Our Identity Crisis
I see the Holy Spirit is still convicting me to write down what has been exposed in my heart, mind, and soul. This is my third paper in my journey of Faith with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that the Holy Spirit will open the hearts, minds, and souls of everyone reading this paper so that their identity and new glorious relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will be revealed or confirmed.
There are many questions, such as what individuals inherit from God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, what it means we can become new creations, and why Scripture states our flesh died on the cross with Jesus. Are we no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness, empowered to live a Holy and perfect life here on this fallen planet? Are our bodies the temple of the Holy Spirit, and what does it mean when it says it no longer is us who live but Jesus Christ? Why does Scripture warn us that many will try to find the narrow, difficult road that leads to Heaven, but only a few find and stay on it, whereas wide is the road that leads to Hell, and many find it? Should those who profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior show evidence of that rebirth in everything they think, say and do?
Unfortunately, for many professing Christians, there is no consensus on the answers to some of these fundamental questions. Hopefully, after reading this paper, you will better understand your identity in Christ, along with all our rights, privileges, and responsibilities as His disciples.
I have had some brothers and sisters discuss which translation they prefer. I use various translations, including King James, New International, English Standard, and Amplified. Being in the Word, no matter what translation, gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity for divine revelation and Biblical truths to occur to me. Since the Holy Spirit was powerful enough to create the entire universe. Should it not be powerful enough to give us all the ability to discern Scripture, especially when understanding God's will correctly?
I ask all to pray for the Holy Spirit to bind all of Satan's evil spirits of fear, doubt, and confusion that would stop someone from comprehending what is trying to be conveyed in this paper. I have tried not to take any scripture quote out of context, but I encourage everyone reading this to research to confirm the meaning. I heard different words to describe a regenerated person: Saved, Brother, Sister, Reborn Christian, and Disciple. Disciple is well defined in Scripture and best describes repentant reborn individuals who have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I am convinced that knowing the truth will allow us to better glorify God and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ even more.
Humanity inheriting a sinful nature is a direct consequence of Adam and Eve not obeying God's commandment not to eat from the Tree of Good and Evil. It is fundamental to understand this is why our mortal powers, no matter how hard we try, cannot stop us from continuing to sin. To regain spiritual fellowship, God offers up His only Son to take our rightful punishment and eliminate that sinful nature in all that allow Him to be their Lord and Savior. Without Jesus, we would still have God's wrath upon us on Judgement Day.
Romans 5:12, Therefore, just as sin entered the world and death though sin, and in this way death came to all people,because all sinned
John 3:16-17, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes (trusting, relying, adhering, obeying) in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away (sinful nature, old man what we inherited from Adam); behold, all things are become new.
Galatians 2:20, I (old sin nature/old man) have been crucified with Christ and I (old sinful nature/old man) no longer live, but Christ lives in me (my flesh/mortal body). The life I live in the body, I live by Faith (trust reliance, obedience) in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 5:24, Those who belong to Christ Jesus have (past tense) crucified the Flesh (sinful nature/old man) with it passions and desires.
1 Peter 2:24, He took our sins on himself, giving his body to be nailed on the tree, so that we, being dead to sin, might have a new life in righteousness, and by his wounds we have been made new.
Galatians 6:19-20, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body".
The Book of Romans is a letter Paul wrote to the Church of Rome. Paul continues his systematic theological teaching of the new covenant of Faith (trust, adherence, reliance, obedience) in Jesus Christ and "Freedom from Sin" for Jews and Gentiles. Neither he nor any Apostle had yet visited there. The Gentiles and Jews who witnessed the Pentecost most likely started the Church in Rome. Chapters 6,7 and 8 so definitively answer those questions concerning whether God expects us to continue to sin, how our old self died, and how we became a new creation and inherited our new identity. It is worth quoting the entire chapters.
Romans 6: 1-23,
1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died [PAST TENSE]to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized (past tense) into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried [PAST TENSE] with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been [PAST TENSE] united with Him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with Him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was [PAST TENSE] crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7 because anyone who has died [PAST TENSE] has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe (trusting, relying, obeying) that we will also live with Him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. 10 The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under Law, but under grace (God's agape love in action). 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used [PAST TENSE] to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been (past tense) set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were [PAST TENSE] slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So let's recap: "no longer slave to sin" (verse 6), "we become slaves to obedience which leads to righteousness" (verse 16), "which leads us to holiness" (verse 19), "which leads us to eternal life" verse 22).
