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ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ h,È&* ЇÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌà ø àà P àÌÌà ø àAll€scripture€quotations,€unless€€otherwise€identified,€are€from€the€KingÏJames€Version€of€the€Bible.Ìà ø àÌà ø àScripture€quotations€identified€NIV€are€taken€from€the€Holy€Bible:€€NewÏInternational€Version€ò òÔ‡ÂõÆÂXXÔÔ‡B ƒÂÂÂõÆÔÓÂ5Óðð€ÓB.°°` ¸ hÀpÈ xÐ (#°°XBÓó óÔ#†BX.¦XÂB ƒt#ÔÔ#†Xö¿XXBX.¦“#Ô1978€by€the€New€York€International€Bible€Society,€used€byÐ tÔ  Ðpermission€of€Zondervan€Bible€Publishers.ÌÌà ø àScripture€quotations€identified€ASV€are€from€the€American€StandardÏVersion€of€1901.ÌÌà ø àScripture€quotations€identified€NASB€are€from€the€New€American€StandardÏBible,€ò òððó ó€The€Lockman€Foundation€1960,€1962,€1963,€1968,€1971,€1972,€1973.Ð ?Ÿ ÐÌ€€€€€Scripture€quotations€identified€NKJV€are€from€the€Holy€Bible,€New€King€JamesÏVersion€ò òððó ó€1983€by€Thomas€Nelson€Inc.Ð   ÐÌ€€€€€Scripture€quotations€identified€"Numeric"€are€from€the€New€Testament€from€theÏGreek€Text€as€Established€by€Bible€Numerics€edited€by€Ivan€Panin€and€publishedÏin€1990€by€Bible€Numerics,€Niagara€Falls,€Ontario,€CanadaÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ,f&% ЇÌÌÌÓ  ÓTHE€CROSS,€SELF„DENIALÌAND€THEÌMANIFESTATION€OF€THE€SONS€OF€GODÌÓ{ ÓÌÌà@ÆÆ"ìàTABLE€OF€CONTENTSˆÌÌÌINTRODUCTION....................................................................................................€1€Ï€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ÌÓ  ÓCHAPTER€Ó@Â5ÓIÌÓ… Óà ø àÌÓ3Ü ,X°4` „°: €%ÿÿ°°X3ÓLEGALISM:€€THE€SELF„LIFE€IMITATION€OF€GOD'S€RIGHTEOUSNESS............4Ìà 4 àà ` àà  àà À àà p àà  àà : àÌà 4 àThe€Purpose€of€the€Law..............................................................................6Ìà 4 àThe€Ministry€of€Law€Contrasted€with€the€Ministry€of€Grace.........................7Ìà 4 àThe€Law€and€the€Ministry€of€Jesus..............................................................7Ìà 4 àMoses€was€Liberal.......................................................................................9Ìà 4 àThe€Law€and€the€Ministry€of€Paul..............................................................10Ìà 4 àUnderstanding€Law€and€Overcoming€Legalism.........................................13Ìà 4 àWalking€in€the€Fulfillment..........................................................................14Ìà 4 àTo€Walk€as€Jesus€Walked.........................................................................16Ìà 4 àTwo€Extremes............................................................................................17Ìà 4 àContrast€Between€the€Gospels€and€the€Epistles.......................................18Ìà 4 àFlowing€in€the€Power€of€the€Holy€Spirit......................................................24Ìà 4 àÌà@¼¼%ìàCHAPTER€IIˆÌÌLAYING€DOWN€THE€SELF„LIFE..........................................................................26ÌÌà 4 àSoul„Life€to€be€Denied...............................................................................27ÌÒ‘ Òà 4 àRegeneration€of€the€Spirit..........................................................................27Ð L,¬&" ÐÔ_Ôà 4 àRegeneration€of€the€Body..........................................................................28Ìà 4 àRegeneration€of€the€Soul...........................................................................29Ìà 4 àCounting€the€Cost......................................................................................31Ìà 4 àAppropriating€Death€for€the€Soul...............................................................33Ìà 4 àThe€Soul€Dies............................................................................................37Ìà 4 àThe€New€Man............................................................................................39Ìà 4 àThe€Cross€is€the€Third€Experience............................................................41Ìà 4 àEnemies€of€the€Cross................................................................................43Ìà@óó*óàˆÌÓ  ÓCHAPTER€IIIÌÓ˜ÓÌWHAT€SELF„DENIAL€IS€NOT...............................................................................49ÌÌà 4 àTrials€and€Tribulation.................................................................................49Ìà 4 àBeyond€Trials€and€Tribulation...................................................................54Ìà 4 àLow€Self„Esteem........................................................................................56Ìà 4 àInner€Healing.............................................................................................58Ìà 4 àSelf„Discipline...........................................................................................60Ìà 4 àSelf„Indulgence.........................................................................................62Ìà 4 àSummary...................................................................................................65ÌÌÓ  ÓCHAPTER€IVÌÓiÓÌSELF„DENIAL€IN€TYPE€AND€SHADOW...............................................................66ÌÌà 4 àGiving€of€the€Law.......................................................................................66Ìà 4 àEntering€the€Holy€of€Holies........................................................................67Ìà ° àà 4 àThe€Golden€Altar€of€Incense.....................................................................67Ìà 4 àIsrael's€Crossing€of€the€Jordan.................................................................68Ìà 4 àThe€Baptism€in€Fire...................................................................................69Ìà 4 àSaul€and€the€Amalekites............................................................................69Ìà 4 àThe€Torn€Veil.............................................................................................72Ìà 4 àThe€Crucifixion€of€Jesus€Christ..................................................................73ÌÓ  ÓÌÐ Î,.'" ÐCHAPTER€VÌÓ• ÓÌTHE€PRAYER€OF€CONSECRATION:€TAKING€UP€THE€CROSS€DAILY..............75ÌÌà 4 àWhat€is€My€Cross?....................................................................................76Ìà 4 àUnconditional€Surrender............................................................................77Ìà 4 àListing€our€Desires€and€Dreads.................................................................78Ìà 4 àDeliverance€by€Consecration....................................................................80Ìà 4 àTo€Walk€as€Jesus€Walked.........................................................................82Ìà 4 àAvoiding€Passivity.....................................................................................83ÌÌà@%óàCHAPTER€VIˆÌÌTHE€PRACTICAL€DAILY€WALK€OF€AN€OVERCOMER.......................................86ÌÌà 4 àTurning€the€Other€Cheek...........................................................................87Ìà 4 àPeace€in€Our€Homes.................................................................................92Ìà 4 àWhen€to€Use€the€Sword............................................................................93ÌÌÓ  ÓCHAPTER€VIIÌÌÓ  ÓTHE€MANIFESTATION€OF€THE€SONS€OF€GOD.................................................96ÌÌà 4 àThe€Manchild.............................................................................................97Ìà 4 àHow€to€Rule€the€World..............................................................................98Ìà 4 àEconomic€Justice......................................................................................99Ìà 4 àSetting€All€of€Creation€Free.....................................................................102ÌÌÓ  ÓCONCLUSION....................................................................................................103ÌÌà @ àÌÌÓ  Óà 4 àÌÌÔ_ÔÐ Î,.'" ÐÑêaÑâ âÑ8€ö¿XXdìXXdì8Ñâ âÑ  ÑÌà 4 àà ` àà  àà À àà p àà  à¹Ó  ÓÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜTHE€CROSS,€SELF„DENIALÌAND€THEÌÖ€ÿÿÖMANIFESTATION€OF€THE€SONS€OF€GODÌÓ[)ÓÌÓÌ @Óà@óó$óàINTRODUCTIONˆÌÌà 4 àThe€term€ð ðmanifestation€of€the€sons€of€Godðð€(Rom.€8:19)€evokes€strongÏfeelings€of€wonder€among€many€in€the€church€yet€evokes€feelings€of€disdain€inÏothers.€€Many€splinter€groups€have€taken€the€manifested€sons€doctrine€toÏoutrageous€extremes€and€this€has€had€a€chilling€effect€on€all€sober€efforts€to€teachÏon€this€important€scriptural€doctrine.€€However,€merely€because€someone€teachesÏthe€sonship€message€doesnððt€mean€that€he€claims€to€be€a€manifested€son€orÏclaims€to€be€sinlessly€perfect€or€to€be€elitist.€€This€writer€doesnððt€claim€to€be€aÏmanifested€son€although€he€does€feel€led€to€teach€about€it.Ìà 4 àThe€sons€of€God,€when€they€are€manifested,€are€likely€to€be€humble€andÏgentle€like€Jesus€who€was€manifested€as€the€only€begotten€son€of€God.€€Jesus€isÏthe€pattern€son,€the€forerunner€(Heb.€6:20),€the€firstborn€among€many€brethrenÏ(Rom.€8:29).€€Jesus€is€the€only€manifested€Son€I€know!€€As€ancient€Israel,€beforeÏthe€time€of€Christ,€longed€for€the€coming€of€the€Messiah€(the€first€manifested€Son),Ïso€now€the€whole€creation€longs€for€the€manifestation€of€the€sons€of€God!Ìà 4 àThis€writerððs€opinion€is€that€the€sons€of€God€will€be€manifested€just€prior€toÏthe€second€coming€of€Jesus€which€will€be€just€prior€to€the€millennial€reign€ofÏChrist.€€Christ€will€come€òòtoóó€His€church€before€He€comes€òòforóó€His€church.€€TheÐ œH Ðportion€of€the€church€that€grows€to€full€maturity€in€Christ,€or€as€Eph.€4:13€puts€itÏò òð ðthe€measure€of€the€stature€of€the€fullness€of€Christððó ó€are€those€who€areÐ Š!6 Ðovercomers.€€Revelation€chapters€two€and€three€contain€great€promises€to€ò òð ðhimÐ Š"6 Ðwho€overcomesððó ó.€€The€sons€of€God€who€will€be€manifested€are€the€overcomersÐ Š#6 Ðwho€will€rule€and€reign€with€Christ.Ìà 4 àTo€him€who€overcomes,€Christ€will€give€authority€over€the€nations€(Rev.Ï2:26).€€This€is€a€great€responsibility€and€a€great€undertaking.€€God€will€give€suchÏgreat€authority€only€to€those€who€have€proved€faithful€in€small€things.€€The€smallÏthing€that€is€of€greatest€consequence€in€our€stewardship€before€God€is€the€self.€ÏGod€commands€that€we€place€no€other€gods€before€Him,€especially€the€god€ofÏself.€€We€must€subdue€the€self.€€The€self€is€a€small€thing€in€one€sense€yet€inÏanother€sense€itððs€the€most€difficult€foe€that€we€ever€encounter!€Each€of€us€mustÏdeal€with€that€which€is€within€ourselves€that€opposes€God.€€This,€of€course,€canÐ B,î$% Ðonly€be€done€by€the€grace€of€God;€but€we€must€be€faithful€in€laying€hold€of€theÏgrace€of€God.€€The€overcomers€must€overcome€self€before€being€entrusted€withÏthe€greater€ministry€of€subduing€things€outside€the€self„life.Ìà 4 àThe€overcomers€overcome€self€by€way€of€the€cross.€€The€term€ð ðcrossððÌrefers€of€course€to€Jesusðð€suffering€and€death€for€our€sins€but€there€is€anÏadditional€facet€of€meaning€to€the€term.€€Each€of€us€is€commanded€to€deny€selfÏand€to€take€up€òòour€crossóó€daily€and€follow€Him€(Luke€9:23).€€The€cross€is€whereÐ  Ê ÐJesus€denied€Himself€and€òòthe€cross€is€where€each€of€us€must€deny€our€self„livesóó.€Ð Á ÐThe€cross€is€the€place€of€surrender.€€The€individual€believerððs€laying€hold€of€theÏcross€is€to€deny€self€hence€ð ðself„denialðð.Ìà 4 àMuch€of€the€teaching€in€this€book€will€be€on€the€subject€of€self„denial.€ÏDenial€or€surrender€of€the€self€is€how€a€Christian€allows€God€to€transform€the€self.€ÏTransformation€of€the€self€is€sanctification€and€this€is€how€a€Christian€grows€fromÏbeing€a€mere€babe€in€Christ€to€being€an€overcomer.€€At€a€set€time€in€the€future€theÏovercomers€will€be€manifested€as€mature€sons€of€God.Ìà 4 àSanctification€is€also€an€often€misunderstood€subject.€€Some€teach€that€weÏare€fully€sanctified€at€the€time€of€our€new€birth.€€This€teaching€is€a€part€of€aÏtheological€system€often€called€ð ðsinless€perfectionðð€or€ð ðtriumphalismðð.€€OthersÏteach€that€complete€sanctification€occurs€during€a€crisis€some€time€afterÏconversion.€€This€is€ð ðcrisis€sanctificationðð€more€popularly€called€ð ðthe€secondÏblessingðð€or€ð ðentire€sanctificationðð.€€The€purpose€of€my€pointing€this€out€is€not€toÏdisparage€Christians€who€hold€such€teachings.€€There€is€a€measure€ofÏsanctification€that€occurs€at€the€new€birth€and€there€is€a€measure€of€sanctificationÏthat€occurs€at€a€crisis€point€sometime€after€conversion.€€However,€we€shouldnððtÏstop€there€and€assume€that€sanctification€is€complete.Ìà 4 àThere€is€a€second€blessing€but€thereððs€also€a€third€blessing€and€a€fourthÏblessing€and€so€on.€€In€fact€I€maintain€that€sanctification€takes€place€òòdailyó󀄀a€dailyÐ j  Ðblessing!€€Jesus€commanded€us€to€deny€self€and€take€up€our€cross€daily.€€This€isÏð ðprocess€sanctificationðð.€€There€is€sanctification€that€takes€place€in€a€crisis€inÏwhich€we€are€tested€and€renew€our€commitment€to€Christ€òòandóó€there€is€also€a€dailyÐ O#û Ðprocess€of€sanctification€throughout€our€lives.Ìà 4 àSanctification€involves€the€surrender€of€self,€called€self„denial.€€The€worldÏteaches€people€to€build€up€self€or€raise€self„esteem.€€Nowhere€else€is€the€worldÏand€Christianity€more€at€odds.€€Christ€taught€us€to€lay€self€down,€to€surrender€toÏGod,€to€turn€the€other€cheek.€€The€world€says€to€improve€self€and€defend€self.€ÏJesus€taught€us€that€we€must€lose€self€in€order€to€find€the€self€and€that€if€we€hangÏon€to€self€we€lose€it.€Notice€that€Jesus€did€teach€that€we€find€self€(the€renewedÏself)€in€the€end.€€Ultimately€Christððs€message€is€a€positive€message€regarding€theÏself.€€In€fact,€as€we€shall€see,€Christððs€message€regarding€the€self€is€far€moreÏglorious€than€anything€the€world€has€to€offer!Ð õ,¡%' ÐÔ_Ôà 4 à"Self„denial"€is€another€term€which€is€very€often€misunderstood.€€A€majorÏreason€for€the€writing€of€this€book€is€to€clear€up€the€common€misperceptions€as€toÏwhat€self„denial€actually€means.€€The€first€thing€that€comes€to€mind€when€"self„¼denial"€is€mentioned€is€usually€a€legalistic€asceticism.€€That€rigid€lifestyle€is€self„¼righteousness€and€is€not€truly€God's€righteousness.