April

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 What is the Sabbath and how does it apply to Christians today? The Sabbath is not just a single day as in the Old Testament; it is our season of rest from religious works because of Jesus’ perfect work on the cross. 

Colossians 2:16b-17 “16 a So let no one judge you in food or in drink, b or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

Most Christians can agree to some point with the first four items listed in verse 16, but there is still a split in the body of Christ over the meaning of the Sabbath and when to observe the Sabbath. In its strictest term Sabbath is a specific day of rest proclaimed by the Law of Moses in Exodus 16:26, “Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, there will be none". The seventh day of the week was originally set aside by God from His works in Genesis 2:2, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done”. Note of interest: When God finished His work on earth at the end of the sixth day and rested on the seventh, nowhere else in the bible does it say that God started working again on anything else here on earth. He finished and is at rest from His work leaving the rest to us. There are other references in the bible for the seventh day, seventh month, and seventh year and all are related to rest from works, but Moses was the first to declare it as a holy day dedicated unto the Lord as originally stated in Exodus 16:26. There are 61 references to the Sabbath in the Old Testament and all relate to rest from works and either indicate or point to that day as a non-work holy day to God.  However, the first of 52 references in the New Testament is in Matthew 12:1 and of all people, Jesus, born under the Law allowed His disciples to break the “no work rule” by picking grain from the fields. It is obvious the disciples were not consecrating that day unto God, but did make the decision to be in the presence of Jesus. That concept was greatly misunderstood by the people in Jesus’ day and still is today. Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, and Luke 6:5, proclaim that Jesus is Lord over the Sabbath. To be in the presence of Jesus is to be in Sabbath, or “at rest” from your religious works to gain righteousness with God. In all four of the gospels Jesus is accused by the Pharisees of breaking the Sabbath because He “worked” by healing people on that day. For those Christians and non-Christians alike who chose to “fight” over which day is the Sabbath and consecrated to God, I have to ask, which one of you are going to join the Pharisees in accusation of Jesus? Since the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are to live daily in Sabbath which is rest from religious works in any effort to gain righteousness.  

It is obvious that something has changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament and Christians to a point understand what that change is; the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus which sets us free from the bondage of the Law. The problem still lies with legalists today trying to blend both Jewish law and God’s grace into their own brand of “part work/part grace religion”.  This is predominantly what Christianity looks like today, but was also a problem in Paul’s day as the Colossians were moving into Gnosticism.  Those who hold the “Sabbath” today in the strictest since know that Sunday is not the true Sabbath or seventh day of the week; it is Saturday. This is even funnier in that those Christians who chose to argue that Sunday is the Sabbath day and the true day to worship God are actually “fighting” against the very Law of Moses they are trying to uphold. Sunday rest/worship started in the United States with the Pilgrims. During the Industrial Revolution when people came out of the fields of working their own land to live and into factories to earn a living, they kept the tradition thereby leaving Sunday the most prevalent day for people to attend church and have a day of rest from the factory; end of story.  There is no other reason the majority of churches in the United States have their “main” services on Sunday other than that was the dedicated day of rest in this country for factory workers. The book of Acts is the last book the word Sabbath is used and it was the day the Jews went to synagogue and we read in Acts that is when Paul tried to teach the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection for our salvation to the Jewish people. 

It is good to rest and refresh ourselves from our natural work, and therefore, to have a rest day is good. There is a day of rest for God’s people to enter into, but under the New Covenant it is not a specified day of the week.  Nowhere in the New Testament is there a specific day set aside and called our “holy day” to enter into the Lord’s presence or go to church.  Jesus covered this when He spoke of how we will worship God in the spirit, as He told the Samaritan woman at the well in John Chapter 4. The true Sabbath and day of rest is explained in Hebrews Chapter 4 and references to the Day of our Lord which began at the death of Jesus and was consecrated at His resurrection. The day we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior is the day we enter into the Day of Rest or Sabbath from our religious works of trying to please God in effort to be in His presence. 

Verse 16 & 17 sum up this truth; everything and every law from the Old Testament is merely a shadow of things to come. Go stand outside in the sun and try to hold on to a shadow. A shadow is not real nor does it have substance. A shadow is actually the absence of light blocked by something that is real which is in the way of the light beams. Jesus is the light, as first proclaimed by Simeon as read in Luke 2:32 when Simeon saw and held baby Jesus in his arms while in the temple, and proclaimed by Jesus Himself in John 8:12 & 9:5. Christ Jesus is the complete substance of our salvation and rest from spiritual works to please God. In Him we worship God both in Spirit and in truth. When a man stands in the presence and the light of Jesus and then tries to hold his fellow believers accountable for Laws of Moses, man’s doctrines, ways of life, and so forth, what they are actually doing is casting their shadow over their fellow Christians and blocking the true light which is from Jesus. People who do this are actually making their fellow Christians look at them instead of pointing them to the true light which is from Jesus. Go to church on Sunday and or any other day your church is open to learn more of the Word of God, but most of all learn to rest in your faith in Jesus as your Lord and savior, the author and finisher of your salvation, Hebrews 5:9, 12:2.   

 If you have died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why do you subject yourself to man’s regulations of do not touch, do not taste, do not handle, only worship on this day, only wear this type of clothes, don’t wear makeup, etc? 

