WE ARE NOT IN HEAVEN YET

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-13)

Devotion 27 of 37

IF YOU LIVE AFTER THE FLESH

The tendency to philosophize about ones status in Christ is most remarkable. Although God has affirms He is able to keep us from falling, some live their entire lives in fear and dread of falling, as though that affirmation had never been made. They read their Bibles with no eye for the promises. They never hear the consoling words of a beneficent Father, rejoice in the intercessions of a present Spirit, or leap at the thought of a leading and interceding Savior. These timorous souls spend their time philosophizing about their own weakness, the power of the old serpent, and whether or not they are strong enough or good enough to enter heaven. To aid them, men develop bodies of theology that support that way of thinking, thus enabling them to remain in bondage to fear.

On the other extreme, although God has shouted warnings about falling to those He Himself calls His people, some live their entire lives as though such words had never been spoken. When they read their Bibles, their eyes never fall upon these solemn warnings. They are always viewed as being for the other person, or, in their opinion, the pretender, or some hypocritical soul who is feigning a profession of faith. They see themselves as beyond any real danger, and in no need of such Divine assertions–so how could they possibly be true? And, to aid them, men concoct bodies of theology that affirm there really is no need to be concerned about falling, or being rejected, or failing to obtain the promise. Such things are just not possible. That is what THEY say.

Both of these extremes are fundamentally dishonest and remarkably foolish. They both require the removal of vast portions of Scripture God has inspired, and placed in the hands of HIS people. They both demand that when men speak, they eliminate from their vocabulary and from their phraseologies, expressions coming from the mouth of God. Both of these extremes allow men to handle the word of God as though it was within their rights to bend it to suit their own perspective, and explain it so as though it was given to buttress what they believe. Whatever statement or section of God's Word will not fit into their theological system, or into their view of things, is ignored, distorted, and subjected to lengthy explanations that make it irrelevant to believers.

These are very real conditions existing all about us. Every day professed Christians take up arms against one another, doing battle over certain statements of Scripture concerning which they are in serious contention. When they wrangle, they often reason like this. If one person speaks of the danger of falling away, the other will site texts of Scripture that affirm God's protection of the believer, and the upholding of the trusting one. If another person declares the believer is kept by the power of God, or the invincibility of faith and the guarantee of it overcoming the world, an opponent will shout back to him the texts that warn men of falling away. There is not a day that passes in this confused world where such bantering is not taking place.

The irony of the situation is that God has spoken on both subjects. He has NOT declared His mind on keeping the saints, then left us to reason about whether or not that is possible or probable. On the other hand, He has not declared His mind on the possibility falling from His favor, then left us to waffle between confidence and dread, pondering the possibility of probability of ourselves falling. Instead, God has spoken with remarkable clarity on both matters. His words are not to be compared, but believed. There is no contradiction in them, for God is not capable of contradiction. If they seem to be negating each other, then reason that they came from the same God, were inspired by the same Spirit, and are found in the same Scripture. They MUST be true. They MUST be believed. They MUST be acted upon. If this is not true–absolutely true–the reader becomes a god, attempting to displace the Living God, who dared to speak in a way that contradicted human perception. Be clear about this. When God speaks about keeping power, you had better believe Him, and hold your hand over your mouth if you are tempted to suggest there is anything about His word that is doubtful. Conversely, when God speaks about falling, or coming short, or being cut off, you had better believe Him, and also hold your hand over your mouth if you are tempted to say "but . . . "

This brings us to a word, given by God, to believers. It is a word for Christ's church, whom Jesus has called, and is "beloved of God." It is written to a people for whom thanks could be perceptibly given to God, and whose faith was spoken of throughout the world. This was a people from whom even the most prodigious Apostle could gain spiritual benefit (Rom 1:7-11). There is a tone of solemnity in this passage that cannot be successfully denied or neutralized.

"But IF the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For IF ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but IF ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:11-14).

These words leave no room for ASSUMING the Spirit of Jesus is dwelling in you. Nor, indeed, do they remotely suggest that the continued presence of the Spirit within the believer is static or cannot be interrupted. These are NOT a description of life BEFORE we were in Christ and life AFTER we are in Christ. Rather, it is a declaration of certain inviolable circumstances. Whatever you may think of faith, or being in Christ, neither faith nor unity with Jesus will take you beyond the sound of these words. Neither will bring you to a point where you will no longer ponder their weight and learn from their teaching. If you are in Christ, these words are spoken to you. In fact, they are ONLY spoken to those in Christ.

Notice, if the Spirit is DWELLING, or "living" (NIV), in you, He will give life to your "mortal bodies." This is not speaking of the resurrection of the dead, for those bodies are immortal ones, not mortal (1 Cor 15:53-54). This is speaking of spiritual life, where our bodies are used for the glory of God–given in service to Him. This clearly shows the necessity and criticality, therefore, of a sanctified life. If God has provided the Spirit to live within His children, for the purpose of enlivening their bodies for His glory, you can rest assured holiness is necessary. Such life is not taken for granted, but believers are told it is possible only "IF" the Spirit is living, or remaining, in them.

The Spirit then appeals to our reasoning by stating the real situation. We owe nothing to the flesh, that is, our unregenerate part–the part traced back to Adam. It may call out for our attention, but we owe nothing to it. We are not obligated to hearken to its cries, or give it what it demands. Such a statement has no meaning whatsoever if we do not have to contend with the cries of the flesh, or struggle against its demands.

Now, believers are told IF they live according to the "flesh," or the ‘sinful nature" (NIV), they will "die." This word cannot be spoken to those who are NOT in Christ, for they are already "dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1-2). Before men are in Christ, they are both "dead" and the "children of wrath by "nature"–just by virtue of being a member of the human race. If you are in Christ, God says to YOU. "If you live according to the flesh, you will die." Do not shout back to God that you cannot live in the flesh, or that you cannot die. And if you cannot shout that back to God, you need not say such things to us either. Do not attach a meaning to "die" that neutralizes this text. Dying is here the antithesis of living. It is the opposite of the state into which the Spirit of God leads us. From the standpoint of your experience, life has not yet been finalized. You still can be led into a state of death by YOUR flesh. That is precisely why this warning is given by the Lord. Some men insinuate by their theology that if YOU live according to the flesh you will NOT die. That sounds like something suggested by Satan. God says YOU will! Take the Word of God seriously, close your mouth, and crucify your flesh. Your heart will confirm this is the proper thing to do.

Believers are also told, "but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live" (NASB). How must it sound to God, who is privy to all of our discussions, when men respond by saying "I do not need to live! I am already alive! I have already received life from God, and there is no danger of me not living!" Such a person is a fool–and willingly so. God has spoken! If you are to "put to death the deeds of the body," then there remains in YOU remnants of your fallen nature that can assert themselves. They compete with your life in Christ, and must be put to death. He does not say they are already put to death, or that the Spirit will put them to death for you. He says YOU put them to death BY the Spirit. To be precise, "if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you WILL live" (NIV). That is how GOD said it. We have no interest whatsoever in any competing statement.

A Divine guarantee accompanies these solemn words, and it is glorious. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (v 14). The Spirit is a marvelous Leader. If you follow Him, yielding to His leading, you are a son of God. This is a revealed aspect of your sonship, and is not to be viewed as competitive with other statements on the matter (John 1:12; Phil 2:15; 1 John 3:1-2). You gain the advantage when you take this text into your heart, embrace it heartily, and live with it in your conscience.

PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I ask for grace to take Your word into my heart with no reservation, modification, doubt, or fear.

-- Tomorrow: THE GLORY IS DEPARTED --