Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
The discovery of the mystery of having the spiritual mechanics must be parlayed into spiritual dynamics through resurrection life.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The difference between those who are involved in religion, rituals, program spirituality, obsession with knowledge and the doctrines of men, and those believers who are committed and dedicated to getting to know the Lord and having a personal relationship with Him.
1CO 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
2CO 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
1JO 1:3b... indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
PHI 3:1-2, Finally, my brethren, keep on having inner happiness in the Lord. On the one hand, to be writing the same doctrines to you is not troublesome to me, while on the other hand, it is a safeguard or a basis of security for you. Beware of those dogs [the Judaizers, legalists, those in involved with religion, rituals, program spirituality, obsession with knowledge of doctrine, and man-made rules], beware of those evil workers, beware of the mutilation.
“Dogs” = bi-ped or two-legged animal called the Judaizer.
The dogs of the ancient world often travelled in packs, were often hungry, and were quite vicious. They were also carriers of disease.
By nature, the dog was unclean, he was a carrier of disease, and he was the carrier of other creatures who carried diseases - like the flea.
The dog of the first century was also semi-wild, eating garbage, carrion, dead and decaying flesh and refuse.
Just as dogs fed on garbage and dead bodies, so the Judaizers fed on the principles and doctrines of evil.
While the Judaizers passed themselves off as religious celebrities, Paul in the power of the Spirit, using spiritual language, says that in reality, they were like dogs, scavengers, travelling in packs, and providing opposition toward the Paul and the grace of God.
PHI 3:1-2 Beware of those dogs [the Judaizers, legalists, those involved with religion, rituals, program spirituality, obsession with knowledge of doctrine, and man-made rules], beware of those evil workers, beware of the mutilation.
GAL 2:4 But it was because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
PHI 3:3-4 for we [grace-oriented believers] keep on being the true circumcision [the true circumcision in the Church-age = those who cut off or deny their flesh or their OSN], who keep on worshipping in the Spirit of God and glory or boast in Christ Jesus and we put no confidence in the flesh. even though I myself might be having confidence even in the flesh. If anyone of the same category [Judaizers] assumes to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:
PHI 3:7-8 But whatever quality of things were gains to me, these things [his personal accomplishments] I have concluded as loss for the sake of Christ. Not only this but more than this, I consider all things [Paul’s pre-salvation human celebrityship and achievement] to be loss because of the surpassing greatness of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have forfeited all things, also, I keep on concluding as them to be piles of dung in order that I may win for Christ,
Paul desired to become progressively and more deeply and intimately acquainted with TLJC, perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly so that he, Paul, could be a winner for Christ.
PHI 3:10-11 that I may come to know Him [the purpose of this study of having the spiritual mechanics parlayed into spiritual dynamics], and the power of [behind] His resurrection and the participation of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; if, in some way, I may attain to the resurrection life away from the dead ones or the deaths (plural).
EPH 5:14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
JAM 1:15 “When lust has become pregnant, it gives birth to sin. Furthermore, when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
1TI 5:6 “But that widow who constantly indulges in wanton pleasure has died while she is living.”
REV 3:1 “I know your production, that you have a reputation that you are living, but you are dead.”
PHI 3:11 if, in some way, I may attain to the resurrection life away from the dead ones. Not that I have already obtained it [the resurrection life or the ultra supergrace status], or have already reached the objective, - but I continue pressing on that I may attain that [or overtake that, or gain that, arrive at the objective] on account of which I was overtaken by Christ Jesus.
JOH 10:10b “I came that they might have life, and might have {it} abundantly.”
PHI 3:13-14 Brethren [members of the Royal Family of God], I evaluate myself as not yet having attained the objective [the ultimate objective in time, living in resurrection life]; but one thing I concentrate upon: constantly forgetting the things that lie behind and pursuing vigorously to what lies ahead, I keep on pressing on toward the objective for the purpose of the reward belonging to the upward call of God [Father], by means of Christ Jesus.
Sarxz - “flesh” = it emphasizes the location of the old sin nature in the cell structure of the body.
GAL 5:16 “But I say, walk by means of the Spirit and you will not execute the lusts of the flesh.”
Three different agents are mentioned: the “Spirit,” “you,” and the “flesh,” your OSN.
These good intentions are hindered by the overtime work of the O.S.N. with its trends toward sin, good, and evil.
The O.S.N. can make us think we do not needs a joint, a P-T, or we do no need a body of believers to fellowship with; we are good enough without a crash diet of doctrine. It can also cause us to get involved with lasciviousness and lusts.
Doctrine is important because it helps you to recognize your flaws and the control that the O.S.N. has over you.
Paul is saying, if I keep on doing what I do not want to do then I realize that the law is good and the word of God is good because it does reveal my helplessness.
The old sin nature is the source of temptation and also the source of inherent flaws from birth.
He is saying that because he has received TLJC, that he is no longer the one alive but Christ is living in him.
When he sins, it is no longer him, the new man or the new creature but the old man which is within.
They would not be blaming others and they would be using their failures as an opportunity to appeal to the mercy of God.
Because the nature of God cannot sin, and Christ is in him, Paul has learned to separate the two natures.
Before any believer can appreciate the divine solutions to the indwelling problems of the O.S.N. and the magnificent grace of God, the believer must be brought to the end of himself.
PSA 32:5 You have forgiven the guilt of my sin;
PSA 65:3 Iniquities prevail against me; but as for our transgressions you do forgive them. PSA 85:2 You did forgive the iniquity of your people; you did cover all their sin.
PSA 103:10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
PSA 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
ISA 1:18 Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.
ISA 38:17 For you have cast all my sins behind Your back.
ISA 44:22 I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud, and your sins like a heavy mist. return to me, for I have redeemed you.