Compassion

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way."

Then His disciples said to Him, "Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?"

Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"

And they said, "Seven, and a few little fish."

So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children.

Matthew 15:32-38

Jesus was often moved with compassion. Even when His own needs were waiting to be met, His compassion caused Him to first minister to others.

May we have His compassion active in our lives as we practice the love walk. May we look for opportunities to bless others and not to look to have our own needs met.

When we do this, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness... then all other things will be freely added to us.

Crucified With Christ

Quite a number of years ago while reading in the book of Ephesians I came to chapter five and verse twenty-two caught my eye.

“Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord (NASU).

Now the thought occurred to me; now that would be great if my wife would just read this and follow its command. Then I continued to read.

²³ “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. ²⁴ But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything (NASU).”

Then I thought; I wonder if she has ever read this. Then I said, oh well, and continued to read.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, (NASU).

Now we are getting to my part. Hmmmm, I said, if I was that kind of a husband my wife would probably be more than happy to subject herself to me and honor me as the head of the household. You can tell thus far I was really doing some serious thinking. I begin to read further.

²⁶ “so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. ²⁸ So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; ²⁹ for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, ³⁰ because we are members of His body (NASU).”

By the time I had read these verses my thoughts were turning more to the relationship of Christ and His church. Then I read the next verse.

³¹ “FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH (NASU).”

After reading verse thirty one I looked back at verse thirty---“because we are members of His body.” And again I looked at verse thirty one---“and the two shall become one FLESH.” And then I continued to the next verse.

³² “This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church (NASU).”

Ok, if the Apostle is speaking of Christ and the church, the mystery must be that when one first believes he becomes one in the flesh with Christ. Then the Holy Spirit began to flood my mind with other scripture.

⁵ “For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; (Rom. 6:5-6 NASU).”

Yes, it is a true revelation!!! We do, by faith become one in the flesh with our Lord! Our Lord’s crucifixion becomes our crucifixion. The old sin nature is put to death and we are freed from sin. But also His resurrection becomes our resurrection---we are raised up a sinless new creature.

⁷ for he who has died is freed from sin (Rom. 6:7 NASU).”

²⁰ “I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me (Gal. 2:20 NASU).”

²⁴ “Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:24-25 NASU).”

Now years has passed since I received this revelation and my wife is a very precious help meet and my Lord is still working on me to be that husband she deserves.

³³ “Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband (Eph. 5:33 NAS).”

James C Sanford

Do We Really Believe We Are Forgiven?

Grace. What does it mean for you? Does it mean that you can walk on a thin tightrope, above a deep canyon and not fall? Does it mean that you need to learn to balance books on your head as you walk across a school classroom? Or does it mean that you are one heck of a dancer, and you can sashay yourself professionally across the floor, for everyone’s eyes to see? Do you also picture in your mind a swan peacefully swimming across a calm lake in the most serene setting? Well, this is what I thought “grace” meant.

So when I first became a devoted Christian, I kept reading in the bible about grace. I had no real clue what it actually meant to be honest with you! I could not understand why God would be “graceful” to me… I mean come on, was he going to make it so I physically “carried” myself well? Like a ballerina??? LOL J

Honestly, as a brand new Christian, did you? Does anyone outside of “church” REALLY know what this means? You have to remember that the only church I experienced was Sunday school from a denomination that didn't exactly explain the gospel to it’s full extent… I was told that if I was good, and I didn't break any of the rules, that God would be good to me, and that if I was bad, God would be mad and punish me.

I asked other Christians questions about the word “grace.” In so many words, they told me it was unmerited favor. Well, what is that suppose to mean, really? They all tried to explain it to me as best as they could. But guess what—a lot of them could not put it into words of what it actually meant to them. You want to know why? Because I believe that they themselves had no idea of what real grace looked like in their own lives.

Well, me being the investigative reporter that I am, I just felt so compelled to look it up!

Check out Webster’s meaning on grace, and I will note that it is the FIRST meaning of grace:

GRACE:

a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification b : a virtue coming from God c : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

Then check out the THIRD meaning of grace (does third listing of what it means make it not as important? )Note that the letter “c” is what we are taught in secular schooling:

GRACE:

a : a charming or attractive trait or characteristic b : a pleasing appearance or effect : CHARM all the grace of youth -- John Buchan> c : ease and suppleness of movement or bearing

No wonder why I was confused! Here I was taught that you are “graceful” by having good looks while you carry yourself well, I wanted to KNOW the true meaning… so I searched, I studied the scriptures, I read commentaries, and I dug in to find the truth. If the first listed meaning of ”grace” in Webster’s Dictionary was true, I WANTED IT!!!

I wanted it so bad I prayed for it, I asked God to show me His grace, I wanted it manifested in my life so I could partake in what was promised to me from the very beginning of my birth… the very kingdom of God. Then God showed me something that literally blew my mind.

Mary Magdalene was forgiven, and immediately she became a follower of Christ. And not just the ordinary type… she became SOLD OUT. She went EVERYWHERE Jesus went. When others left. . . she chose to stay.

You want to know why? ? ? I believe she did this because she understood God’s GRACE from being pardoned from SO much!Here she is, facing judgment with stones, about to die for adultery and BAM! Radical Jesus comes along and sets her free EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS A PUBLIC NOTORIOUS SINNER!

She knew she had been forgiven much… and she was so very thankful for it! She was there to anoint Jesus with oil,she stood by him at the crucifixion, (despite the other diciples vamping the scene) she was at the burial. . . and because of her sincere dedication and LOVE for what Jesus had done for her… I believe Jesus chose to appear to her first when He was resurrected. Jesus told her to “go and tell” that He was alive! Mary became the first missionary to tell of the resurrection! How cool is that?

HOW much more would Jesus appear to you if you really understood His awesome grace? ? ?

Then you have the story of the prodigal son that Jesus told. . .

Tell me something, when the prodigal son came home, did the father throw the book of the law at his head and punish him? Did He tell him that he couldn't come on his property until he straightened up his act? NO! HE RAN TOWARDS HIM FROM AFAR OFF TO EMBRACE HIM!!! He gave him a robe, shoes, and the family ring. Then the father was so overjoyed that HE THREW HIM A PARTY!!! What incredible grace was given to this man!!! It made me think of myself and how God ran to me in my need. God didn't question where I was, or what I had been doing, He was so happy that I finally called His name and came home!I didn't have to take a sponge bath or a shower; he embraced me right where I was EVEN in my dirtiest state!!!

”The grace of God appeared for the salvation of ALL. ” Titus 2:11

I didn't know this when I first became a Christian… so I let other people tell me what grace was. This had me living in defeat. Oh, how I wanted to know that grace! We all have our own personal experiences when we first get saved… and unfortunately some of us never grow out of a certain “baby” stage. In this “baby Christian” stage, we tend to think that we all have to be perfect ALL of the time, and because of that we worry that we are not “good enough” or that we might not “measure up” to some extreme standard that a church or organization has set. This is dangerous… because we will then unknowingly start to impose our beliefs on others that now THEY have to be perfect like us, or do ministry a certain way like we do. What kind of love and grace is that? This causes hurt feelings, mistrust, judgment, which leads to offense! THIS IS A TRAP from the devil!!! It puts you into a type of “spiritual bondage” having to always worry what people think, and you start to be afraid to really be yourself! Is that freedom? ? ?

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1 16-17 (amplified version)

People, that is NOT grace, it’s called LEGALISM… and God is not pleased with this!!! Jesus didn't die for us to be under the law—He died for us to be free of the death that the law brings so we would become alive in Him and accept the grace that He has given us! It is free, underserved favor!!! It also says in the quoted meaning of Webster’s that its “unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification” What does “regeneration” mean? It means spiritual renewal or revival!!! What does that mean to us? That we can receive GRACE daily for the renewing of our minds… NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE MESS UP!!!

