Noninterchangeable!

[NetChaplain]

There can only be minimal appreciation (though in full possession) of that which derives from “life and godliness” (2Pet 1:3) if there be not settled assurance concerning the permanent efficacy of Christ’s redemption (unfailingly covers all sin). What fruit of redemption could there be that would be temporary, and greater still, what use could there be of such a work? There is at no time anything meaningful in a so-called temporal walk of faith, nor would it be sensible to conceive such as a work of God.

None can find a demonstration in Romans Eight that one who “walks after the Spirit” can also “walk after the flesh.” Scripture exemplifies those appearing to be “in the Spirit” (v 9) by a nominal (in name only) outward profession of Christianity (Mat 15:8; Mar 7:6; Jam 2:18). But their inward state will eventually manifest their “departure” (1Tim 4:1) from a false profession of faith, and a “fall” (Gal 5:4) from an insincere pursuit of grace (1Tim 4:1; Gal 5:4; 1Jhn 2:19).

Verse One in chapter Eight reveals evidence that those who are is Christ—“walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This does not indicate that those who are reborn can walk after the flesh but rather the opposite, that they will not walk after the flesh, and the following verse explains why—“Because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin.” Free, not that there will be no more sinning but that there will be no more will to sin (Heb 10:26).

Walking after the flesh does not intend intermittent sin but a willingness to pursue a continuous lifestyle and state of sin, as was our condition prior to rebirth. I do not believe that the scriptural warnings and admonitions to believers represent what they might again desire after but rather what identifies them. It’s not as though one who is reborn can ever again desire to willfully sin.

Hence the urgent significance concerning the doctrine of the permanency of salvation. If it’s not permanent it’s not redemption, because there is only one strain of salvation—“eternal salvation” (Heb 5:9). Regardless of how long or how sincere others may have appeared, discontinuing the Christian walk indicates (not confirms) a nonoccurrence of rebirth.

The word “walk” is in reference to that which one wills to do outwardly, which is directed by that which is desired inwardly (natural or spiritual). What one wills to do has precedence over what is practically done. Thus our “will to do of His good pleasure” (Phl 2:13) is predominant in significance as to that which is done, because it’s the intention of our actions and not deeds which determines their quality.

This defines the meaning of a “new heart,” which is ever desiring to please God, though knowing our actions will also include that which is undesirable due to the “old man” (Rom 7:15-20). For those reborn, their walk will progressively manifest that which is of the new nature more than that of the old, which between these two natures is how God is “glorified” (Mat 5:16; Jhn 15:8; 1Co 6:20; 10:31; Phl 1:11; 1Pe 2:12; 1Pe 4:11).

NC

 

[regibassman57]

@NetChaplain,
I'm thinking you are a Pastor. What is your thought about his verse because I noticed you used it in your message.

Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The blood of bulls and goats could not accomplish the taking away of sins, but Jesus did. This is the redemption that is once for all. Jesus sanctified believers once for all from sin and perfected us; something the law could not do (Rom. 8:3; Act. 13:39).

Heb 10:3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of "sins" every year.
Heb 10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Heb 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice "for sins" for ever, sat down on the right hand of God (Heb. 1:3);
Heb 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Heb 10:14 For by one offering Christ hath perfected "for ever" them that are sanctified.

We have been sanctified from sin.

 

[NetChaplain]

I'm thinking you are a Pastor. What is your thought about his verse because I noticed you used it in your message. Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

The blood of bulls and goats could not accomplish the taking away of sins, but Jesus did. This is the redemption that is once for all. Jesus sanctified believers once for all from sin and perfected us; something the law could not do (Rom. 8:3; Act. 13:39).

Hi and thanks for your reply! Some of the sites on which I share are a little difficult for me to determine if there are any replies to my posts, so sorry for the late reply which I've just noticed. No, I'm not a Pastor but I've been teaching spiritual-growth Bible doctrine for about 15 years.

