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Becoming a Christian Erroneous Views A Disciple Must
Warfare of Disciples Headship of Christ Realize God's Kingdom
1. The Flesh
The flesh in this
case, is that part of us that stems from our soul and our bodies; and
reflects our old manner of life, as we were in Adam. The soul is made up
of our will, our emotions, our intellect etc. our bodies possess the 5
senses. Even though we have been born again and are new creatures in
Christ; we can still act like we did before we got saved.
Judicially:
God sees Christians as crucified with Christ, our old man ( what we were
as a fallen people in the community of Adam, with him as the head of ) was
put to death when Christ died on the cross. Jesus Christ called the last
Adam ( 1 Corinthians 15:45 ) instituted a new community of which He is the
Head of; born-again Christians are a part of this community and possess a
new spiritual nature. ( the new man ) For a Christian to live
victoriously, he or she must understand and apply these truths in every
day living. A Christian can choose to live in the flesh ( live carnally )
and reflect 1st. Adam ( sinful Adam ) or walk in the spirit and reflect
last Adam ( righteous Jesus ).
WE MUST RECOGNIZE
a.
The Old Man is Judicially Crucified ( What we were in Adam )
Romans 6:3-12 Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into his death?
4. Therefore we are
buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by
the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5. For if we have
been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in
the likeness of his resurrection:
6. Knowing this,
that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7. For he that is
dead is freed from sin.
8. Now if we be
dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9. Knowing that
Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more
dominion over him.
10. For in that he
died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11. Likewise reckon
ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
12. Let not sin
therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts
thereof.
b.
Putting on and putting off
Ephesians 4:22 that
you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows
corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,
23 and be renewed
in the spirit of your mind,
24 and that you put
on the new man which was created according to God, in righteousness and
true holiness.
The phrase putting
off the old man and putting on the new man is one of exchanging clothes
and refers to a change in character in light of a change in identity,
having moved from our old existence ( without God, dead in sin see
Ephesians 2:1-12 ) to a new existence ( with God, in righteousness see
Ephesians 1:1-14 )
The old man refers
to a life style consistent with sin, but inconsistent with being in
Christ. The new man refers to a lifestyle consistent with being in Christ
and truth.
Ephesians 4:1 I,
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner
worthy of the calling with which you have been called,
A Christian must
recognize that in a legal sense our old man was crucified with Christ
And according to 2
Corinthians 5:17 he or she is a new creature.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.
-- Living Bible
2 Corinthians 5:17
When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He
is not the same any more. A new life has begun!
* A Christian must realize that he or she CAN choose to put off the
deeds of the old
man and put on
the deeds of the new.
* It requires crucifying the flesh.
HOW?
* Works of the
Flesh
Galatians 5:16-21 I
say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh.
17. For the flesh
lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are
contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18. But if you are
led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19. Now the works
of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
licentiousness,
20. idolatry,
sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish
ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21. envy, murders,
drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just
as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will
not inherit the kingdom of God.
The works of
the flesh are evident. One must be truthful and
honest with themselves, recognize that their flesh is in control and
crucify it.
HOW ?
*
Recognize when your flesh is in control. ( the work of it - above )
* By realizing that you're not the the same person you use to be.
( a new creature now )
* Recognizing that you are a child of God.
*
By the power of the Holy Spirit
*
By speaking out loud the word of God. It is written - the appropriate
scripture.
Some examples:
1.
An outburst of anger at the elderly lady at the traffic light.
Recognize
the flesh - ( its work ) Speak out loud - shut up flesh! It is written
“the
fruit of the spirit is gentleness and self control."
2. A Christian man sees a neighbor lady in a small bikini
and begins to entertain
thoughts
about her.
Jesus
said: “whoever looks at a woman to lust for her, commits adultery
in his
heart.”
What he should
do: Speak! ungodly thought leave my mind; for it is written “thou
shall not commit adultery.”
( See my study
course Christian Warfare )
*
What happens if a Christian will not correct self ?
-- American Standard
1 Corinthians
11:27-32 Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the
Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of
the Lord.
28 But let a man
examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.
29 For he who eats
and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not
discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this reason
many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would
judge ourselves, we would not be judged.
32 But when we are
judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with
the world.
Hebrews 12:6-11
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth.
7. If ye endure
chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the
father chasteneth not?
8. But if ye be
without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and
not sons.
9. Furthermore we
have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them
reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of
spirits, and live?
10. For they verily
for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our
profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11. Now no
chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness
unto them which are exercised thereby.
Vs.14 Follow peace
with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Galatians 5:24 And
they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts.
* There are many
Christians who are not walking in God’s health and blessings because
they will not judge
self.
1 Corinthians
11:27-32 ( above ) says that many were sick and some were asleep (died)
*
They failed to judge their actions - God did.
*
Sin is sin regardless if it comes from a believer or
a non-believer.
2. Satan
* Satan appeals to
our flesh ( temptations etc.)
James 1:13-15 Let
no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be
tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14. But every man
is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15. Then when lust
hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death.
*
This is one of the reasons that our flesh must be
crucified.
James 4:7 Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
*
The way to resist Satan is:
a.
Example of Lord Jesus
Matthew 4:1-4, 10-11
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted
of the devil.
2. And when he had
fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
3. And when the
tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that
these stones be made bread.
4. But he answered
and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
10. Then saith
Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt
worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
11. Then the devil
leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
b. Your Armor
Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his
might.
11. Put on the
whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil.
12. For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
13. Wherefore take
unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand.
( Read the rest of
the chapter to see what your armor is.)
* Some facts about
Satan
Blinds
Minds
2 CORINTHIANS 4:3-4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
Vs.4 In whom the
god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest
the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God,
should shine unto them.
Sinners Still Under His Rule
ACTS 26:18 To open
their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and the power of
Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance
among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Contends With
God’s People
EPHESIANS 6:12 For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual
wickedness in high places.
Called
an angel of light (A Phony)
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
Servants of the devil do the same thing. ( Wolves in
sheepskin clothing )
Phony
preachers
Leaders of worldly religious sects
1Cor.
11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be
transformed as
the
ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Satan
is defeated
Hebrews 214.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also
himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might
destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Satan’s
final doom
Revelations 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.
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