Those Who Remove Their Nature
2006-07-29 12:53
Those who unite with Jesus who came into the world in the nature of man--men are by nature children of wrath. Only those can know that they died in Adam, and they can be crucified with Jesus. The gospel, the voice of the Son, can be heard only by the dead.
It is written, "I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live." (John 5:25). And also, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1). And the Bible says, "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:13-15).
Therefore, without removing the old nature, one cannot unite with the new nature. It is written, "After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!" (Romans 11:24).
The Bible says, "among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:3-5).
Therefore, those who did not do away with the old nature, not uniting with him in his death, cannot abide in the new nature, the love of God. It is written, "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection." (Romans 6:5). And also, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16).
Only those who passed through the old commandment can abide in the new commandment. Therefore, only those who passed through the cross which killed the old man, and whose body of sin were done away with, can abide in the new commandment of love.
It is written, "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24).
If anyone says he lives according to the nature of the Spirit, without removing the nature of the flesh, it is a lie. Those who live according to the flesh can never live according to the Spirit.
Therefore, for condemnation and curse, Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house, and for redemption and love, Christ Jesus was faithful as a son in God's house. The nature of the flesh is death and curse, but the nature of the Spirit is life and love.
The Bible surely says, "If they had been thinking of the country they had left (the nature of the flesh), they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one (the nature of the Spirit). Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:15-16).
Only those who have been cursed through condemnation--the end of the law--can be blessed through redemption--the beginning of the Spirit.
Therefore, if anyone says he follows the Lord, without denying himself and taking up his cross, it is all a lie. Lord! Now this world is full of liars who live according to the flesh, saying they live accroding to the Spirit.
It is written, "...when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'" (2 Timothy 2:19). Thank you, Lord.
It is written, "I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live." (John 5:25). And also, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins." (Ephesians 2:1). And the Bible says, "And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2:13-15).
Therefore, without removing the old nature, one cannot unite with the new nature. It is written, "After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!" (Romans 11:24).
The Bible says, "among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:3-5).
Therefore, those who did not do away with the old nature, not uniting with him in his death, cannot abide in the new nature, the love of God. It is written, "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection." (Romans 6:5). And also, "And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him." (1 John 4:16).
Only those who passed through the old commandment can abide in the new commandment. Therefore, only those who passed through the cross which killed the old man, and whose body of sin were done away with, can abide in the new commandment of love.
It is written, "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24).
If anyone says he lives according to the nature of the Spirit, without removing the nature of the flesh, it is a lie. Those who live according to the flesh can never live according to the Spirit.
Therefore, for condemnation and curse, Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house, and for redemption and love, Christ Jesus was faithful as a son in God's house. The nature of the flesh is death and curse, but the nature of the Spirit is life and love.
The Bible surely says, "If they had been thinking of the country they had left (the nature of the flesh), they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one (the nature of the Spirit). Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:15-16).
Only those who have been cursed through condemnation--the end of the law--can be blessed through redemption--the beginning of the Spirit.
Therefore, if anyone says he follows the Lord, without denying himself and taking up his cross, it is all a lie. Lord! Now this world is full of liars who live according to the flesh, saying they live accroding to the Spirit.
It is written, "...when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.'" (2 Timothy 2:19). Thank you, Lord.