Colossians 2:20-23 “20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations-- 21 "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," 22 which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Verses 20-22 present a hard question which flies in the face of many Christians holding on to the doctrines of men called denominations. All of the rules and regulations, regarding our “can and can not’s”, are man made and have not come from God. Since they came from man they came from man’s mind which is enmity to God, Romans 8:7, and therefore anti-Christ, Matthew 24:24. 1 John 3:23 – 4:3 is very clear that the only commandments for us today are to believe on the name of God’s Son Jesus, and to love one another as Jesus loves us. If we keep His commandments we abide in Him, and if we follow another doctrine with rules and regulations we are following after an antichrist. If we blend a mixture of the gospel of Jesus’ perfect work on the cross with any legalism, rules, regulations, or doctrines we are actually blending the gospel of Jesus with an antichrist. I wish I could make it softer than it is, but this is life threatening. This concept and understanding is at the crux of what Paul was confronting nearly 2000 years ago in both Galatians and Colossians, and the Devil has managed to keep it alive in the minds of spiritually weak men and women through the centuries. Many Christians fall prey to keeping up their godly appearances for other Christians and people in the world, over walking in Godly principles before their Lord. A person who confesses Jesus as their Lord and Savior with the full understanding that He died for their sins, rose again and now sits at the right hand of God, has on that belief died to their own sins. Romans 6:6, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Christians are spiritually brand new; it is our minds that need renewing daily and not our spirit. How can Christians having confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior read these verses and count the blood of Jesus as “less than” and go back into don’t touch, don’t look, don’t listen, dress this way, say these things, worship on this day only, don’t do that, you must do this, etc, unless they have bought the deception of false teachings from the Devil delivered by a preacher. We are called to walk by faith and not by sight, (2 Corinthians 5:7).

In Galatians 2:20 Paul states,  have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. This “live by faith” Paul has mentioned is the faith that if I stumble into sin, Christ has paid the price for and the Devil cannot hold it against me to keep me from God. If the Devil can no longer hold you’re stumbling into sin against you, why are you allowing a man or man’s doctrine to do the same? Why do Christians strive to maintain their appearance of righteousness, instead of resting in Jesus’ righteousness? In fact Christians stumble into sin because of the law, but the power of God’s grace will help them live in His presence and absent from the call of sin. Christians striving to maintain an appearance of righteousness are actually putting on a show to the world around them about how righteous they “think” they are. It is all about show! There is not another price to be paid, it’s done! If you stumble all you have to do is get back up and keep walking in the faith of our Lord Jesus and trust in His love for you and stop leaning on your own works. If fact the more you lean on works the more likely you will fall into sinful actions, but if you are leaning on Jesus where do you think you will fall; into His arms.

Indulgence of the flesh is the primary reason man falls into a “works” mentality or lifestyle in effort to be godly; this will not work, even a little. If there is even the tiniest remote possibility that a person on their own can abstain from sin and thereby make themselves worthy of being in the presence of God, then Jesus died in vain and the Law of Moses would have not been replaced. Is it good to learn and practice godly habits as a Christian, yes? Will practicing Godly habits increase your faith, no? Hearing the word of God, (Romans 10:17) and looking into Jesus through studying the word of God, (Hebrews 12:2) coupled with the Holy Spirit revealing the word of God to you, (John 14:26)  is the only way to increase your faith. In fact we do not need more faith, we need less doubt in our lives and sin and legalism both breed doubt. The more you learn of how much God loves you; that increase of understanding will strengthen you the next time sin tries to entice you. 

I believe Christians continue to stumble and even stay in sin because they do not have the full understanding in their hearts regarding what God has done for them or the price Jesus has paid for their sins.  This is nothing more than sheer spiritual ignorance which can be overcome. Living by harsh rules in effort to destroy the power of sin over oneself only increases the sin consciousness and thereby increases the strength of sin over the flesh, (1 Corinthians 15:56). Constantly looking at what you do, and do not want to do in effort to not do it, only keeps you focused on what you do not want to do and interferes with your focused on Jesus. This is summed up best through Romans 8:5-8, 5 For those who live according to the flesh (sin consciousness) set their minds on the things of the flesh (how to overcome their sin), but those who live according to the Spirit (walking by faith), the things of the Spirit (Jesus Christ and Him crucified). 6 For to be carnally minded (thinking of things in the natural) is death, but to be spiritually minded (meditating on the things of God) is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh (working out their own salvation in their minds and living by their harsh rules) cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. (Emphasis in bold are mine) 

With God all things are possible, but I do not know how a Christian can live in the spirit without having the Holy Spirit present and allowing Him to be active in their lives. I tried for the first ten years of my born again life while attending a denomination church that did not teach about the Holy Spirit. Teaching about the Trinity and not including the power of the Holy Spirit is like trying to ride a tricycle without the front wheel. It can be done, but the rider has to stay perfectly balanced in a wheelie and constantly peddle to maintain. Where is the rest in Jesus while in that state? That is the reason works appear to be the easier way to righteousness over walking by faith because works gives you something to do, but God simply wants you to “be” in Christ 

 History shows that man has misunderstood these gifts of the fivefold ministry since they were written 2000 years ago. Men and women continue to wear these gifted offices as monikers of hierarchy commanding respect and notoriety, instead of taking on the role of servant as Jesus did when He walked on this earth. Those who lean toward insisting on being recognized and severed instead of being the one to edify and serve others is in essence saying they are better than Jesus.    

Ephesians 4: 12 – 14, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. 

In verse 11 we studied out that Jesus gave the church the fivefold ministry as gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher. Verse 12 tells us why this was done and confirms the fact that the fivefold ministry is not for rulership over the church, but rather for building up, edifying. In 1 Corinthians 12:28 when Paul is teaching about the spiritual gifts, he mentions “first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, etc. In verse 29 - 30 he indicates that not everyone is called to one of these offices, and some people use verse 12:28 to establish their take on a hierarchal church leadership. Ask yourself this, how does a church begin unless, “first”, someone hears from God to go into an area and start it, “an apostle”? How does that church grow unless someone that knows and lives the word of God, speaks into it, “a prophet”? The one starting the church could also be the one that prophesies into the church. How do the new church members grow up unless someone with the knowledge of the word of God starts teaching? What we have in verse 12:28 is the order Jesus has set forth for the building up of His church. Could someone go into an empty building and just start speaking in tongues and all of a sudden a congregation appears? If someone has a gift of administrations and there is only a couple of people attending the service of a newly started church, what church business are they going to administrate? Verse 12:28 is giving us the order of how to grow churches and get His word out to the world. Paul tells us to desire the best gifts in verse 31, knowing that through this desire Jesus will lift up people from the church to fulfill these offices as the church grows and church expansion calls for a new planting of another church. “and yet I show you a more excellent way”, In the last half of verse 31 Paul is preparing us for the true reason for the gifts given to the church, Chapter 13, “the love chapter”. We are called to love our brothers as we love ourselves, regardless of what race they were born into, or religion they came from, or what position in life a person holds, be it wealthy and powerful, or a slave, we are called to love one another. Loving one another is the “only” way the world can distinguish Christianity from any other religion. Every religion has a god, and every religion has their way to heaven that they think is the right way, whether it is here on earth or in some celestial place, but followers of Jesus, whom the world named the early Christians as a derogatory remark, are called to love one another over anything else on earth. This can only be possible through, “12 “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. 

