Post by Ben on Aug 5, 2014 1:55:40 GMT
"These are lessons we must be taught from above. They do not, and never could, come from within. Within our natural hearts and flesh is only darkness and ignorance. Paul told the Galatians (5:17)— "The FLESH lusteth against the SPIRIT...these are contrary one to another." It is to the Romans he explains this subject most fully and deeply. Romans 7 should be prayerfully studied over and over, till we clearly comprehend the mind of the Spirit, and see ourselves for what we really are— "In my flesh dwelleth NO GOOD THING... I see a law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity (slavery) to the law of sin IN MY MEMBERS" (vs. 18-23).
This is the most deadly, most shameful, most pitiful slavery of all—and yet all mankind are deluded and willing slaves of the flesh, and they fiercely resent and reject God's offer of freedom from it. Paul continues in chapter 8—"If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (v. 13).
And in chapter 13: "Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (v. 14). And describing the very few true believers among all the pretenders: those few who are pleasing to God and in the Way of Life (Gal. 5:24)— "They that ARE Christ's have crucified the flesh with ALL its affections and lusts." The "affections and lusts" of which he speaks, which the faithful have put entirely away, are all the things that are forbidden by, and controlled by, the commands we have considered and are considering. Here is a clear test. Have we crucified the flesh? Are we Christ's?—or just of those who say, Lord, Lord."
(Be Ye Transformed, Volume 2, page 235)
This is the most deadly, most shameful, most pitiful slavery of all—and yet all mankind are deluded and willing slaves of the flesh, and they fiercely resent and reject God's offer of freedom from it. Paul continues in chapter 8—"If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify (put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (v. 13).
And in chapter 13: "Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof" (v. 14). And describing the very few true believers among all the pretenders: those few who are pleasing to God and in the Way of Life (Gal. 5:24)— "They that ARE Christ's have crucified the flesh with ALL its affections and lusts." The "affections and lusts" of which he speaks, which the faithful have put entirely away, are all the things that are forbidden by, and controlled by, the commands we have considered and are considering. Here is a clear test. Have we crucified the flesh? Are we Christ's?—or just of those who say, Lord, Lord."
(Be Ye Transformed, Volume 2, page 235)