The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it. Unless one's family expresses a desire to live upon spiritual principles we think we ought not to urge them. We should not talk incessantly to them about spiritual matters. They will change in time. Our behavior will convince them more than our words. We must remember that ten or twenty years of drunkenness would make a skeptic out of anyone. (AA, pg 83)
This passage makes no sense when a man has an understanding of all that Jesus has done for us at the Cross.
The spiritual life is not something that a mortal man creates on his own in the first place. If the Twelve Step program claims that we have been "reborn", then how does all of this talk about working a spiritual program fit in?
The Bible could not be clearer: flesh and spirit, man's effort and God's work, cannot mix:
"6For the mind set on
the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward
God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able
to do so,8and those who are in
the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8: 6-8)
And also
"For 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." (Galatians 5: 17)
"Flesh" is more than sin, but anything that speaks of human effort, human initiative, actions which spring from self, instead of our resting in Christ, and letting His life live through u s.
And there we come to the bigger problem associated with this concept of "we have to live this life."
The Christian life is not an "it", not a program, not a purpose or mindset.
Life is a Person: Jesus Christ:
"10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10)
and then
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me." 9John 14: 60
Paul affirms for us that He is our life:
"0I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2: 20-21)
To the Colossians, Paul reminds them:
"1If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory." (Colossians 3: 1-3)
Our life on this earth is Christ. He does not give us life, He gives us more than just help to live life -- He is Life, the Light of the World and the Wisdom which holds all things together.
We are not called to do more, but rather to believe on Him (John 6: 29), and as we see Him in greater fullness, growing in grace and knowledge of Christ and Him Crucified (2 Peter 3: 18), then He leads us in all things.
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