More on Sin in the Flesh

"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (Romans 7: 18)

There is no perfecting ourselves in our broken selves.

We do not need self-improvement, we need an improved, better self.

AA claims that members get "reborn", but in reality, the program induces people to make up  a false god, one out of one's own conception, then try to rely on this God for more power.

We do not need more power to do better in our own efforts.

We need to give up our efforts and let Him work and through us:

"for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh," (Philippians 3: 3)

We do not rest in our efforts. We do no trust in the symbols of the Old Covenant, but glory in the New Covenant, in Christ Jesus (risen and glorified at the right hand of God the Father), who is our righteousness, who ministers on our behalf by the power of an endless life.

The part which no one had explained to me, and which I fear many preachers still do not understand, is that sin still dwells in our flesh, and the tendency toward sin does not go away.

There is no good thing in our flesh -- no good thing at all.

But we are not called to live in the flesh, but to walk in the Spirit:

"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." (Romans 8: 13)

To live through the Spirit means that we walk in the light of God's grace, not our works:

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)

We cannot walk in the Spirit of we are still under law:

"1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5: 1-4)

 

We cannot receive the full power of the Gospel if we do not recognize that the ordinances against us have been fulfilled:

 

"13And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it." (Colossians 2: 13-15)

 

Most people do not see the deep revelation in this verse, which posits that Satan uses God's own law against us to condemn us.

 

Does this statement sound heretical? Check out this scene:

 

"1And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. 2And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. " (Zechariah 3: 1-4)

 

Satan stood before God to condemn us for our unrighteousness. Now, God does not dismiss the devil arbitrarily. He answers every demand through the Cross, where every sin is paid for, and God's righteousness is accorded to us.

 

Yet we will still see sinful thoughts and emotions in our body. Then steps in evil cults like Alcoholics Anonymous, which teaches people to condemn themselves perpetually as alcoholics, to identify with the sin in their flesh.

 

The solution to breaking free of any sin in our lives begins and ends with the Cross, where all our sins were paid for, and our identification with sin (status as well as actions) ends forever as we are then dead to sin but alive before God in Christ (Romans 6: 11-12)

 

The sin in our flesh will still be there. Instead of feeling condemn, we get to praise God for taking away the condemnation, shame, and reproach of these sinful feelings and tendencies.

 

Hallelujah!