Christ in You Discipleship Series

Bringing Spirit to Life

Mic Fuller

Dean Chicquette

Christ in You Discipleship Series

Bringing Spirit To Life

By Dean & Linda Chicquette

DLC Press

Copyright 2017 - Dean and Linda Chicquette

Printed ISBN: 978-1-64204-854-4

e-Book ISBN: 978-1-310-78062-2

Printed in the United States of America.

Published for and released by DLC Press

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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieved system, or transmitted in any form or any means—electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without prior permission of the publisher.

Verses marked NAS are The New American Standard Bible (NASB) (NAS [1977] and NAU [1995]). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1995, and La Biblia de Las Americas. Copyright © 1986, both by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Verses marked KJA, KJG Authorized Version (KJV) - 1769 Blayney Edition of the 1611 King James Version of the English Bible - with Larry Pierce's Englishman's-Strong's Numbering System, ASCII version. The KJG version also contains the Geneva Bible notes. Copyright © 1988-1997 by the Online Bible Foundation and Woodside Fellowship of Ontario, Canada.

Cover by Dean Chicquette

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This book includes stories in which people’s names and some details of their situations have been changed.

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Contents

Introduction

I. Realms

II. Faith

III. Revelation

IV. Union

V. Natures

VI. Sin

VII. Forgiveness

VIII. Deliverance

IX. Repentance

X. Intercession

XI. Reconciliation

About the Author Mic Fuller

About the Author Dean Chicquette

Appendix A

Introduction

“May all your ways be the expression of His obedience to the Father through you.” DC

* * *

This is a study in which we will address two basic questions: “Who am I?” and “What am I here for?” In this process, we attempt to develop an awareness of what it truly means to be followers of Jesus Christ. To do so we will be combining devotional and academic teachings that utilize various sources which have been effective in bringing about this awareness to countless Christians throughout history.

The Bible will naturally be the primary source for this study; but other resources will also be referenced to allow the participant to benefit from insights on this subject matter as recorded by teachers from a range of nationalities, backgrounds, and periods throughout history. As a result, participants will be exposed to Bible teachers of whom many today are simply unaware, but which can be of great benefit to those who take the time to study them. See Appendix A for a list.

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32 NAS)

The TRUTH is Christ

This study is not to be construed as being a means to a special or unique understanding or insight, but rather the basic foundation of Christianity as revealed in Jesus Christ and taught by the apostles. This foundational teaching is that our condition through rebirth is one of being perfect in union with God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit, and each other; which was made possible through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Christian life is meant to be lived in the awareness of that union so that:

“it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;” (Galatians 2:20 NAS)

Neither is this material meant to be a systematic formula as it is first and foremost devotional in nature. It is therefore not intended to lead one to mere intellectual understanding but rather to an awareness of revelation, which can only come about through a revelation from the operation of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.

* * *

The syllabus consists of this introduction and eleven topics in the form of discussion outlines which are:

1. Realms — “while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NAS)

2. Faith —“ Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 NAS)

3. Revelation — “15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:15-17 NAS)

4. Union — “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1John 4:15 NAS)

5. Natures — “By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10 NAS)

6. Sin — “So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.” (Romans 5:18 NAS)

7. Forgiveness — “8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:8-9 NAS)

8. Deliverance — “For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 NAS)

9. Repentance — “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 NAS)

10. Intercession — “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27 NAS)

11. Reconciliation — “29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” (Philippians 1:29-30 NAS)

* * *

The ultimate goal of these lessons is to “make disciples of all nations” so that those who persevere may obtain “the pearl of great worth” and be equipped to be used by God to reproduce in others what they have discovered to be true about themselves:

“which is Christ in you, the hope of glory!” (Colossians 1:27b NAS)

NOTES:

Realms

“We are not looking at that which is seen, but at that which is not seen. For that which is seen is temporary, but the unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians. 4:18 DLT)

Realms

* * *

We will begin our study with an examination of the two realms of which our world consists and how these realms affect us. These two realms are not equal opposites, one realm is far superior to the other, but both are equally necessary components of the world as it now exists for God’s purpose.

Our first realization is that the heavenly realm is unseen and eternal (has no end), while the earthly realm is seen and temporal (has an end). This is significant because the heavenly realm is the greater, genuine reality while the earthly realm, although persuading in every way to our natural senses, is our window to the eternal. These two realms coexist, with the heavenly going on right in the midst of the earthly. It is by coming to this awareness that we will discover that Jesus Christ alone is the true foundation for every aspect of our lives as Christians.

Listed below are some further distinctions between the two realms which we will be exploring in more detail as we go through this study.

Both realms were created by and for Jesus.

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16 NAS)

God uses the earthly realm to reveal the heavenly realm to all:

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 NAS)

God also reveals the heavenly realm to believers supernaturally:

“12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-14 NAS)

When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, He joins His Spirit to ours and our spirit becomes fully identified as a Son-self ‘i’ of God. We are really alive for the first time. Through this spiritual rebirth we are set free from the limited viewpoint of the fallen world. We have been given the privilege of living as children of God, and become active participants in what God is doing in the unseen, eternal realm. He can then be seen by others as we go about our normal daily lives in the seen and temporal world. In other words, we become the means by which Jesus reveals Himself to the world in which we live in order to complete His redeeming work. Our lives spontaneously begin to resemble the life that Jesus lived during His earthly life more and more!