€€Biblical€self„denial,€byÏcontrast,€is€to€surrender€the€self„life€and€walk€by€the€Spirit€in€radical€commitmentÏmotivated€by€genuine€love€for€God.€€It€yields€a€close,€intimate,€one„on„oneÏrelationship€with€God.Ìà 4 àThe€apostle€Paul€in€Romans€1:16€said€that€the€power€of€God€untoÏsalvation€was€unto€ò òð ðthe€Jew€firstððó ó.€€Later€in€Romans€11:28€Paul€describesÐ ¯  Ðphysical€Israel€as€being€ò òð ðbeloved€for€the€fatherððs€sakesðð.€€ó óHere€a€distinction€isÐ ¯  Ðmade€on€the€basis€of€physical€ancestry.€€I€hasten€to€add€that€with€respect€toÏsalvation€there€is€neither€Jew€nor€Greek,€male€nor€female€but€on€a€different€levelÏother€than€salvation€the€Lord€does€regard€national€origin.€€My€point€is€simply€toÏinform€the€reader€that€I€reject€replacement€theology.€€The€church€doesnððt€replaceÏIsrael€or€any€other€nation.€€National€distinctions€do€matter.€€The€overcomerÏcompany€shall€rule€the€òònationsóó€(Rev.€2:26)€during€the€coming€millennium.€€Israel€isÐ Ö‚ Ðreceiving€her€homeland€now,€all€the€nations€shall€receive€their€homelands€in€theÏcoming€eon.€€As€salvation€is€to€the€Jew€first€I€believe€that€the€first€Christians€to€beÏmanifested€as€mature€sons€of€God€will€be€of€Jewish€ancestry.€€€The€first€thing€thatÏPaul€the€apostle€mentions€about€Israel€in€Romans€9:4€is€that€ò òð ðTheirs€is€theÐ ²^ Ðadoption€as€sonsððó ó€(NIV).Ð ²^ Ðà 4 àMay€God€grant€the€readers€keen€insight€and€joy€as€they€read€this€book€andÏmay€they€avoid€the€quagmire€of€legalism€and€come€to€a€full€understanding€ofÏGodððs€wonderful€plan€of€sanctification€which€begins€with€the€daily€surrender€of€theÏself€and€culminates€with€the€resurrection€of€the€glorified€self€that€fully€knows€God,Ïwill€serve€God€in€great€things,€and€will€enjoy€Him€forever!ÌÓ  ÓÌWilliam€P.€NugentÌDecember€9,€1999ÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÐ ",Î$& ЇÌÓ  ÓÌÓ  ÓCHAPTER€IÌÌà@@BBìàLEGALISM:€€THE€SELF„LIFE€IMITATION€OF€GOD'S€RIGHTEOUSNESSÌÓÜIÓÌÌà 4 àThis€opening€chapter€will€be€concerned€with€a€rather€lengthy€but€entirelyÏnecessary€discussion€of€the€place€of€God's€law€in€the€life€of€the€overcomer.€€AÏright€understanding€of€the€role€of€law€is€foundational€to€all€that€follows€in€this€book.€ÏWe€must€understand€from€the€outset€that€self„denial€is€by€grace.€€Self„denial€is€notÏa€work€of€self€but€is€a€work€of€God€on€a€surrendered€self.€€The€grace€of€GodÏenables€us€to€surrender.€€The€self„life€is€very€clever€about€clinging€to€law,€legalismÏand€guilt€trips€in€order€to€stave€off€the€pangs€of€death.€€Paul,€perhaps€for€this€veryÏreason€wrote€of€his€prayer€for€us€in€the€first€chapter€of€Ephesians.€€He€prayed€thatÏwe€be€given€ò ò"the€spirit€of€wisdom€and€revelation€in€the€knowledge€of€him:€Ð Íy Ðthe€eyes€of€your€understanding€being€enlightened..."ó ó€€How€many€times€haveÐ Íy Ðwe€tried€to€figure€it€all€out€without€simply€asking,€according€to€this€prayer,€for€GodÏto€show€us€the€way?€€Let€us€pray€therefore,€that€our€eyes€may€be€opened€and€thatÏwe€grasp€the€revelation€of€walking€in€the€righteousness€that€comes€from€God€byÏfaith.€€Ìà 4 àò ò"You€who€are€trying€to€be€justified€by€law€have€been€alienated€fromÐ ©U ÐChrist;€you€have€fallen€away€from€grace"ó ó€(Gal.€5:4€NIV).€€Paul's€statement€isÐ ©U Ðjust€as€hard€hitting€to€the€church€today€as€it€was€to€the€early€Galatians.€€How€manyÏof€us€are€trying€to€please€God€by€law?€€Though€we€believe€we€are€saved€by€faith,Ïdo€we€think€the€only€way€to€please€God€is€by€applying€the€law„„scripturalÏprinciples€and€teaching„„by€our€own€efforts?€€ò ò"Are€you€so€foolish?€€AfterÐ Ž : Ðbeginning€with€the€Spirit,€are€you€now€trying€to€attain€your€goal€by€humanÏeffort?"ó ó€€(Gal.€3:3€NIV).€€Applying€the€law€by€human€effort€is€alienation€from€ChristÐ Ž": Ðand€falling€away€from€grace.€€Ìà 4 àGrace€is€the€power€to€live€the€Christian€life.€€When€we€take€control€of€ourÏlives€and€try€to€attain€God's€righteous€standard€of€holiness,€we€do€not€permitÏgrace€to€operate€and€thus€fall€away€from€grace.€€Falling€away€from€grace€is€to€fallÏinto€the€sin€of€legalism,€which€is€trying€to€live€by€the€law€in€the€strength€of€theÏflesh.Ìà 4 àLaw€does€not€give€the€power€to€keep€it.€€ò ò"For€if€a€law€had€been€givenÐ X)"# Ðthat€could€impart€life,€then€righteousness€would€certainly€have€come€by€theÏlaw"ó ó€(Gal.€3:21€NIV).€€The€law€speaks€about€life€and€righteousness€but€does€notÐ X+$% Ðbring€life€and€righteousness.€€Only€God's€grace,€life€in€the€Spirit,€bringsÐ X,%& Ðrighteousness.Ìà 4 àLet's€look€at€a€clear€scriptural€illustration€of€the€fact€that€law€does€notÏprovide€the€wherewithal€to€live€a€victorious€life.€€ò ò"I€would€not€have€known€what€itÐ B î Ðwas€to€covet€if€the€law€had€not€said,€'do€not€covet.'€€But€sin,€seizing€theÏopportunity€afforded€by€the€commandment,€produced€in€me€every€kind€ofÏcovetous€desire"ó ó€(Rom.€7:7„8€NIV).€€Let's€keep€in€mind€that€"ò òdo€not€covetó ó"€is€notÐ B î Ðan€obscure€ceremonial€law€but€is€the€tenth€commandment€and€part€of€the€moralÏlaw.€€ò ò"Do€not€covet"ó ó€was€used€by€sin€to€produce€knowledge€of€covetousness€andÐ 9å Ðnot€deliverance€from€it.€€There€is€no€deliverance€from€sin€through€law.€€The€powerÏof€sin€is€the€law€(I€Cor.€15:56).Ìà 4 àIn€my€own€Christian€walk€I€have€found€that€when€I€trusted€God€things€wentÏwell€but€when€I€focused€on€law€all€I€knew€was€sin.€€When€I€was€first€saved€I€wasÏextremely€happy€and€full€of€love€toward€God.€€Bad€habits€and€sins€in€my€life€justÏfell€by€the€wayside.€€I€would€do€anything€for€God;€serving€Him€was€a€joy.€€SharingÏmy€faith€came€naturally€and€had€great€effect.€€I€said€to€one€of€my€Christian€friends,Ï"It€is€so€wonderful€to€do€things€for€God€out€of€love,€just€out€of€love."€€I€was€a€babeÏin€Christ€but€was€living€a€victorious€Christian€life.Ìà 4 àThis€was€beautiful€while€it€lasted,€but€then€as€Romans€7:9€says,€ò ò"Once€IÐ è” Ðwas€alive€apart€from€law;€but€when€the€commandment€came,€sin€sprang€toÏlife€and€I€died"ó ó€(NIV).€€As€a€babe€in€Christ€I€was€alive€apart€from€law,€but€then€IÐ è” Ðbegan€to€strive€for€perfection€and€looked€to€law€rather€than€continuing€to€focus€onÏJesus.€€My€Christian€walk€"died"€as€I€became€more€and€more€legalistic.€€SinÏseized€the€opportunity€afforded€by€the€commandment€to€produce€in€me€sin€ofÏevery€kind.Ìà 4 àMy€goal€and€desire€now€is€to€learn€to€live€entirely€by€the€Spirit€and€noÏlonger€be€under€the€law.€€ò ò"...if€you€are€led€by€the€Spirit€you€are€not€under€law"ó óÐ »g Ð(Gal.€5:18)€NIV).€€When€I€am€free€from€being€under€law€I€am€also€free€from€sin:€Ïò ò"apart€from€law,€sin€is€dead"ó ó€(Rom.€7:8€NIV).€€Sin€is€dead€when€we€do€notÐ ²!^ Ðdepend€on€law.Ìà 4 àIn€July€1978€it€was€prophesied€over€me€that€God€was€calling€me€to€lay€myÏlife€down€and€that€God€would€then€raise€me€up.€€I€had€no€concept€of€what€thisÏmeant.€€Even€the€man€who€prophesied€over€me€could€offer€only€the€most€feebleÏexplanation€of€self„denial.€€Immediately€I€sought€to€find€out€what€it€really€means€toÏlay€down€one's€life€and€follow€Jesus.€€The€search€took€me€through€years€of€studyÏand€meditation.€€I€am€grateful€to€God€for€teachers€in€the€body€of€Christ€such€asÏWatchman€Nee,€J.€Preston€Eby€and€Bill€Britton.€€Most€importantly€of€all€I€amÏgrateful€to€the€Holy€Spirit€who€by€revelation€anointing€is€revealing€end„timeÏteaching€on€the€necessity€of€self„denial.€€God€is€calling€many€of€his€saints€to€theÏdeeper€walk€of€consecration€obtained€by€laying€down€one's€life.€€I€have€found€thatÐ X,%& Ðself„denial€not€only€is€delivering€me€from€the€quagmire€of€legalism€but€is€revealingÏto€me€the€victorious€life€of€growing€into€mature€sonship.€€I€do€not€presume€to€claimÏthat€I've€already€obtained€this€perfection,€but€like€Paul,€ò ò"I€press€on€to€take€holdÐ B î Ðof€that€for€which€Christ€Jesus€took€hold€of€me"ó ó€(Phil.€3:12€NIV).€€This€book€isÐ B î Ðwritten€for€the€instruction€and€encouragement€of€those€who€are€apprehended€ofÏGod€unto€full€sonship€that€we€may€know€the€life€of€overcoming€through€self„denial.€ÌÌà@££óàTHE€PURPOSE€OF€THE€LAWˆÌÌà 4 àI€Timothy€1:8€says€ò ò"We€know€that€the€law€is€good€if€a€man€uses€itÐ Á  Ðproperly."ó ó€€The€law€was€given€by€God€for€a€distinct€purpose.€€The€next€verseÐ Á  Ðsays,€ò ò"We€also€know€that€law€is€made€not€for€good€men,€but€for€lawbreakersÐ Á  Ðand€rebels,€the€ungodly€and€sinners..."ó ó€(NIV)Ð Á  Ðà 4 àContrary€to€the€above,€many€Christians€believe€the€law€was€made€for€goodÏmen.€€They€believe€it€was€given€so€good€men€could€strive€to€attain€righteousness.€ÏThus€they€place€themselves€under€the€law.€€The€reason€many€Christians€do€notÏmove€in€the€grace€of€God€to€attain€righteousness€by€faith€is€that€they€attempt€toÏestablish€their€own€righteousness€by€law.€€They€fall€into€the€pit€of€legalism.Ìà 4 àLegalism€is€the€idea€that€we,€by€human€wisdom€and€strength,€can€applyÏand€live€up€to€the€standards€of€the€Christian€life.€€It€is€the€belief€that€by€self€will,Ïself€control€and€self€discipline,€one€can€be€acceptable€to€God.€€Legalism€isÏhumanistic€in€that€it€asserts€human€power€and€the€sovereignty€of€man.€€TheÏreason€Christians€become€discouraged,€lukewarm€and€eventually€fall€into€sin€isÏbecause€legalism€is€a€dry,€joyless€walk€and€lacks€the€power€of€God.€€It€is€aÏperversion€of€righteousness,€a€Satanic€substitute.€€Legalism€is€modernÏphariseeism.€€The€cause€of€legalism€is€a€fundamental€misapplication€of€the€lawÏand€a€falling€short€of€the€grace€of€God.Ìà 4 àIf€the€law€wasn't€given€for€us€to€apply€it€to€our€lives,€why€was€it€given?€€TheÏlaw€was€meant€for€sinners,€to€convict€them€of€their€sin€and€lead€them€to€theÏSavior.€€ò ò"So€the€law€was€put€in€charge€to€lead€us€to€Christ€that€we€might€beÐ …#1 Ðjustified€by€faith"ó ó€(Gal.€3:24€NIV).€€Having€been€justified€we€continue€to€walk€byÐ …$1 Ðfaith€by€the€Spirit€in€the€fulfillment€of€the€law.€€Ìà 4 àThe€law€brings€us€to€a€knowledge€òòABOUTóó€God€and€òòABOUTóó€holiness,€but€itÐ |&(  Ðdoes€not€bring€us€to€a€knowledge€òòOFóóòòóó€holiness.€€ò ò"Through€the€law€we€becomeÐ s' ! Ðconscious€of€òòSINóó"ó ó€(Rom.€3:20€NIV).€€It€doesn't€say€"Through€the€law€we€becomeÐ s(!" Ðconscious€of€GOD."€€The€law€tells€us€about€God's€holiness€and€truth,€but€theÏsubstance€of€God's€holiness€and€truth€is€ò ò"Christ€in€you."ó ó€In€telling€us€aboutÐ j*#$ Ðholiness,€the€law€shows€us€how€far€we€fall€short.€€We€also€experience€the€utterÏfutility€and€failure€of€striving€to€be€perfect€under€law.€€Thus,€the€law€serves€a€usefulÐ a, %& Ðpurpose€in€making€people€aware€of€their€sinful€state€and€need€for€a€savior.€ÏWhenever€the€gospel€is€preached,€the€law€is€also€preached€as€a€backdrop€toÏconvict€sinners€of€their€sin.ÌÌà@¡¡óàTHE€MINISTRY€OF€LAW€CONTRASTED€WITH€THE€MINISTRY€OF€GRACEˆÌà 4 àÌà 4 àò ò"The€law€was€given€through€Moses;€grace€and€truth€came€throughÐ  Ê ÐJesus€Christ"ó ó€(John€1:17€NIV).€€òòóóMoses€gave€us€the€form€of€righteousness;€theÐ Ê Ðsubstance€is€in€Christ.€€Many€people€assume€that€Jesus€was€another€Moses,€thatÏHis€teachings€are€some€sort€of€high€standard€that€one€had€better€work€hard€atÏliving€up€to€or€else€be€judged.€€Grace€and€€truth€came€through€Jesus,€not€moreÏlaw!€€In€II€Corinthians€3:9€the€law€(Mosaic)€is€referred€to€as€the€ministry€thatÏcondemns€men,€whereas€the€ministry€of€the€Spirit€is€that€which€bringsÏrighteousness.€€The€law€of€Moses€brought€death€(the€letter€killeth),€but€Jesus€saidÏò ò"I€am€come€that€they€might€have€life,€and€that€they€might€have€it€moreÐ è”  Ðabundantly"ó ó€(John€10:10).€What€a€contrast„„death€versus€abundant€life!€€Moses'Ð è” Ðministry€versus€Jesus'€ministry;€law€versus€grace!€€ò ò"For€sin€shall€not€be€yourÐ è” Ðmaster,€because€you€are€not€under€law,€but€under€grace"ó ó€(Rom.€6:14€NIV).€€ò òó óÐ è” ÐÌà@c c óàTHE€LAW€AND€THE€MINISTRY€OF€JESUSˆÌÌà 4 àJesus€was€not€a€law„giver€in€the€same€sense€that€Moses€was.€€Moses'Ïministry€is€that€which€condemns€men€because€they€cannot€live€up€to€the€righteousÏrequirements€of€the€law.€€The€law€of€Moses€was€the€type€and€shadow€of€thingsÏthat€would€be€fulfilled€in€Christ.€€Jesus,€however,€did€have€much€to€say€about€theÏlaw€of€Moses€and€the€demands€it€does€make€upon€those€under€the€law.€€Ìà 4 àJesus€spoke€primarily€to€Jewish€people€who€observed€the€law.€€TheseÏpeople€had€a€very€shallow€comprehension€of€what€the€law€actually€required.€€TheyÏthought€breaking€the€sixth€commandment,€"Do€not€commit€murder"€meant€actuallyÏtaking€a€life.€€But€Jesus€took€it€a€step€further€by€saying€in€Matthew€5:21„22:€ò ò"YouÐ …#1 Ðhave€heard€that€it€was€said€to€the€people€long€ago,€'Do€not€murder,€andÏanyone€who€murders€will€be€subject€to€judgment.'€€But€I€tell€you€that€òòanyoneÐ …%1 Ðwho€is€angry€with€his€brotheróóó ó€ò òwill€be€subject€to€judgment"ó ó€ò òó ó(NIV).€€The€peopleÐ …&1  Ðthought€that€breaking€the€seventh€commandment:€€"Do€not€commit€adultery,"Ïmeant€actually€engaging€in€the€act€of€adultery.€€Jesus,€however,€taught€that€theÏmoral€implications€of€the€law€were€much€greater€than€simply€governing€externalÏactions.€€He€taught€that€if€someone€even€looked€at€a€woman€to€lust€after€her,€heÏhad€already€broken€the€commandment.€€The€law€governs€the€thoughts€andÏintentions€of€the€heart.€€Jesus€made€the€righteous€demands€of€the€law€very€clearÐ X,%& Ðto€the€people€so€they€would€realize€their€imperfect€state€and€that€they€could€notÏdepend€on€keeping€the€law€to€save€them.€€Only€people€who€are€conscious€of€theirÏsin€realize€their€need€for€the€Savior.Ìà 4 àThe€people€Jesus€spoke€to€trusted€in€their€own€efforts€to€keep€the€law€andÏthought€they€were€already€perfect€in€their€shallow€external€observance.€€TheyÏmissed€the€intent€of€the€law.€€Jesus€taught€the€law€to€make€them€conscious€of€theirÏsins,€realize€their€imperfections€and€acknowledge€their€need€for€Him€as€Savior.Ìà 4 àIt€is€interesting€that€in€the€gospels€the€primary€classes€of€people€whoÏbecame€conscious€of€their€sins€and€turned€to€follow€Jesus€were€the€gross€sinners„¼„tax€gathers€and€prostitutes.€€Those€who€sinned€in€more€subtle€ways€like€theÏPharisees€were€not€aware€of€their€sin€because€of€their€ineffective€interpretation€ofÏthe€law.Ìà 4 àJesus€did€not€set€Himself€up€as€another€Moses€to€bring€forth€anotherÏministration€of€death.€€He€did€not€give€another€stricter€code€of€law€under€which€weÏare€to€strive€for€perfection€by€our€own€strength€and€initiative.