Rom 7:25 KJV I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Paul thanked God that he was delivered from his wretchedness. Yes, he was delivered by Jesus Christ. Yes, he overcame the law of sin and death by the Spirit of Christ too. But did he say, That's all? No. It means that we must have the obedience to the Spirit of Christ and the law of God to have our ultimate victory too:
Rom 8:2 KJV For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
How do we serve the law of God with our minds (Rom 7:25)?
Of course, it is by thinking or meditating on the law and the words of God:
1Pe 1:22-23 KJV Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Mat 4:4 KJV But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Rom 12:1-2 KJV I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How do we know the good and perfect will of God? It is by the law of God, the seed, or the Word who is now in the Spirit of the law of Christ in our hearts and minds. Hence, I believe that the renewing of our mind must be done in the Spirit of Christ through the words and commandments of God too.
Is the life of Christ Word-based or grace-based?
Yes, we are already saved or cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ under grace. But, we must continue to be cleansed by His words and commandments. Hence, there are two types of cleansing:
1. being cleansed from sins unto salvation
2. being cleansed from sins unto sanctification
The first type is by grace through the blood of Jesus; the second is by the Spirit of God through the words of God. Jesus will cleanse us with both types of cleansing, or else we can never be part of Him. Joh 13:3-10 is the picture of how Jesus will cleanse us with both types of cleansing:
Joh 13:3-10 KJV Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; (4) He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. (5) After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. (6) Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? (7) Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. (8) Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. (9) Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. (10) Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
Our life in Christ must be continuously cleansed
Jesus said that those who are clean are indeed clean. But even though they are clean, they must still be continuously cleansed by Him, or else they have no part with Him. Hence, there are two types of people in our churches:
1. Those who are not clean, but they pretend to be clean by the words of God. And they can never be clean no matter how much they can pretend (like Judas Iscariot)
2. Those who are clean, but they do not want to be cleansed anymore. They want to be free. They think that they are set free from the truth and grace to obey no more law or commandment from God. They want to enjoy an 'effortless' life or 'lawless' life. They do not want to hear all the words or commandments of God. Hence, they would interpret God's words with their own thinking or hear the interpretation of God's words from the serpent (like the 5 foolish virgins, like the goats, like the dead branches, like the seeds fallen by the wayside).
How will Christ cleanse us continuously?
Is it by physical washing of our feet? No, Joh 13:3-10 is just a symbolic picture of how we will be cleansed by Him. Will He cleanse us with water ? No. Will He cleanse us by magic, by spiritual anointing, or by a supernatural force? Of course not. He will cleanse us with the words of God. What are the words of God? I have explained in K111 that the doctrine of Christ or the law of Christ would always include all the commandments and principles of God. The Pharisees (like the lawyer in Mat 22:35, Luk 10:25, Mar 7:11) would always look for the shortcut in God's commandments, but Jesus would expose them as the hypocrites and show them that there was no shortcut. Many Pharisees would just want to confess sin (Mat 3:6-8) or righteousness (Luk 18:11-12), but Jesus showed clearly that they could never understand the gospel without the true spirit of repentance i.e. in the law and Spirit of God.
Joh 3:5-12 KJV Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit .. .. (10) .. Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (11) Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. (12) If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
There are many arguments for different base or focus for the gospel
Many believers today would argue that the gospel of Jesus Christ is only grace-based, miracle-based, healing-based, liberty-based, prosperity-based, or righteousness-based because they were looking for only those things that they can accept or like. Such focus is certainly not from the Spirit and law of Christ. They may argue that they believe in the words of God. But in reality, they have no regard for God's words or commandments as they would select only the promises of God and reject all the rest of God's words, warnings, correction, principles, or commandments as not useful to them. They argue that the gospel is prosperity-based, freedom-based, grace-based, favour-based, or effortless-based; but how about repentance-based, cross-based, word-based, doctrine-based, or kingdom-based?
But the arguments are all 'baseless' without the doctrine of Christ
The doctrine of Christ or the law of Christ is based on the words of God. Hence, the gospel is 'baseless' if it is not Word-based too.
According to the doctrine and teaching of Christ, we can confess faith, righteousness, grace, or blessing daily or repeatedly. But it would be all in vain if we do not have the law of Christ, the doctrine of Christ, or the Spirit of Christ, to do it:
Mat 7:21-24 KJV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven .. .. (24) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Many argue, "Yes, Jesus told us to do the will of God the Father; but He didn't tell us to do His laws or commandments. Hence, what we will is His will and what He will would become our will too. Haha, hence, we can just go by the flow .."