What the Law did was provide forgiveness of sin (not via the Decalogue but the sin sacrifices) but not "dominion" from it (Num 15:24-31). To me freedom from sin involves being separate (sanctified) from its "condemnation" (Rom 8:1) and "dominion" (Rom 6:14), but not from its presence and effect (Rom 7:17, 20). The meaning of being free from sin's dominion isn't avoiding sinning (which is impossible) but being unaffected by the sin nature's (old man) ability to work in us to "sin willfully"(Heb 10:26). Those reborn have the old man coexisting with the new man, and the Father via the Spirit uses this new nature, which is from the nature of Christ (Col 3:10), to "will and do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). The most important aspect of this truth is that it is a permanent "work," which is how one can know it's genuine, by this never ceasing ("to the end").

Blessings!

 

[regibassman57]

@NetChaplin,

What the Law did was provide forgiveness of sin (not via the Decalogue but the sin sacrifices) but not "dominion" from it (Num 15:24-31). To me freedom from sin involves being separate (sanctified) from its "condemnation" (Rom 8:1) and "dominion" (Rom 6:14), but not from its presence and effect (Rom 7:17, 20). The meaning of being free from sin's dominion isn't avoiding sinning (which is impossible) but being unaffected by the sin nature's (old man) ability to work in us to "sin willfully"(Heb 10:26). Those reborn have the old man coexisting with the new man, and the Father via the Spirit uses this new nature, which is from the nature of Christ (Col 3:10), to "will and do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). The most important aspect of this truth is that it is a permanent "work," which is how one can know it's genuine, by this never ceasing ("to the end").
Blessings!

Hello Chaplin, I understand what you are saying, but it doesn't bear witness to faith. The just shall live by faith believing what Jesus Christ said He has done. It seems you are looking at the act of a man instead of how God views them. Jesus Christ died unto sin once, we are told by the Spirit, we have also died unto sin once (Rom. 6:10, 11). We have risen with Christ and are dead to sin (Col. 3:3). We know Jesus has cancelled sin by putting it away (Heb. 9:26).

G115 (put away)
ἀθέτησις [A)QE/THSIS] {athétēsis} \ath-et'-ay-sis\
from 114; cancellation (literally or figuratively):--disannulling, put away.

There are to many scriptures that teach the principle of what Jesus did for man on the cross. Many people believe Jesus paid the penalty for sins, but we still sin without the law that gave man the awareness of sin. Scripture teaches - if a believer is free of the penalty of sin, they are free equally from the sin that caused the penalty and separation from God.

Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

There is no scriptural evidence that Jesus took away the "penalty of sin," without taking away the "cause" of the penalty.

The reason sin does not have dominion over a believer, is because the strength of sin was the law (1Cor. 15:56). The law is no longer our school master and we are not justified by the law; but by Grace (Christ - in whom there is no sin - 1Joh. 3:5). Believers cannot be told they sin by the law, and Jesus is not imputing sin unto a believer (Rom. 4:8; 2Cor. 5:19). It is only by the law a believer has a consciousness of sin. But it was only when the believer was justified by the schoolmaster (Gal. 3:23-25).

To me freedom from sin involves being separate (sanctified) from its "condemnation" (Rom 8:1) and "dominion" (Rom 6:14), but not from its presence and effect (Rom 7:17, 20).

This is not what scripture teaches... We as believers are sanctified once far all time from sin - forever. You are not righteous in position by what you do, but by what Jesus did for you. Sin separated you from righteousness and Jesus came and sanctified man through His work, but only for man's "position" in Christ from sin. There is a sanctification that man is responsible for, but man's works of righteousness determines his faith in Christ and obedience to Christ in the day of judgment.

Hebrews 10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:11
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Hebrews 10:12
But this man (Jesus), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins "forever," sat down on the right hand of God;

Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering he hath perfected "forever" them that are "sanctified."

Believers are sanctified from sin forever.

 

[NetChaplain]

The just shall live by faith believing what Jesus Christ said He has done. It seems you are looking at the act of a man instead of how God views them.

I agree, God will never again consider the believer as "in the flesh" (Rom 8:9), even though the flesh (sin nature; old man) is still in him (Ro 7:12, 14)! He sees the sin (He cannot deny its presence) but not the guilt (forever gone)! The condemnation of sin being washed away has the same effect as if the sin nature and its sins were washed away!

Blessings!