Are we really a new creation (reborn disciple) free from sin, or is Scripture just playing with us, or have we overlooked these passages with help from Satan? There is an old saying, "If you think you can or if you think you cannot, you're correct." Satan absolutely had me convinced I was not expected to stop sinning here on Earth. In my past, sinning was just considered backsliding, and we all did it. Just confess, and God will continue to forgive and forgive and forgive and forgive. God and Christ did all the hard work. We are not really expected to change. Is there any doubt now what Scripture states about sinning? Did you notice the similarity in verses 1 and 15? This is just another reason why Satan would prefer we did not read the Bible. Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. How can we meet Jesus Christ on judgment day and explain away all these verses?
Can you picture me telling Jesus Christ on judgment day that it was entirely His fault I continued to sin my entire life? Scripture is wrong when it states I am no longer a slave to sin, or I have greater power within than the outside world (1 John 4:4). I have heard many a brother explain that somehow their sinful flesh mortal bodies are still ultimately in control. Therefore, they will never stop sinning here on Earth. Does that excuse sound strangely like what Adam stated to God about it being God's fault because God gave him Eve, never acknowledging that he disobeyed God's command? Should we expect anything different if that did not work well for Adam? Our God-given free will allows us to obey the Spirit or the Flesh (worldly desires not influenced by God and depend on our natural worldly abilities). Verse 16 states perfectly what happens with either decision "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness".
Romans Chapter 7 starts with Paul stating he is talking to Jews who knew the "Law" (Mosaic Law). Paul, being a Pharisee, was well aware of the desire and importance of the Law to every Jew. They had been taught for centuries that the "Law" was how they stayed in a relationship with their God. Therefore, it should be easy to understand why most Jews would have a hard time wanting to be free from the Law (Ten Commandments). Their sacrificial system would have reminded them that they could not stop sinning by their natural efforts alone. They would have also known it only gave them a temporary stay from the wrath of God, and the "Law" never gave them any assurance of their salvation.
Romans 7:1-25
1 Do you not know,[PRESENT TENSE] brothers--for I am speaking to men who know the Law--*? 2 For example, by Law, a married woman is bound to her husband as long as he is alive, but if her husband dies, she is released from the Law of marriage. 3 So then, if she marries another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is released from that Law and is not an adulteress, even though she marries another man. 4 So, my brothers, you also died to the Law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. 5 For when we were [PAST TENSE] controlled by the Flesh(sinful nature), the sinful passions aroused by the Law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now,[PRESENT TENSE] by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the Law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. 7 What shall we say, then? Is the Law a sin? Certainly not! Indeed, I would not have known [PAST TENSE] what sin was except through the Law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the Law had not said, "Do not covet." 8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from Law, sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from Law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the Law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my Flesh (sinful nature, old man what we inherited from Adam). For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin (Adam's inputted sinful nature ,old man) living in me that does it. 21 So I find this Law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's Law (just like every Jew); 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the Law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the Law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will [FUTURE TENSE] rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's Law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the Law of sin."
There appear to be three different theological interpretations arising out of Romans Chapter Seven. The first two interpretations believe that Paul is in the present tense, describing himself as a reborn, saved disciple of Christ. They rely on his statements in verse 18, "For I have the desire to do what is good," and verse 22. "For in my inner I delight in God's law" could only be said by a disciple of Christ. They conclude, therefore, that if Paul cannot keep from sinning because of this evil thing that still lives, we, too, will be unable to stop sinning while here on Earth. The first group calls it "the dual nature of Man. "They believe they are both saints and sinners at the same time. The second group calls it "indwelling sin/humanness." That all Christ's disciples have something left in their human bodies that still entices them to sin.
I am in the third camp that believes no remnants of our old Flesh (sinful nature/old man) remain. But we are clearly warned not to put our old man back on. But Verses 7 through the first part of 24. Paul is speaking in the past tense as a Jew and not a reborn disciple, which eliminates the concept of dual nature or indwelling sin to explain why Paul continues to sin and avoids huge conflicts with explaining apparent contradictions in Scripture
1 John 2:6, the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.
1 John 3:6, No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.
1 John 3:9, No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
2 Cor. 5:17, Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Gal. 5:24, Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the Flesh (sin nature that we inherited from Adam) with its passions and desires.