€€What€He€didÏestablish€was€the€New€Covenant.€€The€New€Covenant€is€not€based€on€law€as€theÏapostle€Paul€writes€in€Romans€6:14,€ò ò"ye€are€not€under€law,€but€under€grace."ó ó€Ð Äp ÐThe€Old€Covenant€is€a€revelation€of€the€sinfulness€of€man€and€its€commands€are€aÏtype€and€shadow€of€what€is€fulfilled€in€Christ.€€The€New€Covenant€is€a€revelation€ofÏthe€grace€of€God.€€Ìà 4 àGrace€means€unmerited€blessing„„the€power€to€live€a€holy€life.€€GraceÏgives€the€gift€of€righteousness,€so€that€we€can€attain€to€the€holiness€that€the€lawÏonly€speaks€about.€€John€1:12€says,€ò ò"But€as€many€as€received€him,€to€themÐ —C Ðgave€he€power€to€become€the€sons€of€God..."ó ó€€The€power€He€gave€them€is€notÐ —C Ðlaw.€€They€already€had€law.€€The€baptism€in€the€Holy€Spirit€is€the€power€weÏreceive€whereby€we€deny€ourselves€and€press€on€to€the€perfection€of€matureÏsonship.€€Under€grace€by€the€Spirit€the€commands€of€Jesus€become€promises€ofÏwhat€we€shall€attain€in€holiness.€€Ìà 4 àSome€Christians€believe€the€Sermon€on€the€Mount€represents€the€loftyÏrequirements€of€grace€and€that€grace€is€far€more€demanding€than€law.€€But€JesusÏwas€not€talking€about€the€demand€grace€makes€on€us.€€Grace€means€GIFT,€notÏdemand.€€The€Beatitudes€are€God's€gift€to€us:€€a€regenerate€heart.Ìà 4 àI€Corinthians€1:30€says,€ò ò"You€are€in€Christ€Jesus,€who€has€become€forÐ O&û  Ðus€wisdom€from€God,€that€is,€our€righteousness,€holiness€and€redemption"ó óÐ O'û! Ð(NIV).€€Christ€didn't€come€just€to€tell€us€what€is€required,€but€He€came€to€live€in€usÏand€be€the€center€of€our€lives.€€We€must€trust€Jesus€Christ€to€manifest€HisÏrighteousness€in€our€lives€by€the€Spirit.€€Our€focus€must€be€on€God,€not€uponÏourselves.€€If€the€law€taught€us€anything,€it€is€that€human€beings€simply€can't€liveÏup€to€the€law's€standard€of€righteousness.€€We€must€rely€on€God.€€Ð +,×$& Ðà 4 àò ò"The€power€of€sin€is€the€law.€€ó ó(NOT€ò òó ó"the€power€of€righteousness€is€theÐ T Ðlaw.")€€ò ò"But€thanks€be€to€God!€€He€gives€us€the€victory€through€our€LordÐ T ÐJesus€Christ"ó ó€(I€Cor.€15:56„57€NIV).€€Having€God€as€the€center€of€our€livesÐ T  Ðmeans€victory€over€sin.€€Jesus€said€the€greatest€commandment€is€to€love€God€withÏall€our€heart,€soul,€mind€and€strength.€€Christ€will€enable€us€to€totally€love€God€soÏthat€righteousness€is€not€a€burden€but€our€natural€joyous€state.Ìà 4 àIn€addition€to€how€Jesus€applied€the€law,€He€also€taught€us€about€manyÏother€things,€such€as€interpersonal€relationships,€family€life,€marriage,€churchÏconduct€and€attitudes€toward€enemies.€€In€His€teaching,€He€was€not€establishing€aÏlegalistic€system€or€covenant€based€on€law.€€II€Corinthians€3:6€says,€ò ò"...a€newÐ Ê  Ðcovenant,€not€of€the€letter,€but€of€the€Spirit;€for€òòTHE€LETTER€KILLSóó,€but€theÐ Ê  ÐSpirit€gives€life"ó ó€(NIV).€€It€is€the€Spirit€of€Christ,€not€a€written€code€that€producesÐ Ê  Ðfruit€in€our€lives.€€Jesus'€teachings€are€applied€by€the€Spirit,€in€the€Spirit's€time€andÏaccording€to€His€priority.€€We€cannot€trust€our€flesh€to€apply€Jesus'€commands.ÌÌà@ÓÓ"óàMOSES€WAS€LIBERALˆÌÌà 4 àTo€call€Moses€a€liberal€in€our€lax,€lawless€age€seems€ludicrous€but€in€fact,Ïcompared€to€Jesus,€Moses€was€liberal.€€Jesus'€purpose€in€the€Sermon€on€theÏMount€was,€as€we€have€seen,€to€show€that€the€true€standard€of€God's€holiness€isÏfar€stricter€than€the€law€of€Moses.€€The€Mosaic€law€contained€many€apparentÏcultural€accommodations.€€It€seems€that€God€was€not€requiring€perfection€of€theÏancient€Israelites.€€The€Mosaic€law€allowed€for€divorce€and€remarriage.€€JesusÏsaid€that€it€was€because€of€the€hardness€of€their€hearts€that€Moses€allowed€themÏto€divorce€their€wives€(Mt.€19:8).€€Jesus€gave€a€much€more€strict,€narrower€groundÏfor€divorce€and€remarriage.€€The€Mosaic€law€allowed€(but€did€not€encourage)Ïpolygamy€(Dt.€21:15„17).€€Slavery€was€also€allowed€although€there€were€someÏhumanitarian€restrictions,€for€instance€a€Hebrew€slave€must€be€set€free€in€theÏseventh€year€(Ex.€21:2).€€In€tort€law,€Moses€commanded€the€oft„quoted€ò ò"eye€forÐ Ž": Ðeye,€tooth€for€tooth"ó ó€(Lev.€24:20).€€The€perfect€standard€however€was€not€toÐ Ž#: Ðresist€evil€by€suing€for€retribution€but€to€turn€the€other€cheek.€€Vengeance€belongsÏto€God€alone.Ìà 4 àThe€Sermon€on€the€Mount€is€Moses€intensified.€€Imagine€being€in€theÏaudience€as€Jesus€delivered€this€sermon.€€All€your€life€you've€been€taught€thatÏkeeping€the€law€of€Moses€qualifies€you€for€everlasting€life.€€(Let€me€point€out€thatÏeven€under€the€Mosaic€covenant€salvation€was€by€grace€received€through€faith€asÏis€indicated€in€Genesis€15:6€and€Habakkuk€2:4.)€€Now€you€hear€Messiah€speakingÏto€you€and€saying€that€the€true€standard€of€God's€holiness€is€much€stricter€thanÏMoses.€€It€is€at€least€theoretically€possible€for€a€person€to€be€so€careful€not€to€sinÐ F,ò$& Ðthat€he€adheres€to€God's€perfect€standard€of€holiness€and€qualifies€for€heaven.€ÏHuman€nature€being€what€it€is€however,€makes€this€utterly€impossible.€€As€you€sitÏthere€listening€to€Jesus'€sermon€you€begin€to€think€"I€guess€I€have€to€strive€harderÏthan€I€thought€in€order€to€enter€heaven."€€Then€Jesus€delivers€the€coup€de€graceÏby€saying€essentially€that€if€your€right€eye€causes€you€to€sin,€pluck€it€out€and€ifÏyour€right€hand€causes€you€to€sin,€cut€it€off.€€At€this€point€you€sigh€and€say€"I€can'tÏdo€that!"€€Jesus€would€say€to€you€"That's€right,€you€can't€do€that,€so€turn€to€Me€andÏrely€€on€My€perfection€and€I'll€live€My€life€through€you."€€All€of€God's€commands€areÏwritten€so€that€we€will€say€"I€can't€do€that"€and€we€turn€to€Him.ÌÌà@Ÿ Ÿ óàTHE€LAW€AND€THE€MINISTRY€OF€PAULˆÌÌà 4 àNowhere€in€the€whole€Bible€is€the€purpose€of€the€law€more€fully€developedÏthan€in€the€writings€of€Paul.€€It€was€Paul€who€wrote€ò ò"The€law€is€good€if€a€manÐ ß‹  Ðuses€it€properly"ó ó€(I€Tim.€1:8€NIV).€€Redressing€the€error€of€coming€under€law€isÐ ß‹  Ðthe€central€theme€of€Galatians.€€Romans,€another€of€Paul's€writings,€containsÏsome€of€the€clearest€statements€on€the€true€purpose€of€the€law.€€Colossians€alsoÏhas€some€passages€that€deal€with€legalism.Ìà 4 àIf€anyone€had€the€potential€to€become€entrapped€in€legalism€and€theÏoutward€form€of€righteousness,€it€was€Paul.€€He€was€born€a€Jew€in€one€of€theÏstrictest€Jewish€sects„„the€Pharisees.€€What€a€marvelous€revelation€of€the€trueÏrighteousness€of€God€Paul€had€in€that€he€cast€aside€his€self€righteousness€andÏgrasped€the€true€righteousness€that€comes€from€God€by€faith!€€Think€of€the€yearsÏhe€spent€memorizing,€researching,€fulfilling€vows,€ceremonial€cleansings,€feastsÏand€wearing€special€clothing€in€his€attempt€to€fulfill€his€obligation€to€keep€the€law.€ÏHe€was€able€to€see€through€all€the€shadows€of€the€good€things€to€come€and€sawÏthe€fullness€of€the€reality€in€Christ.€€Ìà 4 àLet's€look€at€Galatians€to€see€how€Paul€dealt€with€the€error€of€legalism.€ÏGalatians€is€addressed€to€the€new€converts€of€Galatia,€the€products€of€Paul's€firstÏmissionary€journey€recorded€in€Acts€13€and€14.€€They€were€misled€by€JudaizersÏwho€taught€they€must€be€circumcised€and€keep€the€law€to€be€saved.€€Paul€taughtÏthem€no€one€shall€be€justified€by€observing€the€law€and€the€Christian€life€isÏwalking€in€the€Spirit€by€faith,€not€striving€in€the€flesh€under€the€law.€€Ìà 4 àPaul€makes€three€major€points€in€Galatians.€€First:€€the€law€means€death.€ÏSecond:€€righteousness€is€by€faith.€€Third:€€live€by€the€Spirit.€€Let€us€look€at€allÏthree.Ìà 4 à1).€The€first€point€may€be€summarized:€òòThe€law€means€deathóó.€€PuttingÐ "*Î"$ Ðoneself€under€law€means€turning€away€from€God€to€a€different,€false,€powerless,ÏSatan€inspired€gospel.€€ò ò"I€am€astonished€that€you€are€so€quickly€deserting€theÐ ,¼$& Ðone€who€called€you€by€the€grace€of€Christ€and€are€turning€to€a€differentÏgospel,€which€is€really€no€gospel€at€all.€€Evidently€some€people€are€throwingÏyou€into€confusion€and€are€trying€to€pervert€the€gospel€of€Christ"ó ó€(Gal.€1:6„7Ð T  ÐNIV).Ìà 4 àGospel€means€good€news,€the€good€news€of€salvation€in€Jesus€and€ofÏjoyful,€overcoming€victorious€life.€€But€the€Galatians€had€turned€away€from€theÏgood€news€to€trying€to€lead€a€righteous€life€in€their€own€strength.Ìà 4 àLegalism€is€not€a€gospel.€€It€is€not€part€of€the€gospel.€€It€is€not€"good€news."€ÏStruggling€and€striving€under€law€is€the€same€old€thing€that€every€religion€that€manÏever€invented€advocates:€€do€good€deeds€to€gain€favor€with€deity.Ìà 4 àThe€"different€gospel"€is€a€gospel€in€which€scripture€is€interpreted€andÏapplied€to€the€life€by€the€carnal€mind.€€The€energy€to€carry€out€the€commands€isÏsupplied€by€the€body€and€the€soul€realm.€€Romans€8:7„8€says€of€the€carnal€mind,Ïò ò"the€carnal€mind€is€enmity€against€God;€for€it€is€not€subject€to€the€law€ofÐ ú¦  ÐGod,€neither€indeed€can€be.€€So€then€they€that€are€in€the€flesh€cannot€pleaseÏGod."ó ó€€Inasmuch€as€it€is€impossible€to€please€God€while€operating€in€the€flesh,Ð ú¦ Ðany€gospel€that€relies€on€flesh€and€the€carnal€mind€is€no€€gospel€at€all.€€The€carnalÏmind€is€the€unregenerate,€soulish€intellect€and€emotions€of€man.Ìà 4 àPaul€asks€ò ò"Who€has€bewitched€you?"ó ó€(Gal.€3:1)€€Bewitched€is€a€strongÐ è” Ðword€to€use€in€speaking€to€Christians.€€It€underscores€the€fact€that€legalism€isÏgrave€error.€€Legalistic€self€righteousness€is€Satan's€substitute€for€God's€trueÏrighteousness.€€What€a€terrible€deception!€€Ìà 4 à"ò òMark€my€words!€€I,€Paul,€tell€you€that€if€you€let€yourselves€beÐ Íy Ðcircumcised,€Christ€will€be€of€no€value€to€you€at€all.€€Again€I€declare€to€everyÏman€who€lets€himself€be€circumcised€that€he€is€obligated€to€keep€the€wholeÏlaw.€€You€who€are€trying€to€be€justified€by€law€have€been€alienated€fromÏChrist;€you€have€fallen€away€from€graceó ó"€(Gal.€5:2„4€NIV).ò òó óÐ Í y Ðà 4 àChrist€will€not€give€strength€and€encouragement€to€one€who€struggles€to€beÏperfect€under€the€law.€€Such€a€one€is€on€his€own€and€is€left€to€his€own€resources.€ÏPhilippians€2:1€says,€ò ò"òòIFóó€you€have€any€encouragement€from€being€united€withÐ »#g ÐChrist...ó ó"€(NIV).€€Some€Christians€have€no€encouragement€from€being€united€withÐ »$g ÐChrist.€€He€will€not€encourage€a€self„righteous€walk€by€law.€€He€will€ultimately€letÏthem€collapse€under€their€own€dead€weight€and€see€the€utter€futility€of€relying€onÏthemselves€alone€to€be€holy.€€They€can€expect€no€divine€encouragement€in€theirÏwalk,€only€discipline€and€personal€failure€which€will€cause€them€to€turn€back€toÏChrist€to€rely€on€Him.Ìà 4 àò ò"Let€us€not€become€weary€in€doing€good"ó ó€(Gal.€6:9).€€LegalisticÐ Ž*:#$ ÐChristians€easily€tire€of€good€works€because€their€main€motivation€is€not€that€ofÏlove€for€God.€€Right€motives€are€central€to€the€doctrine€of€works.€€A€walk€by€law€isÐ …,1%& Ða€dead€Christian€experience€but€the€righteousness€that€comes€by€faith€is€a€yokeÏthat€is€easy€and€a€burden€that€is€light.ò òó óÐ K÷ Ðà 4 àThe€law€brings€death€because€it€condemns€when€we€fall€short.€€In€and€ofÏitself€the€law€does€not€give€us€the€victory€over€sin.€€If€righteousness€is€not€by€law,Ïhow€then€do€we€attain€to€it?€€In€the€next€few€paragraphs€we€shall€see.Ìà 4 à2).€The€second€major€point€we€will€explore€is€that€òòrighteousness€is€by€faithóó.€Ð ' Ó ÐIn€this€epistle,€Paul€clearly€emphasizes€the€importance€of€faith.Ìà 4 àGalatians€5:5€teaches€us€to€wait€on€God€in€faith€for€the€manifestation€ofÏtrue€righteousness€in€our€lives.€€ò ò"But€by€faith€we€eagerly€await€through€theÐ  ¸ ÐSpirit€the€righteousness€for€which€we€hope"ó ó€(Gal.€5:5€NIV).€€The€Galatians€hadÐ  ¸  Ða€tendency€to€run€ahead€and€try€to€accomplish€in€the€flesh€that€which€only€can€beÏbrought€about€by€faith€through€the€Spirit.€€They€needed€to€exercise€faith€and€doÏthings€by€the€leading€of€the€Spirit€instead€of€getting€busy€at€their€every€whim.€€WeÏChristians€today€need€to€take€this€message€to€heart.Ìà 4 àAll€Christians€accept€the€fact€that€salvation€is€by€faith€but€some€have€theÏidea€that€once€saved,€the€Christian€walk€that€flows€out€of€the€salvation€experienceÏis€not€by€faith.€€Let's€look€at€some€scriptures€which€indicate€that€the€Christian€lifeÏis€lived€by€faith.€€Romans€1:17€says€ò ò"For€in€the€gospel€a€righteousness€fromÐ Íy ÐGod€is€revealed,€a€righteousness€that€is€by€faith€from€first€to€last,€just€as€it€isÏwritten,€'The€righteous€will€live€by€faith'"ó ó€(NIV).€€We€are€saved€by€faith€and€liveÐ Íy Ðthe€Christian€life€also€by€faith.€€The€statement€ò ò"The€righteous€will€live€by€faith"ó óÐ Íy Ðis€also€quoted€in€Galatians€3:11€as€Paul€exhorts€the€Galatian€Christians€to€live€byÏfaith.€€Galatians€2:20€uses€Paul's€own€life€for€an€example:€€ò ò"The€life€which€I€nowÐ Äp Ðlive€in€the€flesh€I€live€by€the€faith€of€the€Son€of€God."ó ó€€The€only€way€to€walk€asÐ Äp ÐJesus€walked€is€to€totally€believe€God€and€trust€that€He€is€able€to€accomplish€in€usÏthat€which€His€word€promises.Ìà 4 à3).€The€third€point€is€that€we€must€òòlive€by€the€Spiritóó.€€The€Spirit€is€receivedÐ ² ^ Ðby€faith€and€not€by€works€of€the€law.€€Paul€makes€it€clear€in€Galatians€3€that€theÏSpirit€is€given€by€faith,€by€believing€what€one€hears€and€not€by€observing€the€law.€ÏFaith€is€a€relationship€word.€€Our€faith€is€our€loving€trust€of€our€heavenly€Father.€ÏWe€confidently€believe€Him€to€give€us€the€Holy€Spirit€that€He€has€promised€to€giveÏus€through€His€Son.€€The€word€"faith"€by€its€very€definition€means€to€haveÏconfidence€in€the€ability€of€another€to€do€in€us€that€which€we€cannot€do.€€The€SpiritÏis€the€very€life€of€God€Himself€and€gives€us€everlasting€life,€producing€in€us€theÏfruit€which€God€desires.€€The€Holy€Spirit€gives€new€life€to€our€spirit€and€soul€soÏthat€we€can€bear€spiritual€fruit.€€Ìà 4 àThe€flesh€cannot€produce€true€spiritual€fruit.€€Paul€writes,€ò ò"Are€ye€soÐ X*#$ Ðfoolish?€€Having€begun€in€the€Spirit,€are€ye€now€made€perfect€by€the€€flesh?"Ïó ó(Gal.€3:3).€€The€Galatians€at€one€time€had€great€joy€and€God€worked€miraclesÐ X,%& Ðamong€them,€yet€after€such€a€great€beginning€they€began€to€trust€in€human€effort.€€Ìà 4 àIn€Galatians€5€Paul€reaches€the€climax€of€the€revelation€given€in€theÏepistle.€€He€discusses€the€spiritual€walk.€€ò ò"So€I€say,€live€by€the€Spirit,€and€youÐ B î Ðwill€not€gratify€the€desires€of€the€sinful€nature"ó ó€(Gal.€5:16€NIV).