In the eternal realm we are:

Complete — “and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;” (Colossians 2:10 NAS)

Reconciled, Holy and Blameless — “yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—” (Colossians 1:22 NAS)

Righteous — “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NAS)

Perfect and Sanctified — “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14 NAS)

It is important to understand that it is His life we share at the level of our union. The temporal realm (flesh) is now available to Him by that union to manifest His Person. We, with Him, do acts of love that have both a beginning and an end. Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the grave ended in (much later) Lazarus dying. Every awesome act of God in the temporal is temporal while it is at the same time transforming the temporal into the eternal. The temporal does not create the eternal, rather, the eternal creates the temporal and transforms it into that which expresses the eternal.

There are two main reasons that this distinction is important:

1. The temporal causes us to seek the eternal God because there is nothing in the temporal realm that can ultimately satisfy the deep need that we all have for life and meaning. We can only find true life in God because He is the only Life there is. God allows us to be ultimately dissatisfied with everything the temporal realm has to offer, no matter how pleasurable or rewarding. Because of this, we will continue seeking to walk in the completion that is in Him and Him alone.

“26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ ” (Acts 17:26-28 NAS)

2. The temporal provides the necessary conditions for faith, from which the entire universe operates. If everything were exactly as it appeared to be, faith would be non-existent. By faith, we are able to look through the appearances and circumstances to what, from God’s perspective, is actually taking place around us, for us, and through us.

“for we walk by faith, not by sight—” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

* * *

Remember that Jesus said it is truth that sets one free (John 8:32), which means that it is non-truth (i.e., ignorance, error, or lies) that keeps one a prisoner. In this study, we will be examining those things which God says are true about us, and seek to expose the false things which have been keeping us prisoners. This can only be done by faith as we see God’s truth concerning Jesus Christ by revelation, so in our next two discussions we will closely examine the “law of faith” (Romans 3:27), followed by the matter of “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).

* * *

Suggested additional reading: Dan Stone - “The Rest of the Gospel, When the Partial Gospel has Worn You Out”

NOTES:

Faith

“But Faith is the substance of hoping, proof of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1 DLT)

Faith

* * *

Previously we discussed the importance of “fixing our eyes on what is unseen,” but how is that really possible? It is only possible when we “walk by faith, not by sight”. (2 Corinthians 5:7) But what is faith really? Is it mere belief or is it something more? The great New Testament treatise on faith, (Hebrews 11) starts out with a definition of faith. It then goes on to list some of the notable personalities from Israel’s history and their deeds done “by faith,” and finally concludes with the powerful statement that, “because God had provided something better for us,” (Hebrews 11:40a NAS)

Because we can move a mountain with but a seed, a tiny seed, of faith it becomes obvious that we don’t need more faith. What we need is a better understanding of what faith really is and how to exercise it. Faith is a law which, like any law, affects everyone all the time. A good explanation of the law of faith is:

“Faith is acting in complete confidence based on belief in an unseen truth in order to fulfill a desire while believing it has already been fulfilled in God.”

“Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.” (Romans 3:27 NAS)

Faith is not mere belief, although belief combined with desire is the beginning of faith. It is the deliberate act of trusting something other than yourself to accomplish what it promises to accomplish. True faith always results in some action concerning the object of that faith.

“20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless?” (James 2:20 NAS)

“26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26 NAS)

This does not mean that there are certain things which we must do to obtain more faith. Rather, it is only when our belief results in action that we are truly exercising faith. Note below, the law of liberty is the law of faith. We can remain in that liberty of believing God. When we so remain we become doers of what He is doing and bless others by the doing.

“But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:25 NAS)

“But someone may well say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’ ” (James 2:18 NAS)

The environment of faith:

The temporal realm in which we live provides, through the necessary conditions, for faith to operate in or through the instrument of appearances. Without faith, the temporal realm can only produce doubt, fear, and self-effort.

“29 And He said, ‘Come!’ And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ ” (Matthew 14:29-31 NAS)

When we are able, by faith, to look through the appearances to what, from God’s perspective, is actually taking place; then doubt, fear and self-effort are replaced by hope, trust, expectation and reception.

“7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Hebrews 11:7 NAS)

“23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” (Hebrews 11:23 NAS)

“27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.” (Hebrews 11:27 NAS)

Natural and spiritual faith:

The difference between natural faith and spiritual faith is the object of that faith.

“so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:5 NAS)

Natural faith can and often does fail us. Spiritual faith, which is based on God’s truth, can never fail because His truth is unchanging and upheld by God Himself.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 NAS)

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17 NAS)

As believers, we have the right and privilege of entering into and living in that truth. In order to so live, we must first know what it is. Thankfully, God is faithful to reveal it to us as we ask.

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5 NAS)

When we are living in spiritual faith we learn not to doubt when we have received God’s wisdom.

Faith “in” or faith “of”?

Many translations put the burden of faith on us, but in the original language, it is of Christ. (Emphasis added)

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 KJV)

“nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16 NAS)

* * *

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20 KJV)

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NAS)

* * *

“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” (Galatians 3:22 KJV)

“But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:22 NAS)

* * *

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3:22 KJV)

“even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;” (Romans 3:22 NAS)

* * *

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” (Ephesians 3:12 KJV)

“ in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.” (Ephesians 3:12 NAS)

* * *

“And be found in him, not having mine 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 KJV)

“and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,” (Philippians 3:9 NAS)

* * *

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” (James 2:1 KJV)

“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.” (James 2:1 NAS)

* * *

A word about hope and love:

Hope is our expectant waiting for the things that we have trusted in by faith to be made evident in our lives.

“24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.” (Romans 8:24-25 NAS)

[see also Romans 8:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Titus 3:7]

Last but definitely not least, where does love fit in? Love is the greatest of all because it is what produces the desire in the first place, either from the love of Christ or the love of self.

“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13 NAS)

“14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NAS)

As a result, the corresponding desires are either pure or perverted, and the actions taken to fulfill those desires are either faith or sin.

“whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23 NAS)

* * *

So we conclude that spiritual faith is confidence in those things which God says are true and the actions which accompany that confidence, particularly when it contradicts what we can observe with our natural senses; and hope is the expectant waiting of those same truths to become our experience.

This is why we don’t “hope as the world hopes,” because our hope is built on better promises and is the result of both our faith in Christ AND the faith of Christ, who lives in each of us that have been born of the Spirit.

* * *

Suggested additional reading: Norman Grubb – “The Law of Faith”

NOTES:

Revelation

What is “revelation”? Simply stated, revelation is spiritual wisdom (knowledge).

Revelation

* * *

In this discussion we will closely examine revelation, addressing both the need for and purpose of it and the means that God uses to bring it to us. Before we can be sent we must first be taught. Then that teaching must be our core self, birthed in union with Him by the Holy Spirit through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

“15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:15-17 NAS)

The need for revelation:

Our faith, our true identity, and our fulfillment in life according to God’s purpose are all based on the eternal realm, but because it is unseen we can only understand the things of that realm if God reveals them to us.

“12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-14 NAS)

“16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19 NAS)

We are completely dependent upon Holy Spirit to motivate us. To whatever degree Holy Spirit reveals the eternal to us, we can live in it. However, to whatever degree we have not been gifted the ‘knowing’ by revelation, we are unable to live the Spiritual in this temporal realm.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:13 NAS)

“For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12 NAS)

The purpose and means of revelation:

The Holy Spirit gives us a revelation not merely of doctrine, but of the actual person of Christ living in us.

“15 But it pleased God to separate me from my mother’s womb and call me through His Grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, in order that I may proclaim the good news of Him in the nations. I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,” (Galatians 1:15-16 DLT)

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13 NAS)

The Holy Spirit provides this revelation by bringing us into situations where only God can save us. By this, we learn to totally rely on Him, rather than on ourselves or any created thing.

“8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead;” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NAS)

The most important revelation of all:

It is of vital importance that we know we are in union with Jesus Christ. This means first that Christ is in us.

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NAS)

“25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:25-27 NAS)

We are also in Christ:

”In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (John 14:20 NAS)

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4 NAS)

As a result of our union with Christ, we are also one with the Father, and other believers.

“20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:20-23 KJV)

“Though we have many members we are one body in Christ, moreover individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:5 DLT)

Why this revelation is so crucial:

In the eternal realm God has permanently joined Himself to your spirit, so that in the temporal realm He can operate through you, and as a result you can be at rest in Him. In this way two operate as one.

“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17 KJV)

“19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:19-20 KJV)

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 NAS)

Avoiding confusion:

It is vitally important to make the distinction that while we are one in form with Christ in God, we are not God Himself. He is the creator while we are the created. He created us to be only the reflections of Himself. Even Jesus Christ, knowing He was in the very form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be sought after. This then ends the desire and struggle to be like God. Our union ends the struggle.

“5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,” (Philippians 2:5-6 NAS)

* * *

When God reveals the eternal truth of our union with Him to our hearts, we can then begin to live from it, and God is able to make what is already true in the unseen, eternal realm our day-to-day experience. This study outline is a presentation of that truth, but in order for it to be transforming, God must make it known to us personally, so the next order of business is to go to the Lord to ask Him for a revelation of the knowledge of Jesus Christ as our very life.

God will often provide that revelation through difficult or even impossible situations, so it is these very situations that put us in the perfect position to ask for and receive it. To receive this great revelation is what it means to be “perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4), so, for this reason, believers can truly “consider it pure joy” when we encounter those various trials and tribulations in life (James 1:2).

* * *

Suggested additional reading: T. Austin Sparks – “The School of Christ” Available online for free at:

http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/school_of_christ

NOTES:

Union

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in Him, and He in God.” (1 John 4:15 NAS)

Union

* * *

In our previous discussion we considered the need for and means of revelation generally, now we will explore in more detail the vital importance of the greatest revelation of all, which is that we are in union with the Lord Jesus. Much of Christian teaching today centers on being in a “right relationship” with God, but that falls far short of new covenant Christianity. While it’s true that there are aspects of relationship to our union with Christ, we must know that they are the product of rather than the means to that union, thus the need for the distinction of the two.

The problems with “relationships”:

Relationships are the basis of everything in the earthly realm, but union is the truth of the heavenly realm.

Relationships require a gap between the persons or objects in the relationship. Some are closer than others, but there still must be a gap in order for there to be a relationship. Union completely eliminates the gap.

Relationships can result in appreciation and/or imitation, but it is only by union that reproduction is possible.

The basis for this union:

Jesus declared His own eternal union with the Father.

“30 I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 NAS)

“37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” (John 10:37-38 NAS)

“10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.” (John 14:10-11 NAS)

“And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5 KJV)

Jesus encouraged the disciples when he commissioned them to preach the gospel by telling them that they would be in union with himself and the Father.

“For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” (Matthew 10:20 NAS)

“He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” (Matthew 10:40 NAS)

Jesus prayed that the disciples and all future believers would be in union with Himself, and as a result, with the Father and each other.

“In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” (John 14:20 NAS)

“I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You, Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.” (John 17:11 NAS)

“20 I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.” (John 17:20-21 NAS)

The means to union with Christ:

Responding to the gospel and accepting Jesus as our savior puts us into union with Christ.

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13 NAS)

“4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:4-6 NAS)

The reason for union:

As believers, our sole purpose is to glorify God by bearing spiritual fruit, which simply means to reproduce true spiritual life. This is only made possible by our spiritual union with Jesus Christ.

“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” (John 15:8 NAS)

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.” (John 15:16 NAS)

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” (Romans 7:4 NAS)

In order for us to bear fruit for Christ, we must first know that because of our union with Him we have received His life into ours, which resulted in new life for us and potentially for others that we interact with.

