me”.
I have often felt the anointing of God flowing through my hands as I pray for people. I can often see things through my faith as they stand before me. I then speak things as my mind is touched by the revelation of God’s finished work concerning their need in my spirit.
So, faith and virtue can be spiritually felt, though you cannot feel the spirit itself.
Here is what I hope for you to achieve in this life. I want you to come to the place in your walk with the Lord that is unique and special; not a shallow relationship based on what you feel in your humanity, but something far deeper.
The only way for you to get a true visualization of what of your spirit actually looks like is by reading the word of God. His word reflects back to you the precise condition of your spirit; much like a spiritual mirror. It’s a valid comparison, if we hope to become like him.
James 1:23-25
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
So what does the word of God; the spiritual mirror, have to say about the new man that you’re to put on?
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Scripture confirms that you are created after God in righteousness and true holiness when we’re saved.
I John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
This refers to our condition in this world today, not in the world that is yet to come.
1 Cor 6:16-17
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
KJV1 Corinthians 6:17
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Take a close look at verse 16
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
Listen to what’s being said. An example in the flesh is like being joined to a harlot. When two people join themselves together in intimacy, they become one flesh.
This same word tells you that when you join yourself to the Lord, through the born again experience, you become one spirit, with him. Flesh begets flesh and spirit begets spirit.
That word joined in the Greek is heis, which means oneness, to the inclusion of another; in other words a complete oneness. In this place there is no separation
This is a 100% oneness, which shows no differentiation between the vine and the branch. They are one; identical in spirit. So, our spirit and Christ’s spirit are one.
Gal 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
It simply doesn’t get much clearer than this.
So, right now, in this world we live in until our deaths, you are a son of God with all the attributes of that Son and the privileges that go with being a joint heir with Christ – the vine and the branch – one.
The spirit that dwells in you right now is, in fact, the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you don’t have the spirit of Christ, then you are not born again.
My spirit is not trying to become like Jesus. It is as complete as his, to the glory of God.
Let me deal with this for a moment…
A large percentage of the churches in America, and across the globe cringe at such a teaching as this. This flies against everything they’ve been teaching their congregations for ages. But the truth of scripture, rightly divided and separated from human emotion and intellect, remains unchanged. It is truth that makes the captives free.
Read it for yourselves. It’s as plain as the ink on the pages. I’ve added nothing to it, and neither should they. What most are given is a religious teaching, not spiritual truths.
When you are born again, you are not born again as a baby. That’s what Nicodemus thought.
Your spirit does not grow, nor does it need to mature. It is both complete and mature at the very instant of your new [born again] birth. The reason your spirit does not grow is because your spirit is made complete in Christ. Christ isn’t maturing and neither are you. You come into the revelation of what has been given to you in your soul and body, because of this salvation experience through the renewing of your mind. Your spirit is finished, sealed and precisely the same as that of Jesus Christ.
Yes, I understand that there are scriptures concerning growth in the word of God, such as in this verse, but that is not to be confused with anything that remains undone in your spirit, only your soul and body, which need to be renewed constantly through teaching.
1 Pet 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
This same scripture is used by countless pastors and teachers who want their ‘baby Christians’ properly brought up according to the denomination doctrines of their church. They want them to mature, but only as it lines up with their specific church doctrine. Denominations are not interested in its members becoming independent thinkers in their beliefs towards God. The thought of dealing with a Christian radical for Christ, sends shivers up their spines. To allow that to happen would be a scourge against their organized religion.
I will say it again; when you are born again you are fully grown [mature, lacking nothing] in your spirit. Remember, the word of God never contradicts itself. It must be taken together as a whole and in context.
It is your soul that needs to mature, not your spirit.
It is not your spirit that I am trying to get the word of God into. It’s your unregenerate soul. Your spirit already knows this if you are born again. That’s why there is a natural hungering and thirsting for the sincere milk of the word of all new Christians.
1) Your spirit does not need to grow into maturity. It already is fully mature.
2) It’s your soul that needs to grow, understand, discern, recognize, and gain revelation into the things and ways of God – by a renewing of your mind.
Your soul [mind] is where the blockage is. In it are the things you’ve be taught over your lifetime that are in direct opposition to the truths of scripture.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is for children to accept spiritual truths? They become harden over the course of their lives by the errors taught them. After a while, even they will have difficulty accepting truth.
