Arguments and High Things Part 2

 

After our most recent post, I had the opportunity to consider some biblical references that shine additional light on the topic.

 

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (of the flesh)  but mighty in God for PULLING DOWN STRONGHOLDS, casting down arguments and EVERY HIGH THING that exalts ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ". The capitalized words speak of an assignment, influence and assault brought to impair the Lord's attempt to lead the Christian into obedience in Christ; to refine us to the place where we are "ready to punish all disobedience when our obedience is fulfilled". (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).

 

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places". (Ephesians 6:12). Another reference showing Satan, and his kingdom, assaulting our souls.

 

"When a strong man, FULLY ARMED, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace. But when a stronger than he comes upon him, and overcomes him, he takes from him all his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoils". (Luke 11:21,22). Just prior to these verses, Jesus is discussing His "casting out demons by the finger of God".  Jesus cast demons out of folks who had been overcome by them. So shall believers (Mark 16:17). Jesus also directed Satan to be removed from His presence when He recognized the assault or influence to serve Himself as opposed to serving the Father. So must we believers.

 

I am NOT advocating hours of prayer against the adversary but as the Lord reveals it to us, remove him -  his and his kingdom's assignment to influence and assault your soul - in the name of Jesus Christ! Jesus has every intention and capability to fully arm us!

 

Remember, God himself has given us a will to freely choose whom we will serve. Once the Satanic assignment to motivate us to serve our selfish will has been removed, we must decide to follow Him. Much easier once the torment has been removed.

Arguments and High Things

2 Corinthians 10:3-6

 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. "

 

God on earth now is represented by His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. Humans are soulish beings, driven by our minds, emotions and wills. We live in a physical house: our bodies. The individual who is willing to receive the Lord's salvation in Jesus Christ, having been born again or born from above, is a new creation. New because our spirit, having been made alive by the Holy Spirit, is now able to communicate with God. He now has access to us by His Spirit. It is in the soul where we make our decisions, even the initial decision to receive Christ!  The Holy Spirit inspires our souls to be willing to receive!

 

Arguments are mental reasonings based upon an understanding of a given topic. Arguments are formed in our soul. We should understand that both God and Satan are after our soul. God for salvation of it, Satan for destruction. High things, in my understanding, are Satan's assault against our soul: torment and temptation to produce carnal arguments. Satan uses this assault to tempt us to form arguments, which we use to continue in or fall into fruitlessness. We must understand Satan's assault. We will understand if we study our bible steadfastly and attend a church that creates an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to minister: a church that reveres the Word of God, especially New Testament principles and practices.

 

If we will speak to this mountain (the high thing which stands between us and becoming a fruitful branch in Christ Jesus; the high thing which represents Satanic assault and temptation against our souls) and doubt it not in our hearts, but believe, we shall have! (Remember! We have a decision to make! Our soul is where we make the decision. Our spirit is where God dwells if we have been born again. God's Spirit in us changes not because He changes not. His Spirit in us is the Standard to live by!) With Satan's torment and temptation exposed and cast down, we (the soul) will be free to follow the Holy Spirit as He shows us how to be one with the Father and Son who are One, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ!

Gaius and Diotrephes

3 John 1-12; Ephesians 4: 11-13

This book of John starts off with John rejoicing in Gaius, who has a testimony amongst the brethern that he "walks in the truth".   Gaius faithfully "does" for the brethern and for strangers (seemingly missionaries as they went forward for His name's sake).   John says "we ought to receive such (missionaries) that we may become fellow workers for the truth". 

John then contrasts Gaius and his willingness to receive and do, with Diotrephes, writing that "Diotrephes loves to have the pre-eminence among them".  He does not receive John's ministry nor does he receive other brethern, expelling from the church those who wish to receive them.  Diotrephes in his pre-eminence is acting foolishly by not receiving John's - and others' - ministries. Certainly the apostle's, and others', ministry in Christ would be for Diotrephes and his church's benefit; their equipping and edification in Christ!

This attitude holds back the body of Christ. Denominationalism is notorious for listening only to those of their fellowship.  Diotrophes' attitude appears unveiled.  He sounds rude and controlling.  Others nicely say "no, thanks".   Either way, their carnal authority is holding back the body of Christ from "coming into unity in the faith, and of knowledge of the Son of God; to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4: 11-13). 

Born of God and Cannot Sin Part 2

 

I John 3:2-9

"He who has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he CANNOT sin, because he has been born of God".

 

Our most recent study discussed "born" as being synonymous with "made".  As we consider that we are being "made of God" as a potter would fashion and form a vessel, this portion of scripture becomes clearer.

 

"Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness". This reminds me, in the book of Matthew, 7:21-23, where many who prophesied, cast out demons and did many wonders in His name were told: "I never knew you; depart from Me you who PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS". These folks were content to pursue spiritual gifts, given to each one for the profit of all, but, it appears they were not eager to let God finish His work in them.