“12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13 NAS)

“4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 NAS)

Paul’s writings, in particular, have our union with Christ and each other as a recurring theme.

“4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:4-5 NAS)

“Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread.” (1 Corinthians 10:17 NAS)

“12 For just as the body is one, and has many members, but all the members are of one body, though they are many, they are one body, in this same way is the Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and all were made to drink One Spirit. 14 The body is not one member but many.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-14 DLT)

“26 When one member is suffering, every member suffers. When one member is glorified, all rejoice with that one. 27 You are the Body of Christ and particularly members.” (1 Corinthians 12:26-27 DLT)

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 NAS)

“3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6 NAS)

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3:15 NAS)

Union has always been the basis of new covenant Christianity, but mankind is so entrenched in the temporal realm’s framework of relationships that we are completely unable to accept the concept of spiritual union with our natural minds, which is why it must come by revelation.

When once we do receive the revelation of our union with Jesus Christ, we enter into a peace and rest that allows us to be content in any circumstance. As a result, we begin to spontaneously bear fruit for God and see His life reproduced in those people that He brings into contact with us, which is true evangelization.

Suggested additional reading: Norman Grubb “Paul’s Key to the Liberated Life”

Natures

“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” (Colossians 1:13 NAS)

Natures

* * *

Perhaps the greatest stumbling block to seeing the union we share in the Lord Jesus is accepting the fact that we were previously in-dwelt and enslaved by the devil. This is due partly to mankind’s tendency to compare ourselves to others, along with widespread misunderstandings about the matter of our “nature”. All people are born under the delusion that we ourselves are an independent nature, when in fact we were only ever created to be containers for an indwelling spirit nature. This truth is illustrated throughout the Old Covenant and then plainly stated throughout the New Testament.

“16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16-18 NAS)

What is a “nature”? The “nature” of something or someone is it’s most basic essence, not merely the external appearance.

7 “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7 NAS)

“19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.’ ” (Genesis 2:19-23 NAS)

One nature, two natures, or no nature?

In the scriptures there are only two possible natures that relate to people, which are represented in various ways such as:

- 2 trees—“16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.’ ” (Genesis 2:16-17 NAS)

- 2 nations—(throughout the old covenant),

- 2 fathers—“43 Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:42-44 NAS)

- 2 vines—“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1 NAS) [This implies there is a false vine.]

- 2 masters—“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:16 NAS)

- 2 husbands—“1 Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives? 2 For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband. 3 So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man. 4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” (Romans 7:1-4 NAS)

- 2 olive trees—“16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.” (Romans 11:16-18 NAS)

- 2 temples—“Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’ ” (2 Corinthians 6:16 NAS)

- 2 sons (either bond or free)—“21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.” (Galatians 4:21-23 NAS)

- 2 sons(of light or darkness)—“for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;” (1 Thessalonians 5:5 NAS),

- 2 kingdoms—“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,” (Colossians 1:13 NAS)

- 2 vessels (gold or silver, wood or earthenware, honor or dishonor) —“Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.” (2 Timothy 2:20 NAS)

- 2 children—“ By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:10 NAS)

- 2 spirits (Spirit from God or spirit of the world)—“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,” (1 Corinthians 2:12 NAS)

- 2 spirits (Spirit of truth or spirit of error)—“4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:4-6 NAS.

Nowhere in scripture is the concept ever presented that 2 natures can co-exist in one individual, except by a common misunderstanding of Romans 7:14-25, which is easily corrected by reading Romans 8:1-17.

“21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:21-25 NAS)

“1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:1-2 NAS)

“6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” (Romans 8:6-9 NAS) [Underlining added.]

We were naturally born with a Self Interested Nature as a “sin-full” self. Before coming to faith in Jesus we had a sinful nature, i.e., we were in-dwelt by the spirit of sin, Satan.

“You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.” (John 8:44 NAS)

“1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:1-2 NAS)

“7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12 not as Cain, who was of the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.” (1 John 3:7-12 NAS)

We were spiritually reborn with a Self Outpoured Nature as a “Son-full” self.

Jesus made it clear that in order to enter God’s kingdom a person must first be born of the Holy Spirit.

“5 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:5-6 NAS)

This spiritual rebirth put out the spirit of sin, filled us with the Holy Spirit, and made us fully sons of God.

“12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13 NAS)

“14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,” (Romans 8:14-16 NAS)

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:26 NAS)

“Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ ” (Galatians 4:6 NAS)

“5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:5-6 NAS)

“13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14 NAS)

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (2 Peter 1:4 NAS)

* * *

So we see that we can never possess two natures at once, and therefore our struggle is not between a sinful nature and a righteous nature, but rather between our flesh and our spirit. Our flesh was never meant to be our true nature, however, it can seem like it is if we don’t know the truth about our old union with sin and our new union with Christ.

Our natural bodies or “flesh” are simply the means by which our spirit expresses itself in the world, and yet there is a transformation in process as we have our minds renewed (Romans 12:2) and are conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29).

In our next several discussions we will address the things that hinder that process as well as the solutions God has provided for us through the finished work of Jesus Christ. As always, it is the knowledge of the Truth by faith through revelation that holds the key to experiencing our life in Christ.

