Sin or the Body of Sin?
2004-03-22 21:11
The Bible says, "Of them the proverbs are true: 'A dog returns to its vomit,' and, 'A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud (2 Peter 2:22).'" A dog vomits when it is sick to its stomach, and then it eats its vomit. A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud because it is just a sow.
Many people feel glad about their redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and thank and praise God, but then they are alienated from Christ and fall away from grace. They have a form of godliness but deny its power; only their hypocrisy remains. That's because they have begun in the Spirit but are trying to attain their goal by the flesh.
Sin comes from the body of sin. The body of sin must be done away with so that we might be set free from sin. The word of truth says, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7)."
Only when the dog and the sow die and a sheep is born again, we can be Christ's people. The dog and the sow means our old self. We can be set free from sin only when we put off our old self--the dog and the sow--and put on our new self--the sheep.
It is written, "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)." Here "its passions" mean the dog, and "its desires" mean the sow. If anyone has not crucified the flesh with the dog and the sow, he can never be cleansed from his past sins. The Bible says, "But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins (2 Peter 1:9)."
This is the goal of faith, the salvation of souls that is fulfilled between Christ and sinners: that the body of sin should be done away with, and we should no longer be slaves to sin.
The Bible testifies about it, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 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 (Romans 8:22-23)."
If the gospel of the forgiveness of sins is preached in the whole world, then the eternal gospel of the wiping out of sins will be prophesied again about every nation and tribe and language and people. This testimony has been bound up and sealed up. It is the treasure of the Most Holy Place that has been kept until God permits.
The Bible prophesied, "Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion (Isaiah 8:16-18)." God makes this happen to only Christ and the children God has given him so that they can be signs and symbols in those who will inherit salvation. After God makes all his people, whom he foreknew, know the Lord of redemption, the eternal gospel will be prophesied again.
The Bible says, "who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1 Timothy 2:6)." And also, "the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience--concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:8-10)."
Therefore, there still remain those whose body of sin will be done away with, who will no longer be slaves to sin and enter God's rest. It is written, "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His (Hebrews 4:9-10)."
Those who will enter the eternal rest should do the works of God with the Lord, as he said, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working (John 5:17)." This is the works of God: we should believe in the Son of God and by the Spirit discipline our body and bring the deeds of the body into subjection so that even though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man can be renewed day by day.
It is sure that the eternal rest of the seventh day remains for only those who do their works for six days. God spoke to us by the Holy Spirit, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11)."
After the body of sin is done away with... Amen. Thank you, Lord.
The least brother, Kim Yun-gu.
Many people feel glad about their redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and thank and praise God, but then they are alienated from Christ and fall away from grace. They have a form of godliness but deny its power; only their hypocrisy remains. That's because they have begun in the Spirit but are trying to attain their goal by the flesh.
Sin comes from the body of sin. The body of sin must be done away with so that we might be set free from sin. The word of truth says, "For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:6-7)."
Only when the dog and the sow die and a sheep is born again, we can be Christ's people. The dog and the sow means our old self. We can be set free from sin only when we put off our old self--the dog and the sow--and put on our new self--the sheep.
It is written, "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)." Here "its passions" mean the dog, and "its desires" mean the sow. If anyone has not crucified the flesh with the dog and the sow, he can never be cleansed from his past sins. The Bible says, "But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins (2 Peter 1:9)."
This is the goal of faith, the salvation of souls that is fulfilled between Christ and sinners: that the body of sin should be done away with, and we should no longer be slaves to sin.
The Bible testifies about it, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 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 (Romans 8:22-23)."
If the gospel of the forgiveness of sins is preached in the whole world, then the eternal gospel of the wiping out of sins will be prophesied again about every nation and tribe and language and people. This testimony has been bound up and sealed up. It is the treasure of the Most Holy Place that has been kept until God permits.
The Bible prophesied, "Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion (Isaiah 8:16-18)." God makes this happen to only Christ and the children God has given him so that they can be signs and symbols in those who will inherit salvation. After God makes all his people, whom he foreknew, know the Lord of redemption, the eternal gospel will be prophesied again.
The Bible says, "who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1 Timothy 2:6)." And also, "the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience--concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:8-10)."
Therefore, there still remain those whose body of sin will be done away with, who will no longer be slaves to sin and enter God's rest. It is written, "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His (Hebrews 4:9-10)."
Those who will enter the eternal rest should do the works of God with the Lord, as he said, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working (John 5:17)." This is the works of God: we should believe in the Son of God and by the Spirit discipline our body and bring the deeds of the body into subjection so that even though our outward man perishes, yet the inward man can be renewed day by day.
It is sure that the eternal rest of the seventh day remains for only those who do their works for six days. God spoke to us by the Holy Spirit, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience (Hebrews 4:11)."
After the body of sin is done away with... Amen. Thank you, Lord.
The least brother, Kim Yun-gu.