We will never come to a perfect man while here on earth, nor fully understand the measure of stature of the fullness of Christ. As we grow in our knowledge of the Son of God we will come into an understanding of what unity of faith truly is. That is the purpose of the gifts of the fivefold ministry. As long as we stay ignorant of the grace of God through the sacrifice of Jesus, we stay stuck in our carnal thinking we will never understand our purpose here on earth. Unity of faith is not where a congregation purposes to think and act like the pastor does, living and working for the overall good of their church. That way of thinking borders cultism. Unity of faith is understanding that if Jesus laid down his life for “everyone” in this world both born before Him and those of us born after His resurrection, then that is the kind of love we should reach for in our own walk as followers of Christ toward everyone, not just those in our church. As we grow in faith and understand of the word of God, than we will no longer be childish in our spiritual understanding. By increasing in the knowledge of the true word of God, we can no longer be swayed by the next phase of religious mumbo jumbo that comes our way. How sad it must be for Jesus to watch the children of God, whose sins were paid for by His blood, sitting in various churches dying on the vine being fed man’s doctrine instead of the true word of God. Romans 3:4 “let God be true and every man a liar”. This may seem hard to hear, but if anyone teaches that Jesus was just a man and denies that He was in fact God that came down to earth “as a man”, that His life and even more His death was to pay for our sins, and that He has been resurrected from the dead, seated at the right hand of God making intercession for us, then those people teaching against these truths are “antichrist” (1 John 2:18, 2:22, 4:13, 2 John 1:7) In Galatians 1:6 Paul confronts the Galatians for turning away from the true gospel and back into legalism and man’s wisdom. They were children being tossed to and fro by every wind and doctrine. This is sad for the Christian to turn away from the true gospel, but it is a curse on those teaching false doctrine as declared by Paul in Galatians 8 & 9, “8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed”. Paul is so strong in his stand against false doctrine that he is even adding his name to the list as cursed if he were ever to start preaching anything other than what he first preached to the Galatians, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul’s word in Galatians 1:8 & 9 lines up with the verses in 1 & 2 John which is an important point to recognize. Satan is a liar and the father of all lies, John 8:44. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness after He had gone forty days without food or water, he used scriptures from the word of God that were taken out of context. If Jesus had not known the truth of God’s word He could have fallen for the lies. We have to understand that even a partial truth is the same as a lie. We must remember that when we read the last half of verse 14, “by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting”, that it may not be the actual person consciously trying to trick or deceive God’s people, but rather the devil working through their misunderstanding of the word. Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 16:6 to be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees. Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:6 and Galatians 5:9 tell us that even a little leaven, “or lie”, leavens the whole lump. (or lie, emphasis mine) Deuteronomy 19:15, Matthew 18:16 and John8:17 give us a rule of thumb for establishing the truth of God’s word, “By the witness of two or more a matter shall be established”. By understanding this concept we can better protect ourselves when we hear a preached word that does not set well with our spirit or we do not understand. We are to just sit and accept everything we hear, but are called to search the word for ourselves, one to confirm that the preached word lines up with the Spirit and two by doing so we make the true preached word our own. There is no place in the kingdom of God to ride in on another’s coattails.  We will all stand before the Lord Jesus some day and He will not accept the story, “but my pastor taught me so” as we are being personally held accountable for our walk here on earth. Jesus wants us to have a personal relationship with Him so that when we do reach heaven and face Him face to face He can tell us “well done”.  

 Speaking the truth in love to our brothers and sisters in Christ is not the poke in the eye as we see so often today. The word of God will knit us together in unity.  But when a person allows the Devil to use him to poke others in the eye or create different doctrines of separation they are actually allowing their flesh to rule their own spirit.   

Ephesians 4:15 & 16, 15, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

We all grow together. That may not sound profound to you, but when you realize that the unity of the church is where its true strength lies, then you will recognize that the church is like a chain; it is only as strong as its weakest link. Knowledge of the word of God is good, but without wisdom and understanding, the ability to speak the truth with love is not present. Sure we can see our brother in the Lord stumble and more often than not we will point out his sin to him and probably tell others in the process. We need to look at ourselves first. (Matthew 7:3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?) I recently heard a very good pastor visiting the US from Nigeria tell the church he was visiting, that America was not in a financial recession, but a spiritual recession which started in the pulpits. I wish I could argue with him, but knowing firsthand what I have heard from different preachers over the years, his words both hurt and made since. This is all the more reason I encourage people to study the word for themselves. Not to argue with what is preached, but to understand the truth. We must remember that all of us are broken clay vessels, pastors included. We all carry pressures of life around in us, and often pastor’s fall into the thinking that they cannot confide in or even go to be refreshed by another pastor. We can only grow up together by refilling our tanks daily. We can look at Americans and see that we do not miss many meals, but will miss church several times a week, and only carry the bible to church with little reading of it for ourselves. 

