It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God's will into all of our activities. "How can I best serve Thee - Thy will (not mine) be done." These are thoughts which must go with us constantly. We can exercise our will power along this line all we wish. It is the proper use of the will. (AA, pg 85)
In the Body of Christ, we are more than "cured of alcoholism", we receive the gift of "no condemnation":
"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8: 11)
When we receive that in Christ, there is "no condemnation" (Romans 8: 1), then we can understand our new life and standing in Him:
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8: 2-4)
In Christ, we no longer identify with our fallen nature, with our dead bodies, with our old Adam identification. In the first Adam, death reigned over mankind. In the Second Adam, Christ, we all can reign in life as we receive the gifts of righteousness and grace (Romans 5: 17)
Instead of identifying with our flesh, and instead of trying to work out obedience through our own efforts, we are invited to live in newness of life, walking in the Spirit.
"5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8: 5-8)
In fact, the works of the flesh, whether we attempt to do good in our own efforts or seek our own satisfaction through our own actions, the results are death (Romans 6: 23). More specifically, Paul writes to the Galatians:
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5: 19-21)
"Drunkenness" is one of the works of the flesh, not a disease, as AA claims.
How can we rest for our efforts, then, so that we do not produce these works of the flesh. Paul explains:
"1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5: 1)
and then
"16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (Galatians 5: 16-18)
How do we walk in the Spirit, though?
Paul writes to the Romans want kind of Spirit we have received:
"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (Romans 8: 15-17)
To the Galatians, Paul writes:
"6And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." (Galatians 4: 6-7)
We are called to identify with God our Father, not some imperious " loving God as we understood Him" or distant "principal" and we are his "agents."
This same Spirit grants to us Christ Jesus living in us, who is our hope of glory (Colossians 1: 27).
Paul writes to his young charge Timothy:
"7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1: 7)
This love is God's love for us, which He demonstrated through giving His Son to die for us, to be raised for us (Romans 4: 22-23), to minister on our behalf before the Father as our High Priest (Romans 8: 31-35)
He has done all the work for us, that we may rest in Him and trust Him to care for us. As God promised in His New Covenant:
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Hebrews 8: 10-12)
When we recognize that He lives and works and moves in us, we receive His power, knowledge of His love for us (for the Holy Spirit convicts every believer of His righteousness in Christ (John 16: 8-11)), and the sound mind of wisdom is communicated to us because the Holy Spirit gives us all knowledge (1 John 2: 20, 27)
Instead of striving to be accetped before God, instead of seeking his approval, instead of working for God, God the Father invites us to rest in His Son (Matthew 11: 28-30; Hebrews 4: 8-11) and allow His Life to live through us.
Rest on His Laurels, the Finished Work of Jesus!
No comments:
Post a Comment