FREEDOM IN CHRIST/Jesus Christ is our Example:
Why does God hate sin so much, but loves the sinner? Because sin separates man from God and prevents Him from having the Father/son or Father/daughter RELATIONSHIP that He created us to have with Him.
IF I WAS AN ATTORNEY, HOW WOULD I DEFEND GOD, AND WHY WOULD I NEED TO DEFEND HIM? FROM WHAT ACCUSATIONS? The idea that God punishes sin with sin, and with a nature to sin commonly known as our “SINFUL NATURE” (Simply known as our FLESH in the King James Bible). We know from James 1:13 that God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
HOW WE PERCEIVE GOD IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN HAVING AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
Rules without relationship equal rebellion.
What did Jesus have that we don’t have while we are living according to the flesh?
The HOLY SPIRIT!!!
What could we have that Jesus had while in the flesh, but not living according to the flesh?
The HOLY SPIRIT!!!
Why was Jesus perfectly victorious over every temptation? He lived according to the HOLY SPIRIT, and never lived according to the FLESH although he lived in the FLESH. Jesus’ FLESH (desires) were always part of His nature while He lived 33 years on this earth. However, He never allowed Himself to be carried away and enticed by His own lusts to sin when He was tempted as depicted in James 1:14,15. Jesus must be our example for a VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN HOLY LIFE.
Matthew 3:16-17 NASB
[16] After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the SPIRIT OF GOD descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
[17] and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
Hebrews 2:14-18 NASB
[14] Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,
[15] and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.
[16] For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.
[17] Therefore, He had (was obligated to be) to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation (satisfaction) for the sins of the people.
[18] For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.
Hebrews 4:12-16 NASB
[12] For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
[13] And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
[14] Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
[15] For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
[16] Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 Peter 2:21-25 NASB
[21] For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
[22] WHO committed NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
[23] and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
[24] and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
[25] For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Galatians 5:1 NASB
[1] It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2 Peter 2:9-10 NASB
[9] then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
[10] and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
1 Peter 4:1-2 NASB
[1] Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
[2] so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB
[13] No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
Philippians 3:2-3 NASB
[2] Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;
[3] for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,
James 1:13-15 NASB
[13] Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.
[14] But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.
[15] Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.
Galatians 5:16-18 NASB
[16] But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
[17] For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
[18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
Romans 1:22-28 NASB
[22] Professing to be wise, they became fools,
[23] and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
[24] Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
[25] For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
[26] For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
[27] and in the same way also the men ABANDONED the natural function of the woman and BURNED in their desire toward one another, men with men COMMITTING indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the DUE penalty of their error.
[28] And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a DEPRAVED MIND to do those things which are not proper,
Hebrews 12:14-15 NASB
[14] Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.
[15] See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no ROOT OF BITTERNESS springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
What is the benefit of Gospel Justification over Legal Justification?
Under Legal Justification you are justified or innocent only as long as you keep all the law in all points. One becomes guilty if he breaks the law, and must pay the penalty for that transgression. Under Gospel Justification, God has forgiven our sin through Amnesty or Pardon (MERCY) and has RESTORED US TO FAVOR as though we had never sinned. God has returned us to our original created state or condition of living in the flesh, but not living according to the flesh in its demands for gratification. (As long as we have life and breath, we can experience Gospel Justification in our lives; and walk according to the HOLY SPIRIT, not according to our flesh, even though we are living in the flesh as depicted in Galatians 2:19-21).
When we sin, we sin AGAINST or CONTRARY to God’s design or plan for all mankind to walk not according to our flesh, but according to His Holy Spirit. Romans 2:14-15 NASB says, “[14] For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively (by nature) the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, [15] in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.” Romans 5:13 NASB says, “[13] for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Law means rule of action, and no law or Law (the ten commandments) can be imputed to an infant who has no understanding of the Law. Romans 8:12-14 NASB says, “[12] So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh- [13] 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. [14] For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
We make Free-will choices to do good or evil BY, WITH, THROUGH or VIA OUR NATURES, but we are not forced to do good or evil because of our natures. No doubt, all humans have a propensity, proclivity and desire to live according to our feelings, but this is not evidence that we have a “sinful nature”. It is simply a fact that the Human Race, including Jesus Christ Himself, was made with fleshly desires. However, the existence of constitutional desires are not sinful in and of themselves, but only when they are unlawfully indulged. This, of course, involves a choice that only we can make.When Adam, Eve, Lucifer (before rebelling against God and known as Satan), and 1/3 of the angels that followed Satan (before rebelling and following Satan) sinned; they sinned AGAINST THEIR NATURES in which they were created. It was BY, WITH, THROUGH or VIA THEIR NATURES in which they chose to sin, but not because of their natures. According to Romans 2:14,15 above we do Instinctively or by nature the things of the Law, and the Law (ten commandments) is written in our hearts by God. So, when we sin, we must by necessity be going against the good nature in which we are created by God as per Scripture.