As your mind is renewed you will begin walking in the completeness of Christ, as he intended. This creates a longing for more and more truth. We find ourselves hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
Col 2:6-10
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Please understand this. I am not trying to create a new religion; goodness knows we have enough of that going on already. I am not a rebel to the cause of Christianity or ministry, or some fanatic who’s fallen off the church’s parade float. I am a man of God who longs to see the children of God enjoying the fruits of their relationship with Christ, as they are clearly outlined in scripture.
I am grateful for the revelations I have learned over these many years. The Lord has opened my eyes to see him as he truly is. My mind is in a constant state of renewal. I don’t want to miss anything he has provided me through Christ’s death. Some may say that I am the sign that stands out in the middle of the highway, in the dark of night, warning others that the bridge ahead has been washed out.
So I must tell you. Please stop! This is not the way to go home. The bridge is out! There’s a better way.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
For the past two blogs, I have been giving you scripturally based revelations about putting on the new man. What an awesome revelations they have been, but there is still so much more to learn. Stay with us.
This is a vitally important aspect of your Christian walk that cannot be ignored if you hope to achieve everything God has prepared for you. Putting on the new [spirit] man who is created in righteousness and true holiness is our heritage because of the born again experience.
Rom 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
The past two chapters introduced you to the stark reality that each of us is a triune creation – body, soul, and spirit, though two-thirds remain, for the moment, unchanged – that being the body and soul.
Here is one of many scriptures which confirm your triune nature.
1Thes 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Man is made up of three equal parts…
1/3 spirit
1/3 soul
1/3 body
When you became, a born again child of God, not all three of these parts became “Saved”. The portion that was “saved” involved one of the unseen elements of your triune being, called your spirit. At the moment of salvation, your spirit changed completely and forever. It [your spirit] was then sealed in its new state of perfection, by the Holy Spirit of God. This perfected and sealed state, or condition, now makes it virtually impossible for your regenerated spirit to be influenced or affected in any way by any outward experiences of either your soul or body.
In the portion of your triune being, called the soul, the old things of the soul did not pass away, or become new. In other words, your soul did not get saved, as many falsely believe and are taught. Your human character, thoughts, and actions continue on as though nothing happened. The same with your physical body; it didn’t get saved either. As I illustrated to you previously, if you were overweight, before you got saved, then you were overweight after you got saved, if you smoked, or drank, then those too likely continued. Both of these parts – soul and body – remained unchanged or unregenerate.
Not so with your spirit. This is where everything takes place, or changes at the moment of salvation. When you become born again, your spirit became a newly created work; the handiwork of God himself, where old things [your spirit nature] passed completely away. Your “old man”, the sinful nature died and was replaced with your new man, who was created in righteousness and true holiness, as scripture clearly states. The grace of God made the allowance for it when Christ died at Calvary. Your faith, upon hearing the preached word of God made it happen, or brought it into existence. This is exactly the same type of faith that worked in life of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The promise was presented [preached] to her by the angel Gabriel; she received the message by faith, and it happened.
These next few scriptures tell us exactly what our wicked and sinful condition [nature] is like, and in fact the dilemma of all men and women born after the fall of Adam. The resulting transformation which takes place in our spirit at the very instant salvation occurs restores us once again to God, bringing us into sonship with the Godhead. From that moment, your spirit is changed forever.
Eph 2:3-6
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
2 Cor 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The word of God is awesome to behold.
Here are some interesting questions to consider…
1) Just how does a person ‘put on’ this new man?
2) How can the human mind grasp the greatness or significant of this salvation event with anything but faith?
3) How can you fathom the utter and complete transformation which takes place on the inside of you [your spirit] through your humanity?
Many people think that they can answer these questions by pondering them and conferring with others using the power of their human intellect. But that is not the answer. In fact, the word of God clearly tells us that it is impossible to understand spiritual things by human sight, feelings, or intellect. Spiritual matters can only be discerned by the spirit, through faith.
2 Cor 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
If we’re to walk by faith, then what exactly is it? This next verse will help get you started.
Heb 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
“Now faith” is faith you can use to receive something immediately. Now faith is also the substance, or means we use to acquire the hidden or unseen things of God.
The Greek word for the word substance is hoop-os-tas-is, which means confidence or a person with confidence.
It further tells us that now faith is the confidence of things hoped for. The Greek word for confidence is el-pid-zo, which means the things you are expecting, or trusting to receive.
When these words are used in scripture, it is imperative that we understand precisely what the author actually meant when he used it. The original Greek helps us to do just that. With clarity now firmly established, any religious speculation is put to rest. It means exactly what it says, and is not based on ‘religious’ or personal interpretations.
These scriptures will help you.
John 3:2-3
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
This man was Nicodemus, a religious man. He was struggling with the words Christ had spoken to him saying, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.