I did not have this knowledge in the beginning of my Christian life,so many days I felt condemned, and I walked around continually in fear of making mistakes. It was messing with my peace, my study time, the way that I treated people. Well, I had had enough so I did it… . I chose to actually believe what was written about grace in the bible!!! That’s right, I believed in the God’s grace despite the fact I knew that would make a mistake sometimes. I believed I would be forgiven even if I didn't always make the right choices. But the most important part was when I chose to believe I was forgiven and granted grace, even when I didn't feel like it inside!!!

When I stepped out in faith and CHOSE to do it, It transformed my walk with God and my ministry… literally. I could love and accept myself, and because of that, I could truly love others without judging them!

So you want to know how to break free of the bondage? Believe in what Jesus taught! Remember the story of the prodigal son! Don’t forget Mary Magdalene, (a prostitute, caught in adultery) Peter, ( a liar, denied Jesus) Paul (a murderer, killed Christians for a living) and their stories. What were the most significant parts of their lives that that stood out ? They ALL knew that they were sinners and needed God’s grace to get them through everyday! They were not perfect, yet God still chose to use them, in fact so much they shape a huge part of the New Testament!

Face it, we are NOT perfect and ALL of us are works in progress. So if you are living in defeat from perfectionism, legalism, condemnation, judgment of yourself OR others, remember that God forgives you, and as long as you are submitted to Him, trust that God is giving you the grace to walk in freedom! EVERY single day that you are alive! I Don’t know what I would do without Jesus' continued GRACE in my life, because the peace and liberation that I feel now I cannot even put a price on it! I love Jesus so much for that!!!

He knows every stupid thing you are going to do, BUT also every great thing you are destined to accomplish for Him!

I challenge you to look at your life and ask yourself “Am I truly walking in freedom and victory everyday? ” If you're not, chances are you Don’t know how to receive Jesus’ free gift of grace! Do God and yourself a favor… make a change and accept this free gift DAILY. Then watch how Jesus will radically change your life and take you to a whole new level of revelation and power in Him!

”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2^nd Corinthians 12:9

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace . Acts 20:24

Now that’s what I’m talking about. . . the gospel of grace!!! AMEN!

François Fénelon on Prayer

Commemoration of Peter Chanel, Religious, Missionary in the South Pacific, Martyr, 1841

Tell God all that is in your heart, as one unloads one's heart, its pleasures and its pains, to a dear friend. Tell Him your troubles, that He may comfort you; tell Him your joys, that He may sober them; tell Him your longings, that He may purify them; tell Him your dislikes, that He may help you conquer them; talk to Him of your temptations, that He may shield you from them: show Him the wounds of your heart, that He may heal them; lay bare your indifference to good, your depraved tastes for evil, your instability. Tell Him how self-love makes you unjust to others, how vanity tempts you to be insincere, how pride disguises you to yourself and others. If you thus pour out all your weaknesses, needs, troubles, there will be no lack of what to say. You will never exhaust the subject. It is continually being renewed. People who have no secrets from each other never want for subjects of conversation. They do not weigh their words, for there is nothing to be held back; neither do they seek for something to say. They talk out of the abundance of the heart, without consideration they say just what they think. Blessed are they who attain to such familiar, unreserved intercourse with God.

Junior Jihadist

Does anyone still doubt that satan is out to destroy the youth of this generation?

We had tragedies like Columbine and more recently, Virginia Tech. Those were just the tip of the iceberg...

Today there was the news report about a pre-teen used as a jihadist to cut the throat and saw off the head of an alleged traitor to the Taliban. This is horrifying and the international reaction to this travesty has been loud and clear.

But this is not without precedent. For years, we have violent street gangs in the USA that teach pre-teens to commit a “187” in order to join the gang. So this is not anything new... but perhaps it will finally get people to wake up and realize that we need to pray!


2^nd Chronicles 7:14-15

¹⁴If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
¹⁵Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place.

Five Minutes of Wisdom

Our latest podcast from The Powerhouse Ministry is embedded below for your listening pleasure:

You can hear more free audio... and get our teaching on CD, at The Powerhouse Ministry Web Site.

Consider This

Consider Adam, the first born of all mankind and the heir of God's kingdom on earth. Through disobedience he forfeited his son ship, lost his dominion and became sin in the flesh. Thus all born of Adam are heirs of sin in the flesh and death.

Cain was the first born son of Adam; Able was the second. It was Able, the second born, who by grace through faith became the heir of righteousness.

And then there was Ishmael, the first born son of Abraham; born of the works of the flesh. But it was Isaac, the second born son of Abraham, born according to the word of God who became the heir of the promises of God.

Consider also Esau, the first born of Isaac who God hated while yet in his mother's womb. It was Jacob, the second born son of Isaac who was chosen of God to become the heir of the promises.

Consider also the sons of Jacob's son Judah, Perez and Zerah born of their mother Tamar; although Zerah who was the first born, it was Perez who became the heir.

And then there is Jesus, the second Adam born of God, who by grace through faith became the heir of God's kingdom.

What is our Creator trying to tell us in these things?

Consider this; it is not the first born, the sons of Adam, who become heirs of God's kingdom, but the second born, he that is by grace chosen of God and through faith born of Jesus, the Living Word, and the Spirit of God; these are His sons and are joint heirs with Jesus their Lord.

Flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of God, his inheritance is death; it is the child of the spirit that is the son of God, his inheritance is eternal life.

James C Sanford

Clay Vessels

A man was exploring caves by the seashore. In one of the caves he found a canvas bag with a bunch of hardened clay balls. It was like someone had rolled clay balls and left them out in the sun to bake.

They didn’t look like much, but they intrigued the man, so he took the bag out of the cave with him. As he strolled along the beach, he would throw the clay balls one at a time out into the ocean as far as he could.

He thought little about it, until he dropped one of the clay balls and it cracked open on a rock. Inside was a beautiful, precious stone! Excited, the man started breaking open the remaining clay balls. Each contained a similar treasure. He found thousands of dollars worth of jewels in the 20 or so clay balls he had left. Then it struck him. He had been on the beach a long time. He had thrown maybe 50 or 60 of the clay balls with their hidden treasure into the ocean waves. Instead of thousands of dollars in treasure, he could have taken home tens of thousands, but he had just thrown it away!

It’s like that with people. We look at someone, maybe even ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling, so we discount it. We see that person as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person.

There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person, and if we ask God to show us that person the way He sees them, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth.

May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in friendships because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see the people in our world as God sees them. I am so blessed by the gems of friendship I have with each of you. Thank you for looking beyond my clay vessel.

God's Perfect Order

"Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and every creeping thing that creeps of the earth.' And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them (Gen. 1:26-27)."

The use of the word "us" here indicates that man was to be created after the council of the Divine Godhead, or maybe even the whole host of heaven. It also appears evident that when God used the term "let us make man" that he intends to impress the mind of man with a sense of something extraordinary in the formation of his body and soul. The use of the word "Aadaam," or "Adam," which is translated "man," is intended to set man apart from all other created "flesh" or "beast of the field."

When He says, "Our image according to Our likeness," it must be that He refers to man's soul. Now, we know that the Divine Being is infinite, thus he is not limited, and therefore he can have no physical image after which he made the body of man. The image and likeness then must necessarily be intellectual, his soul, which is the seat of his intellect or mind, must have been formed after the nature and perfections of his God and his identity is with the spirit and soul of God, not the flesh body of man. Thus the mind of man coming forth out of the hands of its Creator was endowed with most extraordinary capacities; it was in the likeness of the mind of God.

Chapter 1 of the book of Genesis, verses 26-31 is a synopsis (a brief summary) of the sixth day creation. In Genesis chapter 2, verse 7 we find a more detailed account of the creation of man.

"Then the Lord God formed man of the dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being (soul)."