Hebrews 10:26-27 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectationn of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
How can any disciple of Christ still describe himself as Paul states in verse 14, "We know that the Law is spiritual, but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin." ?
Should not any Scripture with multiple interpretations be researched to determine the truth? I am convinced that with the help of Satan, many professing Christians miss the past, present, and future tense changes in this chapter. Whether Paul describes himself as a disciple of Christ or a Jew will have profound consequences for interpreting the same verse. A more sinister reason why some professing Christians want to interpret Romans 7 as Paul speaking as a reborn disciple could be that they are trying to find Scripture to support why it is not their fault they continue to sin. During my research, a significant and intriguing fact came to light. Until Augustine came into the picture, most ancient teachers interpreted seven as Paul speaking as a Jew (non-regenerated person). Let us never forget Adam blamed God for his sinning because He gave him Eve. Unfortunately, the old blame game is still alive and much easier than accepting responsibility.
Some do not understand how "I" is used in Paul's writings without being in the present tense. That said, I still do not know how they overlook the conflict with other Scripture contradicting Paul's representation of himself as a disciple of Christ. My research into the subject stated the style is called Prosopopeia, a rhetorical device in which a speaker or writer communicates to the audience by speaking as another person or object. Prosopopoeia can also take some of the load off the communicator by placing an unfavorable point of view on the shoulders of an imaginary stereotype. The audience's reactions are predisposed to this figment rather than the communicator himself. This explanation is not my strong point. So, I will concentrate on who Paul is speaking to and clarify the verb changes to understand better what Paul is saying in the past tense, describing his life as a Jew or in the present tense as a reborn disciple of Christ.
Whatever the reasons for these conflicting views, let us look carefully at the entire chapter and watch how Paul describes himself and the changes in his tense. With the help of the Holy Spirit and other Bible verses, let us take a closer look to determine which viewpoint is correct.
We see verses 1- 4 are present tense, but verse 5 goes into the past, "For when we were controlled by the flesh (old man, sinful nature)," only to come back to the present tense in verse 6, "but now" I believe only to back to past tense in verses 7 ("I would not have known") through the first part of 24. If you miss the tense change, I see how confusion would arise because it would be assumed he was describing himself as a disciple of Christ. In reality, he is just describing every Jew's utter frustration and failure in trying to obey the Law. This frustration would also happen to us as Christ's disciples when Satan entices them back into our old, self-reliant, under the Law, old identity. But more about that subject later. I submit that verses 7-24 are just going into further painful detail about what Paul stated in
Romans 6:17-18, But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been (past tense) set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
He describes that a divorced woman would still be considered under the Law and, if remarried, would be committing adultery, as is the man who marries her. This contrasts that a widower is no longer under the Law and, therefore, can remarry without sinning and being judged for adultery.
In verses 7:7-23, all three interpretations agree that Paul describes his failed attempts and utter hopelessness to obey the Law in detail. What is critical to understand is why. In Romans seven, Paul explains why God gave Moses the Law in the first place. That is to expose sin for what it is, to entice and magnify sin, causing them to know they could never stop sinning based on their own merits. They would need Jesus Christ to be their Savior. Paul stated in Romans verse 6 (present tense as a disciple of Christ) that the Law, like sin, no longer has dominion over them "so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit."
Compare how powerful Peter and John describe themselves as a disciple of Christ.
2 Peter. 1:3-11, His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these, he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never (sin) stumble, 11, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:6, Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
1 John 2:10, Anyone who (agape unconditional sacrificial devotional) loves their brother or sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble (sin).
In a large part of chapter seven, Paul is powerless and will continue to sin, whereas Peter and John describe someone with absolute authority over Satan. Are they describing the same person? Suppose these few scriptures do not convince you Paul is describing his life as a Jew (non-Christian). How do you explain away the difference in how Paul describes Disciples of Christ (reborn Christians) in chapter eight with all the rights and privileges of being a son or daughter of God and co-heir with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? More about chapter eight later.
Here are more reasons why I cannot agree with either group one or two. If no one could delight in God's Law or a desire to do good in the OT, what motivated Abel, Noah, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Abraham, Joseph, and Moses, to name a few? What I find notable is the fact that no one who believes in dual nature or indwelling sin can explain away the vast conflict with what other verses state. They apparently skip over conflicting verses as if they are not the Word of their God. That carnal, sinful nature died with Christ on the cross, as clearly defined in chapter six and Galatians 5:24. If Paul's present body was the Temple for the Holy Spirit and it was no longer Paul who lived but Jesus Christ in him, how could he state that nothing good dwells in him? That he is still a slave to sin. The despair in the first part of verse 24, "Oh, wretched man that I am!" seems far removed from the promise.
