There are many commonly held truths that are held by the majority of Christians that I oppose, but none, I believe, that leads more people from Christ then this one.
Before I get around to doing that, I would ask that you not believe me but instead turn to the word of God (found in the Authorized KJV), and search for yourself. If you use a modern bible translation, you will not find the truth in this respect. Also, in the pursuit of truth we must not let anything, including preconceived doctrines of men, get in the way. The holy bible must be our final authority, or else we are easy prey to those who would deceive us.
What this note concerns is living the Christian life, and overcoming sin. I would begin by stating that psychology has crept into large portions of Christian doctrine and has no basis in the word of God. This concept that I will confront is found in many of the eastern religions and is merely repackaged and retooled for the Christian faith.
It states that man is a multifaceted human being and that we are made up of a dual nature. It says that we have two men in one body, an old man and a new man, a good nature and bad nature, or if you will, a black dog and a white dog. One nature can do nothing but sin, and the other, can do nothing but good. It says that these opposing forces, dual natures or alter egos are at war with one another and that in order to be victorious over sin, we must feed the one and starve the other. This encompasses a life of brokeness and emptiness, dying to our self will, and overcoming our sinful nature through prayer, fasting, and meditation, and bible reading. What it boils down to, is that the answer to a successful overcoming life is found inside each one of us instead of in Jesus. This method is nothing more then modern psychology, and will work as good for a Buddhist or an atheist as it will for a Christian. If God's method of living an overcoming life, is not a miracle and does not rise higher then our will can take us, then what good is it? The main essence of this heresy if you'll notice, is that Jesus has no part in it. The whole process is one, that never rises higher then your own self will and is no more the word of God, then is witchcraft.
To most professing believers, salvation is merely theological. Most professing Christians believe that there is really no difference in the experience between a believer and an unbeliever and that Romans 7 is the nominal Christian experience. That the Christian life is one of struggling and striving to fight against the world, the flesh and the devil with no resources other then self effort. I would add that the whole point to all false doctrine, is to lead men to trust in themselves rather then Christ. It is NOT of faith. If I thought that this was all the Christian life was, one of struggling to overcome sin, dying to self and being broken and empty enough so that God could fill me, I would just throw away my bible. If God's method of living an overcoming life did not rise higher then what my self effort could produce, then it would cease to be of God. God's workings are miracles. They are outside of all human capability.
Where the world does a "clean up, fix up" job on the old car (the Adam self, the old man), God's method is destruction. He simply takes the old car out back and destroys it. Then Jesus's limo pulls up and you climb in the back seat and ride with Him from that moment on. You don't ride in the old car anymore. You are a brand new creature in Christ Jesus. The "old self" is dead. You are no longer you, and I am no longer me. We are no longer Jew, Gentile, male or female, bond or free, but ONE new man in Christ Jesus.
This is NOT a second work of grace. This happens the moment a sinner gets saved, and is not even dependent on the believers holding the correct doctrine. God's truths don't rely on our understanding to make them true or effectual. God's methods ride higher then our understanding and even our reality. He gives us an alternative reality that we don't see, and challenges us to believe it simply because He said it.
Now that I've stated my views on what biblical sanctification is not, I will state what God's method is. It will seem just as foolish to most professing believers, as salvation through faith in Christ does, but here goes... Justification and sanctification are ONE work of Christ on the cross. One in which Christ died for our sins, and one in which we died with Him, too our sins.
If we see ourselves apart from Jesus, we have nothing. Our whole identity is found in Him. We have ceased to be "us" and are now ONE body, which is the body of Jesus Christ (literally). His history is our history. God now states that us living an overcoming life free from sin, is now entirely based on this fact. He basis our freedom from sin, on the fact that we were baptized into Christ and therefore crucified with Him. This co-crucifixion delivered us from the flesh (is our material self) wherein sin dwelt.
Here is my main point... In God's reality he no longer sees 'us' as 'us'. He sees Jesus. Jesus is no longer subject to the law of sin. Sin has no dominion or power over Him. He is not even tempted by it. Why? Because He was crucified and put to death. That body that was subject to the lusts and affections of his flesh are dead. It was nailed to the cross. Now, seated at the right hand of God; the world, the flesh and the devil are of no consequence to Him. They don't worry him in the least. You think Jesus is worried about falling to temptation or the snares of the devil?! Then why would we? Our life is hid with Christ in God! We are crucified, buried and risen with Him through the operation of God, and seated at His right hand! Jesus is our life! Why in the world would we continue in sin when we have been freed from it! We HAVE overcome. We have no confidence in ourselves (our flesh), but our rejoicing is in CHRIST JESUS!
This is the gospel of sanctification. It is NOT one of striving and struggling to attain victory over sin through self effort, but one of living in the present, having already overcome, believing God's reality over our own. It is not one of working it out in our experience, but rather accepting that our overcoming life has already been accomplished for us, IN CHRIST. This is living by faith. Not having faith that we, through our inner resources can somehow manage, but having faith that it's already done in Christ. This way we can't take credit for anything. Jesus get's all the credit and all the glory which is the way it should be.
(As this is merely an overview, I will be doing another note in the future using scripture to prove what I've written is the truth)
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