Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
It has always taken resurrection life for God to express Himself in human beings.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
We all have a legitimate desire to please the Lord, and this desire even increases as we increase our intake of doctrine and try to have those spiritual mechanics parlayed into spiritual dynamics through the use of the spiritual skills.
Paul is saying, I really want to advance spiritually and to please God by reaching maturity; however, there is a problem, these good intentions are hindered by the overtime work of the O.S.N. with its trends toward sin, good, and evil.
When he sins, it is no longer him, the new man or the new creature but the old man which is within. Because the nature of God cannot sin, and Christ is in him, Paul has learned to separate the two natures. God, in His grace, knows we have inherent flaws, environmental flaws, in addition to the sins we accumulate.
He discovered that the battle between the OSN and living the spiritual life is overcome by a new and powerful principle, that of the Spirit of life or zoe found in TLJC. Paul found his answer in realizing that even as a believer he could not keep the Law, and that religion, rituals, program spirituality, man-made rules kept him in nothing but bondage.
PHI 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun in you an absolute good work will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
PHI 2:13 for it is God [the Holy Spirit] who is at work in you, both to will [give you motivation] and to work [He gives you the ability to execute] above and beyond His good pleasure.
So many believers feel they are not making any spiritual progress unless they are swiftly and constantly forging ahead.
“To strengthen, complete and perfect you and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good thing that you may carry out His will”
Paul turned his attention and gaze back to the Cross and found happiness in the thought of “no condemnation.”