God is life; in Him there is no death; He has no beginning of days and no end of days, God is eternal life! Therefore, when God "breathed" into the man He gave man of His "Spirit of Life." Man became an eternal being or soul. Thus God produced a spirit formed after the perfections of his own nature. God is the fountain whence man's spirit issued, hence, the stream must resemble the spring which produced it. God is holy, just, wise, good, and perfect; so must the soul be that sprang from him: there could be in it nothing impure, unjust, ignorant, evil, low, base, mean, or vile. It was created after the image of God; and that image, the Apostle Paul tells us, consisted in righteousness, true holiness, and knowledge {Eph 4:24; Col 3:10}. Hence, man was created wise in his mind, holy in his soul, and righteous in all his actions.

The heavens, cosmos, the universe, the earth and all that is in it serve a specific purpose in God's plan. In the beginning God created all things according to His sacred purpose and in His perfect order. He first created a suitable environment for all that He would place upon the earth. He created the sky for the foul of the air and provided a source of food for them. He created water for the fish of the sea and provided a source of food for them also. He created the environment before He created the birds or the fish. When God created man, by His Spirit man became a living eternal soul and by the indwelling of God's Spirit he continues to live. This is known as the "Law of the Spirit of Life {Rom. 8:1}." Man was unique---he was born of God a living soul---thus he was created to live and function perfectly, not only in a created environment, but also in the environment of God's presence; apart from God's presence man malfunctions.

God's glory is seen in His love, perfection, pureness, moral beauty, righteousness, power and authority. Man was to be God's son, His "seed" or offspring and the image of His splendor and glory. A seed has within itself the ability to reproduce in the proper environment. Just as a seed of an oak tree has within its self the ability, when placed in the proper environment, to become a forest of beautiful oaks, like so man was to live in the environment of God's loving presence and "be fruitful and multiply" and fill the earth with all of God's love, brilliance and glory.

Authority is derived from knowledge, God is an all knowing and wise God, therefore He is the source of all authority. Man's authority is derived from God through faithful obedience to the revealed will of God. God's word is His expressed authority; apart from knowledge, wisdom and obedience to His word, man has no authority from God. Man must first know, submit to and be disciplined by the word of God before he is granted authority. Adam would, through divine knowledge and wisdom, recognize the authority of His Father and in submission to God he would be a conduit and vessel of His Father's glory. Through obedience to the revealed will of God (faith) He would exercise dominion, or control over God's creation. He would be the king and high priest of the kingdom that God created for Him.

In the same way Jesus, The Word of God, by faithful submission to the Father, is the King and High Priest and a conduit and vessel of God's glory in this present age. He, The Word of God, is the seed of God in the earth. Thus God's glory is multiplying through Christ and His offspring.

God loved man whom He had created, and He prepared a special place for him.

"Then the Lord God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden and there He placed the man whom He had formed (Gen. 2:8)."

The word Eden in English means, "delight." Eden is translated from a Hebrew word Aden; the Hebrew meaning of Aden, in the context in which it is used in Genesis, chapter two, is the place (or spot) of the open door to the moment of God's presence. In God's loving presence is the perfect environment for man to be all that God created him to be. Eden was indeed a place of delight, a special place of the open door to Gods loving presence.

"And out of the ground the Lord God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Gen. 2:9)."

There are two trees in the garden we see as symbols, not literally trees. One is the tree of life and the other is the tree of the knowledge of good and of evil. They are better understood if we view them as persons---persons who teach.

Now the "naachaash" or "serpent," as this Hebrew word "naachaash" is popularly translated, was from among the beast of the field {Gen. 3:1}. Weather the word "serpent" as used here is the proper translation, or if it is used symbolically, has been the subject of many a debate; correct translation or not---we cannot say---but we will remain consistent with the popular translation and use it as representing the "beast" that was overcome and possessed by the spirit of Satan and became "sin in the flesh" to be used against man. This "beast of the field" was apparently endowed with the gift of speech and other intellectual skills that became the tools of Satan's evil schemes. Thus the tree of the knowledge of good and of evil, we see as the unrighteous person of the serpent or beast who had become the mouthpiece of Satan, thus he teaches the will and ways of Satan. In this so named serpent, who we believe to be "the tree of the knowledge of good and of evil," we see "good" as Satan perceives good; and "evil" as Satan perceives evil. The fruit of the serpent's lips is words of unrighteousness that subjects the hearer to the will of Satan and brings death to the total being of man when he listens to and believes him.

The tree of life is a righteous person, a teacher of the will and ways of God. The teacher is the Word of God in the person of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of His lips is love and true knowledge, wisdom, power and authority from the Father. In the Word of God we see love, life, peace and harmony or righteousness; a righteous fruit that sustains life for the total being of man when he listens to and believes Him.

God is the source of all that is good. Therefore the doing of good is in Him. God is aware of and can discern, and is able to judge evil, but He does not know or conceive evil. There is no evil thoughts in Him, thus the doing of evil is not present in Him. He is the foundation and the source of all truth, knowledge and wisdom. His wonderful attributes include joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and complete self-control.

"God is love---- (1 John 4:16)."

The root of the tree of life is straight from the heart or soul of God; thus the root or source of the tree of life that makes the tree what it is and determines what kind of fruit it bears is divine love. The tree of life is in God's image, thus the tree has all of His wonderful attributes and the fruit it bears is the sweet fruit of righteousness having in it the "seed" or "word" to bring forth another tree in its likeness.

Our Lord teaches; "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40)."

If the pupil "eats" or rather "listens to and believes" the teachings of the tree of life he is "eating" the fruit of righteousness or rather he is partaking of the righteousness of the Word of God. Afterwards, when he is fully trained he will be like his teacher; he will be in His image having all His attributes.

In summary of the purpose of the two "trees" we understand that man, being created in the image of his Creator, has a free will as his Father has a free will. We see man has set before him two choices; one is the tree of life, which is the Word and the life giving Spirit of God; and the second choice is the tree of the knowledge of good and of evil. Both are teachers; the first teaches with authority and power the truth from a heart of love. The other is one who beguiles; he is a deceiver and a liar, teaching perversion from a heart of selfish lust. The first tree offers and inheritance of love, eternal life, peace and prosperity and all the treasures of God's kingdom. The latter offers an inheritance of an earthy life of lust of the flesh; compared to the riches of the kingdom of God, lust is a mere bowl of soup for the flesh of man (see Gen. 25:29-34). The end result of a life filled with lust is hate, strife, adversity and an eternal existence of the soul suffering death "in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:15)."

God desired Adam to demonstrate his love by acts of faith through his willingness to live "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord (Deut. 8:3; Matt. 4:4)." Now the substance of faith is the word of God heard, believed and obeyed from a heart of love. If Adam would be submissive to God and live by the word of God he would demonstrate his love by faithfulness toward God and maintain his image, countenance and authority. To be submissive is to voluntarily subject ones self to the authority of another; it is an act of faith which is an expression of love. Failure to obey God's word would demonstrate his lack of love and faith toward God and result in loss of image, countenance of glory, and authority. And again, the Holy Scripture teaches us "God is love;" and "the one who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:8)."

And "---without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)--- (Heb. 12:6f)."

Thus we can clearly see that without faith working from a heart of love there is no countenance, image or authority of God and no eternal life from God in man.

"Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it (Gen. 2:15)."

God had created a kingdom and made Adam lord and king to rule and reign over it. Thus Adam became caretaker of the domain that God had prepared for him.

"And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, 'from any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die (Gen. 2:16-17)."

God gave man all His commandments and the Law of sin and of death. God had made Adam a high priest and steward of His word and His law. Man was given full understanding that he had a choice, but a wrong choice would result in darkness and death. If Adam would listen to and believe God from a heart of love he would not be judged. But if he did not believe and obey he has been judged already (see John 3:18).