Romans 5:1-2 "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
The question is asked, how can a man justified by Faith be so wretched or still process in-dwelling or sinful nature, no less be a Saint and sinner simultaneously? In the last part of verse 24, Paul asks who will deliver him. If he had been already saved, he would have used the past tense and said who had "delivered" me from this body of death? Talk about creating controversy if we assume that there are conflicting revelations in the Bible.
If you accept you are either dual nature or have indwelling sin as disciples, would it not imply that God had to make Adam and Eve with indwelling sin or dual-natured as a way to explain why they, too, were disobedient and ate the forbidden fruit? Does it not state in Scripture that God was pleased with his creations? Do you believe God made them dual-natured or have indwelling sin? Another significant issue for me is accepting either dual nature or indwelling sin, which relates to how Scripture states that Christ was tempted in every way we are.
Hebrews 2:14-18, 14 Since the children have flesh (based on the context of the sentence the definition of flesh is our mortal human body) and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he (Jesus) might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. 17 For this he (Jesus) had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he (Jesus) might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he (Jesus) himself suffered when he was tempted, he (Jesus) is able to help those who are being tempted."
Hebrews 4:15, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin.
If Christ the Man had all the same weaknesses as we do, was made like his brothers in every way and tempted every way we are. Would that not mean Christ our Lord and Savior would have to be dual-natured if you think like group one or have indwelling sin/humanness if you believe like group two? I know it is sacrilegious to think that. But would that not be accurate if the two first interpretations of chapter seven were correct? How could Scripture state that Christ was tested just like us if He did not have all the same imperfections as his reborn disciples? I do not see anywhere in Scripture that supports that Christ dealt with indwelling sin; no less is dual-natured. Christ was and always will be the only sinless and 100% righteous human. So, when you disprove the assumptions, do you not disprove the supposition? Satan is a powerful adversary and has led many astray. I see why it would help Satan's plan if I agree with either group one or two positions. But I do not need to give him a helping hand by giving him a stronghold that is not Biblically his.
Satan will always tempt us with his thoughts, just like he did with Adam, Eve, and even Jesus in the desert. Is this not why we are commanded to take every thought captive to Christ? How could sin be possible if we just obeyed that commandment? Disciples should never accept the lie that willfully sinning is expected or condoned here on Earth. The limited Scripture quoted in the paper shows that this is not correct. Scripture tells us to take account of our salvation while on Earth so that on judgment day, we too are not told: "Be gone; I never knew you."
So, let's see who benefits if these misunderstandings continue and we go on willfully sinning. Indeed, it is not us or God. So who is left? Surprise! It is the great deceiver himself, Satan. To win the war, we must believe (trust, rely on, and adhere to) our new identity and use our God-given powers, as clearly described in the Bible, to defeat Satan's attempts to deceive us and steal the truth.
Romans chapter eight is the definitive chapter describing what we inherit as Christ's disciples and continues to describe our new identity.
Romans 8 1-39, 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the Law of the Spirit of life set me free from the Law of sin and death. 3 For what the Law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the Flesh (sinful nature), God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the Law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the Flesh (sinful nature, old man) but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the Flesh (sinful nature) have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; 7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's Law, nor can it do so. 8 Those controlled by the Flesh (sinful nature old man) cannot please God. 9 You, however, are controlled not by the Flesh (sinful nature) but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your Spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the Flesh (sinful nature), to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the Flesh (sinful nature), you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ""Abba," Father." 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our Spirit that we are God's children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the Love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What an inheritance are we given that we did not earn or deserve? Talk about a loving God. There still exists a Christian paradox; even though Scripture states that our old Flesh (sinful nature, old man) was put to death, crucified with Christ on the cross, and given superspiritual gifts, why does it appear we are not able to stop sinning? Does that old saying, "Habits are hard to die," come to mind? How about the fact we live in a fallen world? Even Scripture states Satan is the great deceiver. A good starting point is to see how Satan enticed Adam and Eve to sin. Satan planted a thought of doubt; "did God really say you cannot eat this fruit?" Eve stated, "Yes, God did say I would die if I ate the fruit from the tree of Good and Evil." then Satan said, "No, you will not surely die, but you will become as powerful as God." She accepted his lies as her own, and you know the rest of the story. Let us not forget that they lived in Eden and walked and talked with God every evening. If Satan was so successful with Adam and Eve, why should we think he would not use the same tactic on us? Satan fills us with his lies to hide from us the fact that we are offered a new spiritual identity with supernatural superspiritual powers that I am not sure Adam and Eve had. We must never underestimate our enemy.