Jesus then tried to clear it up for Nicodemus in verse 6 by saying…
John 3: verse 6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
This was simply stated for both Nicodemus and to all of humanity; to those who have an ear to hear.
In other words, those things which are physical are limited by the physical, and those which are supernatural are exclusive to the supernatural. They cannot be mixed. They are as separate as the east is from the west.
A person who attempts to comprehend spiritual matters through anything but faith will end up utterly and completely frustrated.
People, religious and heathen alike, constantly try to make contact with the spiritual realm through natural or physical means. To these people, emotions play a pivotal role in that experience. They think that goose pimples are a sure sign that God, or the spirits are moving in their midst, which goes completely against the word of God.
The spiritual realm for the child of God should be a simple concept, but they make it difficult when they’re taught or believe that religion must play a major role in their relationship with Christ and their understanding of all things spiritual.
What have we learned?
1) You cannot receive spiritual truths by human intellect.
2) You cannot receive spiritual revelation through your soul or body.
3) That darkness cannot be penetrated by the light of your humanness.
I’ll even go one step further. Religion as a whole and individual denominational groups are unable to reveal the things of the spirit to their followers, though they profess openly that they can. Their so called truths only become more darkened, and the child of God is pulled further and further away from the Godhead.
There is a gulf that separates mankind from God, which can never be crossed except by faith. This defines flesh from spirit.
Spiritual truths can only be revealed through the quickening power of the Holy Spirit through your spirit man; the regenerated, born again you, which was created in righteousness and true holiness at the moment of salvation, by faith.
In that spirit realm you are oblivious to your humanity. The work of regeneration is done without fanfare and is made complete in Christ, through the Holy Spirit.
Here’s some insight for you.
I am a spirit filled man of God; one who speaks in tongues, dances in the spirit and shouts for the glory of the Lord. I operate in all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and in every aspect of the five-fold ministry. I am in fact a very charismatic Christian by the standards of many; a fanatic if you will, yet one who operates according to the specific dictates of God’s word. My human effort has no value in my worship of God. Emotions have never altered or manipulated the work of God; in fact they can be a hindrance to what God wants to do for his children. The Holy Spirit does all things in proper and holy order. You and I should too, being members of the household of faith.
So why do I mention that? Here’s why. Most people equate most or all of these spiritual things through their humanity [flesh]. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say to me in a church service, “Can’t you just feel the spirit”?
I must say it again. You cannot feel, see, or touch the spirit. But what you can do is believe the word of God, by faith. This is what pleases him. Then the unseen things are made manifest. This bypasses the need for human emotion to claim something which is not true. Human emotions are a good thing and can even enhance your worship experience, but only if they line up with the word of God. God is a God of order, not chaos.
In this faith, which comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, you can tell the difference of what is real and what is not. In this place you can see faith in action; you can rejoice in the handy work of God as it is revealed openly.
There are two things that you can feel and see within yourself, when you operate in the spirit. Those two things are faith and virtue.
Illustrations…
1) When someone comes to the altar to be healed and your spirit bears witness in faith with theirs, you can spiritually see the healing taking place in their body before it even occurs.
2) When another comes for deliverance, and all are in one accord, believing in faith, you can feel the move of God, or virtue, flowing.
This is where so many people become confused. They believe they’re being led by the spirit by the feelings they have in their flesh. To them it feels so good, so it must be true. Denominations are filled with such people, but nothing supernatural is actually happening.
The following is a scriptural example.
Mark 5:30 KJV
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
The widow woman touched the hem of his robe and Jesus felt virtue flow out of him, by way of his robe, to this woman. He felt it in his spirit as it was manifested to her in the natural realm, or physically. You and I can sometimes feel the anointing of God flowing through our hands when we’re ministering to others.
Interestingly, no one else around Jesus, or this woman, felt, or saw anything. In fact the disciples became a bit testy when asked by Christ, “Who touched me”.
I have often felt the anointing of God flowing through my hands as I pray for people. I can often see things through my faith as they stand before me. I then speak things as my mind is touched by the revelation of God’s finished work concerning their need in my spirit.
So, faith and virtue can be spiritually felt, though you cannot feel the spirit itself.
Here is what I hope for you to achieve in this life. I want you to come to the place in your walk with the Lord that is unique and special; not a shallow relationship based on what you feel in your humanity, but something far deeper.
The only way for you to get a true visualization of what of your spirit actually looks like is by reading the word of God. His word reflects back to you the precise condition of your spirit; much like a spiritual mirror. It’s a valid comparison, if we hope to become like him.