NOTES:

Sin

“18 So then, as by one trespass condemnation came to all mankind, equally by one act of righteousness, justification of life has come to all mankind. 19 So, just as through the disobedience of the one man, sin was put in charge of the many, thus through the obedience of the One, righteousness was put in charge of the many.” (Romans 5:18, 19 DLT)

Sin

* * *

Having established our union with Jesus Christ, God the Father, and all other believers, we can now address the issues that hinder our ability to live as God intended. In order to do so, we will need to identify two consequences of man’s fall, namely “sin” and “sins”. Sin is a law which affects every person, while the actions which result from that law’s operation are what we call sins. Theologians tell us that sins are any lack of conformity to the moral law of God, either in act, disposition, or state. In other words, God says what is right, sins are not doing what is right. That definition is correct, but the fundamental issue of the law of sin goes far deeper than behavior or attitudes.

“whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23b NAS)

God’s plan for man:

God intentionally created man to be entirely dependent upon Him for life, provision, and meaning.

“29 Then God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; 30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food’; and it was so.” (Genesis 1:29-30 NAS)

“15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. 16 The LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;’ ” (Genesis 2:15-16 NAS)

When the first man sinned, the need for life, provision, and meaning remained while the only true source of having that need fulfilled became estranged from him.

“17 Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree about which I commanded you, saying, “You shall not eat from it”; Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life.’ ” (Genesis 3:17 NAS)

“23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:23-24 NAS)

“17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart;” (Ephesians 4:17-18 NAS)

Additionally, man received the consequence of a temporal physical life by means of death to his body.

“By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, because from it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19 NAS)

This left man in an estranged condition with only a vague sense of himself and a creation in which he was given the responsibility to care and to attempt to meet the need for life, provision, and meaning.

“They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” (Romans 1:25 NLT)

The law of sin and death:

The law of sin and death was put into effect through man’s attempt to be like God by adding to his nature the knowledge of good and evil rather than trusting God to be all that is good for him and protect him from all evil.

“but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17 NAS)

“2 The woman said to the serpent, 3 ‘From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’ ” 4 The serpent said to the woman, “You surely shall not die! 5 For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:2-5 NAS)

Every person since then has been subject to the law of sin and death.

“knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,” (1 Peter 1:18 NAS)

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12 NAS)

“22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.” (Romans 7:22-23 NAS)

For believers, the law of sin and death has been overcome by a greater law, the law of the Spirit of life.

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2 NAS)

This brings us to the secondary problem of sins.

“19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21NAS)

As a result of the law of sin, man’s behavior became the sins that are named in passages like this, not all of which are necessarily things we would consider to be bad or evil in nature.

Immorality, impurity, and sensuality are man’s attempts to find meaning by way of his body.

Idolatry is the attempt to find meaning by “things," which are often not even evil in themselves, but become evil because of our attitude towards them. Usually, it is either through our relationships or accomplishments.

Sorcery is the attempt to find meaning through the occult.

Enmities, strife, jealousy, and anger are the results when someone has their perceived source of meaning in life threatened, taken from them, or kept out of reach.

Disputes, dissensions, and factions reveal differing ideologies as to what constitutes meaning in life.

Envy (or covetousness) results when someone else has what you perceive as being necessary to provide meaning for life, but which you lack, i.e., a relationship with a certain person, attractiveness, financial success, possessions, position, etc.

Drunkenness and carousing reveal someone who has given up on finding meaning in life, they just want to forget that the need even exists.

* * *

When we realize that sin is really the result of an unfulfilled need for life, provision, and meaning from God, and sins are the many ways man tries to meet that need, it becomes much easier to see how thoroughly both have been dealt with through the bodily death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Specifically, it was through Jesus’ shed blood that man received forgiveness for the sins that have been committed, and it is through His resurrection that man received freedom from bondage to the law of sin. God resolved the problem of sin once and for all in Christ.

* * *

Suggested additional reading: David Needham – “Birthright”

NOTES:

Forgiveness

“You cannot outdo God’s plan and effort to forgive you of all sins.” DC

Forgiveness

HE SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD

* * *

As we have seen, the fall of man introduced the law of sin and death which has resulted in the committing of sins by every natural born person since then. Therefore, in order to fully redeem man, God had to both provide for deliverance from the law of sin and resolve the problems caused for man by the committing of sins, which He did through the finished work of Jesus Christ. In this discussion we will examine the problems that the actual sins committed have caused for mankind, and how God resolved them all through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

“8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:8-9 NAS)

Sins committed have resulted in three main problems for man:

Separation between God and man from God’s perspective due to man’s actual (or literal) guilt for sinning. This causes God to say, “man has sinned”.

“So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.” (Genesis 3:24 NAS)

Separation between man and God from man’s perspective due to man’s awareness of his literal guilt. This causes man to say, “I have sinned.”

“They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8 NAS)

Accusations from the devil towards man and before God due to the guilt for sins that man has committed. This allows the devil to say, “you have sinned” to man, and “they have sinned” to God.

“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.’ ” (Revelation 12:10 NAS)

Jesus Christ’s death removed our separation from God:

God alone is able to determine the basis of His forgiveness, and throughout the Bible the only basis upon which God ever forgives sin is through the sacrifice of a life, referred to as “the shedding of blood”.

“18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, ‘This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.’ 21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:18-22 NAS)

First the blood of Christ was shed as the way for God to provide forgiveness for all the sins ever committed by man through separating the man from the sins by taking them into Himself so that they could be done away with on the cross.

“having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:14 NAS)

“for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28 NAS)

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7 NAS)

“10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” (Hebrews 10:10-12 NAS)

“but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 NAS) [Underlining added]

In order to know the value of the blood of Christ for us personally, we must first accept God’s valuation of it. We must know the blood is precious and acceptable to Him purely on the basis that He says it is so.

“18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.” (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Next, Jesus Christ’s death removes separation from man’s perspective:

A person’s guilty conscience can never be cleared by good behavior, penance, or by repeatedly asking for forgiveness; it can only be cleared by being declared either forgiven or innocent. No one other than Jesus has ever been declared innocent, so instead we must be declared forgiven, which is what God has done.