€€This€is€a€greatÐ B î Ðpromise€from€God„„that€if€we€move€in€the€Spirit,€we€shall€not€sin.€€He€does€not€sayÏ"Do€not€gratify€the€desires€of€the€sinful€nature€so€that€you€can€live€by€the€Spirit."€ÏThat€sort€of€reverse€logic€is€the€lie€of€legalism.€€Legalism€says€strive€in€the€flesh€toÏbe€holy,€then€once€pure€you€can€enter€the€realm€of€the€power€of€the€Spirit.€ÏInstead,€we€have€the€promise€that€living€by€the€Spirit€brings€righteousness€andÏtherefore€we€shall€not€gratify€the€desires€of€the€flesh.€€Instead€of€warring€againstÏthe€flesh€in€your€own€strength€enter€the€realm€of€the€Spirit€and€live€by€the€SpiritÏwhere€you€have€victory.Ìà 4 àAs€we€live€by€the€Spirit€the€fruit€of€the€Spirit€is€manifested€in€our€lives.€Ïò ò"The€fruit€of€the€Spirit€is€love,€joy,€peace,€long„suffering,€gentleness,Ð ñ  Ðgoodness,€faith,€meekness,€temperance"ó ó€(Gal.€5:22„23).€€This€fruit€comes€fromÐ ñ  Ðthe€spiritual€life,€not€the€natural€soul€life.€€The€flesh€only€produces€a€cheapÏimitation€of€the€fruits€listed€above.Ìà 4 àò ò"If€we€live€in€the€Spirit,€let€us€also€walk€in€the€Spirit"ó ó€(Gal.€5:25).€€Let€usÐ ß‹ Ðmove€only€as€the€Spirit€directs€and€bear€fruit€that€comes€from€the€Spirit.€JesusÏsaid,€ò ò"I€tell€you€the€truth,€the€Son€can€do€nothing€by€himself,€he€can€do€onlyÐ Ö‚ Ðwhat€he€sees€the€Father€doing..."ó ó€(John€5:19€NIV).€€Let€us€come€to€that€placeÐ Ö‚ Ðwhere€we€can€do€nothing€except€what€the€Spirit€does€through€us€and€so€walk€asÏJesus€walked.Ìà 4 àIn€Galatians€as€well€as€in€his€other€writings€Paul€took€a€firm€stand€againstÏlegalistic€tendencies.€€Throughout€his€ministry€he€was€contradicted€and€opposedÏby€Judaizers€who€sought€to€put€the€people€in€bondage€to€law.€€Paul€stressed€thatÏlife€in€the€Spirit€by€faith€is€our€inheritance€in€the€New€Covenant.ÌÌà@Ç Ç óàUNDERSTANDING€LAW€AND€OVERCOMING€LEGALISMˆÌÌà 4 àJewish€tradition€says€the€law€was€given€at€Mt.€Sinai€on€the€day€ofÏPentecost.€€It€is€interesting€that€the€giving€of€the€Spirit€to€the€Church€was€also€onÏthe€day€of€Pentecost.€€The€outpouring€of€the€Spirit€was€attended€by€the€sound€of€aÏrushing€wind€and€tongues€of€fire.€€This€is€reminiscent€of€the€fact€that€Mt.€Sinai€wasÏengulfed€in€smoke,€flame€and€thunder€when€the€law€was€given.€€The€Holy€Spirit€isÏour€law.€€Christian€Law€is€not€written€on€tablets€of€stone€but€on€human€hearts.€ÏUnderstanding€that€the€Spirit€is€our€"law"€is€important€in€overcoming€legalism.€€Ìà 4 àMany€Christians€have€attempted€to€make€a€law€book€out€of€the€NewÏTestament,€applying€its€commands€arbitrarily€by€their€own€wisdom€and€living€inÐ =,é$& Ðobedience€to€it€by€their€own€strength.€€Instead€of€relying€on€the€Spirit€to€lead€themÏinto€all€truth,€they€plunge€ahead€and€live€as€though€righteousness€came€by€law,€aÏlaw€written€on€the€pages€of€the€New€Testament.€€They€don't€realize€that€there€is€noÏlaw€(not€even€do's€and€don'ts€gleaned€from€the€New€Testament)€that€can€impartÏlife€(Gal€3:21).Ìà 4 àWe€all€must€learn€to€overcome€legalism.€€It€is€a€very€subtle€form€of€error.€ÏDependance€on€law€is€the€way€of€carnal€man.€€Legalism€is€very€much€wrapped€upÏin€the€self€life.€€It€is€the€righteousness€of€self€or€self€righteousness.€€OvercomingÏlegalism€involves€the€denial€of€self€and€beginning€to€live€by€the€Spirit.€€Jesus€said,Ïò ò"If€anyone€would€come€after€me,€he€must€deny€himself,€take€up€his€crossÐ ¯  Ðand€follow€me.€€For€whoever€wants€to€save€his€life€will€lose€it,€but€whoeverÏloses€his€life€for€me€will€find€it"ó ó€(Mat.€16:24„25€NIV).€€This€means€losing€all€thatÐ ¯  Ðbelongs€to€self,€even€the€"good"€things.€€Then€we€will€be€raised€up€by€Christ€to€liveÏthe€Christian€life.€€Do€not€confuse€self„denial€with€self„discipline.€€Self„discipline€isÏan€act€of€self€to€make€it€appear€righteous€in€order€to€avoid€the€cross.€€The€Ïcrucified€life€or€Christ€life€is€a€daily€commitment.€€Jesus€says€in€Luke€9:23€that€weÏmust€deny€ourselves,€take€up€our€crosses€òòDAILYóó€and€follow€Him.Ð ß‹ Ðà 4 àThe€crucified€life€is€Christ€centered.€€We€must€totally€rely€on€Christ„„HeÏmust€be€the€absolute€center€of€our€lives.€€As€we€love€God€the€Father€through€ourÏLord€Jesus€Christ€with€our€whole€heart€by€the€power€of€the€Spirit,€bad€habits€andÏsins€will€simply€fall€away.€€We€will€become€excited€about€God€and€just€naturally€(orÏsupernaturally)€share€with€others€about€our€wonderful€relationship€to€God€and€howÏgreat€it€is€to€be€His€child.ò òó óÐ ©U Ðà 4 àHebrews€12:2€tells€us€to€fix€our€eyes€on€Jesus,€the€author€and€finisher€ofÏour€faith.€€Hebrews€3:1€tells€us€to€fix€our€thoughts€on€Jesus.€€As€we€look€upon€òòHIMóóÐ —C Ðwith€our€spiritual€eyes€and€meditate€on€òòHISóó€wonderful€being€we€will€receiveÐ Ž: Ðguidance€and€victory.€€We€shall€know€the€reality€of€Proverbs€3:5„6.€€ò ò"Trust€in€theÐ … 1 ÐLord€with€all€your€heart€and€lean€not€on€your€own€understanding;€In€all€yourÏways€acknowledge€HIM€and€HE€will€make€your€paths€straight"ó ó€(NIV).€€Ð …"1 ÐÌà@ÿ ÿ óàWALKING€IN€THE€FULFILLMENTˆÌÌà 4 àIn€breaking€free€from€legalism€there€is€a€temptation€to€become€antinomian,Ïwhich€means€"against€the€law."€€An€antinomian€disdains€and€disregards€all€ofÏGod's€commandments€and€becomes€a€law€unto€himself.€€Many€such€peopleÏbelieve€that€they€are€beyond€sin€and€have€achieved€perfection.Ìà 4 àJesus€said€that€He€came€not€to€abolish€the€law€but€to€fulfill€it€(Mt.€5:17).€ÏWe€are€in€Christ€and€therefore€must€move€in€the€fulfillment€of€the€law.€€The€OldÏTestament€law€gives€us€the€type€whereas€in€Christ€we€have€the€fulfillment€orÐ 4,à$& Ðantitype.€€When€we€are€obedient€to€the€Spirit€of€Christ€who€dwells€within€us,€weÏare€keeping€the€fulfillment€of€the€law.€€Thus€ultimately€we€do€keep€the€law.€€Just€asÏPaul€says€in€Romans€3:31:€€ò ò"Do€we€then€make€void€the€law€through€faith?€Ð B î ÐGod€forbid:€€yea€WE€ESTABLISH€THE€LAW."ó ó€€An€airplane€in€flight€does€notÐ B î Ðbreak€the€law€of€gravity€even€though€it€may€seem€so€to€the€unlearned€observer.€ÏThe€airplane€upholds€the€law€even€though€a€higher€principle,€that€of€aerodynamicsÏis€put€into€operation€to€make€it€soar€through€the€air€with€no€visible€means€ofÏsupport.€€Ìà 4 àThe€law€is€therefore€a€positive€thing€essential€for€the€life€of€faith.€€ManyÏhave€the€idea€that€the€ceremonial€law€serves€no€purpose€in€this€present€move€ofÏGod.€€I€would€point€out€first€that€the€Bible€makes€no€division€between€theÏ"ceremonial"€and€"moral"€law;€and€secondly,€the€so„called€ceremonial€lawÏregarding€feasts,€jubilees,€dietary€laws,€sabbaths,€tabernacle€and€templeÏfurnishings€are€all€being€fulfilled€in€the€church€age.€€In€other€words€we€keep€theÏlaw,€even€the€ceremonial,€by€fulfilling€it.€€It€is€fulfilled€in€Christ€and€we€are€inÏChrist.€€We€uphold€the€law.Ìà 4 àThe€dietary€regulations,€New€Moon€celebrations€and€even€Sabbath€daysÏare€a€shadow.€€The€reality€is€in€Christ.€€ò ò"Therefore€let€no€one€act€as€your€judgeÐ Íy Ðin€regard€to€food€or€drink€or€in€respect€to€a€festival€or€a€new€moon€or€aÏsabbath€day„„things€which€are€a€mere€shadow€of€what€is€to€come;€but€theÏsubstance€belongs€to€Christ"ó ó€(Col.€2:16„17€NASB).€€The€law€is€type;€the€realityÐ Íy Ðand€experience€in€Christ€is€antitype.€€We€keep€the€antitype.€€Don't€be€confused.€ÏDon't€live€in€the€old€revelation.€€Live€in€that€which€God€wants€you€to€live€in.€€KnowÏwhere€you€fit€in.€€We€are€the€church€and€keep€the€law€in€antitype.€€We€areÏresponsible€to€lay€hold€of€the€greater€promises,€blessings€and€glory€of€the€NewÏCovenant.€€Jesus€paid€a€very€high€price€with€His€own€blood€for€us€to€be€able€to€doÏso.€€How€shall€we€escape€if€we€neglect€such€a€great€salvation€(Heb.€2:2)?Ìà 4 àWhen€a€Christian€begins€to€move€in€the€fulfillment€of€the€law€his€actionsÏmay€seem€to€be€unlawful.€€Just€as€an€airplane€in€flight€may€seem€to€contradict€theÏlaw€of€gravity,€so€a€person€walking€by€faith€may€seem€to€contradict€God's€laws.€ÏJesus€often€encountered€trouble€with€the€religious€leaders€because€they€soÏmisunderstood€His€actions.€€Even€His€mother€and€brothers€after€the€flesh€oftenÏfailed€to€see€that€what€Jesus€did€was€right.€€We€too€must€walk€by€faith€and€doÏGod's€will€in€spite€of€the€reactions€of€those€who€do€not€understand.€€ÌÌà@óó*óàˆÌÌÌÓ  ÓÐ 4,à$& ЇTO€WALK€AS€JESUS€WALKED¹Ó×ÓÌà 4 àWe€know€that€Jesus€in€his€entire€life€on€earth€never€sinned.€€Yet€there€areÏnarratives€in€the€Gospels€that€taken€at€face€value€make€it€appear€that€Jesus€brokeÏthe€law.€€This€is€because€of€our€limited€understanding€of€the€law€and€how€it€is€toÏbe€correctly€applied.€€Jesus€was€born€under€law€(Gal.€4:4),€and€He€was€the€onlyÏone€who€never€broke€it.€€Thus€He€was€the€only€one€who€ever€kept€man's€side€ofÏthe€Old€Covenant.€€Ìà 4 àConsider€how€Jesus€handled€the€following€situation.€€The€Pharisees€(whoÏkept€the€law€in€type€and€shadow)€were€shocked€because€Jesus'€disciples€wereÏpicking€heads€of€grain€on€the€Sabbath.€€Jesus€not€only€defended€the€disciples€butÏin€doing€so€he€cited€an€example€where€David€and€his€companions,€being€hungry,Ïate€the€consecrated€bread€that€was€not€lawful€for€them€to€eat.€€He€said€that€if€theyÏknew€the€meaning€of€ò ò"I€will€have€mercy,€and€not€sacrifice"ó ó€they€would€not€haveÐ ß‹  Ðcondemned€the€innocent€(Mt.€12:1„7).€€The€Pharisees€with€their€technical€analysisÏof€the€law€could€not€see€its€intent.€€They€didn't€realize€that€the€Sabbath€was€meantÏfor€man,€not€man€for€the€Sabbath.€€The€disciples€were€indeed€innocent.€€TheyÏweren't€guilty€of€breaking€the€Sabbath€commandment.€€Notice€that€in€defendingÏthe€disciples€Jesus€showed€that€David€was€innocent€in€a€similar€circumstanceÏwhere€it€looked€like€he€clearly€violated€the€law.€€Jesus€and€David€were€able€to€seeÏbeyond€the€command€to€the€heart€of€the€Father€who€gave€the€command.Ìà 4 àWe€must€€walk€in€the€fulfillment€of€the€law€requiring€rest€on€the€Sabbath.€ÏThe€Sabbath€in€type€is€merely€resting€from€physical€labor€one€day€in€seven.€€InÏantitype€it€is€entering€into€God's€rest,€the€Sabbath€rest€for€the€people€of€God€(Heb.Ï4:9).€€It€is€resting€from€our€own€work€(Heb.€4:10),€our€own€striving€to€do€good.€€InÏthis€state€of€rest€we€allow€God's€power€to€move€through€us€to€manifest€His€mercyÏto€mankind€all€seven€days€a€week.€€Jesus€said€ò ò"The€Son€can€do€nothing€ofÐ s  Ðhimself"ó ó€(Jn.€5:19).€€He€then€went€on€to€do€greater€things€than€any€man€had€everÐ s! Ðseen€as€He€walked€in€the€power€of€the€presence€of€God.€€Jesus'€work€was€notÏdone€out€of€His€self„life.€€Likewise€our€work€must€not€be€from€self.€€ò òó óÐ j# Ðà 4 àò ò"It€is€lawful€to€do€good€on€the€Sabbath"ó ó€(Mt.€12:12€NIV).€€Doing€goodÐ a$  Ðmeans€meeting€human€needs€and€restoring€God's€creation€by€God's€power.€ÏWhether€it€be€relieving€hunger€(Mt.€12:1)€or€rescuing€a€sheep€from€a€pit€(Mt.Ï12:11)€or€miraculously€restoring€a€withered€hand€(Mt.€12:9„13)€it€is€God's€workÏdone€through€us€as€we€cease€from€our€own€selfish€striving.€€All€things€are€doneÏonly€at€God's€leading€and€initiative€as€we€live€a€totally€selfless€life€before€Him.€ÏHonoring€the€Sabbath€is€not€doing€as€we€please€or€going€our€own€way€but€rather€itÏis€finding€our€joy€in€the€Lord€(Is.€58:13„14).€€A€man€is€never€happy€in€his€workÏunless€he€is€able€to€rest€in€his€work.€€Ð ",Î$& Ðà 4 àAnother€example€is€how€Jesus€fulfills€the€Jewish€High€Priesthood€evenÏthough€He€is€from€the€tribe€of€Judah.€€In€fact€the€book€of€Hebrews€was€written€toÏthe€Jews€to€show€them€that€the€law€is€not€nullified€but€rather€is€fulfilled€in€Christ.€ÏEven€the€sacred€day€of€atonement„„Yom€Kippur„„is€fulfilled€in€Christ.€€Thus€inÏChrist€we€uphold€the€law€of€priesthood€and€Yom€Kippur.€€It€should€come€as€noÏsurprise€that€even€moral€laws€such€as€ò ò"Do€not€commit€adultery,"€"Do€notÐ ' Ó Ðmurder,"€"Do€not€steal,"ó ó€and€ò ò"Do€not€covet,"ó ó€are€fulfilled€in€the€commandÐ ' Ó Ðò ò"Love€your€neighbor€as€yourself"ó ó€(Ro.€13:9€NIV).€€Not€only€do€we€not€kill€orÐ 'Ó Ðsteal€from€our€enemy€but€we€love€him,€bless€him€and€pray€for€him€(Lu.€6:27„28).€ÏThe€Old€Covenant€is€obsolete€(Heb.€8:13)€in€the€sense€that€we€don't€keep€it€in€aÏliteral€manner€but€nevertheless€it€is€still€relevant€to€our€walk€and€to€God's€plan€forÏthe€ages.Ìà 4 àThere€have€been€many€great€sermons€on€the€tabernacle€and€temple.€ÏThese€sermons€show€how€the€church€fulfills€the€temple€worship€down€to€theÏminutest€detail.€€Yet€on€the€surface€when€one€looks€at€our€informal€worshipÏservices€it€looks€like€the€ultimate€contradiction€and€contrast€to€the€Old€TestamentÏceremonies.€€We€keep€the€Old€Covenant€law€in€spiritual€substance€reality€byÏwalking€in€the€guidance€and€power€of€the€Holy€Spirit.€Ìà 4 àà ` àÌÓ  ÓTWO€EXTREMES€¹ÓÃèÓÌà 4 àThe€Old€Testament€is€like€a€coloring€book€that€a€father€would€give€to€hisÏlittle€boy.€€It€is€full€of€pictures€that€he€must€color€in€with€his€crayons.€€TheseÏpictures€tell€him€about€things€that€will€be€dynamically€real€and€experiential€parts€ofÏhis€life€when€he€grows€up.€€He€colors€in€pictures€of€a€car,€a€policeman,€a€tractor€orÏa€fire€truck.€€Legalistic€saints€are€like€little€boys€who€get€hold€of€the€coloring€bookÏand€by€coloring€in€the€fire€truck€come€to€the€false€conclusion€that€they€knowÏeverything€there€is€to€know€about€fire€trucks€and€firefighters.€€They€feel€obligatedÏto€totally€cease€from€all€work€on€the€Sabbath€and€in€doing€this€they€feel€that€theyÏreally€have€entered€into€God's€rest.Ìà 4 àThey€declare€to€the€world€that€they€do€the€deeds€of€Abraham€and€that€theyÏtherefore€are€his€children€and€are€overcomers.€€What€they€do€in€fact€obey€is€onlyÏthe€outward€form€of€righteousness€and€as€long€as€they€are€satisfied€with€this€typeÏand€shadow€they€will€never€move€into€the€fullness€of€reality€in€Christ.€€They€willÏremain€babes€and€not€grow€up€to€mature€sonship.€€If€they€are€trusting€in€theirÏkeeping€the€Old€Testament€standard€of€giving€10%€(tithing)€of€their€increase€toÏGod€they€will€never€know€what€it€means€to€come€to€the€cross€and€surrender€theirÏall€(100%)€to€God.€€If€they€try€to€please€God€by€resting€every€Saturday,€they€willÏnever€enter€into€the€true€sabbath€rest€that€remains€for€the€people€of€God.€€(Let€meÐ ,Å$& Ðclarify€that€for€a€person€to€voluntarily€rest€one€day€in€seven€is€not€legalism€but€it€isÏunscriptural€to€teach€that€we€are€òòobligatedóó€to€do€so.)