1 Peter 5:8, 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
John 10:10, 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Why should we be surprised to see Satan try to distort or hide completely the true meaning of Scripture to achieve his desired outcome? Satan has no problem pointing out the shortcomings of the original twelve Apostles. If they feared for their lives when the storm came (which Satan most likely caused), why should you expect not to fear? If one betrays Jesus and Peter denies knowing Him, why should we expect anything different from ourselves? Satan will continue to remind us that they did obey and wait at his tomb, knowing that Christ told them He would return in just three days. So why should we expect to obey if the Apostles were not? These men were chosen and taught by Christ himself. They witnessed his many miracles. Should we be surprised that Satan would plant the thought that we cannot expect to do any better? What Satan is describing about the Apostles is fact. But he will hide; there is a Biblical explanation as to why. Like most in the OT, they were not yet convicted by the Holy Spirit. Only after Christ ascended into Heaven did He give them the gift of the Holy Spirit. So, comparing us as Christ's disciples to the Apostles before the Pentecost is Biblically incorrect. How else do you explain their Faith in Jesus Christ to the point all but one died as martyrs?
How often have you heard" We all fall short of the glory of God"? Would it surprise you that Paul is describing who we were before being saved and not who we are as disciples of Christ? I have even heard Pastors quote that Scripture and, without any explanation, move forward with their sermon. What a disservice leaving the congregation believing He is describing disciples of Christ. Is this a wake-up call to explain where all this misinformation about our true identity, self-doubt, and fear comes from? It is not from God or Jesus Christ. Fear is a very powerful negative emotion. Could that be the reason why Scripture tells us "fear not" over three hundred times?
2 Tim 1:7 reads, For God did not give us the spirit of timidity, but the spirit of power, of Love and self–discipline.
Why would God give up his only Son to see us have no choice but to continue to be slaves to sin? Again the Bible states numerous times we will continue to do battle with Satan after we are Christ's disciples but offers us many ways to protect ourselves.
Ephesians 6:11-12, 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh (human body) and blood, but against the ruler, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
If the reason we sin is because there is still something evil inside us, why would Scripture tell us to put body armor on to keep it out? Why would it say our struggle is not against flesh (human body) and blood? It is becoming more apparent just how powerful our adversary is.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “3.For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
If we live under mercy and grace without accepting or acknowledging our new identity, how can we expect to be any different from the Apostles before the Pentecost? Bruce Hogarth stated it perfectly on a weekend retreat many years ago: "Saving grace that does not change you will not save your soul." I have a question for everyone; to illustrate how we sometimes still do not understand all the gifts we receive as Christ's disciples. Imagine a piece of graph paper; the bottom represents 0% righteousness, and the top represents 100% righteousness in God's eyes. Please think for a moment: what percentage would God view Mother Theresa, and what percentage would God view you? Take your time; do you have an answer yet? Mother Teresa was a trick question because we cannot judge her only God. I submit to you that Scripture states you are 100%. That is true for all repentant sinners who have accepted all that was promised, including Christ's righteousness, as our own. So if God views me as already spiritually perfected and I am sitting at the right hand of my brother Jesus Christ, who happens to be sitting next to my Heavenly Father right now, why should I think differently? We are all given an opportunity to enter a new righteous (agape) relationship with God for all who have Faith (trust, rely, adhere) in His Son, Jesus Christ. For most of my adult life, Satan had me accepting the lie. I was already saved but powerless to defeat him and, by my actions, was still a slave to sin. Talk about being deceived and being totally in the dark. No more will I let Satan diminish the value of God's, Christ's, and the Holy Spirit's gifts. Our new Covenant with God and Jesus Christ freely gives us the Holy Spirit when we repent and ask for mercy and grace. So when Christ states in
Luke 1-37, For nothing is impossible for God.