“23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;” (Romans 3:23-24 NAS)

Next, the blood of Christ was shed for man in order to give him unencumbered access to God.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13 NAS)

“let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22 NAS) [evil - i.e., hurtful…see strong’s G4190 ‘poneras’]

Due to the sufficiency of the blood of Christ for our forgiveness, we can have a clear conscience and no longer need be ashamed or feel guilty. As a result, we have the freedom and boldness to approach God.

“19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh.” (Hebrews 10:19-20 NAS)

Finally, Jesus Christ’s death removes the devil’s grounds for accusations:

The blood of Christ silences the devil before God and empowers us to reject his accusations.

“And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.” (Revelation 12:11 NAS)

“33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:33-34)

“1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2 NAS)

When we know that God has completely forgiven us through the blood of Christ, we will no longer accept the devil’s accusations or condemnation, which frees us to live in a state of unbroken fellowship through this union with God.

“27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29 NAS)

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 NAS) [Underlining added.]

“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7 NAS)

* * *

The Bible makes it clear that God has dealt with the problem of our sins completely by providing total forgiveness through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, however, if we mistakenly believe that God has only forgiven us for our sins and then left us to do our best to “be like Jesus,” we will never experience the abundant life that Jesus promised us (John 10:10).

The good news of the gospel is not only that God has completely forgiven us for our sins on the basis of Jesus’ shed blood, but that He has also completely delivered us from the power of the law of sin and death by including us in His death and resurrection, which will be the subject of our next discussion.

* * *

Suggested additional reading: Watchman Nee – “The Normal Christian Life” Available for free at: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/nee/normal.html

NOTES:

Deliverance

“thus through the obedience of the One, righteousness was put in charge of the many.” (Romans 5:19 DLT)

Deliverance

* * *

God both required and by His grace provided the blood of His one and only son to be shed for our forgiveness, and by faith alone we become purely the recipients of that forgiveness; but for our deliverance from the power of sin God has made us participants in both Jesus’ death and resurrection.

All of mankind was literally in Adam when he sinned and therefore received along with Him the consequence for his act of disobedience, which was bondage to the law of sin and death. In the same way God has included all believers in Christ so that we could receive the reward for His act of obedience, which is righteousness and freedom from the power of the law of sin.

“For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 NAS)

What it means to be “in”:

What happens to one man happens to all of his descendants.

“1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.” (Hebrews 7:1-2 NAS)

“9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.” (Hebrews 7:9-10 NAS)

We were born to sin in Adam:

All people were literally in Adam’s loins when he sinned, so all people sinned with him and were therefore born as slaves to sin.

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—” (Romans 5:12 NAS)

“Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.” (Ephesians 2:3 NAS)

“knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,” (1 Peter 1:18 NAS)

We died to sin in Christ:

By His grace and intention, God has placed us in Jesus Christ Who is sinless.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,” (1 Corinthians 1:30 NAS)

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13 NAS)

So when Jesus died to sin, we died to it with Him.

“1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:1-3 NAS)

“6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7 NAS)

“10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.” (Romans 6:10 NAS)

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 NAS)

We rose to freedom from sin in Christ:

Having been placed in Christ when He died, we also were in Him when He rose to new life.

“4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,” (Romans 6:4-5 NAS)

“8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,” (Romans 6:8 NAS)

“4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:4-6 NAS)

“having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12 NAS)

His new life sets us free from sin’s enslavement.

“17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18 NAS) [Underlining added]

“22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” (Romans 6:22 NAS) [Underlining added]

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Romans 8:2 NAS)

As a result God says we are righteous not by our behavior, but purely because we are in Christ.

“21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe.” (Romans 3:21-22 NAS)

“But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,” (Romans 4:5 NAS)

“17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. 18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:17-19 NAS)

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NAS)

“and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” (Ephesians 4:24 NAS)

* * *

As we have seen, there is nothing that we can do ourselves to obtain forgiveness for sins, deliverance from the law of sin and death, or to be declared righteous. We must receive them all as a gift of grace, but in order for us to do so we must first believe (have faith) that they are all ours right now. When we declare by faith that we have received these gifts, we can begin to live free from condemnation or guilt, and learn to properly respond to the occasions that we still commit sins with true repentance, which will be the subject of our next discussion.

“5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (Rom. 6:5 NAS)

* * *

Suggested additional reading: Fred Pruitt – “The Axe Laid to the Root”

NOTES:

Repentance

“Do you despise the kindness, forbearance, and patience of God, not knowing that the kindness of God brings you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 DLT)

Repentance

* * *

Having now seen that the good news of the gospel is not only that God has completely forgiven us for our sins on the basis of Jesus’ shed blood, but also that we have been completely delivered from the power of the law of sin through our inclusion in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, a couple of obvious questions arise: Namely, “Why then do we still commit sins?” and “What should we do when we realize that we have sinned?” Sadly this is a point where many Christians can begin to feel defeated, due largely to a common misunderstanding of true repentance which has been prevalent in church teaching for hundreds of years and which centers on something we must do rather than what Christ has already done. As with everything else in Christianity, it is only by knowing the truth that we can find freedom, and the truth about repentance is surprisingly simple, yet very profound.

“Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 NAS)

Why we as believers still sin:

We, who are saved, sin when we, through self effort, try to do good. We will sin if we listen to the tempter’s lies rather than God’s truth (see Matthew 4:1-11), especially the lie that we are still slaves to sin. We then fail to reckon it an absolute fact that we have been freed from sin’s power.

“11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:11-14 NIV)

We will sin if we put confidence in our flesh to overcome temptation by our own determination and willpower, or anything other than relying by faith on Christ’s overcoming power through the Holy Spirit.