Note: Woman had not been created at this time; she was still a rib in man's side.

In modern day thinking when we think of man we think in terms of male only. When we think of the female we think of her in terms of woman. According to God's word when He created man He created them male and female. He first created man male; then He created man female. If man were male only, he would stand-alone; the seed would be incomplete.

"Then the Lord God said, 'it is not good for the man to be alone, I will make him a helper suitable (corresponding to or in the image of) for him.' And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a leaving creature, that was its name (Gen. 2:19)."

Authority from God is a companion of faith toward God. Here Adam (man) exercised his authority by naming all the living creatures.

"And the man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him (Gen 2:20)."

Of course God knew there was not a helper corresponding to or in Adam's image among the beast of the field, but God wanted Adam to know, realize, and understand that his bride would be one taken from him and "fashioned or built" by God in the likeness of him. She would be perfect as he is perfect; a living soul as he is a living soul and have all his divine attributes.

"So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took of his ribs, closed up the flesh at that place. And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man (Gen. 2:21-22)."

The seed was now complete. The man (male) now had a companion in his image. She had all of his divine attributes; therefore she was the glory of man.

Thus the apostle Paul writes,

"For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man (1 Cor. 11:7NAS)."

Woman was a gift from God to man to help him be the progenitor or the forefather of all mankind ("it is not good for the man to be alone, I will make him a helper-").

And continuing the apostle writes further,

"For indeed man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake (1 Cor. 11:9)."

According to God's perfect plan and order they would bear children in God's image and fill the earth with His glory.

"And God blessed them and God said to them, 'be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the face of the earth (Gen. 1:28)."

Adam's countenance, God's glory radiating forth from him, was to be a badge of authority. By the authority of God's word and in love he was to rule and reign over all that God had created. He gave man an environment of His loving presence to live in and to "be fruitful and multiply" and fill the earth with His glory (see Gen. 1:29-31)."

Adam was a steward of God's gift; he was woman's husband, the manager and authority of their domain.

Concerning authority the apostle Paul writes,

"But I want you to understand that Christ is the head {authority} of every man, and the man is the head {authority} of a woman, and God is the head {authority} of Christ (1 Cor. 11:3NAS)."

When God gave Adam the commandments the woman had not been "fashioned" from the rib of Adam (see Gen. 2). Authority is derived from knowledge of and obedience to the will of God. Adam had such faith, thus he was appointed the high priest and teacher.

In instructing the women of the church at Corinth the Apostle Paul asks,

"Was it from you {woman} that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only (1 Cor. 14:36NAS)?"

Adam and Eve are a type of Christ and His bride, the church (Rom. 5:14ff). In the same manner by which our Lord, King, and High Priest, Jesus teaches His bride ("that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by washing of water with the word---Eph 5:26f)" so Adam taught his bride.

Again we visit this scripture,

"A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40)."

Authority carries with it responsibility; "speaking the truth in love" Adam was to teach her, protect and provide for her; she was taken from him and he was and is to continue to be her source. Man, as male and female, is one complete seed and is the "crown jewel" of God's creation. Together as one they would live in the environment of God's love and be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth with His glory.

Man is not greater than his Creator and Teacher, and woman is not greater than the man whom God gave as her source (see 1 Cor. 11:9); and the children are not greater than the man and woman who bear and teach them. But each has their place in God's perfect order and each has their own beauty and glory from God. Each member of the family of man is to be in the perfect harmony and unity of love and embrace and uphold the other. In the environment of God's loving presence they are to be a mutual blessing, and in the unity of love, embrace, and uphold one another. Selfishness is not in God's plan; that is of darkness.

"And the man said, 'This is now bone of my bones, (the bones are the source of life giving blood for the body) and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of man (Gen. 2:23)."

Eve was taken by God from the body of Adam who was in the image of God; and fashioned her into a bride suitable or corresponding to him. God did not breathe the breath of life into Eve. She received God's life giving Spirit through Adam. God then RE-UNITED them as man and wife (see Gen. 2:24).

Metaphorically speaking, in the work of the cross God caused a deep sleep to come upon the "second Adam" (His Son Jesus) and from His side He took water (a symbol for the word of God) and blood (the life giving Spirit of His Son) and fashioned (or is building, see Matt. 16:18) a bride, a helper for His Son. Jesus is the teacher and steward of His bride. His bride is created from Him and He is her source for all things. The church is called the Body of Christ because she is taken from the body of Jesus, the Word of God. She is flesh of His flesh ("and the Word became flesh" John 1:14f) "and bone of His bone" (blood of His blood and life of His life; see Rom. 8). The true church is the Living Word of God, Christ's body, "a pillow and support of the truth" (see 1 Tim 3:15). The church receives the life giving Spirit through Jesus in the same manner as Eve received the life giving Spirit through Adam. The church is being "fashioned" into His image just as Eve was "fashioned" in the image of Adam.

In the day of the resurrection, when the bride is completed, God will present His Son with the gift of His bride and she will be RE-UNITED with Him eternally.

"For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, comfort one another with these words." (1 Thes. 4:15-18).

We revisit the following Scripture to emphasize our heavenly Father's perfect order for mankind that we may be found pleasing to Him.

"But I want you to understand that Christ is the HEAD (authority) of every man, and the man is the HEAD (authority) of every woman, and God is the HEAD (authority) of Christ. Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying, disgraces his HEAD (authority) (1 Cor. 11:4)."

The Apostle is saying that the uncovered head of the man while praying or prophesying is a sign of his reverence and submission to his Lord and Teacher. A man whose head is covered is not displaying the image and glory of Christ while praying or prophesying and he disgraces his Lord and Teacher.

"But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying, disgraces her HEAD (authority, namely her husband and teacher); for she is one and the same with her whose head is shaved (1 Cor. 11:5)."

The women whose heads were shaved were the harlots of that time who were a type of the women who had no authority of God or man upon their life. But a woman who has her head covered while praying or prophesying has the sign of her reverence and submission to the authority of Christ and her husband.

"For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off; but it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head (1 Cor. 11:6)."

Here the Apostle is saying, if the woman refuses to wear the sign of authority (covering) she might as well shave her head in the same way as the women of the world; to not have the sign of authority over her is a disgrace to her husband and to Christ.

"For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man; for indeed, man was not created for the woman's sake, but woman for the man's sake. Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angles (1 Cor. 11:7-10)."

The "symbol", which is of faith, is for the angels to recognize the submission of the woman to the Lord and to the man's authority in order to minister to her. Just as man is the image and glory of God so is the woman the image and glory of man. In the same manner Christ is the image and glory of God and the church is the image and glory of Christ.

"Let a woman quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness (voluntary subjection)--(1 Tim. 2:11)" in the same manner as the bride of Christ receives instruction from Him.

"Wives, be subject (submissive) to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church. He Himself being the Savior of the body (Eph. 5:22-23)."

In likeness to man's wife, by being submissive to Jesus, the bride of Christ is a conduit or vessel of the authority of Jesus. The church has no authority apart or independent of Jesus.

"For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh (Gen. 2:24)."

Here is a law given based upon the principle of the creation of the woman being taken from the side of man. Note that nothing was mentioned about the woman leaving her father and mother. This is a natural thing that happens when she becomes one with her husband. She is now "flesh of his flesh and bone of his bones." The same Greek word that translates "source" in English also translates "father". The natural father is no longer the source for the woman's needs (both spiritual and material) but her husband is now her source. Just as God is the source (father) for man's needs so is the husband now the source for his wife.

Jesus is the open door to the source (our Father) for all our needs, both spiritual and material. Man is to stay in God's loving presence through His Son Jesus and be a loving husband for his wife and father to his children. He is to love them, to take care of their daily needs, and to teach them God's word.