Jesus paid a high price for our salvation and wants His church to grow up into a light to the world. We seem to have lost some of our glimmer. The light of the church has not gone out however; we can become that light again by fulfilling verse 16. We first must recognize that we are all one with Christ. What we bring to the table, so to speak, either builds up or pulls down the body. Every one of us supplies the church with something. If we bring in doubt, despair, anger, mocking, or any other sin into the church, than that is what we are supplying. However, even if we are stumbling in any of these areas, but bring in a heart’s desire to learn and grow up in the Lord, than we actually become partners with the pastor. A good Spirit filled pastor will always purpose to bring God’s word to the church and in their delivery they are handing it to us. Think about this, if I hand something heavy to you, at the furthest point from my body is when I am in the greatest physical strain. If you do not reach out to receive it I hold all of the weight, but if you reach out and take it from me then at that point we are joining our strength. As you pull it to yourself than I am freed up to pick up more and hand you more. The same works in church, you’re choosing to receive the preached word and go study it for yourself is partnering with the pastor. Only by growing up in the Lord can we truly encourage each other. In Ephesians 5:21, Paul tells us to submit to each other. He is not telling us to put ourselves in submissive positions to one another, but rather to share our hearts with each other so that we may pray for one another, encourage from one another, and build each other up in Christ by what each of us supplies. The more of God’s word and understanding is in you the more you can build up your brother in Jesus. The body can only grow with what “each” member supplies. 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 is a beautiful word picture of how the body of Christ supports and grows together. 1 Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter in that it teaches us that anything done without love is actually nothing at all. By building up our knowledge in the word and asking God for both wisdom and understanding we can learn to walk in the love toward each other, the same love God has for us.  

 You do not own your salvation, that was purchased by Jesus and He gave it to you. You cannot loose what you do not own, but you can give away that which you fully understand is yours.  

Hebrews 6:4-6, “4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

The greatest debate within the body of Christ is actually the misunderstanding of the word of God and the Wolves in Sheep’s clothing allowing the Devil to twist the gospel of Jesus Christ into thinking one can simply “backslide to the point of losing their salvation”. Stumbling in sin or dying without confessing one’s sins is not going to send someone to Hell. Jesus in John 3:16-19 paints a clear cut path a person can take to become born again and have everlasting life. (See Hebrews 6:2-3) Romans 10:8-10 give us the simple way a person receives the salvation that Jesus’ death on the cross paid for. 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Do you see any confession of your sins to the priest, pastor, or any other religious figure in these verses? Jesus paid the price and ALL we have to do is believe in Him and confess Him as our Lord and Savior. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:32 that whoever confesses Him before men, He will confess before the Father. Psalms 23:7 tells us as a man thinks in his heart so is he. To think in your heart is to believe. 

Once saved always saved is truer than most Christians and religious teachers want to believe. I believe all of this sin consciousness that is going on in the church today is actually from the Devil to keep God’s children thinking and living in bondage instead of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So with this foundational understanding let’s look into verses 4-6 to see the five criteria a believer must fit into in order to give up their salvation. 

1. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened; PHOTIZO the Greek word for enlightened is to give light, to shine, to illumine, or to shed light on something that exists and make it become clear. In short when a person has their revelation that Jesus is truly real, loves them, and paid their sin debt they have become enlightened. Hence the born again experience or step one in the life of a believer. 

2. and have tasted the heavenly gift; GEUOMAI the Greek word for tasted is to taste, try the flavor of, to partake, and to experience something personally. What this verse is saying is that the new born again believer, the one once simply enlightened to the truth of Jesus Christ has moved closer to Christ and has experienced His love for them personally. When a Christian experiences Jesus’ love personally it sets them closer in their own heart to Jesus. Not that He has been resisting them, or they are apart from Jesus in any manor, but they are learning to yield their heart over to the power of His love working in their life. Can you see the progression? The person who has tasted Jesus is also a person stronger in Jesus than a new born Christian.  

3. and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit; Here is where most Christians fall short because of the misunderstood  teachings about the Holy spirit that has come from the pulpit for century’s. Partakers; METOCHOS is Greek for sharing in, or partaking a partner. Jesus tells us in John 14:16 that He will pray the Father to give us another Helper and that this Helper would abide with us forever. In John 14:26 Jesus tells us this Helper will teach us all things and bring to remembrance all things Jesus has taught us. The Holy Spirit is the one who brings the Word of God to life in the heart of the believer.  In John 15:26 Jesus tells us the Helper will testify of Jesus. This is greatly important in the life of a believer since the Devil’s sole purpose in life is to cause enough doubt that our unbelief undermines our faith. If he can cause us to go back into our old lifestyle, or turn to legalism, or man’s doctrine than we are no longer walking by faith where God’s power resides. 

This third and progressive stage in a believer’s life is when they are taught and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit which is the next step in drawing closer in our personal relationship with God through the blood of Jesus. The Christian begins to recognize their walk is more than just another religion, but is truly a revelation of the relationship God wants to have with us personally.

4. and have tasted the good word of God; Here is the same word tasted as in number two. To have tasted the Word of God is to have not only read it, but taken the time to meditate on it and allow it to sink in enough to become a part of who you are. Remembering that even in the natural a person is what they eat. If you eat junk food do not be surprised if you do not have the energy to fulfill your daily tasks or you become over weight. If you eat healthy food your body you can function better. When you digest the Word of God your spirit man becomes stronger, your revelation of truly what Jesus had done on the cross increases and your doubt in His power working in your life is decreased. This is of course providing you have received the Holy Spirit in criteria 3 and are being taught by someone who is also filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember that faith comes by hearing the word of God. Here is something very important to understand.  

All scripture is for instruction and is from God, but all scripture does not point directly to the “gospel of Jesus Christ”. Some scripture, especially much of that found in the Old Testament only points out the impossibility of becoming righteous under human actions and therefore teaches the condemnation that comes with living against God’s will. The gospel of Jesus Christ points out His perfect work on the cross, and the complete removal of any requirement against man to be able to boldly come to God and receive His righteousness which is both complete and flawless. Hence, the gospel of Jesus Christ is scriptural, but not all scripture is about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Just because it is preached from the pulpit, does not mean the preaching is the gospel. Once again without fulfilling criteria 3 & 4, the born again Christian is left trying to understand spiritual truths with only natural carnal thinking. 