 

"Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him". I Peter 4:1,2 states,"therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, ARM YOURSELF ALSO WITH THE SAME MIND, FOR HE WHO HAS SUFFERED IN THE FLESH HAS CEASED FROM SIN, so that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God". We must not refuse Him who speaks from heaven for as He speaks He is revealing Himself and the Father to us, so that we may know Him and not sin.

 

"He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil". The soul of man is a battlefield. With it we "bless God and curse man".  The scripture clearly depicts the salvation of the soul as a progressive work.  The soul that has received the Lord's salvation is Christ-like much like the young person who has received acceptance to medical school is a doctor: all the resources of  heaven, as with the medical college, are at the disposal of the accepted one to reach an expected end; completion in Christ for the soul and the ability to help people in physical need for the physician. In both cases, it takes education and diligent attention to fulfill. As we sin after we have received His salvation, we show that in those areas, Satan still exercises influence in our soul. As we receive Him who speaks from heaven, His ways of doing things overwhelms Satan's temptation and we DECIDE not to sin. We are being MADE OF GOD and WE DO NOT SIN! I am impressed that as we believe in Him through the Word He has made alive to us, we will be one with the Father and the Son, who are one. Jesus desire to be one with His Father was the strength of His sinless life!

  

George Harlow

(609) 312-1178

Born of God and Cannot Sin

1 John 3:2-9

 

 

"Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we SHALL BE, but we know WHEN HE IS REVEALED, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. WHOEVER ABIDES IN HIM does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you, He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. WHOEVER HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD DOES NOT SIN, for His (JESUS') seed remains in him; and HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD".

 

First of all, we must differentiate between "born again" and "born of God". When an individual is born again, he/she has been forgiven their sins, and made a new creature, a new CREATION in Christ Jesus! One of the definitions of born in this discussion is "to be made". We understand that Jesus has been likened to a potter, we being like clay. The potter fashions and forms the clay into what he desires. We understand that Jesus is "a wise masterbuilder". A wise builder does not build the 3rd floor structure of a building before he builds the 2nd; in fact, he can't. Nor does Jesus. He teaches us, revelation by revelation, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to our newly created spirit. When John says, "Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him", I feel he is saying that whoever practices lawlessness has either rejected His revelation which comes by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit OR has not yet heard in the spirit. If it has not yet been revealed to you, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to overcome. As He reveals Himself to us, we KNOW more of Him and are empowered to fall not short. When we sin, we show that, at least in that activity, that we do not know Him. When we SEE what He reveals we are empowered to perform that in righteousness. Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He was tempted in every way we are, yet without sin. He wanted nothing more than to be one with His Father. The result: a sinless life.

 

As we seek, knock and ask, His holiness is revealed from faith to faith and we, by necessity, are undone. He reveals Himself to us: we see Him, we know Him and He is making us like Him!

To Be Partakers Of The Divine Nature

2 Peter 1:1-11

"Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, 'to those who have attained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust'.

 

'But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, ADD to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverence, to perseverence godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness love. FOR IF THESE THINGS ARE YOURS AND ABOUND, YOU WILL BE NEITHER BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things YOU WILL NEVER STUMBLE; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ'."

 

This portion of scripture discusses the transformation of the saint from new birth to completion or maturity in Christ Jesus. These people have attained like precious faith and have been cleansed of their old sins. Yet they must add things to the faith they have attained: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverence, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Lacking these fruits indicates short-sightedness: you are not looking past the prayer to receive your sins forgiven to see the end of your faith: the salvation of your soul. The entrance to be supplied to you into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ comes with your diligence to make your call and election sure, becoming a partaker of the divine nature.

 

Peter called himself a bondservant. What do you call yourself?

mph501@yahoo.com to discuss this or previous posts

Tradition or Truth: By Which Shall We Live?

 Mark 7:5-9

 

"Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, 'Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?' He answered and said to them, 'Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctines the commandments of men'. 'For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men- the washing of pitchers and cups and many other such things you do'. He said to them, 'All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition'."

 

The Jewish people were well aware of God's supernatural hand: the plagues that ultimately freed them from Egyptian rule; daily manna from Heaven to feed them in the wilderness; a promised land where they would lack nothing. Yet with all the good He had done, their hearts were far from Him. When presented with their Messiah, they mostly rejected Him, instead seeking to kill the One who could save them from their sins. The Pharisees and scribes - those who studied the Law and prophets and were in the best position to know when He had come, were the worst offenders. They served themselves and were unfruitful in Him.

 

We, the church, comprised of the ministers as well as the rest of the body, will be tempted in the same way. We must speak to the mountain that would stand between us and becoming a fruitful branch in Christ Jesus, saying unto that high thing which is any/every self-serving notion that would keep us from walking as He walked, "be removed, be cast into the sea, and doubt it not in our hearts, but believe it, and we shall have IT" - freedom from the bondage of self-service.