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. So Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies, He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each individual among you also love his own wife even as himself and let the wife see to it that she respect her husband (Eph. 5:25-33)."

Husbands are to grant their wives honor as a fellow heir of the gift of eternal life.

"You husbands likewise, (likewise, meaning "doing what is right without being frightened by any fear", see 1 Pet. 3:6ff) live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered (1 Pet. 3:7)."

Men should do all things out of love and faith toward God, not out of fear!! Men are to be the leaders and teachers in their homes and in the church.

"But for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. Older men are to be temperate; dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance (Titus 2:1-2)."

"Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, in order that the opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us (Titus 2:6-8)."

Returning to Adam and Eve we read,

"And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed (Gen. 2:25)."

They were not ashamed because they were innocent. Adam was in the image and the glory of God and the woman was in the image and the glory of the man (1 Cor. 11:7).

All was in perfect order according to God's perfect plan.

The preceding lesson deals with God's plan for man from the beginning of creation. Since Adam and Eve failed, through disobedience, God is continuing His plan in Christ and His bride, the church. Christ Jesus is the perfect example for the husband. He gave His life in service to His bride, the church. God's chosen apostles had great insight into God's holy plan for man, both male and female. If we follow their instructions carefully we will fulfill God's plan for mankind and become the perfect bride for His Son and fill the earth with His glory. Christ and the church are examples that should be followed by husband and wife in their relationship also. (see Eph. 5:22-32).

Some of the apostles writings seems harsh to modern day man because of the weakness of the flesh or carnality. These men were men of God writing and teaching the word of our sovereign God and it serves us well to pay close attention for fear that we error; the greater the error, the greater the discipline; where there is no error discipline is not necessary. But let discipline have its perfect work without complaining. Let each one of us accept our position in God's plan; for who are we to say to our Creator, "Why did you make me male?" Or---"Why did you make me female?" Or---"Why did you not make me an apostle or prophet?" Or---Why did you make him to have authority over me?"

Man, both male and female, has departed from God's plan. It is my firm conviction that man {the male) has no authority from God to rule over (that is to govern) anything or anybody unless he is a man of God. A man, to qualify as a man of God, must be a man who has the love of God and revelation knowledge of the will of God and be in obedience to it; a man of faith. Love and faith precedes authority. A man with such love and faith knows how to properly exercise his God given authority with love and compassion. A woman with such love and faith knows how to summit to such authority with love and compassion. Let the man in the position of authority and responsibility recognize the love and faith of the women of God and allow them to serve in the capacity in which God has called them for fear that he attempts to usurp God. Let the women of such love and faith recognize the God given authority and responsibility of the man and thus respect him according to the instruction in God's word lest she finds herself in rebellion.

James C Sanford

Christ Likeness

It is impossible for man to rationalize and understand by his own intellect the things of God. Man cannot determine for himself what Christ is like and then imitate Him. His carnal efforts to be like his Savior results in man becoming an imitator of himself. He measures himself by himself. The results are he becomes a wolf in sheep's clothing; he has the appearance of his own estimation of righteousness but inside his cloak of self righteousness and religiosity is a raving wolf working against the will of God. He becomes as a "noisy gong and a clanging symbol;" just another noisy, ritualistic, and empty religious person.

Then you may ask; how are we to be like Jesus? Or you may ask; what is the key to Christ likeness? Of all the wonderful attributes of our Lord the most outstanding was his humbleness. The Apostle Paul sets our Lord's attitude before us as an example; he writes,

"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Phil. 2:5-8NASU)."

Our Lord saw the need of mankind and humbled Himself that he might fill that need. In the Garden of Gethsemane He totally submitted His will to our Heavenly Father as He prayed, saying,

"My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will."

Through the total submission of our Lord the Father brought forth a Savior for all mankind. He is the "only begotten" the unique Son of God; in this manner there is and never will no other like Him for there is no other where-by man can be saved.

Each of the original apostles were unique as individuals but yet they had these in common with their Lord----they saw the need, thus, like their Savior before them they humbled themselves before the Father; a humbleness that lead to total submission to the will of the Father. Then the Father created them to be unique vessels of His Spirit and word. If we as true believers will also see the need and become totally submitted to our Creator then He will create us in a uniqueness that serves His purpose.

It is only when man totally surrenders his own will and summits to the will of God that the soul of man is swallowed up by the Soul of God and the Spirit of God performs the word of God in his total being and brings forth a son of God whose thoughts and deeds are like those of his Lord and Savior; he does nothing unless he sees the Father do it and he says nothing unless he hears the Father say it. It is then and only then that he has become like Jesus. It is the work of the Spirit and not by the rationalizing and understanding of the human intellect.

The Apostle Paul writes,

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10)."

God is the Creator, the Potter; we are the clay; the one being created in His image. We are to believe, be humble, pray, have faith, be obedient, prayerfully study His Scripture and trust Him to do His will in our lives.

The Apostle John tells us,

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4)."

Our Lord teaches;

"A pupil is not above his teacher but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher (Luke 6:40)."

Our Lord also tells his pupil,

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matt. 5:14)."

In each true believer there is the life and the word (or light) of God that is the message or the gospel that is the "power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16);" the hope for mankind.

Submit to God and He will create you a vessel of His word; a manifestation of the invisible Father; you will be in His image; you will be like Jesus.

James C Sanford

The Deadliest Shooting in U.S. History

We are sure none of the students in Blacksburg Virgnia realized on a Monday morning that a murderous rampage would leave 33 of their classmates dead and over 20 wounded. President Bush and members of Congress expressed their surprise and grief at a senseless tragedy.

The perpetrator of this crime killed himself as the police closed in on him. And the sad thought... where is this young man now? The Bible tells us, in Hebrews 9:27 [AMP]

And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment

That young man was deceived by satan into thinking he could murder dozens of innocent people and escape judgment by killing himself. What he failed to realize was that by killing himself he did not escape judgment. Rather, he walked right into judgment. While we are alive on this earth, we can confess our sins and repent to receive God’s forgiveness. God sent Jesus into the world to save the world (John 3:16-17).

You can accept Jesus and have eternal life, or reject Him and wind up in the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8 [AMP] says:

But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the contemptible and the cravenly lacking in courage and the cowardly submissive, and as for the unbelieving and faithless, and as for the depraved and defiled with abominations, and as for murderers and the lewd and adulterous and the practicers of magic arts and the idolaters (those who give supreme devotion to anyone or anything other than God) and all liars (those who knowingly convey untruth by word or deed)--[all of these shall have] their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is the second death.

Death is inevitable. Hell is not. God can and will forgive your sins if you come to Him and ask.

Give your life to Jesus... because life is short... and eternity is a long, long, long time!

Brotha DC

A Call For Repentance

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men (Matt. 5:13NIV)." Salt has literally hundreds of uses, but here Jesus is speaking of the positive qualities it has in purifying, seasoning and preserving.

Those who are taught and trained in the word of God are likened unto salt; they serve as a purifying agent in their community, spreading as seasoning, the word of God and preserving the principals of Godliness. But when the truth of God is exchanged for myths, fables, lies and the tradition of men the "salt" has become tasteless or has lost it's "saltiness" and "it is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

Our churches of today have welcomed and accepted the traditions of the world and the practice of paganism into the church and are teaching myths, fables and lies rather than the truths of God's Holy Scriptures. They have tickled the ears of the masses for the sake of numbers in the pews and dollars in the offering plate. They have become rich and think they have need of nothing.

Yes, the church has fallen away from the faith of our forefathers and have become as the heathen. Immorality in the pulpits has led to immorality being accepted in the congregations and it seems no one in the churches is speaking out against it. Thus the church is no longer held is high esteem by the community it is serving, but is looked upon as being a house of hypocrites, whoremongers and thieves.