5. and the powers of the age to come, The second half of verse 5 also refers back to the word tasted. Remembering the definition of GEUOMIA (tasted) one must have tried the flavor of, to partake, and to experience something personally. Think of it like this; if you have tasted or experienced the flavor of a Lemon, you know without a doubt what that Lemon tastes like when you see it. You will not look at a Lemon and wonder if it will taste the same as an Orange.  The Greek word for powers is DUNAMIS, which not only means strength, but actually includes the ability and inherent power residing in a thing strictly by virtue of its nature. The Holy Spirit is powerful strictly because of who He is.  The Greek word for age is AION, which means forever, perpetuity of time, and eternity.  The Greek word for come is MELLO which means to be on the point of doing or suffering something.  When you put all of verse 5, the final criteria together in its full Greek perspective the writer of Hebrews is stating this:  And have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit, which is strictly because of who He is, in your life.  And you understand that same power is in your life and is for an eternity starting from the moment you receive it and it will never end.   

Can you see the progression of growth needed, for a believer to truly understand what they have? As a Christian you may have been (1) enlightened (about who Jesus is-mine) and (2) tasted the heavenly gift (received Him as your Lord & Savior-mine), but without receiving (3 partakers) of the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to help you (4) taste the good Word of God, and (5) have fully experienced the powers of the Holy spirit in your life, you as a believer are left to your own personal efforts with only natural carnal thinking to live, learn, and understand what you truly have in this life as God’s child.  

The word away in verse 6 in Greek is PARAPIPTO means to intentionally deviate or turn aside from something or a specific path.  

Ask yourself these three questions;  1. How can a person give away or relinquish something they truly do not possess? I cannot give your spouse, dog, money, home, or anything else away of yours because it is not mine in the first place. I don’t own it.   2. How can a person turn off a specific path if they are first on that specific path?  3. Finally if you truly know you are on the correct path to get where you need to be, and you make the conscience decision to go a different direction will you end up where you originally intended? No you end up somewhere else. 

You cannot give away or lose what you do not own. Making the conscience decision to go another direction is not getting lost or stumbling, because it is a decisive action. Hence, for a Christian to stumble in sin or sit down from their walk with Christ because they have little to no strength to go on, is not making the conscience decision to go another way. That is why it is called stumbling. And to sit down is not going in a different direction; it is truly just stopped moving. And you cannot make a conscience decision to turn off of the correct path, if you actually are not on the correct path in the first place. The writer of Hebrews is telling the Jewish converts, many of whom have met all of these five criteria, that if they make the conscious decision to go back under the Law of Moses, there is no other repentance.  Why is this truth? To make a conscious decision to turn away from something is to show shame to what you have turned away from. Remember Jesus telling His disciples that if they are not received by a household or a city, to dust off their feet and go on as a testimony against them, Mark 6:11.  

The truth is you cannot simply slip away, stumble, or lose your salvation. If you believe in Jesus’ perfect work on the cross with your heart and confess this with your mouth you are saved, Romans 10:8-10. And the power of this statement rests in the words of Jesus as recorded in John 3:16-18.   

 God does not see your personal works of righteousness as any gain toward salvation. However, the more you fully understand what Jesus truly accomplished by His death and resurrection your desire to enter into His work of reaching others for Christ should increase. God sees those works of labor and love. 

Hebrews 6:10-12, 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Verse 10 is an impactful statement that is often overlooked. What verse 10 is actually saying is that God is just and as such never forgets your work and labor of love that you show the saints in His name. People however are just the opposite.  We tend to forget the good things we, others, or God has done and instead dwell on the bad things. In fact many Christians can remember hearing a verse or even know of the verse in the Old Testament where God says He will remember the iniquities of the fathers to the third and fourth generation found in Exodus 34:7. Therefore the typical misunderstanding even in the church today is they hope their good outweighs their bad and they will make it to heaven. But few people realize that God never makes a comment even similar to Exodus 34:7 in the New Testament. Verse 10 is actually the opposite in that God will not forget your work of love shown in His name. Later on in our study in Hebrews chapter 11 you will see how by faith so many people did great things for the Lord, but none of the evil they stumbled in is even brought up in that chapter, just their good work and labor of love by faith. This work and labor of love is not to gain righteousness or earn their salvation, but rather an extension of their love for God because they know His love for them. Today we also know of Jesus’ sacrifice to pay for our sins.

So to recap verse 10 God is just and diligent to remember their work and labor of love to the saints in His name. Now when we look at verse 11 in this new light of verse 10 we see where the author is encouraging the Hebrews and us, to show the same diligence in remembering the great work and labor of love God has done and shown to us. Recognize that God is not keeping a balance sheet of good and bad to see which weighs the most, He only keeps ledger of the good and therefore we are to maintain that same thought process of remembering the good He has done for us. Consequently our lives would be better here on earth if we chose to only remember the good we and others around us have done instead of keeping our personal file cabinet of faults of self and others. God does not ask us to do anything He has not already done for us. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others; sound familiar? 

So why is it so important for God to go to the effort to show us how He only remembers our works and labors of love for the saints and that we should do the same toward Him? Verse 12 tells us that remembrance of God’s work and labor for us is what keeps us from getting sluggish. Do you ever get tired and sluggish in your walk with Christ? Do you sometimes, or even often, doubt His love for you? Do you ever remember or do you even know that He will go before you and be your rear guard in life? Isaiah 52:12 tells us that we will not go out in haste or in flight, but that the Lord will go before us and God will be our rear guard. Does that sound like you should have any fear of things going so wrong that God cannot fix it? What Isaiah 52:12 is saying is you will not run from your enemies or problems with haste or fear, but the Lord will go before you and God will be your rear guard. Even if you caused the problem, God’s powerful love for you will help you get through the problem. All you have to do is have the desire to overcome and ask God for His help. So how can you begin to learn this new way of living, where you are able to find strength to do what you need to do? Hebrews 6:12b, imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Find that Godly man or woman who is a spiritual leader bearing good fruit in their personal lives and watch what they do. In 1 Corinthians 4:16 Paul says, imitate me. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 he says imitate me, as I also imitate Christ. Remember God not only sets the rules, He sets the example in that He does not ask us to do anything that He has not already shown or done for us. In fact He has done more for us then He has ever asked of us. God sent His only begotten son to die for us. And this He did before we were worthy in our eyes to receive what He did. 