Ð K÷ Ðà 4 àIn€our€consideration€of€the€importance€or€relevance€of€the€law€we€see€thatÏthere€are€two€extremes€to€be€avoided.€€On€the€one€hand€there€is€legalism€in€whichÏone€tries€to€live€in€the€type€and€shadow.€€On€the€other€hand€is€the€tendency€toÏjettison€the€Old€Testament€law€altogether,€not€seeing€that€every€Old€TestamentÏcommand€has€its€fulfillment€in€Christ€and€that€we€must€live€in€this€fulfillmentÏ(antitype)€reality.Ìà 4 àIn€Galatians€chapter€six€we€are€instructed€that€God€is€not€mocked;€what€aÏman€sows€he€reaps.€€If€he€sows€to€the€flesh€he€gets€corruption,€if€he€sows€to€theÏSpirit€he€gets€eternal€life.€€Thus,€there€is€a€cause€and€effect€relationship€regardingÏa€person's€behavior.€€This€cause€and€effect€relationship€is€governed€by€certainÏspiritual€principles€in€the€same€way€that€an€automobile€is€governed€by€certainÏmechanical€principles.€€For€instance,€ò ò"give,€and€it€shall€be€given€unto€you"ó ó€(Lu.Ð ß‹  Ð6:38)€is€a€Bible€principle€of€giving€and€receiving.€€If€a€man€sows€(gives)€he€willÏreap€(receive).€€There€is€great€blessing€in€flowing€in€loving€obedience.€€This€is€howÏwe€must€walk€in€the€Spirit.Ìà 4 àJesus€said€ò ò"If€you€love€Me,€you€will€keep€My€commandments"ó ó€(JohnÐ Äp Ð14:15€NASB).€€We€read€the€following€in€I€John€5:3€ò ò"For€this€is€the€love€of€God,Ð Äp Ðthat€we€keep€his€commandments:€€and€his€commandments€are€notÏgrievous."ó ó€€Ð Äp Ðà 4 àIndeed€we€uphold€or€establish€the€law€even€down€to€the€smallest€jot€orÏtittle€(Mt.€5:17„18).€€But€if€we€ignore€the€law,€cast€it€aside,€break€it€and€teachÏothers€to€break€it,€that€is€if€we€do€not€fulfill€the€law€we€shall€be€called€least€in€theÏkingdom€of€heaven€(Mt.€5:19).€€Sin€is€lawlessness€(I€Jn.€3:4).ÌÌà@  óàCONTRAST€BETWEEN€THE€GOSPELS€AND€THE€EPISTLESˆÌÌà 4 àDid€you€ever€notice€how€in€the€New€Testament€there€seems€to€be€such€aÏdifference€between€the€commands€of€Jesus€and€the€commands€of€the€apostles?€ÏJesus€seemed€to€make€such€impossible€demands€such€as€commanding€the€richÏyoung€ruler€to€sell€all€that€he€had€and€give€to€the€poor.€€What€did€the€apostle€PaulÏcommand€the€rich€to€do?€€In€I€Timothy€6:17„18€he€simply€commanded€them€to€notÏbe€conceited€and€that€they€be€generous€and€willing€to€share.€€Paul's€commandÏseems€very€mild€compared€to€such€sayings€of€Jesus€as€ò ò"woe€unto€you€that€areÐ O(û " Ðrich!...Woe€unto€you€that€are€full!€for€ye€shall€hunger"ó ó€(Luke€6:24„25)€and€ò ò"SellÐ O)û!# Ðthat€ye€have€and€give€alms"ó ó€(Luke€12:33).€€Ð O*û"$ Ðà 4 àLet's€look€at€examples€of€commands€of€Jesus€given€in€the€Gospels€andÏcontrast€them€with€commands€given€to€the€church€by€the€apostles.€€Jesus€said€inÐ F,ò$& ÐLuke€6:30€ò ò"Give€to€every€man€that€asketh€of€thee;€and€of€him€that€takethÐ T Ðaway€thy€goods€ask€them€not€again."ó ó€€Now€turn€to€the€fifth€chapter€of€FirstÐ T ÐTimothy€and€read€the€lengthy€instructions€written€by€Paul,€as€to€how€the€churchÏwas€to€support€or€not€support€widows€who€might€be€in€need€of€materialÏassistance.€€He€makes€it€clear€that€only€widows€that€are€"ò òwidows€indeedó ó"€(i.e.Ð B î Ðdestitute)€should€be€supported.€€He€also€indicates€that€widows€must€be€godly€andÏmeet€a€certain€age€requirement€in€order€to€be€eligible€for€support.€€Jesus€said€toÏgive€to€"ò òevery€manó ó"€whereas€Paul€said€give€only€to€ò òó ó"ò òwidows€indeedó ó."€€We€shallÐ 0Ü Ðsoon€see€that€there€is€good€reason€for€this€sharp€contrast€in€approaches€toÏChristian€giving.€€Also€in€this€vein€consider€the€impact€of€what€Paul€wrote€in€IIÏThes.€3:10:€ò ò"if€any€would€not€work,€neither€should€he€eat."ó óÐ Ê  Ðà 4 àAnother€example€of€the€contrast€between€Jesus€and€the€apostles€is€seenÏin€the€manner€in€which€ministry€is€to€be€supported.€€In€Matthew€10:9„10,€JesusÏsaid€ò ò"Provide€neither€gold,€nor€silver,€nor€brass€in€your€purses,€nor€scrip€forÐ  ¸  Ðyour€journey,€neither€two€coats,€neither€shoes,€nor€yet€staves:€€for€theÏworkman€is€worthy€of€his€meat."ó ó€€The€twelve€disciples,€thus€commanded,€wentÐ  ¸ Ðforth€to€preach€the€gospel€and€heal€the€sick€and€cast€out€demons.€€They€sufferedÏno€lack€of€material€goods€because€the€Lord€provided.€€They€did€not€take€moneyÏwith€them.€€By€contrast€we€see€that€Paul€the€apostle€often€worked€as€a€tentmakerÏto€support€his€ministry.€€So€we€see€that€even€Paul,€the€great€champion€of€the€faith,Ïwas€not€supported€solely€by€ministry€of€the€word.€€Paul€did€not€flow€in€the€sameÏdegree€of€supernatural€provision€as€did€Jesus€and€the€disciples.€€Furthermore,ÏPaul€even€asked€God's€people€for€money.€€In€the€Second€Epistle€to€theÏCorinthians€chapters€eight€and€nine€Paul€asks€for€money€from€the€Corinthians€toÏbe€taken€by€him€to€Judea€to€relieve€the€hardship€of€the€saints€there.€€Notice€thatÏPaul€was€directly€asking€the€people€of€God€rather€than€simply€relying€on€God€toÏlay€it€on€their€hearts€to€give€the€money.Ìà 4 àFor€a€further€illustration€of€this€contrast,€consider€that€when€Jesus€neededÏmoney€to€pay€His€taxes€He€simply€sent€Peter€to€the€bank.€€Which€bank?€€TheÏriverbank.€€He€said€to€Peter€that€the€first€fish€he€caught€would€have€a€coin€in€itsÏmouth€with€which€Peter€was€to€pay€both€his€own€tax€and€that€of€Jesus€(Mt.€17:27).€ÏThere€is€no€record€of€Jesus€ever€asking€people€for€money€to€support€His€ministry.€ÏThere€is€no€record€of€Jesus€ever€working€as€a€carpenter€or€any€other€trade€forÏsupport€during€the€time€of€His€public€ministry.€€Jesus€was€ministering€full€time€andÏtrusted€His€heavenly€Father€for€support.€€Paul,€who€both€asked€for€money€andÏworked€a€trade,€was€operating€in€a€lower€realm€of€spirituality€than€Jesus.€€This€isÏby€no€means€a€put„down€of€Paul€and€the€other€apostles.€€The€apostles€were€greatÏmen€who€taught€the€word€of€God€and€are€fine€examples€for€us€all.€€The€purpose€ofÏthis€study€is€to€gain€new€insights€into€the€ministry€of€Jesus€by€contrasting€it€withÐ F,ò$& Ðthat€of€the€apostles.€€It€is€not€meant€to€detract€from€either€Jesus€or€the€apostles.€€Ìà 4 àConsider€also€the€matter€of€health€and€healing.€€Can€you€ever€imagineÏJesus€going€to€see€a€doctor€to€get€a€prescription€to€take€to€get€over€an€illness?€ÏYet€this€is€what€many€preachers€do€in€this€hour„„even€preachers€who€feelÏapprehended€for€the€higher€call.€€I€do€not€spite€them€for€this.€€Can€you€imagineÏJesus€leaving€one€of€His€disciples€sick€at€Miletus€as€Paul€did€with€TrophimusÏaccording€to€II€Tim.€4:20?€€Would€not€a€man€moving€in€the€perfect€kingdom€realmÏof€power€have€immediately€raised€up€Trophimus€to€perfect€health?Ìà 4 àDid€you€ever€wonder€why€Paul€seldom€quoted€Jesus?€€Why€didn't€PaulÏsimply€repeat€what€Jesus€said€and€make€it€the€standard€of€doctrine€and€practiceÏfor€the€church?€€I€believe€that€the€answers€to€these€questions€will€reveal€to€us€theÏkey€as€to€how€we€are€to€understand€and€obey€the€ethical€commands€of€the€NewÏTestament.€€Those€who€fail€to€see€the€contrast€between€the€commands€of€theÏGospels€and€the€Epistles€will€teach€a€mixture€of€perfection€and€part€and€will€beÏconfused.€€Furthermore€they€will€feel€condemned€when€they€fall€short€of€perfectionÏand€will€not€understand€why€they€fall€short.Ìà 4 àLet€us€explore€the€reasons€for€the€obvious€contrast€between€theÏcommands€of€Jesus€and€the€commands€given€through€Paul.€€Before€his€departure,ÏJesus€spoke€of€a€change€in€the€program€for€His€disciples.€€Previously€they€hadÏflowed€in€the€supernatural€provision€of€the€kingdom€of€God;€now€they€would€haveÏto€provide€certain€things€for€themselves€and€even€buy€swords.€€Consider€theÏwords€of€Jesus€in€Luke€22:35„36:€€ò ò"When€I€sent€you€without€purse,€and€scrip,Ð —C Ðand€shoes,€lacked€ye€any€thing?€€And€they€said,€Nothing.€€Then€said€he€untoÏthem,€But€now,€he€that€hath€a€purse,€let€him€take€it,€and€likewise€his€scrip:€Ïand€he€that€hath€no€sword,€let€him€sell€his€garment,€and€buy€one."ó óÐ —C Ðà 4 àHere€we€see€a€transition.€€This€was€at€the€very€end€of€Jesus'€earthlyÏministry.€€He€was€about€to€leave€them€and€go€to€Calvary€to€die€and€then€be€raisedÏfrom€the€dead€and€afterwards€ascend€into€heaven.€€When€Jesus€was€with€theÏdisciples,€they€flowed€in€the€perfect€realm€of€the€kingdom„„the€100„fold€realm.€ÏJesus€said€in€John€8:12€ò ò"I€am€the€light€of€the€world:€€he€that€followeth€me€shallÐ s# Ðnot€walk€in€darkness,€but€shall€have€the€light€of€life."ó ó€€Also€in€John€9:4„5€ò ò"IÐ s$ Ðmust€work€the€works€of€him€that€sent€me,€while€it€is€day:€€the€night€cometh,Ïwhen€no€man€can€work.€€As€long€as€I€am€in€the€world€I€am€the€light€of€theÏworld."ó ó€€And€again€in€John€12:35€ò ò"Yet€a€little€while€is€the€light€with€you.€€WalkÐ s' ! Ðwhile€ye€have€the€light,€lest€darkness€come€upon€you:€€for€he€that€walketh€inÏdarkness€knoweth€not€whither€he€goeth."ó ó€€While€Jesus€was€with€them€theÐ s)"# Ðdisciples€moved€in€kingdom€power€and€kingdom€authority.€€When€the€light€(Jesus)Ïleft€this€earth€the€dark€ages€came.€€The€church€was€and€still€is€not€able€to€live€upÏto€the€kingdom€commandments€of€Jesus€found€in€the€Gospels.Ð a, %& Ðà 4 àOur€hearts€are€hard.€€We€have€not€yet€come€to€full€salvation€for€spirit,€soulÏand€body.€€Though€our€spirits€are€fully€saved€our€souls€are€still€only€in€the€processÏof€being€saved.€€Our€bodies€are€still€carnal€and€corrupt€and€we€look€forward€to€theÏresurrection€when€our€bodies€shall€be€saved.€€Therefore€since€we€are€not€yet€fullyÏsaved€God€makes€an€allowance€for€this€in€that€the€commands€given€in€the€EpistlesÏare€not€as€strict€as€the€commands€of€Jesus€given€in€the€Gospels.Ìà 4 àEven€in€the€time€before€Jesus€under€the€law€of€Moses€this€situationÏexisted.€€In€Matthew€19€when€Jesus€was€asked€about€divorce€Jesus€said€that€itÏwas€because€of€the€òòhardness€of€their€heartsóó€that€Moses€òòallowedóó€them€to€put€awayÐ  ¸ Ðtheir€wives.€€He€said€that€God's€plan€from€the€beginning,€which€perhaps€could€beÏcalled€God's€perfect€will,€was€that€there€be€no€divorce€at€all€and€so€any€divorceÏand€remarriage€would€necessarily€be€considered€adultery.€€God€through€MosesÏdid€not€command€the€people€to€live€up€to€His€perfect€will€but€made€an€allowanceÏfor€their€weakness.€€There€is€much€debate€in€the€church€about€whether€or€not€it€isÏwithin€God's€acceptable€(as€opposed€to€perfect)€will€for€a€divorced€person€toÏremarry.€€Some€would€point€to€what€Paul€wrote€in€First€Corinthians€seven€asÏgrounds€to€permit€remarriage€but€I€choose€not€to€delve€into€this€issue€for€now.Ìà 4 àBefore€Jesus€left€this€earth€He€told€His€disciples€that€He€would€not€leaveÏthem€as€orphans.€€Shortly€after€the€ascension€of€Jesus€the€Holy€Spirit€was€pouredÏout€with€power€on€the€day€of€Pentecost.€€With€all€of€this€power,€why€then€is€theÏchurch€so€weak€and€hard„hearted?€€In€the€final€analysis€the€church€really€doesÏhave€no€excuse.€€The€church€is€weak€because€she€does€not€appropriate€theÏblessings€of€the€New€Covenant€by€active€faith.€€Jesus€often€rebuked€the€disciplesÏfor€their€hardness€of€heart,€slowness€to€understand€and€little€faith€(Mt.€16:8„11).€€IfÏthe€disciples€were€so€hard„hearted€and€faithless€how€come€they€were€flowing€inÏkingdom€power?€€The€answer€is€that€they€had€Jesus€with€them€in€the€flesh€uponÏwhom€the€Spirit€is€given€without€measure.€€They€had€the€immediate€benefit€ofÏJesus'€prayer€life€and€His€faith€on€their€behalf.€€Now€however,€the€church€does€notÏhave€Jesus€present€in€His€physical€body.€€Jesus€said€ò ò"The€days€will€come,€whenÐ X" Ðye€shall€desire€to€see€one€of€the€days€of€the€Son€of€man,€and€ye€shall€not€seeÏit"ó ó€(Luke€17:22).€€Jesus€was€perfect,€He€was€fully€mature€in€kingdom€life;€and€thisÐ X$ Ðis€why€He€and€His€disciples€flowed€in€perfect€kingdom€power.€€The€church€will€notÏflow€in€perfect€kingdom€power€until€a€firstfruit€company€of€sons€of€God€is€come€toÏfull€maturity,€ò ò"unto€the€measure€of€the€stature€of€the€fullness€of€Christ"ó ó€(Eph.Ð F'ò! Ð4:13).€€When€this€scripture€is€come€to€pass€then€the€kingdom€of€God€is€trulyÏarrived€and€we€will€be€a€people€of€perfect€holiness€and€power.€€Thus€shall€theÏdark€ages€end€and€the€powers€of€darkness€recede.Ìà 4 àThe€firstfruit€company€of€sons€of€God€is€the€overcomer€company.€€God€isÏcalling€certain€of€His€people€to€seek€the€high€calling„„to€be€overcomers.€€What€weÐ ",Î$& Ðmust€first€overcome€is€the€€self„life.€€This€is€accomplished€by€the€cross€of€ChristÏapplied€to€the€soul€realm.€€Jesus€as€a€trailblazer€made€a€way€for€us€so€that€weÏmay€join€Him€in€His€death€and€also€in€His€resurrection.€€It€is€only€in€dying€that€weÏare€set€free€from€sin.€€ò ò"For€he€that€is€dead€is€freed€from€sin"ó ó€(Rom.€6:7).€€In€thisÐ 9 å Ðway€we€must€deny€our€self„lives,€that€hard€heart€that€refuses€to€do€God's€perfectÏwill.€€We€must€fully€experience€the€death€of€the€soul„self€at€the€cross€to€be€raisedÏanew€to€the€victorious€life.€€Ìà 4 àIt€is€when€we€enter€this€superlative€100„fold€realm€that€we€are€able€toÏconsistently€flow€in€the€Spirit€to€keep€the€kingdom€commands€in€the€Gospels.€€IÏrealize€that€even€now€in€this€age€we€are€able€to€flow€in€the€Spirit€to€some€degreeÏand€are€able€to€give€to€any€that€ask€of€us€and€go€the€extra€mile€but€what€GodÏdesires€is€a€100%€consistent,€effective,€radical€obedience€to€the€commands€ofÏJesus.€€Most€people€in€the€church€who€diligently€try€to€keep€the€stricter€commandsÏof€the€Gospels€do€so€legalistically.€€They€may€go€the€extra€mile€outwardly€butÏinwardly€they€are€burning€with€resentment.€€The€commands€of€Jesus€can€be€keptÏto€the€fullest€only€when€one€is€flowing€in€the€Spirit.€€To€try€to€live€by€them€in€theÏflesh€is€like€trying€to€steer€a€car€when€it's€standing€still.Ìà 4 àThink€of€the€more€lax€commands€of€the€Epistles€as€training€wheels€to€beÏused€as€our€guide€until€we€flow€fully€in€the€Spirit.€€I€do€not€degrade€the€Epistles„„¼they€are€precious€truth€and€deep€insight€into€the€heart€of€God;€but€we€shall€goÏbeyond€their€less€strict€commands€unto€perfect€obedience€to€Jesus€in€our€fullÏmaturity.€€When€we€are€guided€by€the€commands€of€the€Epistles€today€we€areÏobedient€to€Jesus€in€measure.€€When€we€come€to€full€stature€we€shall€be€obedientÏto€the€commands€of€Jesus€in€fullness.Ìà 4 àMany€in€the€church€presume€that€they€have€no€need€of€the€training€wheelsÏand€say€that€the€sayings€of€Jesus€carry€more€authority€than€those€of€the€apostles.€ÏThey€make€the€commands€of€the€Gospels€their€standard€of€everyday€life€andÏconduct.