“18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” (Romans 7:18 NAS)

“24 Wretched man that I am! Who (not what) will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand, I myself, with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:24-25 NAS) [Italics added.]

“10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the Spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:10-11 NAS)

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NAS)

”for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,” (Philippians 3:3 NAS)

“and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:9 NAS)

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,” (Jude 1:24 NAS)

“23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NAS)

What believers should do when we have sinned:

When we realize we have sinned, we reject any feelings of condemnation since they are not from God.

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1 NAS)

“33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:33-35 NAS)

“38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39 NAS)

Rather than accepting guilt we recognize that our “Godly sorrow” leads us to repentance, which simply means to change our mind. It means we agree with God that Christ died for that specific sin and all is good in Him.

“9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance WITHOUT REGRET, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:9-10 NAS) [CAPITAL EMPHASIS added]

As a result, our way of thinking and behavior are corrected.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NAS)

This should result in joy and thanksgiving rather than guilty feelings or regret as we realize that God is actually using these situations for our spiritual growth. We can rejoice when we come to know the specific sins He died for and that we no longer have to do them.

“And we know that God causes ALL things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NAS) [CAPITAL EMPHASIS added]

“2 Consider it ALL joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NAS) [CAPITAL EMPHASIS added]

“16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in EVERYTHING give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NAS) [CAPITAL EMPHASIS added]

* * *

When we are finally able to settle the matter of rejecting any form of condemnation or guilty feelings when we behave in a faithless way (i.e. sinful) by recognizing that those feelings come from the accuser and not from God, then we are able to trust that God is even working in those times for our good by showing us how those behaviors are inconsistent with who and what He says we are. As we do that, we allow God to eradicate those behaviors from us in His way and time, having already established that we are incapable of doing it ourselves. This frees us from constantly focusing on trying to improve ourselves and allows us instead to focus on Him and what He is doing in our lives and the world, which will be the subject of our next discussion.

* * *

Suggested additional reading: Andrew Farley - “The Naked Gospel” online.

NOTES:

Intercession

“Whoever does not bear his own cross and follow Me is not able to be My disciple.” (Luke 14:27 DLT)

Intercession

* * *

Having settled the matter of our forgiveness for sins, deliverance from the power of sin, and true repentance on the occasions that we may sin as believers; we can now explore in more detail what union with Christ means for us in our daily lives. Earlier we made the statement that it is through our union with Christ that God reproduces His eternal life in this temporal world, and that our whole purpose as believers is to bear His spiritual fruit. We will now examine the common means which He uses to accomplish that, and exactly what it is that is required of us.

Life comes out of death:

In the spiritual realm, just as in the natural realm, it is death that produces new life.

“24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” (John 12:24-25)

Jesus said that in order to have His life, we had to be willing to lose our own.

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)

There are at least three things that God must put to death:

As we have seen, we have already died to the power of sin.

“1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:1-3 NAS)

“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.” (Romans 6:10 NAS)

God has also made us die to “the law” (self-effort) so that we can totally rely on Christ to keep us from sin and sinning.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.” (Romans 7:4 NAS)

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,” (Jude 1:24 NAS)

“8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:8-10 NAS)

Finally, God allows trials so that we will die to our sense of self-reliance and learn to trust and rely on Him.

“8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NAS)

“And we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (1 John 4:16 NIV)

What death to self-reliance produces in us:

When we finally die to self-reliance, we rest in peace and contentment regardless of our circumstances.

“10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.” (Hebrews 4:10-11 NAS)

“7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 NAS)

“11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.” (Philippians 4:11-12 NAS)

We then can see that our lives are not our own and so we have also died to our self preserving nature.

“19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NAS)

“3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 NAS)

As the result of death to our Self Interested Nature as a “sin-full” self, God is able to freely express His love to the lost world through us, which is the way His life is reproduced over and over again.

5 “For we do not preach ourselves [as if we were something special] but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your [and everyone else’s] bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone [that Light] in our hearts to give [us] the Light of the knowledge [i.e. revelation] of the glory of God in the face [or person] of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure [of the Life of Christ] in earthen vessels [our temporal bodies], so that the surpassing greatness of the power [to pass along this revelation] will be of God and not from ourselves; 8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying about in the body [our own] the dying of Jesus [exhibiting His self-sacrificial love], so that the life of Jesus [resurrection life free from the power of sin] also may be manifested in our body. 11 For we who live [who are alive spiritually] are constantly being delivered over to death [to our self serving interests] for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus [an indestructible life] also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So, [His] death works in us, but [that His] life [will work] in you.” (2 Corinthians 4:5-12 NAS) [Words in brackets added]

What the Lord requires of us:

In the same way that reproduction occurs in the natural realm, the only things required to bear spiritual fruit are union and the availability (or willingness) of a “bride”.

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4 NAS)

As we have already seen, union with Christ is our permanent condition, so all that remains is our willingness to be available for Him to reproduce His life in others.

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1 NAS)

* * *

When we are fully trusting and relying on God, He begins to show us how His purpose for the world is being accomplished through us. This is what brings us to the point that we see the hand of God in ALL things, which is what Jesus called single or pure vision (Matthew 6:22). If we know that God is truly causing all things to work together for good according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), then we must also realize that it is His love that motivates every circumstance we find ourselves in, whether we might perceive it as “good” or “evil”. This allows us to see through another person’s behavior or deficiencies to the whole person that God designed them to be, which produces the desire to see “every man complete in Christ” (Colossians 1:28), and the ability to love them even when they mistreat us. In our next discussion we will examine God’s purpose in the world and our part in it.