The message of the cross, the power of grace, is not just your surety of getting out of Hell free. And it does not give you the freedom to sin nor tells you that you do not need to make effort to overcome sin in your lives. What the message of the cross does, is gives you the power of God’s grace to boldly come to Him when you do come to yourself in your time of need. We studied this back in 4:16.

So why are not more Christians living in this supernaturally powerful life of peace and abundance that we read of in the New Testament? Hebrews 3:12 & 19 tells us it is because of our unbelief which is the same reason the children of Israel were not allowed to enter their promise land the first time God took them to the border. Unbelief in our personal lives that God will do for us what He says that He loves us as much as His word says that we are truly free from any commendation of sin, is because we remember the bad things about ourselves. Another reason could be because we are still in some kind of hidden sinful life style or practice that we have not given to Him for help to overcome. If you know you doing wrong, that knowledge undermines your faith in God’s word. When you do not tithe, you undermine your belief that God will provide for all of your needs. When you allow yourself to stay in porn, you undermine your belief that God truly loves you. When you allow yourself to continually pick up the drink day after day because you find a comfort in it, you are enhancing your disbelief that God will do for you what His word says. When you allow yourself the supposed freedom to make unrighteous choices about your life for the temporary joy, fun, or relief you may find in sin, you are feeding your own conscience to fight against any faith you may have gained from your understanding of God’s love for you. By not purposing to come to God boldly, by faith and knowing that He only remembers the good you have done, then your mind will always keep you from living in true belief and therefore the Devil is stealing your God given blessings.  By allowing yourself to continue to do that which you know you should not do, or by not doing that which you know you should be doing; you personally are undermining any faith you may mustered up. Remember as a man thinks in his heart so is he, Proverbs 23:7.  

Believe in your heart that God only remembers your good work and labor of love for the saints, not your bad. Remind yourself to live the same as God by only remembering yours and other’s good instead of the bad; this will help you from becoming sluggish in your walk. This is the love Jesus spoke of in His new commandment from John 13:34. And imitate those around you who live Godly fruitful lives. 

 Just because we are under the New Covenant does not negate the need to tithe unto God. Tithing unto God through those He has chosen to fill the offices of the fivefold ministry started long before the Law of Moses. Abraham tithed unto God through Melchizedek. 

Hebrews 7:5-10, 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 

Although the writer of Hebrews is still elevating the importance of Melchizedek over the Levi priesthood, there is a more significant truth here for us today. Because we are under the New Covenant many “selfish” Christians tend to hold on to the fallacy that they are not required to tithe since the tithe was originated under the Old Covenant. In addition many also have resistance to give to the church since they do not see it as giving to God and because there has been so many men and women of God in pastoral positions who have abused their position and indulged in lavish lifestyles at the expense of the church. 

A few things we must realize here is God will deal with those who have done wrong with the church’ money, period. Secondly clearly even the brethren of the Levi gave to the Levi, and the Levites did not do anything else to bring in any additional income. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with pastors ’you get a paycheck from the business you work at? Thirdly notice that Abraham, of who was the genealogical father of the Levites who received a tithe from their brethren, actually gave a tithe to the priest of the Most High God. Since Abraham was considered a ’ representative here on earth through the tithe.  We are to show honor to Jesus, and in doing so our tithes to His church is the best way to do this. To give a tenth of your income to the church is to say you are trusting God, not you, your money, or man, to take care of your needs. If you do not fully tithe, you do not fully trust God. The final point is that blessings flow to the giver of the tithe from God through the receiver of the tithe. Supernatural blessings from God are worth far more than the dollars in your pocket, because they will bring favor and dollars into your pocket from God. The New Covenant does not abolish the tithe, it substantiates it, by giving us freedom from condemnation and the Law and an everlasting High Priest forever making intercession for us.   

 Be anxious for nothing. Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 4:6-8 is the greatest guidance a Christian can understand while living here on earth.  

Philippians 4:6-9 “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Here is another command in action.  We are not to be anxious for anything.  Paul then gives us the answer on how we can overcome this personality trait.  We are to take our needs and difficulties in life to the Lord through prayer.  A key point here is that going to God, just telling Him the problem is not prayer, it’s simply complaining.  Christians need to realize that God already knows their needs, (Matthew 6:24-34).  I am not saying we can never tell God what we are in need of.  In times of severe grief that may be the only thing we can say at first, but to continually plead, and beg, and ask is the same thing as saying I don’t trust you God in the first place.  Paul is telling us to let our request be filled with thanksgiving.  Our requests coupled with true thanksgiving, is the added faith needed to move in the spirit realm.  Remember we “Christians” have been given the keys of heaven to bind and loose, (Matthew 18:18).  If we have the faith of a mustard seed we can move the mountains in our life that are between us and our God given blessings. The only thing that will get in the way of our faith is doubt and unbelief (Matthew 17:20).  The best way to stay in thanksgiving, even during our trials and needs it to rejoice always.  That is why Paul wrote verses 4-7 in the order he did.  This is a powerful key needed in our walk as Christians that will unlock the power of God to move in our life. Nothing that happens to us here on earth is even close to the blessings of eternal life in the presence of God and Jesus that awaits us. 

Jesus said to take His yoke upon us, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:2930).  People misunderstand the term yoke.  It is not a type of prison stocks or shackles.  Oxen are yoked, coupled, together across their shoulders so that the two of them working together can get the same job done much easier and often faster.  Jesus told us that His desire is for us to take His yoke alongside of Him, the One who gave His life for us, the One that conquered death and the grave, the One who raised the dead, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf. Jesus is telling us His desire is to help us with our burdens while here on earth, “all of them”. 

