First the Question: Very frequently, because of doctrinal differences, some Christians apparently rejoice in the fall of some brother in Christ. True or False?
Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 1-18-2012
Question: Pride is just as great a sin as adultery. True or False?
Answer: TRUE! Note what the LORD Jesus said, when on earth, concerning the human heart. “That which cometh out of man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, PRIDE, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:20 to 23. Pride is just as great a sin as adultery. Now, out of the 742 responses we received to this question, 96.3% of you got it right! Therefore, now, let us take a look at,
THE LLM STUDY OF THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS, CHAPTER 5, PART 3 of 3
Now for instructions concerning the believer’s walk, conversion, behavior, there is a difference between the believer’s perfect standing in Christ and his imperfect state. “Love is the fruit of the Spirit.” “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10. Love is the righteousness of the law. Romans 8:4: The believer is to look unto the LORD Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our Faith. The believer is to walk in the Spirit. The believer is to walk worthy of the vocation (calling) wherewith he is called. Unless he knows the Word of God and how to rightly divide that Word, by interpreting and applying all Scripture, in the light of the Risen Christ’s revelation to the Apostle Paul, he will not know his calling; and therefore cannot walk worthy of it.
“Walk in the Spirit.” “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:17. If the Spirit is to have victory over the flesh in the believer, the believer must walk in the Spirit. “These are contrary one to the other, so that ye cannot, or may not, do the things that ye would.”
Let us compare with this statement, several statements found in Romans, “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Romans 6:12. “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:8. Romans 7:19-21.
“Sin that dwelleth in me.” “Let not sin reign in your mortal body.” With respect to sin, everyone is dead. The unbeliever is dead IN sins. The believer is dead TO sin. (Romans 6:2). Sin dwells and reigns in the unbeliever. Sin dwells also in the believer; but sin should NOT reign in the believer. There is no good thing in the flesh. Romans 7:18. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh.” This flesh is unchangeable. “They that are in the flesh cannot please God.” God’s imperative and man’s need is not improvement, not a better nature; but an entirely NEW nature. “If any man be in Christ there is a new creation.” “Partakers of the Divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:4.
The evidence of the believer’s Divine transformation is the indwelling Holy Spirit.
The secret of victory is walking in the Spirit and walking worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called. Of course this means that one must partake in the careful, intelligent study and application of the Word of God. “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” John 15:3. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth.” John 17:17. Our old man was crucified with Christ. Romans 6:6. Put off the old man: put on the new man. Ephesians 4:22-24 and Colossians 3:9-10. In these verses we learn how the new man was created in the image of the Creator, in righteousness and holiness.
Christians, for centuries, have been divided as to “the old man” and “the new man.” Here we present the two questions. “Can one, who has received by the new creation, the new nature, ever LOSE that new nature; and if so, can he receive the new nature AGAIN after he has lost that nature?”, and, “Can one who has received the new nature from God ever lose his old nature; and if so, can he get it back; and if and when he does get back his old nature, does he lose again his new nature?”
Many believers have been much disturbed over the statement in 1 John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” Some have been discouraged, and many have struggled for a state of sinless perfection, and some of the many have been deceived into believing that they have reached that state, having completely uprooted the old nature. But those who are not completely deceived by Satan soon learn that the old man has returned to again take up his abode, (as if he was ever absent); and they have learned, by experience, the truthfulness of 1 John 1:8 and 1 John 1:10, which we quote: “if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”; “if we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us.” 1 John 5:13 was written to believers. The new nature, or the new man, cannot sin, and therefore, will not continue in sin. The old nature, the old man, the flesh, cannot do anything but sin. God’s instructions for the victory of the new man over the old man is given in Romans 6:3-23; which should be carefully studied and applied by every believer. “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5.
There is no shortcut to a life of holiness, separation and victory, either by the second blessing, Holy Spirit baptism route, or by donning religious garments, or by moving into a religious community with strict prohibition laws. Note in Ephesians 5:3-4 where the saint is. He is there in the midst of fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness; foolish talking and jesting. In that environment he is to “walk as becometh a saint”. The same power of God that raised Christ from the dead is to “usward.” Ephesians 1:19. God’s Grace is sufficient.
God’s rules for the development and victory of the saint is, “Bible study”, “prayer”, “worship”, “gathering with other saints”, “witnessing and ministering in the Name of Christ.” Walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” “Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our LORD.” Romans 6:11. In Ephesians 6:11-19, 1 Peter 5:8-9, James 4:7 the believer is told how to overcome Satan.
Note what the LORD Jesus said, when on earth, concerning the human heart. “That which cometh out of man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” Mark 7:20 to 23. Pride is just as great a sin as adultery. Here we have the LORD’s answer to the question: “Is the natural man inherently good or bad?” Here we see why “they that are in the flesh cannot please God”; and why education, reformation, and religion will not make man fit for the presence of God. “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.” Romans 8:9.
Note the contrast; the works of the flesh, listed in Galatians 5:19-21, with the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-25. In connection with the works of the flesh let us read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the LORD Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” Here we see the human material out of which God makes saints.
“Not of works, lest any man should boast”; “By Grace are ye saved.”; “Christ died for the ungodly.”; “For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace, but of debt.” Romans 4:3-4.
“BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE,” joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, Faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is NO law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26. “Love is the fruit of the Spirit.” “Love is the fulfilling of the law.” Romans 13:10. “Love is the end of the commandment.” 1 Timothy 1:5. “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to believers.” Romans 10:4-5. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. “The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is GIVEN unto us.” Romans 5:5.
Love is NEVER the fruit of the flesh. Love is NOT a human attainment. Love IS a Divine gift. But, keep this in mind, the love of God, in the believer’s heart, can be and should be developed. The love of a religious man is different from the love of a spiritual man. The fruit of the Spirit is the fulfilling of the law. “Against such there is no law.” The spiritual man is the man who walks in the Spirit and fulfills the righteousness of the law. Romans 8:4. “He that is spiritual judgeth (discerneth) all things; but he is judged of no man.” 1 Corinthians 2:15.
“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31. “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have NOT love, it profiteth me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:3. “And now abideth Faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13.
More than 30 times the word “love” is found in 1 John, the Epistle which is written that believers might know that they have eternal life. 1 John 5:13.
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” “Let us NOT be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:26.
Here we have a much needed exhortation. So many of God’s children are guilty; including outstanding Christian workers, who are supposed to be spiritual leaders. The remedy is MORE Love, which means MORE walking in the Spirit.
“Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, SEEKETH NOT HER OWN, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
All members of the Body of Christ LIVE in the Spirit, because “on believing” they are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30. But, all members of the Body of Christ do not always WALK in the Spirit. Many walk in the flesh,“walk as men”. Some more than others!
No effort, no tarrying, no praying, no imposition of hands is required for Holy Spirit baptism. Read that twice if needed. The very moment the sinner believes the Gospel he is sealed with the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13. “After that ye believed” in Ephesians 1:13 is the word “pisteusantes” (believing). The same word is mistranslated in Acts 19:2. Have ye received the Holy Spirit “since ye believed” (pistensantes). Every saved sinner received the ONE baptism of Ephesians 4:5 the moment he received Christ and eternal life. But every believer is exhorted “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) = “Walk in the Spirit.”!
“Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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