I believe just that. I no longer put limits on God's power. If I truly believe in Jesus Christ, I cannot allow Satan to hide or distort the truth. Scriptures also tell us we have a greater power within than is in the outside world. We must never forget that just like Christ, the man, we have authority over Satan and all his evil spirits.
Luke 10:19, 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
James1:13-15, 13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
As reborn disciples, did our sinful, natural evil desires not die on the cross with Christ? If that is not the case, then as discussed earlier in the paper, we would have to accept that God created Adam and Eve with evil desires. I believe Adam and Eve were created with free will. Eve told God that Satan deceived her. As stated, I am in a camp that does not believe we are dual-natured or have indwelling sin after we are reborn, and our attack is now external from Satan.
You say to me, "That's great," but you have not answered why are so many professing Christians still sinning. Scripture points out that even with Jesus's disciples, the war is not over; we will be attacked 24/7 by Satan and his evil spirits. Therefore, we must be vigilant and obedient bondservants. Too many are too complacent about the war they are in and eventually stop obeying Jesus's commands. If we let our guard down second, Satan can plant his thoughts of doubt, unforgiveness, pride, fear, hatred, lust, and envy, to name a few, into our minds. We sin because we accept them and then act on them. Does not Scripture warn us not to put our old man's sinful nature back on? Being one of Christ's disciples, we have a choice and the power not to fall into Satan's traps. Knowing our true identity allows us to defeat Satan by being able to discern which thoughts are indeed ours or God's and which ones are really Satan's.
Scripture explains that we still possess free will and have not become robots to God. Imagine if you could put a computer chip in your children that would force them to obey all your wishes. Now that your children had no choice but to obey all of your rules, would you consider your children loving, trusting, appreciating, or admiring you more? God is only glorified when He sees us use our God-given gifts and free will to obey because we agape (sacrificial devotional Love) Them.
While reading this, there's a good chance you're thinking, "Ed, are you saying you are sinless?" The answer is no. There is only one sinless human, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Have I completely stopped sinning? The answer is also no. Satan is, however, finding me a much harder target. But that does not mean I am not tempted. I am in the Word and becoming more aware of how he is going to attack me and expose more and more of Satan's lies (strongholds) in my life.
I am writing this paper only two years after being reborn, so I consider myself a newbie. I am still learning to walk closer and closer to my Lord and Savior. But if Scripture states I am given the power to defeat Satan here on Earth. My goal has to be to win and stop sinning here on Earth. Doing what is expected as a disciple of Christ is just a matter of trusting in, relying on, and adhering to our new identity. Is that not what Paul stated in
Romans 8: 12-14, 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh (sinful nature), to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh (sinful nature), you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
In the King James Version, instead of "have on obligation," it says, "we are a debtor." Being a debtor in those times would have serious life-threatening possibilities if you did not pay your debts off. I have to confess that in my past, I accepted all of Satan's lies and, on judgment day, would have realized how easily I was fooled. Again, you see, I accepted Satan's lies as truth. I thought I was saved because I believed in one God and acknowledged Christ as my Savior. The whole concept of Godly sorrow, which brings repentance, Christ being my Lord and I being His servant, was not understood. There was no reason to even think I was in a war with Satan. Only after being convicted by the Holy Spirit did I start to feel the glorious message in Scripture and how much had been hidden or misunderstood. I now realize how much Satan played a role in keeping me from the truth. How confident should we be about defeating an enemy when we do not know who or what or how we will be attacked, no less what power we have at our disposal to defeat them?
Hear an example of just how lost I was before being reborn. If anyone ever hurt my family or friends, I would seek justice. Quoting from the Bible, "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" somehow made it righteous. Most of the men I knew agreed with me. Why should we not seek justice? I realize now that goes against everything Jesus Christ has taught me to do in our new covenant. I see now; Satan planted that thought of revenge was ok. Being in the Word makes it much easier to discern what sin is. I am not sure I gave unforgiveness, pride, fear, anger, bitterness, envy, jealousy, hatred, lust, and revenge their just concern. How or why should I stop doing something if I am unaware it is wrong? If you had asked me if I was a murderer, I would have stated, "Absolutely not." But then I read
1 John 3:15, Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.
You know, I disliked some people, and if I was being honest, yes, I did hate some people. So yes, I was a murderer. Now, if I take the time to list all my past sins, this paper would make "War and Peace" look like a short read in comparison.
<