As we grasp the awesome knowledge of God and His love for us coupled with the desire of Jesus to help us in this life, we begin to understand the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.  See the pattern for life here on earth?  If we rejoice always, purpose to let our gentleness be known to all men, be anxious for nothing, and trust in God to do what He said He will do for His children, as we tell Him of our thankfulness when telling Him our requests, “His peace” which surpasses all of our “natural” understanding will guard our hearts and minds through the blood of Jesus Christ.  He is our everything! 

Finally does not always mean after you have done everything else, or the last thing to do.  The word finally in verse 8 is used as an adjective, giving it the same meaning as saying above all else, or unalterable, not to be changed.  Paul is telling us that above all else, here is how we can live the life God wants for us.  We need to remember that we are spiritual beings trapped at the moment in a natural body.  This means that we cannot separate our spiritual lives into spiritual and secular.  There should not be any difference in our lives at church than they are at work, school, or recreation.  Here are eight principles of thought as relating to verse eight.  (1) Truth is truth and not situational as the world is trying to make it.  (2) Honest is genuine, honorable, and not characterized by deception.  (3) To be just is to have the right conduct in all circumstances, fact or deeds.  (4) Pure does not have any defilement in it (Jesus’ blood has made us pure).  (5) Things lovely are areas supported by charity.  Charity in the bible is the foundation of the second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-8).  (6) A good report is always going to be constructive and up lifting, never destructive of condemning.  (7) To have virtue is to have moral excellence, goodness, and right standing.  (8) Praise is the expression of esteem of one’s character and virtue.  Remember Paul is telling us where our thoughts should be instead of the problem at hand. 

Verse nine is not the statement of an arrogant man, but the statement of a man walking in wisdom.  Anyone walking in knowledge and understanding of Jesus should be able to say this. James 1:22, calls us to be doers of the word and not hearers only.  If the life you are living in the word has blessed you, then you need to tell people.  In telling others you will be strengthening yourself in your own walk with Christ.   

 When Christ who is our life appears. The beginning of Colossians 3:4 is a powerful reminder that our Lord will return and that He is our true reason for living. 

Colossians 3:4-5 “4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”  

 For starters notice Paul states that Christ is our life, in verse 4. There is an enormous difference between the person simply attending church or claiming they are saved, and the person who Jesus Christ is their life. The difference is in the heart of each person and rests on the separation between being a part of a Christian religion verses having a “personal relationship with Jesus” as your Lord and Savior. The Word of God is clear in that everyone who truly believes and confesses Jesus as their Lord and Savior have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. However, the difference in your daily walk as a Christian is greatly affected on whether you are a Christian simply with a belief in Jesus, or the person whom Jesus is “their life” as He was for Paul, the Apostles, and so many believers in the First Church. The difference lies in relationship. A person who has a personal relationship with Jesus will always have more inner peace and strength even during life’s turmoil as a result of that relationship over the person who just believes, but focuses more on the religion and outward appearance of Christianity than the relationship with Jesus. Proverbs 23:7 is worth studying on this. By human nature man has a mental difficulty in grasping that he can have a one on one relationship with our God through the shed blood of Jesus. Paul confirms this when he states the carnal mind is enmity toward God in Romans 8:7. However the person who begins to grasp the power of God’s grace in a believer’s life can also begin to believe the truth that God’s desire to have a personal relationship with man is the reason Jesus came and died on the cross in the first place. Salvation and being able to enter into heaven is the icing on the cake, but life and life abundantly is for the believer while here on earth and that can only be pulled from the spirit realm into the natural life through a personal relationship with God.  

Verse 4 is not something earned, but is given as a part of our salvation. Note that verse 4 says when He appears. There is not an “if” statement but a fact statement. 1 John 3:2 tells us that we will be like Him in appearance, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” Acts 1:9-11 are the first verses referencing the return of Jesus as told to His disciples by two men in white apparel at His ascension. 1 Thessalonians 4:16 gives us additional information on His return and includes the order of our ascension to meet Him; the dead first then those still alive. The Thessalonians understood that the return of Jesus would be “like a thief in the night” meaning no one would know the day or time, and all would be caught by surprise. The typical question from most newly born again Christians is when will this happen? Some want to know out of excitement and others want to know for personal preparation as if they can wait till the last moment then make the necessary heart changes for salvation. The person with the second type of question regarding the time of Jesus’ return is the one who has no idea of the blessings here on earth for God’s children; they look at heaven as the only reward. The more you know of Jesus and His love for you the more you want to live for Him here. 

Paul is telling us in verse 5 that because Jesus is returning and because we are already in His presence spiritually, then we should put to death, NEKROO “to subdue, or to deaden” our sinful actions here on earth. This is a command and God would not command us to do something we could not do. Here is where Christians fall off into their rules and regulations in effort to not fall into any of these sins. Paul is not telling us to live a life of “laws”, but to destroy any of those things in our lives that would destroy us first. In the movie Fireproof these sins are described as parasites, which is probably the best description you could give for sin. A parasite attaches itself to a living thing with the purpose of sucking the life out of the thing it is attached to. Likewise according to my college microbiology class parasites cannot live outside of their attachment to their host and those that can, only live a very short time in a state of dormancy waiting to be reactivated. Parasites that are living in a body must be killed chemically and that is typically done by taking a pill. We must destroy any sin that comes up in our path, but to live by rules in effort to avoid these sins is to walk in fear and keep us sin conscious instead of Christ conscience. Christians must destroy the sin in their lives in order to experience the victory in Jesus that God wants us to walk in. The only way to truly kill sin is to daily ingest God’s pill; the gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember the beginning of verse 4? When Christ who is our life appears, is a powerful and often misunderstood statement. Is Jesus Christ your life, or simply someone you believe in? 