€€They€say€it€is€wrong€to€turn€down€anyone€who€asks€for€money€no€matterÏwhat€the€circumstances.€€They€say€it's€wrong€for€a€Christian€to€ever€resist€evil€orÏdefend€himself.€€They€say€it's€wrong€for€anyone€to€raise€funds€by€making€the€needÏknown€to€the€people.€€Thus€they€move€in€presumption€and€assume€that€they€areÏable€to€flow€in€God's€perfect€will.€€They€expect€the€whole€church€to€maintain€thisÏstandard€and€anyone€who€does€not€is€said€to€have€fallen€short.€€They€fail€toÏrealize€that€in€our€present€state€of€immaturity€the€whole€church€on€earth€has€by€itsÏvery€nature€fallen€short€of€God's€perfect€will.€€The€Epistles€take€this€into€accountÏand€put€no€great€burden€on€us.€€The€Epistles€are€by€no€means€lax€or€liberal€butÏthey€for€the€most€part€express€God's€good€and€acceptable€will€rather€than€HisÏperfect€will.€€God€will€lead€us€into€the€perfect€in€the€fullness€of€time.€€For€now€weÏmust€sell€our€cloak€and€buy€a€sword,€buy€and€sell€until€we€can€by€faith€give€andÏreceive,€resist€evil€until€we€can€flow€in€spiritual€creative€non„resistance€and€go€toÐ þ,ª%' Ðthe€doctor€until€we€by€faith€can€walk€in€divine€health.Ìà 4 àWe€have,€for€the€most€part,€left€the€commands€of€the€Sermon€of€the€MountÏ"up€on€the€mount."€€We€have€seen€how€far€short€we€had€fallen€when€we€relied€onÏself€to€keep€these€commands.€€We€see€the€sinfulness€of€our€souls€and€we€turn€toÏGod€for€soul€salvation€in€which€we€are€brought€into€experiential€knowledge€ofÏcrucifixion€with€Christ.€€We€lay€down€our€soul„lives€unto€death€with€Christ€and€areÏraised€from€the€dead€to€go€"up€on€the€mount"€to€keep€the€commands€in€victory.€ÏThis€is€how€the€kingdom€of€God€is€brought€to€fullness€in€our€souls.Ìà 4 àLet's€look€at€a€true€life€story€to€see€an€example€of€the€damage€thatÏidealistic€presumption€can€cause.€€Some€years€ago€in€the€midwestern€UnitedÏStates€there€was€a€church€with€a€prominent€leader€that€taught€his€people€that€itÏwas€not€God's€will€for€them€to€go€to€the€doctor€when€sick.€€The€people€were€taughtÏthat€it€was€God's€will€to€heal€His€people€and€that€to€go€to€the€doctor€was€to€exhibitÏunbelief.€€They€were€trying€to€flow€in€God's€perfect€plan€of€divine€health.€€TheyÏwere€not€led€of€the€Holy€Spirit€in€this€matter€but€rather€by€their€own€carnalÏreasoning.€€They€assumed€that€God€would€heal€them€if€they€cast€themselves€intoÏHis€care€in€this€way.€€But€God's€way€is€faith€not€presumption.€€Over€time€many€ofÏthe€members€did€become€sick€and€some€died€for€lack€of€medical€attention.€€TheÏauthorities€tried€to€force€them€to€get€help€but€the€people€resisted€on€the€ground€ofÏfreedom€of€religion.€€The€resulting€publicity€and€outcry€brought€reproach€on€theÏchurch.€€The€leader€of€that€religious€group€himself€also€became€ill€and€died.€€TheÏabove€is€an€extreme€example;€but€we€must€realize€that€many€of€God's€people,Ïperhaps€most,€maintain€a€naive€idealism€in€one€area€or€another.Ìà 4 àAm€I€saying€that€at€the€present€time€that€absolutely€no€one€among€God'sÏpeople€is€flowing€in€divine€health?€€Of€course€not.€€There€are€certain€individuals€inÏthe€body€of€Christ€who€are€able€to€move€in€mature€spirituality€in€one€or€more€areasÏof€their€lives.€€Some€people€have€a€gift€of€God€(or€call€it€a€mature€enough€faith)€soÏthat€they€really€don't€ever€have€to€go€to€the€doctor.€€Some€Christians€in€theÏministry€have€a€mature€enough€faith€in€regard€to€finances€so€that€they€never€makeÏtheir€needs€known€to€people.€€I€know€of€a€young€couple€who€quit€their€jobs€toÏserve€the€Lord€full€time€and€simply€trusted€God€to€supply€their€needs.€€The€moneyÏcame€in€without€their€ever€having€to€ask€people€for€help.€€George€Muller,€the€wellÏknown€orphanage€headmaster€of€19th€century€England,€also€operated€this€way.€ÏWhat€I€find€is€that€the€person€who€lives€in€divine€health€and€doesn't€have€to€go€toÏthe€doctor€is€one€who€has€to€ask€people€for€money€to€support€his€ministry.€€TheÏperson€who€simply€trusts€God€to€supply€the€money€and€never€has€to€ask€people€isÏone€who€goes€to€the€doctor€when€he€is€sick.€€None€of€us€move€in€the€realm€ofÏperfection€in€all€areas.€€To€quote€a€popular€Christian€song:€€"No€one€of€us€has€gotÏit€all€together€but€all€of€us€together€got€it€all."€€ÌÐ õ,¡%' Ðà@  óàFLOWING€IN€THE€POWER€OF€THE€HOLY€SPIRITˆÌÌà 4 àIn€times€of€revival,€genuine€Holy€Spirit€revival,€the€church€tends€to€flow€inÏthe€realm€of€God's€perfect€will€in€a€greater€way.€€Jesus€said€that€He€is€the€light€ofÏthe€world.€€When€the€light€of€the€world€went€away€the€dark€ages€came.€ÏNevertheless€even€in€these€dark€ages€there€are€precious€times€of€revival.€€TheseÏare€the€times€of€refreshing€that€come€from€the€presence€of€the€Lord€mentioned€inÏActs€3:19.€€Shafts€of€light€break€through€from€heaven.€€In€times€of€revival€miraclesÏof€healing€are€in€abundance.€€The€people€of€God€joyfully€and€freely€give€to€supportÏthe€work€of€ministry.€€People€hear€from€God€and€give€as€God€directs.€€What€do€weÏdo€when€it€is€not€a€time€of€revival?€€How€can€we€float€our€boat€when€the€tide€isÏout?Ìà 4 àFor€an€illustration€of€how€we€are€to€obey€New€Testament€commands€let'sÏlook€at€an€imaginary€vehicle:€€the€car„plane.€€The€car„plane€is€a€car€that€has€wingsÏso€that€in€addition€to€highway€travel€it€can€fly€like€a€plane.€€Now€this€amazingÏvehicle€has€an€owner's€manual€that€fully€explains€how€it€must€be€operated.€€TheÏowner's€manual€has€two€sets€of€instructions:€€one€set€for€flying€and€the€other€setÏfor€driving.€€Now€imagine€a€married€couple€driving€the€car„plane€down€the€highwayÏwith€the€husband€at€the€wheel€and€his€wife€seated€next€to€him€reading€the€owner'sÏmanual.€€They're€driving€on€the€road€but€she€reads€from€the€part€of€the€owner'sÏmanual€that€explains€how€to€operate€the€vehicle€when€it's€flying€through€the€air.€ÏThey€see€a€hill€just€ahead€and€she€says€"raise€wing€flaps€to€gain€altitude."€€TheyÏride€up€and€over€the€hill€not€realizing€that€it€wasn't€the€wing€flap€adjustment€thatÏbrought€them€over€but€rather€it€was€the€wheels€rolling€up€the€hill€that€did€it.€€NowÏas€they€rush€down€hill€on€the€other€side€toward€a€curve€she€reads€the€instructionsÏon€how€to€turn€in€the€air.€€She€says€"adjust€wing€flaps€to€€bank€to€the€right"€andÏ"swing€tail€flap€to€foil€on€the€right€side."€€The€husband€follows€these€instructionsÏbut€the€car€doesn't€seem€to€be€turning€at€all.€€Finally€he€frantically€grabs€theÏsteering€wheel€and€turns€the€front€wheels€to€the€right€and€the€car„plane€safelyÏrounds€the€curve.Ìà 4 àI€hope€this€simple€example€shows€us€that€in€order€to€benefit€from€theÏoperation€of€wing€flaps€and€tail€rudder€we€must€first€get€the€vehicle€into€the€air.€ÏHow€foolish€we€have€been!€€We€try€to€operate€the€commands€of€the€Spirit€withoutÏfirst€getting€in€the€Spirit.€€Let's€get€into€the€Spirit,€and€we€will€flow€in€overcoming,Ïvictorious€life.€€We€have€an€owner's€manual€with€two€sets€of€instructions:€€GospelsÏand€Epistles.€€In€the€New€Testament€Jesus€proclaimed€the€kingdom€of€GodÏwhereas€Paul€was€establishing€the€church.€€I€realize€that€the€church€and€theÏkingdom€are€inseparable€but€keep€in€mind€that€when€Paul€wrote€his€epistles€theÏchurch€was€just€a€babe€and€even€to€this€day€it€has€not€yet€fully€grown€up.Ìà 4 àIn€Romans€12:2€we€are€instructed€to€be€transformed€by€the€renewing€ofÐ õ,¡%' Ðour€minds€in€order€to€ò ò"prove€what€is€that€good,€and€acceptable,€and€perfect,Ð T Ðwill€of€God."ó ó€€Does€God€have€three€wills:€€good,€acceptable€and€perfect?€€No,Ð T ÐGod€has€one€will€but€His€will€for€us€is€triune€or€three€faceted.€€Let€me€give€anÏillustration€of€how€one€will€can€have€more€than€one€facet.€€A€man€has€only€oneÏwill,€nevertheless€this€man's€will€for€his€son,€that€is€what€he€wants€his€son€to€growÏup€to€be€and€do,€is€very€different€from€his€will€for€his€daughter.€€This€man€willsÏsomething€entirely€different€for€his€pet€dog.€€He€wills€something€different€also€forÏhis€car.€€The€man€has€one€will€but€different€manifestations€of€it€for€different€people,Ïanimals€and€things.€€This€same€man's€will€for€what€his€son€should€be€doing€at€ageÏten€is€different€from€what€he€wills€for€his€son€at€age€twenty.€€In€the€same€way€GodÏhas€one€will€but€different€manifestations€of€it,€different€plans,€for€different€people€atÏdifferent€levels€of€maturity.€€God's€ultimate€goal€for€His€sons€is€that€they€shall€beÏperfect.€€As€Paul€put€it:€€ò ò"Till€we€all€come...unto€a€perfect€man"ó ó€(Eph.€4:13).€€AsÐ ú¦  ÐJesus€commanded€us:€€ò ò"Be€ye€therefore€perfect,€even€as€your€Father€which€isÐ ú¦  Ðin€heaven€is€perfect"ó ó€(Mt.€5:48).€€We€shall€go€beyond€the€good€and€acceptableÐ ú¦  Ðand€enter€into€the€perfect€will€of€God.€€In€I€Peter€1:16€we€are€commanded€ò ò"Be€yeÐ ú¦ Ðholy;€for€I€am€holy."€€ó óIt€says€"Be€holy"€not€"Do€holy."€€Most€of€us€strive€in€our€fleshÐ ú¦ Ðto€do€holy€works€rather€than€draw€close€to€God€so€that€we€trust€Him€to€make€usÏholy.€€When€we€have€been€changed€to€be€holy€on€the€inside,€then€doing€holyÏworks€won't€be€a€problem.€€Holy€doing€flows€from€holy€being.ò òó óÐ è” Ðà 4 àI€realize€that€it€is€sin€to€come€short€of€God's€perfect€will.€€ò ò"All€have€sinned,Ð ß‹ Ðand€come€short€of€the€glory€of€God"ó ó€(Romans€3:23).€€The€way€to€remedy€this€isÐ ß‹ Ðnot€legalistic€striving€or€self„condemnation€but€rather€ò ò"through€the€Spirit€òòwaitóó€forÐ ß‹ Ðthe€hope€of€righteousness€by€faith"ó ó€(Gal.€5:5).€€This€is€an€exhortation€to€drawÐ ß‹ Ðclose€to€God€so€that€our€good€works€might€be€worked€in€God€rather€than€self.€€IÏwould€remind€the€reader€that€God€loves€us€and€accepts€us€right€where€we€are.€€InÏLeviticus€23:17€we€read€that€the€wave€loaves€of€the€feast€of€Pentecost€were€to€beÏbaked€with€leaven.€€Leaven€is€a€symbol€of€sin.€€God€accepts€leavened€PentecostalÏloaves!€€Yes,€God€accepts€us€as€we€are;€but€He€will€not€leave€us€in€our€presentÏstate.€€He€shall€perfect€us!€€ò ò"The€LORD€will€perfect€that€which€concerneth€me"ó óÐ ²#^ Ð(Ps.€138:8).€€ò ò"Commit€thy€way€unto€the€LORD;€trust€also€in€him;€and€he€shallÐ ²$^ Ðbring€it€to€pass.€€And€he€shall€bring€forth€thy€righteousness€as€the€light,€andÏthy€judgment€as€the€noonday"ó ó€(Ps.€37:5„6).Ð ²&^  Ðà 4 àWe€have€seen€that€we€must€eschew€legalistic€striving.€€Yet€we€must€alsoÏavoid€the€pitfall€of€antinomianism.€€We€must€wait€upon€the€Lord.€€We€must€entwineÏwith€Him€(Isaiah€40:31).€€We€must€learn€to€flow€with€God's€Spirit.€€To€do€this€weÏmust€first€lay€down€the€self„life.€€By€God's€grace€we€must€practice€self„denial€byÏtaking€up€the€cross€daily.ÌÐ …,1%& Ðà 4 àÌà 4 àà ` àÌà@ÃÃ%óàCHAPTER€IIˆÌÌà@77óàLAYING€DOWN€THE€SELF„LIFEˆÌÌÌà 4 àOur€God€who€caused€light€to€shine€out€of€darkness,€life€to€come€from€theÏgrave,€exaltation€to€come€from€humility€and€strength€to€come€out€of€ourÏweaknesses€has€decreed€that€true€discipleship€and€overcoming€life€come€fromÏself„denial.€€Often€touted€as€a€virtue€and€more€often€misunderstood,€self„denial€isÏnevertheless€crucial€and€central€to€Jesus'€teachings€on€discipleship.€€Often€weÏrefer€to€all€born€again€believers€as€"disciples"€but€Jesus€said,€ò ò"...whosoever€dothÐ è”  Ðnot€bear€his€cross€and€come€after€me,€cannot€be€my€disciple"ó ó€(Lu€14:27).€€AreÐ è”  Ðall€Christians€disciples€in€this€sense?€€Do€all€carry€their€cross?€€Do€all€realize€thatÏlife€comes€from€€death€and€that€victory€comes€as€a€result€of€the€work€of€the€crossÏin€our€lives?Ìà 4 àAdmonitions€to€denial€of€self€and€carrying€the€cross€appear€in€all€fourÏGospels€as€a€prerequisite€to€discipleship.€€The€references€are€as€follows:€€Mt.Ï10:38„39;€16:24„26;€Mk.€8:34„35;€Lu.€9:23„25;€14:26„27;€l7:33;€Jn.€12:24„26.€€Let'sÏlook€at€these€commands€as€a€step„by„step€process.Ìà 4 àÌà 4 àò ò"If€any€man€willó óÐ  L Ðà 4 à1)€ò òcome€after€me,€let€himó óÐ  L Ðà 4 à2)€ò òdeny€himself,€andó óÐ  L Ðà 4 à3)€ò òtake€up€his€cross€daily...if€any€manó óÐ  L Ðà 4 à4)€ò òserve€me,€him€willó óÐ   L Ðà 4 à5)€ò òmy€father€honor."ó ó€(Lu€9:23;€Jn.€12:26)ÓÌ ÓÐ  !L ÐÓÓà 4 àThe€process€begins€with€coming€after€(following)€Jesus€and€ends€withÏbeing€honored€by€the€Father.€€Many€€sincere€believers€are€following€Jesus€butÏdon't€take€the€step€of€denying€self€and€taking€up€the€cross€daily.€€Without€this€stepÏit's€impossible€to€serve€Jesus€in€the€proper€spiritual€manner.€€Thus€the€service€thatÏthese€believers€render€is€not€acceptable€to€Jesus€and€will€not€result€in€their€beingÏhonored€by€the€Father.€€Because€they€did€not€deny€themselves€and€did€notÏcontinue€in€the€state€of€self„denial€(by€taking€up€the€cross€daily)€their€service€toÏGod€came€out€of€the€unregenerate€self„life.€€Anything€done€by€the€old€nature€isÏabomination€unto€God.€€The€only€service€that€the€old€nature€can€muster€isÏlegalistic€fleshly€striving.€€We€know€from€the€last€chapter€the€dreadfulness€of€theÏpitfall€of€legalism.ò òó óÐ À,l%' Ðà 4 àIn€addition€to€the€Gospel€passages€mentioned€above,€the€same€conceptsÏabout€self„denial€appear€in€the€Epistles,€particularly€in€the€writings€of€the€apostleÏPaul.€€Here€is€a€partial€list€of€passages€where€this€great€truth€appears:€€Ro.€6:1„¼13;€12:1„2;€Gal.€2:20;€Eph.€4:22„24;€Col.€3:9„10.€€Paul€uses€some€differentÏterminology€in€his€teaching€on€self„denial.€€We€will€explore€in€depth€later€on€theÏexact€reason€for€the€different€terminology.€€Paul€gives€us€a€different€perspectiveÏon€the€subject.€His€words€when€studied€alongside€Jesus'€commands€shed€greatÏlight€on€the€concept€of€self„denial.Ìà 4 àSonship,€with€all€its€glory,€power€and€mission€both€in€this€age€and€in€theÏages€to€come€can€all€be€summed€up€in€this€one€thing:€€the€acquiring€of€a€perfectÏChristlike€self.€€Therefore,€as€we€desire€to€grow€up€unto€full€stature€and€haveÏChrist€formed€within€us,€it€is€with€some€foreboding€that€we€view€self„denial.€€WeÏdon't€want€to€deny€self„„we€want€to€perfect€self!€€But€we€must€tear€down€before€HeÏcan€build€us€up.€€The€old€self€must€die€first.€€There€must€be€a€death€if€there€is€toÏbe€a€resurrection.€€We€must€walk€through€the€valley€before€we€can€climb€theÏmountain.ÌÌà@óàSOUL„LIFE€TO€BE€DENIEDˆÌÌà 4 àWe€must€correctly€understand€the€definition€of€self€in€order€to€have€anyÏcomprehension€of€self„denial.€€Self€is€a€very€broad€term€and€is€often€used€veryÏloosely.