I will tell them, How do you know God's will if you do not know God's words? And how do you know God's words if God's words have no instructions, laws, commandments, or principles for you to do? When Jesus said that we must do God's will, obviously He wants us to do God's will which is shown in God's laws and commandments; not to go by the flow or by what we think in our minds.
2Ti 3:15-17 KJV And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (16) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Did Paul say that only his letters were God-inspired for us ? Did he say that only the New Testament or the gospel by John was inspired? No, he said ALL SCRIPTURE are inspired for doctrine, for correction, and for teaching. Are we saved by the scripture? Of course not. But are we saved if we just throw away the scripture and learn to 'walk on water' like Peter? No, I am sure we will all 'sink' and perish. Hence, the question is not: To do or not to do to be saved; but do we have the law and Spirit of Christ to do it. If we have have the Spirit of Christ, we will do it. If we do not have the Spirit of Christ, we will always argue like the Pharisees who would never do the laws and commandments of God. The Pharisees might do the rituals or works of the law but they are 'lawless' in their spirit. From what they did, we know if they were not from God. Similarly, from what we do, we know if we are from God too.
So is our life in Christ doctrine-based or Spirit-based?
Many believers still argue vehemently that we should listen only to the Holy Spirit. I will tell them, Yes, of course, we listen to the Holy Spirit too; but do you know how the Holy Spirit will speak to you? Will He speak to you with His own still 'small voice', His own words, or His own new revelation? I don't think so.
Joh 14:10-26 KJV Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works .. (15) If ye love me, keep my commandments. (16) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you .. .. (26) But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Joh 16:13 KJV Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Do we notice the condition how the Holy Spirit is given to us? Jesus said, "If ye .." and "I will .." - it is a condition and a commandment. If we obey and do as He said, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit and His guidance; or else, we have rebelled and rejected the Holy Spirit.
Will the Holy Spirit operate by Himself? No, Jesus has said it very clearly. The Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear from the Lord. And whatsoever He shall hear from the Lord is whatsoever Jesus said or taught with the words of God - it means all the doctrine that He has taught !
Mat 22:33 KJV And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
Mar 4:2 KJV And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
Mar 12:38 KJV And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
Joh 7:16 KJV Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
Mat 28:19-20 KJV Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Do we notice that Jesus used the word 'whatsoever' repeatedly in what we should do and teach? He said it emphatically or commanded that we must observe and teach ALL (not just part of what He has commanded us).
However, what if the believers know about this and still go against His command and preach only what they like or only the 'feel good' messages? What if the believers would just preach that everyone will go to heaven and that His teaching of hell (in Luk 16:19-31) is no longer applicable to them? They are rebellious believers. The Lord will say He never know them (Mat 7:15-23).
Our life in Christ must be both doctrine-based and Spirit-based
Now, please read the words of Paul again. Yes, Paul told us to listen or follow the Spirit of God too. But did he explain how to follow the Spirit of God?
1Co 2:10-16 KJV But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (13) Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (14) But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Now, please ask ourselves, How do we have the mind of Christ or know the mind of Christ? Isn't it simply by knowing and doing the words and doctrine of Christ? When we know and do the doctrine of Christ, we have have the mind of Christ and we have the Spirit of God to judge all things.
There must be God's commands if our life in Christ is both doctrine-based and Spirit-based
Many will still argue, "Of course, we know that our life in Christ is doctrine-based. Don't falsely accuse us. We have always preached the words of God. We preach grace. We preach Jesus. We preach goodnews. We have set many people free from the bondages of the law. Hence, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord (Luk 4:18-19). Our words are the words of God. They are life and spirit .."
I will tell them, No, those are your words. They are not the words from the 'mouth' of God even though they are quoted from the Scripture. Jesus has said in Mat 7:15-23, Those who rebel and work lawlessness may still preach in His name and call Him Lord, but they are not from Him. Hence, the words that they preached or quoted from the scripture are not from His mouth. Jesus said that the words that are truly from the mouth of God are not the words that have only the words that we like to hear. They are ALL the words of God or EVERY word that comes out from the mouth of God, including the COMMANDMENTS of God. If we remove all (or part of) His commandments, we are not speaking the words of God; we are speaking like the devil:
Mat 4:4 KJV But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Of course, Jesus knew that it was good to have bread alone, but He would rather choose to live by God's commandments or by God's every word which includes God's commandments. Did Jesus say that it must include God's commandments (like the Ten Commandments or like the 'Thou shalt' and the 'Thou shalt not') ? Yes, He showed that there must be God's commandments in His subsequent replies to the devil:
Mat 4:7-10 KJV Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God .. .. (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
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