Some Christians believe that if there is any sin in their lives then they are not holy and if they are not holy God will not answer their prayers. No; our belief in Jesus having died and risen makes us righteous, Romans 10:9, and God has already answered our prayers, made us holy, and has given us everything we need in the spirit realm, Ephesians 1:3. When we stumble or live in sin or ungodliness we are actually giving the Devil an invitation and means to interfere with the blessings God has already given. Just like your TV; the signal is already in the air from the satellite long before you turn on the set. If there is no picture than the problem is most likely your TV set. Something has interfered with your reception and your TV is broken and needs repair. With your TV it might be that you have not paid your bill, but with God your bill has already been paid for an eternity. Sin interferes and breaks your spiritual receptor; it’s just that simple. It’s not God keeping His answers and blessings from you; you are handing them over to the Devil with your sinful actions. Sin changes the channel on your God receptor. 

The medication to destroy the parasite of sin in your life is not trying to live holy with rules and regulations; it is the understanding of the power of God living in you through the blood of Jesus and walking in the knowledge of that power that can set you free from sin. The putting to death your members is simply to say, destroy the sin that is in your life. If your arm has a parasite your whole body goes to the doctor not just your arm. Take your whole body to Jesus and lay it at the foot of the cross. Then pick up the medication, the gospel of Jesus, and put it in your body, it will do you good. 

The reason so many Christians and Christian religions are so focused on sin and outward appearances of righteousness is because they do not understand the truth behind sin. Sin is the fruit we can see, of a deeper root we cannot see. As Christians if we spend our lives trying to remove sin from our lives or stay focused on sins of commission or omission we will never live the fullness of life God created us for in the first place. To try to change our sin behavior by just focusing on the sin itself is like trying to convert an olive into a grape by working on one piece of fruit from the vine at a time. Everyone knows the fruit of a vine depends on the type of vine. And the flavor of the fruit depends on the soil the vine is planted in, the atmosphere around the vine, and the nutrients given to the vine. But you cannot turn an olive into a grape by changing anything. Even if you graft an olive into a grapevine you will never get a pure grape, but you can get a sweeter olive. Christians were wild olives grafted into the good fruit vine of Jesus, Romans 11:17-24. Stop focusing on the fruit and start focusing on the root which is Jesus. As a onetime wild olive if all you do is focus on the fruit to try to become a grape you may eventually turn into a sour grape, but you will never become a sweet olive.    

Remember that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is salvation and life, Romans 6:23. Let “the gift of God” jump out of the page and into your heart. Say it out loud over and over so your ears can hear it, and settle this deep in your soul. Do you want the gift, then you have to come to Jesus first? You can’t get rid of the parasite first then come to Jesus, it will never work, but if you come to Dr. Jesus with your parasite He will heal your disease and set you free, Isaiah 53:4-5. Also when you become born again, it is your spirit that has been made perfect and new. Your thinking will take time to change, which is why renewing your mind is so important, Romans 12:2.  

 To put off the old man with his deeds and to put on the new man is truly as simple as taking off your overcoat and putting on another. 

Colossians 3:9-11 “9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

Lies can only come from our flesh, the “old man”, since the born-again believer has the new (pure) Spirit of Christ. Our new man, according to Ephesians 4:24 was created by God in righteousness and true holiness. Notice how Paul identified “lie” separate from the sins listed in verse 5 and verse 8. It is not that a lie is the worse since all because sin is sin, but the Devil is the father of lies and the lie is what stumbled Eve in the first place. As Christians we should not lie to anyone and if lying was a part of your old man, there may be a natural propensity to fall back into lying. Paul specifically added “to one another” in verse 9 because of the position in Christ every believer is in. There should be sweet trusts between believers especially since all have the same Spirit of Jesus; however, we all have come from different walks of life and levels of depth of living in our sin nature prior to becoming born again.  For some this may be more difficult, but is considered the part of the “old man” that we need to put off.  Even though the old man is gone and the new man is present, there is still “the coat” of the old man hanging around, sometimes on us, sometimes in the closet, which is our attitudes and actions. 

We have put on the new man and in 1 Corinthians 2:16 we are told that we have the mind of Christ. In 1 John 2:20 we are told that we have instruction from the Holy Spirit. The hinge pin that keeps us from walking perfectly in this new man is identified in Romans 2:12 where we are told to renew our minds. Romans 8:7 tell us the “natural” mind is enmity to God and in Romans 7:8 Paul states that there is nothing good in his flesh which we can say for ourselves. So here we are back to square one; there is not much visible difference between a newly born again believer and an unsaved person.  Both can have the same outward actions and attitudes. The difference is the believer is forgiven for their sins and has the power to change their life providing they make an effort to learn how and what to change. The nonbeliever, even though they may be able to change their outward man, can never come into the presence of God and their change at best is only temporal. I do not like the bumper sticker “Christians are not perfect, just forgiven” for the typical reason it is used; as a “get out of jail card” for lifestyles and actions that should have been dealt with spiritually. There is great truth, however, to that bumper sticker. Christians can never live a perfect life free from sin or offence, but because of faith in Jesus and the blood He shed for our sins we are forgiven and called “Child of God”. This freedom does not give us a license to sin, but should give us the heart’s desire and power to make good effort to change our mind to line up with the word of God. By grace you have been saved, Ephesians 2:8, don’t neglect such a perfect gift; grow in it. 

Verse 11 ties in with verse 9 & 10 because it is the “glue” for how we can change our minds, how we should see other Christians, and how we should show love to every believer first and then to the lost. Every believer is part of the body of Christ. He is in all of us, so why do we take Him into places we shouldn’t go or do things we shouldn’t do. How can we say harsh things about and to each other unless we do not realize we are actually saying and doing it to Jesus? In Paul’s day and before, according to Jewish law the non-Jew was considered a “dog” and unworthy of any respect. Today everyone in Christ is the same child of God. We are all “new creations” purposing to change from one old coat to the new one. 

Remember this in your “born again” walk about yourself and a fellow brother in Christ. Everything about a believer is spiritually perfect on the inside, but we all have to learn how to take off the old coat “the old attitudes and actions” and put on our new clothes “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).