We look at our leaders in government in awe of their total disrespect for the laws that they are sworn to uphold, we presently see congressmen and senators with morals less than that of an alley cat. In the past we have seen, and was even approved by the masses, immorality in the White House. We have become a nation of shameless fornicators, adulteresses and murders!! Why do we see crime of all sorts in our communities on the rise? Do we wonder how these things can be? Could it be that the "salt" has become "tasteless" and has lost its ability to purify, season and preserve? Has the church become the apostate church? Has this apostate church led this nation down the path of destruction?

Where is the fear of God? Have we as a church and a nation become so haughty that we don't any longer fear Him. Have we become so unpleasantly or disdainfully self-important we feel that we are self-sufficient and have no need to reverence God. Have we become so proud of our military that we lean upon our own might rather that the power of God?

We must take heed lest we fall,

"Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor (Prov. 18:12NIV)."

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom (Prov. 11:2NIV)."

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise (Ps. 111:10NIV)."

We must return to teaching the precepts of our Lord to see the salvation of a declining nation destined to fall. Yes, our nation is in a downward spiral into the pit of immorality, but if we will listen to the words that God speaks to His people and take heed there is still hope;

"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chr. 7:14NASU)."

When He says, "if my people who are called by My name" He is speaking to the church today just as He spoke in the days of King Solomon. He is calling for His people of today to humble themselves before Him and to pray. God hears the prayers of the humble but resist the proud.

How can the salt become salty again? Repent and call upon the name of the Lord that our sins might be forgiven. The church must repent; turn its back on sin and seek God's face in humbleness with broken and contrite hearts. God promises that He will hear the prayers of the broken and contrite.

"Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance (Rom 2:4-5NIV)?"

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you even Jesus (Acts 3:19-20NASU)."

The enemy is at work, he never sleeps. He has penetrated our boarders and sits in our pews, he has filled our pulpits and governmental offices, and he seeks whom he might destroy. The faithful and true church is the "salt" that preserves and it must be this church that brings this nation back to God; the church must lead this nation in repentance before it is too late. We must call upon our Lord and Savior to give us wisdom and strength; we must lean upon His power to save us. Selah.

Pastor Jake

Repentance and Sanctification

It was in the Garden that God removed a rib from the side of Adam and fashioned woman; she was sanctified or set apart to be the "help meet" for Adam; this woman God then gave Adam to be his bride; and the two became one flesh. When Eve became one flesh with Adam she became a joint heir of the covenant that God had made with Adam; she became a joint heir of all God had given Adam. And so she would rule and reign with her husband. We can see this principle also applied to Christ and His bride, the Church. But perhaps we can best understand this principle by studying God's calling of Abram (Abraham) and his wife.

"Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father's house, to the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran (Gen. 12:1-4NAS)."

Because of God's love of mankind he had mercy and by grace called Abram to be the father of the household of faith. Abram heard God; he then left his father's house according to God's instructions. Abram hearing, believing and obeying God indicates that he welcomed and received the gift of faith. Abram's father was a worshiper of idols, thus we can assume Abram also was an idolater who was dead in his sins. Leaving his fathers house of sin would indicate that he believed God and turned his back on sin, thus establishing repentance. Because Abram received the gift of faith through believing and repenting it was "reckoned" to him by God as righteousness, thus Abram was justified by God (Gen. 6:15NAS).

After faith, repentance and justification, came the covenant, then circumcision as the sign of the covenant (Rom. 4:10-12NAS). The very nature of circumcision indicates a sanctification process where-by the unclean flesh of man is removed. Abraham and his household were not circumcised into the covenant but rather they received the sign of circumcision because of the covenant they had with God before circumcision {Rom. 4:13NAS}.

So, what is it that we see that God has given to Abram? By grace he called him thus giving him faith. Then God granted him repentance by accepting his leaving his father's house as a move of faith. Next, He reckoned these things to Abram as righteousness there-by granting to him justification, which is to say, not counting his sins against him. Then came sanctification; the setting apart process.

The ordinance of baptism for those under the new covenant parallels, or is comparable, and corresponds to that of the circumcision of those who were under the covenant of the Law of Circumcision. Circumcision refers to a cutting away of sin and a change of heart (Deut. 10:16; Ezek. 44:7,9). Similarly, baptism also portrays a washing away of sin (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5-6) and a spiritual renewal (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:9-12). It is helpful to understand the Law of Circumcision, but we cannot and must not confuse or mix the rites of circumcision and those of baptism together, doing so results in false doctrines. The Christian is not under the same covenant therefore the rites are different.

"This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants. A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant (Gen. 17:10-14NAS)."

To understand how the Law of Circumcision under the old covenant corresponds to that of baptism under the new covenant we must see Abraham in the role of Christ and Sarah in the role of the church. The covenant was made with Abraham who was the head of his household. The new covenant is made between God the Father and His Son Jesus who is the head of His household (Heb. 3:6NAS). The sign of circumcision is given to Abraham and his seed after him. The sign of baptism was given to Jesus and to His seed after Him.

This brings us to Sarah and her role is likened unto that of the church. Sarah, being a woman, could not be circumcised in the same manner as her husband. Because of her love and faith toward her husband she had left her former life behind and became submissive and obedient to her husband, which can be seen as a circumcision of the heart (1 Pet. 3:5-6NAS). Thus she was one with her husband (Gen. 2:24) and his circumcision became her circumcision, and therefore she was included in the covenant.

The bride of Christ is the church. Like Sarah, the church loves her Husband and she leaves her former life behind and is submissive and obedient to her Lord. Now since Christ was crucified over two thousand years ago it is impossible for the believer to be literally crucified with Him, and so by repentance and faith toward God His crucifixion becomes the believer's crucifixion or His circumcision, through the removal of the unclean flesh in the work of the cross, becomes the believer's circumcision, if indeed he dies to the sinful deeds of the flesh with Him; in other words His death, burial and resurrection becomes the believers death, burial and resurrection.

Under the Law of Circumcision any one refusing to be circumcised broke God's covenant therefore they were excluded from the covenant (Gen. 17:4; Exo. 22:48). Our Lord Jesus was circumcised at birth according to the Law of Circumcision because He was born under the covenant of Law (Luke 2:21NAS). At about age thirty He was baptized as a sign of the new covenant of faith toward God. He was circumcised that He might fulfill the sign of the old covenant and He was baptized that He might establish baptism as the sign of the new covenant, thus fulfilling "all righteousness (Matt. 3:15NAS)." The new covenant is God's pledge to grant eternal life to all those who are called and believe through His Son Jesus (John 3:15-16).

It was father Abraham who circumcised the child born into his household. Likewise it is Christ who circumcises those who are "born of the Spirit" into His household, but His is a circumcision through the removal of the unclean flesh by the work of the cross.

"For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross {Col. 2:9-14NAS}."

We baptize the "new babe" in Christ, the born again believer, as a sign of the covenant with God through the faith he had in Christ before he was baptized. We are not baptized into the covenant of faith but we are baptized because of the covenant of faith. Repentance leads to remission or the forgiveness of sins and salvation in Jesus Christ. Conviction, repentance, faith, baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit are the entire package (Acts 2:37-38); one follows the other and each one is incomplete without the other. Sanctification, or the cleansing of ones soul of all sinfulness, is the circumcision of the heart, the removal of the unclean flesh---the body of sin. This is the spiritual baptism in Christ Jesus that is expressed or manifested outwardly in the water baptism (Gal. 3:26-27; 1 Pet. 3:17-22). Apart from cleansing inner being (the circumcision of the heart) baptism becomes a legalistic ritual and a mere dip in water.

Permit me if you will to alter Scripture just a bit to make a valid point. First the Scripture as it is written.