Do we, BY NECESSITY, ASSUME OUR NATURES TO BE SINFUL, EVIL, or CORRUPTED when we sin, implying that God CREATED US THAT WAY? If so, the Creator & Our Natures would be to blame!!! What are the BLUEPRINTS FOR MANKIND FROM GOD AS OUR CREATOR? Genesis 1:26,27. The critical question is, “DID GOD CHANGE HIS BLUEPRINTS FOR MANKIND, when Adam sinned, WHY, and WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE ACCORDING TO LITERAL SCRIPTURES, not figurative or poetic Scriptures commonly used as “proof texts”?
After the fall, over 100 literal Scriptures prove that God’s BLUEPRINTS FOR THE CREATION OF MANKIND HAVE NOT BEEN ALTERED MORALLY, BUT ONLY PHYSICALLY. God punishes the sin of Adam with a PHYSICAL DEPRAVITY (PHYSICAL/NATURAL ATTRIBUTES are INVOLUNTARY, and possess no moral quality. Yes, we are now MORTAL, and subject to physical disease and physical death, but this is not sinful in and of itself, but rather a general consequence of Adam’s sin upon mankind). MORAL DEPRAVITY (MORAL ATTRIBUTES which are VOLUNTARY involving an individual free will choice to live according to their flesh, and not the Holy Spirit causes our spiritual sinfulness, self-corruption (vitiation), we put ourselves under the wrath of God and separated from God because of our VOLUNTARY SIN). Mankind certainly COULD NOT be created in the IMAGE and LIKENESS of God, and at the same time be considered sinful, corrupt, separated from God, possessing a sinful nature, and under God’s wrath at the moment of conception. This is ABSURD!!!
Genesis 9:6, 1 Corinthians 11:7, James 3:9, Ecclesiastes 7:29, Psalm 139:13,14, Psalm 127:3, Job 33:4, Job 31:15, Ezekiel 18:20, 2 Chronicles 25:4 and Deuteronomy 24:16 all indicate that God is still our Creator after the fall and we are not MORALLY CORRUPTED at birth, but created in the image and likeness of God. Which is true: God’s Word or Man’s Doctrine?
If we have no FREE WILL, then we are merely ROBOTS, and only do what our NATURES demand or command us to do; and we must BY NECESSITY BLAME OUR CREATOR & OUR NATURE for we did not create ourselves and Adam nor the devil have the power or authority to create mankind nor to delete or alter God’s BLUEPRINTS FOR MANKIND.
However, if we have a FREE WILL to choose GOOD or EVIL, we don’t praise or blame our created NATURE for their PREDETERMINED/PREDESTINED CHOICES, but rather for our ability to choose at the age of accountability (which at birth is INVOLUNTARY possessing no moral quality or character). We praise or blame our HEART/Free Will Center (which is VOLUNTARY, once reaching the age of accountability). Now, once possessing moral quality, our CHARACTER will be determined only by our VOLUNTARY CHOICES. Our MORAL CHARACTER cannot be determined by anyone else but ourselves.
Our NATURES are totally INVOLUNTARY at creation, and can never be evil (sinful) or good (virtuous), but rather INNOCENT at birth. Our NATURES are only “GOOD” in the sense in which God created them to be, because everything created by God is good by His design and intention. Anything that is INVOLUNTARY CAN POSSESS NO MORAL CHARACTER OR QUALITY as we are created.
The analogy of a 5-speed CAR representing our NATURE, cannot be changed. However, changing from FIRST GEAR (Holiness Choice) to REVERSE GEAR (Sinful Choice) can VOLUNTARILY be made by the DRIVER, once reaching the age of accountability.
Would it be REASONABLE to blame the MANUFACTURER (CREATOR) of the CAR (OUR NATURE) or the REVERSE GEAR ITSELF or would it be more reasonable to blame the DRIVER who made the FREE WILL CHOICE to move into REVERSE GEAR (SINFUL GEAR), thus corrupting his character by, with, through or via his nature, but not because of his nature.
Thank God for God’s Holy Spirit to influence us to trust in Christ, and not depend on ourselves. We all must know that without GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT we will never have consistent victory over the WORLD, the FLESH, or the DEVIL. See Ezekiel 36:25-29.
Colossians 1:21-29 NASB
[21] And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,
[22] yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-
[23] if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.
[24] Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.
[25] Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,
[26] that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,
[27] to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
[28] We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
[29] For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
1 John 2:15-17 NASB
[15] Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
[16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
[17] The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Romans 8:6-8 NASB
[6] For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
[7] 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,
[8] and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
1 John 3:9 NASB
[9] No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.