€€Though€self€is€often€used€to€describe€the€whole€man,€for€our€purposes€itÏwill€be€used€to€describe€the€soul€of€an€individual.€€According€to€I€Thes.€5:23,€manÏis€composed€of€three€parts:€€spirit,€soul€and€body.€€The€soul€is€the€organ€whichÏjoins€or€connects€the€spirit€to€the€body.€€The€soul€is€composed€of€the€mind,Ïemotions,€will,€desires€and€affections€among€other€attributes.€€In€Jesus'€teachingÏon€self„denial,€the€Greek€word€"Psuche"€(Pronounced€"sue„KAY")€is€translatedÏ"life"€in€such€statements€as€"ò òHe€that€loveth€his€òòlifeóó€shall€lose€it;€and€he€thatÐ 8 ä Ðhateth€his€òòóóòòlifeóóòòóó€in€this€world€shall€keep€it."ó ó€€This€Greek€word€"psuche,"€which€isÐ ,!Ø Ðtranslated€"life"€is€also€translated€"soul"€in€other€passages.€€Psuche€refers€to€theÏnatural€soul€life€common€to€all€men,€whereas€"zoe"€(another€word€translated€"life")Ïrefers€to€the€everlasting€life€of€our€reborn€spirit.€€The€Greek€word€"zoe"€isÏpronounced€"zoh„ee."€€In€addition€to€this,€we€shall€see€by€many€scripturalÏindications€that€it€is€the€soul€realm€life€that€must€be€laid€down.ÌÌà@ë ë óàREGENERATION€OF€THE€SPIRITˆÌÌà 4 àOur€reborn€spirit€is€already€redeemed.€€Colossians€l:13€says€that€GodÏò ò"hath€translated€us€into€the€kingdom€of€his€dear€Son."ó ó€€II€Cor.€5:17€says€thatÐ l*#& Ðwe€are€a€new€creation€now,€that€old€things€have€passed€away€and€all€things€areÏrenewed€or€made€new.€€This€puts€salvation€for€the€spirit€in€past€tense.€€We€are€theÐ L,ø$( Ðnew€creation€man€now€in€the€spirit.€€We€entered€beyond€the€veil€in€Christ€in€theÏspirit€on€the€day€that€we€got€saved.€€Our€reborn€spirit€is€already€a€son€of€GodÏbecause€of€faith€in€Christ€Jesus€(Gal.€3:26).€€Our€reborn€spirit€already€hasÏeverlasting€zoe€life€and€cannot€sin.€€ò ò"He€cannot€sin€because€he€is€born€of€God"ó óÐ  Ä Ð(I€Jn.€3:9).€€ò ò"Whosoever€is€born€of€God€sinneth€not"ó ó€(I€Jn.€5:18).Ð  ¸ Ðà 4 àOur€spirit€man€is€the€highest€level€of€our€personality.€€Only€the€spirit€manÏcan€directly€commune€with€God.€€John€4:24€says€that€God€is€Spirit€and€that€weÏmust€worship€Him€in€spirit€and€in€truth.€€Our€spirit€must€rule€over€the€soul€andÏbody.€€The€soul€and€body€are€organs€to€be€used€to€do€the€spirit's€bidding.€€AnÏindividual€who€lives€by€his€spirit,€with€his€spirit€in€control€of€his€faculties€is€aÏspiritual€man€and€walks€a€spiritual€walk.€€He€lives€by€zoe€life.€€His€spirit€communesÏwith€and€is€led€by€the€Holy€Spirit€of€God.Ìà 4 àMost€Christians,€however,€are€not€spiritual.€€They€have€allowed€theÏunregenerate,€sensual€soul€to€stifle€their€spirit€so€that€they€are€hardly€even€awareÏof€the€Holy€Spirit's€promptings.€€They€also€pay€great€attention€to€the€carnal€lustsÏand€urges€of€the€body,€living€by€feelings€rather€than€by€faith.€€God's€order€isÏreversed,€becoming€body„soul„spirit.€€In€order€to€return€to€the€scriptural€order€ofÏspirit„soul„body,€the€soul€and€body€have€to€be€dealt€with.€ÌÌà@óàREGENERATION€OF€THE€BODYˆÌÌà 4 àThe€redemption€of€the€spirit€is€past€tense€(for€those€of€us€who€are€bornÏagain)€whereas€the€redemption€of€the€body€is€future.€€Our€bodies€are€not€yetÏpassed€beyond€the€veil.€€("Passing€beyond€the€veil"€is€imagery€€taken€from€the€OldÏTestament€Temple.€€It€means€to€enter€the€Holy€of€Holies€where€the€manifestÏpresence€of€God€dwelt.€€To€do€this€means€to€acquire€experiential€perfectionÏbecause€no€sin€or€corruption€can€dwell€in€God's€presence.)€€Philippians€3:20„21Ïsays€that€we€eagerly€wait€for€the€Savior€from€heaven,€the€Lord€Jesus€Christ€whoÏwill€ò ò"transform€our€lowly€bodies€so€that€they€will€be€like€his€glorious€body"ó óÐ 4!à Ð(NIV).Ìà 4 àRomans€8:19€says€that€the€whole€creation€waits€eagerly€for€theÏmanifestations€of€the€sons€of€God.€€Then€down€in€verse€23€it€says€that€weÏourselves€ò ò"wait€eagerly€for€our€adoption€as€sons,€the€redemption€of€ourÐ ì$˜  Ðbodies"ó ó€(NIV).€€We€can€clearly€see€that€the€manifestation€of€God's€sons€and€ourÐ à%Œ! Ðadoption€(placement)€as€sons€is€equated€with€the€redemption€(transformation)€ofÏour€bodies.€€Our€bodies€will€be€fully€saved;€they€will€(as€is€already€true€in€ourÏspirits),€pass€beyond€the€veil.€€The€passage€above€says€that€we€"wait"€for€theÏredemption€of€our€bodies.€€Wait€is€a€time€word€and€indicates€that€this€event€is€stillÏfuture.€The€transformation€of€our€bodies€occurs€at€the€"catching€up"€spoken€of€in€IÏThes.€4:17).Ìà 4 àThere€are€some€people€in€this€present€move€of€God€who€claim€to€beÐ \,%( Ð"manifested€sons."€€This€presumptive€claim€serves€only€to€subvert€and€discreditÏthe€teaching€on€sonship€that€the€Lord€is€bringing€forth.€€Any€manifested€son€has€aÏglorified€body€and€one€look€at€these€individuals€is€enough€to€show€you€that€theyÏdo€not.Ìà 4 àThe€fact€that€the€manifestation€of€God's€sons€is€still€future€should€not€lullÏus€into€complacency.€€The€great€promises€in€Revelation€chapters€2€and€3€wereÏmade€to€the€overcomers.€€It€is€those€in€the€church€who€are€presently€overcomersÏwho€are€being€prepared€and€exercised€in€order€to€be€given€great€responsibilityÏand€reward€at€the€revealing€of€the€sons.€€It€will€not€all€be€done€for€us€when€ourÏbodies€are€transformed.€€We€must€overcome€now€if€we€expect€to€rule€then.€€TheÏterm€ò ò"manifestation€of€the€sons€of€God"ó ó€(Ro.€8:19)€refers€specifically€to€theÐ Œ8  Ðredemption€of€the€body€and€is€future.€€The€term€ò ò"him€that€overcometh"ó ó€(Rev.Ð €,  Ð3:21)€refers€to€the€redemption€of€the€soul€which€is€gradual€and€worked€out€atÏpresent€in€this€life.€€The€individual€overcomers€grow€up€to€maturity€and€at€someÏpoint€yet€future€they€are€manifested€as€the€corporate€perfected€body€of€Christ€whoÏare€at€the€forefront€of€a€ministry€of€restoration.€€They€are€entrusted€with€the€nobleÏtask€of€reconciling€a€dying€world€back€to€God.€€This€is€why€the€whole€creationÏlongs€for€the€manifestation€of€the€sons€of€God.Ìà 4 àSelf„denial,€though€it€primarily€relates€to€soul€salvation,€does€affect€theÏway€we€handle€our€bodies.€€Paul€wrote€in€I€Cor.€9:27,€ò ò"I€beat€my€body€and€makeÐ è” Ðit€my€slave€so€that€after€I€have€preached€to€others,€I€myself€will€not€beÏdisqualified€for€the€prize"ó ó€(NIV).€€A€saint€who€does€not€control€his€body'sÐ Ð| Ðpassions€has€failed€to€overcome€and€will€not€receive€the€prize€of€the€high€calling.€ÏHow€did€Paul€make€his€body€his€slave„„by€soulish€legalistic€striving?€€May€it€neverÏbe!€€Paul€himself€wrote€in€Ro.€8:13,€ò ò"ye€through€the€òòSPIRITóóó ó€ò òdo€mortify€theÐ œH Ðdeeds€of€the€body."ó ó€€The€unrenewed€soul€for€all€its€good€intentions€cannotÐ < Ðrestrain€the€carnal€lusts€of€the€body.€€The€old€soul€must€be€crucified€so€that€weÏcan€walk€in€true€spirituality.€€It€is€not€only€the€behavior€or€deeds€of€the€body€thatÏare€kept€in€check,€but€also€the€body's€health.€€A€spiritual€walk€means€moving€in€aÏrealm€of€superabundant€divine€health€for€the€body.€€Physical€infirmity€is€notÏallowed€to€interfere€with€or€slow€down€the€overcomer's€service€to€Jesus.€€TheÏspiritual€man€exercises€authority€to€speak€to€his€body€and€bring€it€into€line.ÌÌà@óàREGENERATION€OF€THE€SOULˆÌÌà 4 àChrist€died€for€the€whole€man:€€spirit,€soul€and€body.€€We€have€seen€thatÏredemption€is€progressive,€meaning€that€the€whole€man€is€not€saved€at€oneÏmoment€instantaneously.€€The€spirit€òòhas€beenóó€saved.€the€body€òòwill€beóó€saved,€theÐ ¨)T"% Ðsoul€òòis€beingóó€saved.€€Soul€salvation€is€the€present€walk€of€the€overcomer.€€TheÐ ”*@#& Ðsoul€is€the€battle„ground€of€our€faith€wherein€we€fight€the€good€fight€of€faith.€€WeÏby€faith€apply€the€power€of€the€cross€to€our€own€souls.€€ò ò"The€cross€isÐ l,%( Ðfoolishness€to€those€who€are€perishing,€but€to€us€who€are€òòBEING€SAVED€óóit€isÐ T Ðthe€power€of€God"ó ó€(I€Cor.€1:18€NIV).€€It€is€in€the€soul€realm€that€we€work€out€ourÐ Hô Ðown€salvation€with€fear€and€trembling€because€God€works€in€us€both€to€will€and€toÏwork€for€His€good€pleasure€(Phil.€2:12„13).€€òòóóÐ ( Ô Ðà 4 àJames€in€writing€to€believers€says,€ò ò"receive€with€meekness€theÐ  À Ðimplanted€word,€which€is€able€to€save€your€òòSOULSóó"ó ó€(Ja.€1:21€ASV).€€He€Ð  ´ Ðcommands€them€to€receive€the€Word€of€God€in€order€to€attain€soul€salvation.€€HeÏdoesn't€regard€soul€salvation€as€having€taken€place€at€the€new€birth.€€Indeed,Ïeven€as€the€Baptism€in€the€Holy€Spirit€is€not€automatically€received€at€salvation,Ïso€also€soul€salvation€is€not€automatic.€€Both€experiences€are€additionalÏexperiences€in€God€that€are€appropriated€by€faith.€€Paul€writes€to€Timothy:€€ò ò"TakeÐ ¬X  Ðheed€unto€thyself€and€to€the€doctrine;€continue€in€them:€€for€in€doing€thisÏthou€shalt€both€òòSAVE€THYSELFóóó ó€ò òand€them€that€hear€thee"ó ó€(I€Tim.€4:16).€Ð ”@  ÐTimothy€was€not€only€a€Christian€but€was€an€outstanding€young€preacher,€yet€heÏneeded€salvation:€€soul€salvation.€€Finally,€Peter€writes€to€the€elect,€ò ò"You€areÐ t  Ðreceiving€the€goal€of€your€faith,€the€salvation€of€your€souls"ó ó€(I€Pet.€1:9€NIV).Ð h Ðà 4 àOur€spirit€man,€when€he€was€born€again,€was€born€a€son€of€God€throughÏfaith€in€Christ€Jesus€according€to€Galatians€3:26.€€Our€spirit€is€born€a€son€but€ourÏsoul€is€gradually€regenerated€and€comes€to€a€place€of€perfection€to€receive€theÏòòADOPTIONóó€(or€placing)€as€a€son€(Gal.€4:5).€€The€custom€in€biblical€times€amongÐ  Ì Ðthe€Romans€was€for€a€father€to€adopt€his€own€natural€born€son€when€the€son€wasÏabout€thirty€years€old.€€This€is€the€act€of€placing€him€as€a€mature€son,€makingÏpublic€that€he€can€conduct€family€business€in€full€authority€on€an€equal€basis€withÏhis€father.€€Jesus€was€born€the€Son€of€God€in€Bethlehem€but€it€was€some€thirtyÏyears€later€at€the€Jordan€when€He€was€placed€as€the€Son€of€God€and€heard€HisÏFather€say,€ò ò"Thou€art€my€beloved€Son..."ó ó€€It€was€after€this€event€that€JesusÐ ¨T Ðperformed€miracles€and€healings.€€This€custom€of€the€father€adopting€his€own€sonÏis€the€pattern€of€what€will€be€for€the€end„time€company€of€sons.Ìà 4 àThe€soul's€regeneration€will€be€completed€by€the€time€of€the€€adoptionÏwhich€also€coincides€with€or€possibly€precedes€the€redemption€(glorification)€ofÏthe€body.€€It€is€at€this€point€that€the€soul€is€forever€beyond€sin€and€has€entered€theÏglorious€liberty€of€the€sons€of€God.€€Prior€to€the€adoption/€manifestation€of€theÏsons,€we€may€experience€sonship€power€and€a€sinless€walk€for€brief€periods€as€aÏforetaste€of€the€powers€of€the€age€to€come.€€After€our€placement€as€sons,Ïhowever,€we€are€eternally€fully€redeemed€and€have€come€to€the€measure€of€theÏstature€of€the€fullness€of€Christ.€€At€this€point€we€have€entered€beyond€the€veil,€notÏonly€in€the€spirit€man,€but€also€have€entered€the€Holy€of€Holies€in€the€soul€realm€toÏworship€God,€experience€His€love€and€be€entrusted€with€great€power€by€His€SpiritÏto€reconcile€many€souls€to€Him.ÌÌÐ „,0%( Ðà@ÇÇ"óàCOUNTING€THE€COSTˆÌÌà 4 àSaints€and€scholars€alike€have€pondered€for€centuries€the€meaning€ofÏcertain€of€Jesus'€radical€statements.€€We€have€been€puzzled€by€injunctions€suchÏas€ò ò"If€any€man€come€to€me,€and€hate€not€his€father,€and€mother,€and€wife,Ð  ° Ðand€children,...and€his€own€life€also,€he€cannot€be€my€disciple";€"WhosoeverÏhe€be€of€you€that€forsaketh€not€all€that€he€hath,€he€cannot€be€my€disciple";€Ï"Let€the€dead€bury€their€dead:€€but€go€thou€and€preach€the€kingdom€of€God";€Ï"No€man,€having€put€his€hand€to€the€plow,€and€looking€back,€is€fit€for€theÏkingdom€of€God";€€"If€any€man€will€come€after€me,€let€him€deny€himself,€andÏtake€up€his€cross€daily,€and€follow€me."ó ó€€These€statements,€as€even€a€casualÐ ¼h  Ðreading€of€their€contexts€will€indicate,€refer€to€the€cost€of€discipleship.€€These€doÏnot€refer€to€rebirth,€which€is€a€free€gift.€€Referring€to€rebirth,€Jesus€said€that€GodÏò ò"gave€his€only€begotten€Son,€that€whosoever€believeth€in€him€should€notÐ ˆ4  Ðperish,€but€have€everlasting€life"ó ó(Jn.€3:16).€€Also€referring€to€rebirth€of€the€SpiritÐ |(  Ðis€John€6:29:€€ò ò"This€is€the€work€of€God,€that€ye€believe€on€him€whom€he€hathÐ p Ðsent."ó óÐ d Ðà 4 àDiscipleship,€the€overcoming€life€and€soul€salvation,€are€one€in€the€same.€ÏOne€can€be€born€again€and€not€be€a€disciple€but€one€cannot€be€an€overcomer€andÏnot€be€a€disciple.€€All€overcomers€are€true€disciples€of€Jesus€Christ.€€The€greatestÏobstacle€that€a€disciple€must€overcome€is€his€soul€or€self„life.€€Ìà 4 àThe€cross€is€a€radical€approach€to€dealing€with€the€self„life.€€CrucifixionÏwas€more€than€a€means€of€execution;€it€was€a€slow€torturous€death.€€There€isÏmuch€talk€today€about€a€positive€gospel,€but€the€cross€is€the€greatest€negative€inÏall€the€universe.€€All€the€sin€and€corruption,€everything€of€man,€all€that€falls€short€ofÏthe€glory€of€God€was€summed€up€in€Christ€on€the€cross€and€put€to€death.€€It€is€thisÏterrible€death€that€Jesus€commands€us€to€apply€to€our€soul.€€It€costs€us€everything.€ÏJesus€told€a€parable€about€a€man€who€in€setting€out€to€build€a€tower€must€first€sitÏdown€and€count€the€cost.€€In€the€same€way€as€we€embark€on€the€life€of€theÏovercomer€each€of€us€must€first€count€the€cost.Ìà 4 àDenial€of€the€entire€soul€realm€is€the€profound€sacrifice,€the€terrible€cost€ofÏdiscipleship.€€It€means€denying€even€the€"good"€things€of€our€lives,€not€just€theÏbad€things,€like€bad€attitudes,€sins€and€failures.€€Self„denial€means€denial€ofÏsoulish€love.€€That's€why€Jesus€said€that€if€one€does€not€hate€his€father,€mother,Ïwife,€children,€brothers€and€sisters€and€even€his€own€life€(psuche)€he€cannot€beÏhis€disciple.€€We€must€not€structure€our€lives€around€that€deep€human€desire€toÏplease€our€parents,€make€them€proud€of€us,€produce€grandchildren,€etc.€€(This,€byÏthe€way,€is€not€an€excuse€to€shun€responsibility€to€our€families€or€fail€to€honorÏparents€or€provide€for€them.)€€We€must€put€God€first€and€endure€family€criticismÏwhen€God€sends€us€to€the€mission€field€or€calls€us€to€a€life€of€celibacy.€€Our€soul'sÏnoblest€attempts€at€making€us€good€fall€so€far€short€that€human€virtue€is€as€filthyÐ Œ,8%( Ðrags.€€Many€people€say€amen€to€this€truth,€yet€deep€down€they€still€hang€onto€self„¼righteousness.€€Are€you€truly€willing€to€let€go€and€let€God?€€It€means€giving€upÏthings€that€are€precious€to€you€such€as€attitudes€that€you€thought€were€pleasing€toÏGod.€€Do€you€have€a€naturally€buoyant,€cheerful€personality?€€The€Word€of€God€isÏa€discerner€of€the€thoughts€and€attitudes€of€the€heart.