The Christians embrace of the death of self as implied and directed in God's Word. Few understand the internal blessing of the cross in a intellectual and faithful sense never knowing a deliverance from what they are in the flesh. A Freedom from our sin nature here in this place, made possable by our own faiths accounting of the death of our Adam nature with Christ Himself. Why do we so often miss this doctrine [teaching] in scripture? "Likewise [as Christ Jesus] reckon yourself to be dead indeed unto sin" Rom:611.
We tend to occupy our minds with what we once were, [in the flesh] and, apparently [by our sinful life], are not now; or what we ought to be and seem not to be at the moment. Comparing ourselves with ourselves, allowing ourselves to live life in the unconsciousness programed senses of the mind of the flesh is a fatal hindrance to finding present rest in the blessed mind and will [our completed identity and presence before God in Christ] of our Father.
Spiritually speaking we tend to live unconsciously, in other words we are often just thinking of ourselves, as the explanation of ourselves; which is simply identification with the mind or emotions or what we were; who is the man God judicially declared death unto. These thoughts are the reasons for the profound weakness and worldliness of many Christians and the apparent need for our churches to act as cultural fellowship and social centers which happily cater to the profound self-centered neediness of the modern man. "God forbid that I should glory, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I to the world" Gal. 6:14.
Very few seem to know that the spiritual nature or the spiritual life is simply a knowledgeable recognition of the mind of God toward us as explained in scripture; any other source is simply invalid in explanation. His internal Cross and its application too us found there is all of faith and is found in knowing of Christ's propitiation as a representative of mankind or substitution, a replacement for us in The Fathers mind; as He has deemed the natural Adam man dead within His Son's sacrifice. A strictly judicial measure freeing us judicially for Him to acquire us into His perfection eternally.
We are inclusive [spiritually] co-presence [known by faith], as described in the Word by that act. "You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit" Rom. 8:9. We have been spiritually incorporated into One who is not here, but in Heaven. Which we practically enjoy by faith only. The learning to trust in scriptural knowledge is all important to honor Him. What we are in God's mind is found in Him [Christ Jesus] only as His Word commands. Never in who we think we are, ought to be, or what we do! Why can we not see this weakness of character is usually simply our own spiritual ignorance. "But I see another law in my members [flesh] warring against the law of my mind [what I know I should be] and bringing me into captivity of the law of sin" Phi; 1:21; Rom. 7:23.
Yes the Spirit is working in all believers at all times. But many think because they have the truth [the external cross] that they are in practical reality of the Christian life. No not necessarily, as God has made it so the Holy Spirit is yielded to as the Cross, with its crucifixion of the flesh and the world, has become the attitude of the heart.. Oh we may know scripture even reckon on its truth, but there is no growth into His internal Cross beyond the measure of the Holy Spirit's work in us. And the Holy Spirit is given power over life's circumstance by making known the Cross with its internal crucifixion [the reckoning by faith of our own death with Him] of the flesh and the world. However in God's grace provision only great weakness on our part [need] will show us the way to a life of freedom from the flesh. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me 2 Cor. 12:9.
The Cross of Christ and its true meaning is almost never taught in churches today. Why? Because first of all it is offensive. The truth seems to be [by my observation] that most teachers do not even know its reality internally in there own lives, so how can they ever share it? The love we could have for the savior and all that He has given is often captured by our former course of life, or our pre-programed flesh mind. We have left His thoughts in a closed unstudied and dusty bible, leaving it to our old nature to decide its meaning, what we feel and think, to guide the way. Therefore we remain external, dependent upon the Cross for salvation and comfort but not for life.
Those who expect the work of God [the Cross of His Son] to be considered in a earthly way do not know the mind of the Father. They have not learned how He considers them by the death of His Son as a internal work. Therefore He must disrupt any attempts to settle here in the mind of the flesh. Because in God's reckoning we have nothing here, all is of the internal spirit, all is heavenly, all is spiritual. Any service or works must emanate from that mind [heavenly positional identification] or remain earthly and of no true godly value.
As we increase our knowledge and apprehension of His internal work there is a constant sense that we are not practically up to what we have received. Hence the enjoyment of fellowship and the fulfillment of service is not the measure of the Christian life. It is the way we surmount the difficulties in our path, and not the enjoyment of the truth, which defines our position and identification. This internal Cross work is only known and maintained by a diligent and studious pursuit. Alas few will pursue this path and it is seldom taught as the requirement is.... "always being delivered unto death for Jesus' sake". 2 Cor. 4:11.
No comments:
Post a Comment