"For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God {Rom. 2:28-29NAS}." Now the alteration---For he is not a Christian who is one outwardly, neither is baptism that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Christian who is one inwardly and baptism is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Baptism is not a means by which salvation is brought about, but is a sign of the new covenant of salvation through Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:10-13). Baptism serves the same purpose for new covenant believers that circumcision did for old covenant believers. For the Jews, circumcision was the external and visible sign that they were within the covenant that God had established with Abraham. Converts (or proselytes) also had to undergo this rite. But now under the new covenant, baptism instead of circumcision is required. A person who claims to have been convicted of sin, says he has repented and refuses to be baptized rejects the sign of the new covenant, thus he disobeys the commandments of God---his conviction is incomplete, his repentance is also incomplete, there is something wrong with his relationship with God and therefore his faith is lacking---he is in danger of being excluded from the new covenant.

Sanctification (setting apart for sin and the sinful) is God's purpose of His calling and His will for the believer. As the believer continues in dedication to the regeneration process of repentance and obedience to faith his soul continues to be disciplined or trained for the purpose of being "set apart" for the works of God by "the washing of water by the word (Eph. 5:26)." Those who are being "saved" has repented of sin and is justified and made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. They have, through faith, been crucified with Christ, died to sin, the adamic sin nature buried and then he is raised up in the newness of life in Christ Jesus; when this work is complete he has been sanctified (or set apart) (Rom. 6:3-11).

One who joins a church, and is baptized in water, takes unto himself the name "Christian," and puts on the appearance of being religious, but continues to willfully sin, has not repented, he has not crucified "the man of sin" with Christ, he has not died with Christ, he has not been buried with Christ and he has not been raised up in the newness of life in Christ; he has simply been dipped in water and buried alive in religiosity; he remains dead in his transgression (Eph. 2:1). He has only made a worthless and limited outward reformation and not fit for service in the Kingdom of God! He has need of repentance (Matt. 4:17; Acts 2:38; 3:19)!!!

Willful sinning is a product of willful ignorance and an unrepentant heart. Willful ignorance, unlike unbelief, is the rejection of what one knows to be the truth (Matt. 21:32). Willful ignorance consists of things such as neglect of prayer, neglect of bible study and arguing with truth until he is convinced that he is right and truth is wrong. Rather than submitting to a change of life, he twists and alters the truth to fit his life style. Thus he rejects the truth because he is not willing to repent; for he is enjoying the things that he is doing and right or wrong, sin or not, he will, like rebellious Cain, continue doing it. He loves darkness rather than light; or rather he loves sin rather than truth (John 3:19-21). He loves the ways of the world rather than God!!

It is written, "By transgression {sin} an evil man is ensnared, but the righteous sings and rejoices {Prov. 29:6NAS}."

Jesus said -----, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me {John 14:6NAS}."

Jesus is the sacrificial offering and substitute death for the satisfaction of man's sin debt before God; He and He alone died for man's sins; there is no other!! Thus He and He alone prepared the way back to the Father. Jesus is also the Word of God, thus He is the truth that leads the way to the Father; He is the "lamp unto our feet and a light to our path." And again, Jesus is the "life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45)," thus the way and the truth imparts life to the believer that he may be with the Father. If he rejects truth he also rejects his High Priest and intercessor; he rejects hope. If he says, "I love Jesus," while rejecting the truth through disobedience, he betrays and gives himself over to deception.

John the Baptist came before Jesus preaching repentance and announcing the coming of the Messiah to a very religious nation, the people of Israel (Matt. 3:2). These people had drifted far from the truth, thus they had need of repentance (Matt. 3:8). He preached repentance that they might receive the embodiment of truth, Jesus, the Word of God. When Jesus came, He came preaching repentance and announcing the kingdom of God to the same people. He preached repentance that they might turn away from sin and receive Him, and through Him enter the kingdom of God. In the beginning of the church the apostles preached repentance, to many of the same people, as well as to others, that they too might receive Jesus and through Him, the Word of Truth, enter the kingdom of God (Acts 2:38). Being baptized and becoming a member of a local "church" and acting religious does not save a man's soul. The hearing of the gospel message leads to faith, repentance and salvation through justification and sanctification (Rom. 1:16).

On the day of Pentecost Peter preached to a nation of people who had rejected the truth and crucified The Word of God.

"Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brethren, what shall we do?' And Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit' (Acts 2:37-38NAS)."

In answer to their desperate cry the first word out of Peter's mouth was, "repent;" repentance, and only repentance, leads to justification and the forgiveness of sins. Without repentance there is no forgiveness, no removal of guilt and there is no receiving of the Holy Spirit (Luke 13:3). Baptism will not save an unrepentant soul!! After repentance the Holy Spirit is given as a pledge of the believer's inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14; Acts 2:38) and for the purpose of the work of sanctification and other glorious works of God.

The true nature of repentance is most often misunderstood. Many sorrow that they have sinned, and even make an outward reformation, only because they fear that their sin will bring suffering upon themselves. Esau was grieved over the loss of his birthright (Gen. 27:36-38) and Balaam acknowledged his guilt when he feared the loss of his life (Numbers 22:32-34). Even Pharaoh, when suffering under the judgments of God, acknowledge his sin, in order to escape further punishment, but immediately returned to his defiance of Moses and God as soon as the plagues were ceased. All these mourned the results of sin, but did not grieve for the sin itself. This is not true repentance. True repentance, like faith and love is a gift from God. When the Holy Spirit, through the gospel message, reveals the love that God has shown mankind through the giving of His Son, conviction takes hold upon the soul of the sinner. His soul yields to the influence of the Holy Spirit of God; he then has a sense of the righteousness and love of God; he sees his own sin nature as being evil and against his loving Creator. He begins to have a feeling of contrition or broken heartedness and a precise and fixed change of mind. Therefore, in a godly sense, repentance means an awareness of guilt and a feeling of remorse, regret and sorrowfulness for sin.

When man first believes, he receives God's gifts of love and faith. He then, through faith, loves God in return by repenting and turning to Him. Thus repentance is two-fold in as much as it is turning away from sin and turning to God with love and faith toward Him through His Son Jesus. Consequently repentance brings forgiveness of sin and removes all feelings of guilt and brings about a deep-seated positive change in a person's relationship with God. The repentant believer rejoices in the love of God and clearly sees the beauty of holiness, the joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed, sanctified and restored to unity and total harmony with God.

Is repentance necessary to salvation? Yes; when one first believes he is justified and Jesus becomes his Savior, Lord, King and High Priest. As High Priest, He intercedes for the believer as he struggles with the process of dieing to sin. Each time the Holy Spirit brings the deceptive darkness of sin in one's life under the light of the word of God the believer again repents; thus through repentance the old sin nature, is nailed to the cross with Jesus----there to die with Him. To the flesh sin nature, the piercing nails of repentance are a painful death, but it is necessary in the process of sanctification. The believer does not come into the knowledge of all of the truths of God suddenly; therefore sanctification is not an instant process. It is a metamorphosis---a change or transformation over a period of time. Just how much time depends on the believer's depth of love for God and his devotion to prayer, study of the scriptures and his obedience to the Holy Spirit. The end results of repentance are both justification and sanctification. Hence the old sin nature is dead and a new creature of the nature of God is resurrected in Christ.

The psalmist cries out in true repentance, "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Thy sight, so that Thou art justified when Thou dost speak, and blameless when Thou dost judge. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which Thou hast broken rejoice. Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Thy presence, and do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners will be converted to Thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Thy righteousness {Ps. 51:1-14NAS}."

"----------Truly, truly, I say unto you, unless one is born of water (word) and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'" (John 3:5ff).

Apart from the cleansing by the word and the Spirit of God there is no regeneration, no sanctification and no salvation for the soul of man. Do not neglect hearing the word of God;

For it is written,

"man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord (Deut. 8:3ff & Luke 4:4ff)."

Salvation begins at the cross with Jesus, the Word of God, continues with the Word of God and is completed by the Word of God; and all is by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit that is from God.