€€God€knows€where€"naturalÏcheerfulness"€comes€from.€€Are€you€willing€to€lay€down€your€natural€soulishÏcheerfulness€to€have€God€raise€up€supernatural€abiding€joy€in€your€life?Ìà 4 àAre€you€willing€to€be€completely€changed?€€Will€you€miss€the€old€"you"?€ÏAre€you€willing€to€say€goodbye€to€your€present€self€and€become€a€differentÏperson„„the€person€God€wants€you€to€be?€€Are€you€willing€to€give€up€allÏpossessions,€all€comfort,€all€rights,€all€privileges,€all€independence€and€all€thatÏwith€which€you€are€familiar?€€If€God€commands€you€to€go€to€a€hostile,Ïimpoverished€land€with€nothing€but€the€clothes€on€your€back,€will€you€instantlyÏobey?€€Are€you€willing€to€endure€the€criticism€of€family€and€friends€who€say€thatÏChristianity€is€nothing€more€than€going€to€church€and€living€a€good€life?€€Are€youÏwilling€to€deny€your€human€love€and€attachment€to€your€family€in€order€to€begin€toÏlove€them€with€agape€love?€€Are€you€willing€to€offend€them€with€the€gospel?€€AreÏyou€willing€to€cease€from€legalistic€striving€in€your€self€in€order€to€walk€in€innerÏspiritual€true€holiness?€€Are€you€willing€to€renounce€anger,€bitterness,Ïunforgiveness,€envy,€strife,€pride,€lust,€impurity,€greed,€rebellion,€laziness,€fear,Ïcowardice,€unbelief,€bad€habits,€wrong€attitudes€and€every€other€sin€and€bondageÏwhether€it's€large€or€small?€€Are€you€willing€to€lay€down€your€opinions€and€rationalÏinsights€in€order€to€receive€divine€revelation?€€Are€you€willing€to€stop€eating€fromÏthe€tree€of€knowledge€of€good€and€evil€in€order€to€eat€from€the€tree€of€life?€€AreÏyou€willing€to€turn€the€other€cheek€and€go€the€extra€mile?€€This€is€more€than€justÏdenying€the€things€of€self€(the€sins,€attitudes€and€attachments€of€the€self„life)€butÏis€the€denying€of€one's€own€soul.€€Deny€self,€not€just€the€things€of€self.Ìà 4 àIf€you€add€it€all€up€and€then€decide€that€you're€not€willing€to€pay€thisÏstaggering€price,€you€can€forget€about€being€a€mature€son€of€God.€€You€can€forgetÏthe€overcomer€message.€€It€is€only€for€those€who€give€their€all.€€Jesus€turned€awayÏmany€who€desired€to€be€His€disciples.€€It€is€better€to€not€attempt€this€walk€at€allÏthan€to€do€it€halfway.€€Many€already€have€turned€back€to€being€pew€warmers€whoÏlove€the€pleasures€of€this€world€more€than€God.€€This€is€such€a€tragedy€and€soÏunnecessary€because€his€yoke€is€easy,€his€burden€is€light.€€In€the€midst€of€whatÏthe€world€looks€upon€as€slavish€deprivation,€we€find€rest€unto€our€souls.€€It€is€moreÏsatisfying€to€live€as€a€success€in€the€Christian€walk€than€to€struggle€as€a€failure€inÏlegalism.Ìà 4 àWe€live€not€as€men€who€are€just€willing€to€die€for€Him€or€that€we€are€goingÏto€die€for€Him,€but€rather€we€live€as€men€who€have€already€died.€€Most€anyÏChristian€is€willing€to€face€a€firing€squad€but€to€go€on€living€a€life€of€perpetual€self„¼sacrifice€is€an€even€more€radical€commitment.Ð 4,à$( Ðà 4 àThere€have€been€overcomers€in€all€generations€down€through€theÏcenturies.€€These€comprise€that€part€of€the€overcomer€company€that€at€present€areÏasleep€in€Christ.€€Many€of€the€early€church€writings€and€medieval€writings€indicateÏa€correct€apprehension€of€the€crucified€life.€€Examples€of€this€are€the€Pietists€andÏQuietists€of€the€1600's€and€1700's€who€emphasized€the€inner€devotional€life.€€AsÏthe€times€of€the€restoration€of€all€things€draws€near,€God€is€calling€more€than€everÏof€his€saints€to€lay€their€lives€down€in€totality.€€God€is€dividing€between€soul€andÏspirit€in€the€church.€€He€is€restoring€the€revelation€of€the€crucified€life.€€All€of€thoseÏbrave€saints€of€the€past,€the€great€cloud€of€witnesses€that€surrounds€us,€paid€theÏprice€of€self„denial.€€Their€testimonies€and€accomplishments€in€the€kingdom€ofÏGod€speak€for€them€and€indicate€the€totality€of€their€commitment.€€They,€by€theÏgrace€of€God,€by€faith€came€to€the€cross€and€surrendered€themselves.€€As€for€us,Ïwe€too,€if€we€are€to€be€part€of€this€great€overcomer€company€must€arm€ourselvesÏlikewise€with€the€same€mind.Ìà 4 àWe€are€tempted€to€say:€€isn't€there€an€easier€way?€€Isn't€there€an€instantÏcure€for€self?€€Does€it€have€to€be€walked€out€over€a€lifetime?€€Must€we€lay€ourÏentire€life€down€and€be€crucified€with€Him?€€What€a€terrible€burden€God€has€laidÏon€men!€(Eccl.€1:13)Ìà 4 àJesus,€the€pattern€Son,€counted€the€cost.€€He€too,€questioned€God,€butÏsubmitted€Himself€to€the€will€of€God.€€Here€is€the€account€of€Jesus'€travail€inÏGethsemane€as€he€looked€ahead€to€the€horror€of€crucifixion:€€ò ò"My€soul€isÐ Äp Ðexceeding€sorrowful€unto€death...Abba€Father,€all€things€are€possible€untoÏthee;€take€away€this€cup€from€me:€€nevertheless€not€what€I€will,€but€whatÏthou€wilt"ó ó€(Mk.€14:34,€36).€€ò ò"And€he€left€them,€and€went€away€again,€andÐ  L Ðprayed€the€THIRDó ó€ò òtime,€saying€the€same€words"ó ó€(Mt.€26:44).€€ò ò"And€being€inÐ ”@ Ðan€agony€he€prayed€more€earnestly:€€and€his€sweat€was€as€it€were€greatÏdrops€of€blood€falling€down€to€the€ground"ó ó€(Lu.€22:44).€€Jesus€our€forerunnerÐ |( Ð(Heb.€6:20)€€has€blazed€out€a€path€for€us€that€we,€too,€should€be€perfected€by€theÏsuffering€of€crucifixion€(Heb.€2:9„10;€5:7„8).€€All€things€are€possible€with€God;Ïnevertheless€it€is€not€His€will€or€plan€to€perfect€His€sons€by€anything€other€thanÏcrucifixion€with€Christ.€€If€we€do€not€count€the€cost€at€Gethsemane€and€submit€ourÏwill€to€God's€way,€then€we'll€never€get€to€the€cross€at€Calvary.€€Have€you€been€toÏGethsemane?ÌÌà@Q Q óàAPPROPRIATING€DEATH€FOR€THE€SOULˆÌÌà 4 àMany€say€that€the€"old€man"€is€already€dead€and€buried€and€that€we€don'tÏneed€to€bother€with€him.€€If€this€is€so,€why€did€Jesus€say€that€we€must€take€up€ourÏcross€DAILY?€€The€cross€is€the€means€of€death.€€Why€would€Jesus,€who€is€theÏforerunner€and€pattern€Son,€command€us€to€carry€the€means€of€death€every€day€ofÏour€walk?€€Is€it€just€a€decoration?€€Why€did€Paul€say,€ò ò"I€die€daily"ó ó€(I€Cor.€15:31).€Ð l,%( ÐPaul€also€wrote,€ò ò"for€we€which€live€are€always€delivered€unto€death€for€Jesus'Ð T Ðsake,€that€the€life€also€of€Jesus€might€be€made€manifest€in€our€mortal€flesh"ó óÐ Hô Ð(II€Cor.€4:11).€€Our€old€man,€that€is€our€natural€soul,€did€die€with€Christ€on€CalvaryÏwhich€is€a€matter€of€historical€fact.€€All€of€the€sins€of€all€men,€all€spiritual€death,€allÏsinful€souls,€all€diseases€of€body,€indeed€all€corruption€of€all€creation,€wasÏsummed€up€in€Jesus€Christ€and€put€to€death€at€Calvary.€€It€is€based€on€this€factÏthat€we€carry€our€cross€which€means€we€appropriate€this€death€to€our€souls€in€ourÏpresent€experience.€€This€is€bringing€established€fact€into€present€experience€byÏfaith.€€Faith€is€never€a€passive€mental€assent,€but€rather€it€is€in€utmostÏsupernatural€activity€in€our€spirit€that€we€ò ò"fight€the€good€fight€of€faith"ó ó€(I€Tim.Ð °\  Ð6:12).Ìà 4 àIt€is€the€same€for€every€facet€of€Christian€experience.€€Take€healing:€€I€Pet.Ï2:24€says€that€by€his€stripes€you€were€healed.€€Our€physical€healing€is€past€tense.€ÏIn€saying€that€we€were€healed,€the€scripture€makes€plain€that€our€presentÏinfirmities€were€all€laid€on€Jesus€as€He€suffered€scourging€and€crucifixion€nearlyÏ2,000€years€ago.€€Faith€teachers€all€over€the€country€emphasize€this€and€tell€us€toÏconfess€our€healing€by€faith€in€order€to€receive€it.€€Indeed,€all€Christians€shouldÏlearn€from€them€in€this.€€Our€healing€is€an€historical€fact;€it€is€past€tense.€€But€whyÏare€so€many€of€us€chronically€sick?€€It€is€because€we€need€to€bring€healing€intoÏmanifestation€in€our€experience€by€faith.€€This€is€the€concept€of€receiving€theÏblessings€from€Christ's€FINISHED€work.€€Jesus€died€for€all€men's€sins,€yet€all€areÏnot€saved.€€His€death€for€their€sins€does€them€no€good€whatsoever,€unless€they€atÏsome€point€ACTIVELY€APPROPRIATE€IT€BY€FAITH.€€So€we€see€that€our€old€self„¼life€was€done€away€with€nearly€2,000€years€ago€at€Calvary.€€All€self„lives€of€allÏmen€were€summed€up€in€Christ€and€put€to€death€as€is€taught€in€II€Cor.€5:14,€ò ò"IfÐ Œ8 Ðone€died€for€all,€then€WERE€all€dead."ó ó€€But€in€our€present€experience€our€oldÐ €, Ðself„lives€are€very€much€alive€as€is€taught€in€Gal.€5:27,€ò ò"The€flesh€lustethÐ t  Ðagainst€the€Spirit,€and€the€Spirit€against€the€flesh:€€and€these€are€contraryÏthe€one€to€the€other."ó ó€€The€solution,€therefore,€is€to€appropriate€by€faith€the€deathÐ \! Ðof€the€self„life€into€our€present€experience.€€The€Bible€teaches€that€this€is€not€aÏone€time€experience€but€is€a€lifetime€of€taking€up€the€cross€daily€to€put€the€old€manÏto€death.€€Only€by€appropriating€death€to€the€old€creation€soul€can€we€ever€expectÏto€appropriate€the€power€of€Christ's€resurrection€into€the€soul€realm.€We€die€dailyÏso€that€we€can€be€resurrected€daily€and€be€conformed€to€the€image€of€the€Son€ofÏGod€from€glory€to€glory.Ìà 4 àConsider€Paul's€testimony€of€his€Christian€walk€which€is€given€in€Phil.€3:4„¼14.€€It€is€a€testimony€of€continuing€committed€dedication€in€a€lifetime€of€self„denial.€ÏIn€verse€10,€Paul€speaks€of€ò ò"òòbeingóó€made€conformable€unto€€his€death."ó ó€€TheÐ °)\"% Ðdeath€Paul€was€experiencing€was,€of€course,€being€crucified€with€Christ€in€the€soulÏrealm.€€The€sense€of€the€wording€here€and€in€the€rest€of€the€passage€clearlyÏindicates€not€a€one€time€event,€but€a€continuing€process€of€mortification€of€the€oldÐ |,(%( Ðcreation€soul„life.€€Paul€experienced€this€self„denial€in€order€that€he€ò ò"might€attainÐ T Ðunto€the€resurrection€of€the€dead"ó ó„„verse€11.€€Here€is€perhaps€the€mostÐ Hô Ðextraordinary€statement€in€all€of€Paul's€writings.€€Paul€seeks€to€ò ò"attain€unto"ó ó€theÐ < è Ðresurrection€from€the€dead€and€this€is€the€ò ò"prize€of€the€high€calling€of€God."ó ó€Ð 0 Ü ÐElsewhere€in€his€epistles€the€bodily€resurrection€is€clearly€set€forth€as€a€blessedÏpromise€to€all€believers.€€What€Paul€is€talking€about€however€is€not€a€free€gift€ofÏbodily€resurrection€as€part€of€our€common€salvation€but€rather€a€specialÏresurrection,€a€ò ò"better€resurrection"ó ó€(Heb.€11:35).€€This€is€the€faithful€overcomerÐ è ” Ðresurrection€which€is€a€prize€qualified€for€by€persevering€in€a€victorious€life€ofÏallowing€Christ€to€replace€your€life€with€His€life.€€The€Greek€word€for€resurrectionÏin€verse€eleven€is€"exanastasis"€and€this€is€the€only€place€it€is€used€in€the€wholeÏNew€Testament.€€It€literally€means€"out€resurrection"€or€resurrection€out€fromÏamong€the€dead.€€This€is€the€firstfruit€resurrection€in€which€the€overcomers€areÏraised€not€just€in€glorified€bodies€but€as€full€grown€sons€of€God€and€shall€beÏmanifested€(revealed)€as€deliverers€(saviors)€to€set€all€creation€free€from€itsÏbondage€to€corruption.€€The€overcomers€are€manifested€to€creation€with€JesusÏChrist€the€firstborn€Son,€at€His€second€coming€in€His€literal€physical€glorified€body.€Ïò ò"Saviours€shall€come€up€on€Mount€Zion€to€judgeó ó..."€(Obadiah€1:21).€€This€isÐ (Ô Ðthe€ministry€Paul€strove€after€and€into€which€we€also€must€press€on.Ìà 4 àIf€we€are€ò ò"being€made€conformable€unto€his€death"ó ó€(His€cross)€andÐ ´ Ðexperiencing€the€ò ò"power€of€his€resurrection"ó ó€in€the€soul€realm€now€in€this€life,Ð ü¨ Ðwe€shall€press€on€to€receive€the€prize€of€the€high€calling:€the€out„resurrection.€ÏThe€overcomers€demonstrate€their€faithfulness€in€overcoming€the€evil€in€their€ownÏself„lives€and€by€being€faithful€in€this€small€thing€are€then€entrusted€with€the€greatÏthing€of€delivering€all€creation€by€leading€all€people€and€all€creatures€to€the€cross.€ÏThis€is€in€accordance€with€the€promises€to€the€overcomers€given€in€RevelationÏchapters€2€and€3.Ìà 4 àThis€high€calling€ministry€is€a€glorious€and€coveted€honor.€€It€is€theÏtreasure€hidden€in€a€field€or€the€pearl€of€great€price€which€once€we€find€itÏ(understand€Kingdom€truth)€we€joyfully€sell€all€we€possess€(lay€our€lives€down)€inÏorder€that€we€may€buy€it€(apprehend€that€for€which€we€are€apprehended).Ìà 4 àIn€verse€13€Paul€says€ò ò"this€one€thing€I€do."ó ó€€What€is€the€one€thing€heÐ ($Ô Ðdid?€€He€denied€himself:€€ò ò"forgetting€those€things€which€are€behindó ó€(LegalisticÐ %È  Ðself„righteousness),€ò òand€reaching€forth€unto€those€things€which€are€beforeó óÐ &¼! Ð(renewed,€transformed€soul„life),€ò òI€press€toward€the€mark€for€the€prize€of€theÐ '°" Ðhigh€calling€of€Godó ó€(full€sonship,€Christ€formed€in€you)€ò òin€Christ€Jesus."ó óÐ ø'¤ # Ðà 4 àPaul€also€experienced€suffering€in€persecution€and€hardship.€€ThisÏsuffering€is€distinct€from€crucifixion€with€Christ€in€a€number€of€aspects.€€This€kindÏof€suffering€will€be€discussed€in€a€later€chapter€under€the€heading€"Trials€andÏTribulation."Ìà 4 àRomans€6:1„13€contains€Paul's€teaching€on€deliverance€from€sin€throughÐ œ,H%( Ðdeath€and€resurrection.€€In€verse€six€we€read,€ò ò"Knowing€this€that€our€old€man€isÐ T Ðcrucified€with€him..."ó ó€€This€is€revelation€knowledge€of€the€fact€of€Calvary.€€WeÐ Hô Ðstart€at€knowledge€of€the€fact,€but€we€certainly€don't€stop€there.€€The€eye€of€faithÏdoes€see€the€old€man€dead€at€Calvary,€but€in€our€experience€the€old€man€is€veryÏmuch€alive.€€Knowledge€alone€is€not€enough.€€The€reality€of€Jesus'€work€onÏCalvary€must€be€applied€to€the€soul€in€our€daily€experience,€not€just€in€ourÏtheology.€€Hence,€we€read€in€verse€eleven:€€ò ò"Likewise€òòreckonóó€ye€alsoÐ ì ˜ Ðyourselves€to€be€dead€indeed€unto€sin,€but€alive€unto€God€through€JesusÏChrist,€our€Lord."ó ó€€"Knowing"€is€revelation€received€by€faith,€whereas€"reckoning"Ð Ô€ Ðis€claiming€or€appropriating€by€faith.€€This€brings€us€to€verse€thirteen:€€ò ò"YieldÐ Èt  Ðyourselves€unto€God€as€those€that€are€alive€from€the€dead..."ó ó€€Yielding€comesÐ ¼h  Ðafter€appropriating€death€for€the€soul.€€Too€many€saints€are€trying€to€yield€their€oldÏman€to€God€and€expect€God€to€use€their€old€nature.€€It€is€the€renewed€soul€that€weÏyield€to€God.€€The€renewed€soul€is€that€which€is€ò ò"alive€from€the€dead."ó óÐ ˆ4  Ðà 4 àThe€crucial€or€pivotal€point€in€the€passage€is€that€of€òòreckoningóó.€€This€isÐ |(  Ðwhere€most€believers€miss€the€boat.€€They€have€a€genuine€knowledge€byÏrevelation€of€Calvary€and€have€testified€to€it€in€their€water€baptism.€€They€alsoÏsincerely€try€to€serve€God€by€yielding.€€The€reason€they€are€incapable€of€walkingÏin€true€holiness€is€the€failure€to€grasp€the€conc