James 1:23-25
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
So what does the word of God; the spiritual mirror, have to say about the new man that you’re to put on?
Eph 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Scripture confirms that you are created after God in righteousness and true holiness when we’re saved.
I John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
This refers to our condition in this world today, not in the world that is yet to come.
1 Cor 6:16-17
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
KJV1 Corinthians 6:17
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Take a close look at verse 16
What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
Listen to what’s being said. An example in the flesh is like being joined to a harlot. When two people join themselves together in intimacy, they become one flesh.
This same word tells you that when you join yourself to the Lord, through the born again experience, you become one spirit, with him. Flesh begets flesh and spirit begets spirit.
That word joined in the Greek is heis, which means oneness, to the inclusion of another; in other words a complete oneness. In this place there is no separation
This is a 100% oneness, which shows no differentiation between the vine and the branch. They are one; identical in spirit. So, our spirit and Christ’s spirit are one.
Gal 4:6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
It simply doesn’t get much clearer than this.
So, right now, in this world we live in until our deaths, you are a son of God with all the attributes of that Son and the privileges that go with being a joint heir with Christ – the vine and the branch – one.
The spirit that dwells in you right now is, in fact, the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you don’t have the spirit of Christ, then you are not born again.
My spirit is not trying to become like Jesus. It is as complete as his, to the glory of God.
Let me deal with this for a moment…
A large percentage of the churches in America, and across the globe cringe at such a teaching as this. This flies against everything they’ve been teaching their congregations for ages. But the truth of scripture, rightly divided and separated from human emotion and intellect, remains unchanged. It is truth that makes the captives free.
Read it for yourselves. It’s as plain as the ink on the pages. I’ve added nothing to it, and neither should they. What most are given is a religious teaching, not spiritual truths.
When you are born again, you are not born again as a baby. That’s what Nicodemus thought.
Your spirit does not grow, nor does it need to mature. It is both complete and mature at the very instant of your new [born again] birth. The reason your spirit does not grow is because your spirit is made complete in Christ. Christ isn’t maturing and neither are you. You come into the revelation of what has been given to you in your soul and body, because of this salvation experience through the renewing of your mind. Your spirit is finished, sealed and precisely the same as that of Jesus Christ.
Yes, I understand that there are scriptures concerning growth in the word of God, such as in this verse, but that is not to be confused with anything that remains undone in your spirit, only your soul and body, which need to be renewed constantly through teaching.
1 Pet 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
This same scripture is used by countless pastors and teachers who want their ‘baby Christians’ properly brought up according to the denomination doctrines of their church. They want them to mature, but only as it lines up with their specific church doctrine. Denominations are not interested in its members becoming independent thinkers in their beliefs towards God. The thought of dealing with a Christian radical for Christ, sends shivers up their spines. To allow that to happen would be a scourge against their organized religion.
I will say it again; when you are born again you are fully grown [mature, lacking nothing] in your spirit. Remember, the word of God never contradicts itself. It must be taken together as a whole and in context.
It is your soul that needs to mature, not your spirit.
It is not your spirit that I am trying to get the word of God into. It’s your unregenerate soul. Your spirit already knows this if you are born again. That’s why there is a natural hungering and thirsting for the sincere milk of the word of all new Christians.
1) Your spirit does not need to grow into maturity. It already is fully mature.
2) It’s your soul that needs to grow, understand, discern, recognize, and gain revelation into the things and ways of God – by a renewing of your mind.
Your soul [mind] is where the blockage is. In it are the things you’ve be taught over your lifetime that are in direct opposition to the truths of scripture.
Have you ever noticed how easy it is for children to accept spiritual truths? They become harden over the course of their lives by the errors taught them. After a while, even they will have difficulty accepting truth.
As your mind is renewed you will begin walking in the completeness of Christ, as he intended. This creates a longing for more and more truth. We find ourselves hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
Col 2:6-10
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Please understand this. I am not trying to create a new religion; goodness knows we have enough of that going on already. I am not a rebel to the cause of Christianity or ministry, or some fanatic who’s fallen off the church’s parade float. I am a man of God who longs to see the children of God enjoying the fruits of their relationship with Christ, as they are clearly outlined in scripture.
I am grateful for the revelations I have learned over these many years. The Lord has opened my eyes to see him as he truly is. My mind is in a constant state of renewal. I don’t want to miss anything he has provided me through Christ’s death. Some may say that I am the sign that stands out in the middle of the highway, in the dark of night, warning others that the bridge ahead has been washed out.
So I must tell you. Please stop! This is not the way to go home. The bridge is out! There’s a better way.
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