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds (Titus 2:11-14)."

Justification is the open door through which regeneration enters and sanctification begins. Justification results in purification of the soul from the guilt and power of sin. Sanctification results in a life of service in the works that God has prepared for those who are being saved (Eph. 2:10).

The Scripture teaches,

--- "For if we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit (Gal. 5:25)."

"If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, that in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph. 4:21-24)." "SET YOUR MIND on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory (Col. 3:2-4)."

God's plan has never changed. As it was in the beginning, so it is today. God created man in His image; then man sinned; now God's work is reconciliation and restoration of the entire man that he may once again be a manifestation of His Glory (1 Thes. 5:23). Christ Jesus came into the world a man in God's image; and He left this world through death on the cross and was raised up; still in God's image. Through Him there is justification, regeneration and sanctification and complete restoration.

When one is born again the spirit that is in the believer is of the seed of Him that is in the image of God (1 John 3:9). Thus, the spirit in the believer is in the image of God. Therefore the born again believer has within him the image of God; all the attributes of God are in him; love, mercy, grace, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control and etc. Also abiding in the believer is the Spirit of God given as a teacher and a helper; the power to help the believer overcome sin in his soul and body; the power for complete restoration and reconciliation; the power to manifest the glory of God.

As to the Apostle Paul's question,

" who will save me from this body of sin" he responds, "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh. God did sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin. He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, WHO DO NOT WALK ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, BUT ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, (set their minds on) the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he does not belong to Him. And If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you (Rom. 8:1-11)."

In his response Paul makes it clear that the Law of the Spirit of Life applies only to those who are in Christ and are living their lives according to the leading of the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Setting ones mind is the exercise of one's free will; to set your mind on the Spirit you must first submit your will to the will of God.

Jesus said,

"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it (Matt 16:25 NASU)."

Submissive obedience is an act of love that assures the believer of oneness with God through Christ Jesus; therefore set your mind on the things of the Spirit and live the richness, fullness and completeness of life that God has called you into.

"So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--- for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Rom. 8:12-14)."

Pastor Jake

I Need a God Who Can

Do you find it hard to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Sometimes I find it hard to comprehend. But that is ok, I am not alone. The disciples had spent three years with Jesus, and still they did not understand when they found the tomb empty. The scriptures tell us in Luke that when the women returned from the tomb and told the disciples that Jesus had risen, they didn't believe them. "But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense." Luke 24;11 NIV It is hard to believe in something that is not a normal part of life. It seems like nonsense to us too.

People die all the time. The papers carry an obituary sectionevery day, but I have yet to see a paper that carries a resurrection section. People die...but they just don't rise from the dead. The story of Jesus rising from the dead is hard to believe. It is just not a natural part of every day life. Have you ever known someone to go to the cemetary looking for living people? The women in the gospels didn't! They went expecting to find a corpse. Not just someone who was in cardiac arrest and in need of CPR. They expected to find a body dead for three days.A body with rigor mortis, a body already starting to decay. Yet, what they expected...they didn't find. Instead of a body, they found and empty tomb and a risen Lord!

I need a God like this. I need a God that does things beyond what I can comprehend. I can't comprehend bodies raising from the dead. That just does not make sense to me. I need a God that can do things that I can't figure out. I want a God that is bigger than anything I can figure out and understand.

I want a God that does supernatural things! I don't want a God that is limited by the natural. I need a God who does things that can't be explained on the History and Discovery Channels.

If I am able to comprehend all that God does, then God is no bigger than my mind. If God is only able to function within the realm of my comprehension, then God is no bigger than the human mind. I need a God that is not confined by my understanding. I want a God bigger than anything I can possible think of. A God which nothing can confine.

We attempt to confine God all the time. We try to keep him contained where we can control him. They attempted to contain Jesus by using his mortality. They thought, "If we kill him, that will contain him." Surely death will hold him. But to be sure,they attempted to contain him with rock and stones, sealed within a tomb. And if that is not enough,they placed a gaurd upon the tomb.

The Roman gaurd placed on the tomb was nothing to be trifled with. In today's world, it would be like being gaurded by team of Navy seals. Yet, death could not contain him, the tomb could not hold him, and the Roman Gaurd fled in fear. I want a God like that. One that nothing I can think of can contain him.

Paul writes in Ephesians 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." I want a God that is immeasurably more than anything I can think of, greater than my wildest imagination.

A God like that is able to accomplish things, that if it were up to me would remain unsolved and unresolved. Situations that seem hopeless, now find hope in a resurrected Lord. Broken people and broken lives can be restored by the power of a resurrected Lord. Addictions and issues that seem more than I can cope with, Jesus is able to overcome. I know this, because even death can not hold him.

I need a God that great! I need a God that is so big, everything else I face in lifebecomes small in comparison. With him, all things are possible. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

A resurrected Lord...difficult to comprehend. Itmakes no earthly sense. So I turn to faith. I chose to believe something I can't see. I chose to believe in something that is greater than me. Jesus once said if we have faith the size of a grain of a mustard seed we can move mountains. I believe. I need a God like Jesus I can believe in. I need a Lord that although he once was dead, now HE LIVES!!

Author John Phipps, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church, Wayensburg, PA

The Law of the Spirit of Life

It really troubles me when religious people refer to Romans Chapter 7 to excuse their sins. And I deplore the line, "we are only human and we are going sin." And almost as revolting is the line, "we sin every day." Immoral sinful people, religious or otherwise, are always looking for crutches to hold them up in their unbelief. In Romans 7 the Apostle Paul was emphasizing the weakness of the flesh and the need of the power to overcome sin. If they would only read chapter eight they would find there, using a famous line, "the rest of the story."

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:1 NASU)."

[for those who are in Christ Jesus] Now go back to Romans, chapter 6, beginning in verse 3----

"Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death (Rom. 6:3 NASU)?"

Again in the book of Galatians, "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ (Gal.3:27 NAS)."

[baptized into Christ Jesus] If a person is baptized into Christ Jesus, baptized into His death and then raised up in the newness of life then he is in Christ Jesus.

"Therefore there is now no condemnation." Understand, the Apostle is not speaking of a water baptism here he is speaking of dieing to the sinful deeds of the flesh. Dead men do not sin, they are dead.

"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it (Rom. 6:1-2 NASU)?"

Now if you have not been baptized into the death of Christ then the old sin nature of the flesh is still very much alive and you will sin.

Let's continue, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Rom. 8:2 NASU)."

There is no condemnation for who?? For those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus, those who have crucified the flesh and buried it with Christ; those who have followed their Lord into the "regeneration (Matt. 19L28)," into the new birth.

"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Rom. 8:3-4 NASU)."

[who do not walk according to the flesh] The requirement of the law of sin and death is fulfilled in those who have been baptized into Christ Jesus and have received the gift of the Holy Spirit and are walking according to His power and leading.

"For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, {set their minds on} the things of the Spirit (Rom. 8:5 NASU)."

[set their minds] It is a matter of submission or "mind set." One who has submitted has set his mind on the things of God and is lead of the Spirit of God, thus he is empowered to overcome sin.
"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom. 8:6-8 NASU)."

[for the mind set on the flesh is death] A stern warning for those who say, "we are only human and we are going to sin, even the apostle Paul sinned." (That gives me chills.) Where is you mind set if it is set on the things of the flesh it is set on death!!!

[but the mind set on the Spirit] The mind set on the Spirit is life and peace and the fruit he bears is the fruit of righteous.

"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Rom. 8:14 NAS)."

We must remember that our Lord came and died a horrible death to take away our sins, not to prepare a way we could wallow in them and still go to heaven. The biggest sin committed by church going people is that of drunkness and immorality---this is what people are wanting to hold on to but still have a clean conscience---there is no way people!!! Either be converted or die in your sins.

Pastor Jake