* * *

Suggested additional reading: Francois Fenelon – “The Seeking Heart”

NOTES:

Reconciliation

“Because on behalf of Christ you have been granted not only to believe in Him, but to suffer the same conflict you saw me having, and having now heard of it from me.” (Philippians 1:29, 30 DLT)

Reconciliation

* * *

When we know that God is truly causing all things to work together for good according to His purpose, that His purpose and desire for the world is reconciliation, and that it is His love that is now operating in the world for its reconciliation, then we can also trust that it is His love which allows every single circumstance we find ourselves in.

We can then see past another person’s wrong thinking and/or behavior with a view to the potential for them to be made whole and complete in Christ. This new perspective of humanity allows us to express God’s love to people when they mistreat us and to say along with Jesus “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.

“For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” (Philippians 1:29 NAS) [Underlining added.]

When we are fully trusting in and relying on God:

We find that God is reconciling the world to Himself through Christ, and that He is using us to do it.

18 “Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20 NAS)

9 “He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth…” (Ephesians 1:9-10 NAS)

We are able to see the hand of God in ALL things, which is what Jesus called single or pure vision.

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” ( Matthew 6:22 KJV)

28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30 NAS)

“10 …In Him 11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:10b-12 NAS) [Underlining added]

We are given the right to see every person made whole and are able to love them even when they mistreat us.

“bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:28 NAS)

“14 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-17 NAS)

“We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.” (Colossians 1:28 NAS)

We enter into a state of perpetual thankfulness to God, especially for the difficulties in our life.

“2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NAS)

How this affects our relationships with others:

We have no more need to conflict with people because we realize our battle is not with them, it is with the spiritual powers of darkness that want to keep them from wholeness in Christ.

“10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:10-13 NAS)

We “foolishly” invest our lives for His kingdom, glad to have our lives spent for the sake of others.

“18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18 NAS)

“23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-29 NAS)

“We are fools for Christ’s sake…” (1 Corinthians 4:10a NAS)

“I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls…” (2 Corinthians 12:15a NAS)

We rejoice to be able to share in Christ’s suffering in order to bring others to wholeness and freedom.

“16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:16-18 NAS)

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.” (Colossians 1:24 NAS)

“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,” (1 Peter 2:21 NAS)

“12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” (1 Peter 4:12-14 NAS) [Underlining added.]

We discover that His power is the greatest in and through our weaknesses.

“9 And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NAS)

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To conclude, we can see that we have come full circle and that the Christian faith is many things which all center around one thing: loyalty to the One who is “over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:6).

Having discovered these truths, our hearts desire is now to be found trustworthy to share His Life as He presents the opportunities by Divine appointment, living as “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). This is the greatest adventure and fulfillment that this life has to offer, far surpassing any pleasure or accomplishment, and reserved for those who resolve to “know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). As Jesus said, “many are called but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14)!

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NOTES:

About the Author Mic Fuller

Mic Fuller is a discipleship pastor in Sarasota Florida with an emphasis on identity in Christ teaching. He shares his teaching series "Christ in You Discipleship" to groups as either 12 weekly meetings or 3 day retreats as often as the Lord provides opportunities. For more information, please inquire using either of the following contact methods.

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ciydiscipleship@gmail.com

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About the Author Dean Chicquette

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Dean Chicquette holds a BS in Computer Science and an MA/ABS in Systems Counseling. His favorite things to do are translating with Linda, visiting friends, praying for others, playing music, writing, teaching, and attending Bible Studies.

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At several locations most of our eBooks are free.

See website below for free Christian literature.

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www.itransformyou.com

itransformu@yahoo.com

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Appendix A

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Devotionals:

Oswald Chambers - “My Utmost for His Highest”, “Prayer: A Holy Occupation”, “Love: A Holy Command”

Watchman Nee - “Table in the Wilderness”

Francois Fenelon - “The Seeking Heart”

Brother Lawrence - “The Practice of the Presence of God”

Sarah Young - “Jesus Calling”

Ken Gire - “Intense Moments with the Savior”

L. B. Cowman – “Streams in the Desert”

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Theology:

Watchman Nee - “The Normal Christian Life”, “Spiritual Authority”,

“The Latent Power of the Soul”, “The Spiritual Man”

Bob George - “Classic Christianity”, “Complete in Christ”, “Growing in Grace”

Andrew Farley - “The Naked Gospel”, “Heaven is Now”, “God Without Religion”

Dan Stone - “The Rest of the Gospel”

David Needham - “Birthright”, “Alive for the First Time”, “Close to His Majesty”

Steve McVey - “Grace Walk”, “A Divine Invitation”“Beyond an Angry God”

Dean & Linda Chicquette - “The Tenth Commandment”, “Simply Grace”, “Love Your Neighbor”

T. Austin Sparks - “The School of Christ”, “Lessons in the School of Christ”

Henri Nouwen - “The Return of the Prodigal Son”, “Life of the Beloved”

Norman Grubb - “The Law of Faith”, “Paul’s Key to the Liberated Life”, “The Spontaneous You”, “The Key to Everything”, “God Unlimited”, “Touching the Invisible”

Fred Pruitt - “The Axe Laid to the Root”, “Free Will”

CS Lewis - “Mere Christianity”, “The Problem of Pain”, “The Great Divorce”

John Lynch - “The Cure”

Henry Drummond - “The Greatest Thing in the World”

Wayne Grudem - “Systematic Theology”

Brennan Manning – “The Ragamuffin Gospel”, “Abba’s Child”

Major Ian Thomas – Any book or Youtube video.

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Counseling:

Jay Adams - “How to Help People Change”, “Listening to Observe”

Steve McVey & Mike Quarles - “How to Help Others Overcome Addictions”

Neil T. Anderson & Mike Quarles - “Freedom from Addiction”