THE HOLY SPIRIT and SONSHIP Devotion 23 of 30 Right here we see there is a great deficiency in the modern church. A remarkable lack of assurance exists among professed believers. Great numbers of them acknowledge they are not sure of their relation to God – in doubt of their own eternal destiny. The relative silence of the pulpit on this subject has only served to make the condition worse. – Tomorrow:
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." (Romans 8:12-17, NKJV)
This is not at all acceptable! With all of its mega-churches and institutionalism, contemporary Christianity has managed to silence two essential witnesses, drowning out their testimony. The witness of the renewed spirit has been silenced, as well as the confirming witness of the Holy Spirit – both of which are indispensable if we are to live by faith. The result of the silencing of these witnesses is that sin is blazing out of control within the very society that has received power to assist it in overcoming it. Transgression is not uncommon within the Christian community. In fact, there are a great many Christian recovery groups for those who have lapsed back into sin.
The person in Christ still has to contend with the principle of sin, to say nothing of the devil who tirelessly fires his flaming arrows into our thought processes (Eph 6:16). Believers are warned about the very real liabilities with which they wrestle.
1. "For if YOU live after the flesh, YOU shall die: but if YOU through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, v shall live" (Rom 8:13).
2. "Now these things were our examples, to the intent WE should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be YOU idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let US commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let US tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur YOU, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor 10:6-12).
3. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named AMONG YOU, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks" (Eph 5:3-4).
4. "Mortify therefore YOUR members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now YOU also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that YOU have put off the old man with his deeds" (Col 3:5-9).
5. "Therefore WE ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which WE have heard, lest at any time WE should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall WE escape, if WE neglect so great salvation" (Heb 2:1-3a).
6. "Take heed, BRETHREN, lest there be in any of YOU an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God" (Heb 3:12).
7. "See that YOU refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not WE escape, if WE turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven" (Heb 12:25).
8. "Ye therefore, BELOVED, seeing YOU know these things before, beware lest YOU also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from YOUR OWN steadfastness" (2 Pet 3:17).
The individual who is persuaded these admonitions do not pertain to him is actually sitting in darkness. Not only is it clear from each of the tests that they were addressed to the church – those who are in Christ Jesus – the very nature of spiritual life demands that we give earnest heed to them. After all of the fanciful theology has been spouted, the treasure we have from God is being held in a "earthen vessels" – "jars of clay" (2 Cor 4:7).
"Earthen vessels" is a reference to our bodies, which are a definite point of vulnerability. Our present bodies are neither redeemed nor saved – even though they will be when Jesus comes again, and in the consequent resurrection (1 Cor 15:51; 1 John 3:1-2). Until that time, we are anticipating being delivered from these bodies. As it is written, " . . . that holy Spirit of promise,
which is the earnest of our inheritance UNTIL the redemption of the purchased possession" (Eph 1:14), "we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall CHANGE our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body" (Phil 3:20-21). Meanwhile, we "groan" while we are in our body, which is likened to a frail tent (2 Cor 5:1-2).
The complicating factor is this: the principle of sin is resident in our bodies. Paul spoke of this in a most precise way, testifying to his personal struggles against this law. "For I know that in ME (that is, in MY flesh,) dwelleth no good thing . . . sin that dwelleth in ME . . . I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with ME . . . I see another law in MY members, warring against the law of MY mind" (Rom 7:18,20,21,23). Galatians 5:17 vividly portrays this inner warfare: "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." The person in Christ hates the presence of this principle, but cannot get rid of it. It must be crucified, mortified, and refused dominance, until we put on incorruption (1 Cor 15:53-54).
Let here be no doubt about this! In order to wage the warfare described in these texts, some assurance of our adoption by God is required. I am not prepared to define a particular level of that knowledge, but some level must be possessed. Without the spiritual knowledge of your sonship, and the confidence and assurance that flow from it, this warfare will finally beat you down. You may not revert to gross immorality, but you will flee from God, drawing back because of a defiled conscience. Solemnly, we are warned against this. "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Heb 10:38).
I have every confidence that, when realized, the dual witness of the human spirit and the Holy Spirit will grow louder and louder. In the wake of that witness, strength will be renewed, and victory over the flesh will be realized. No approach to spiritual life that denies these witnesses or stifles their testimony is good, sound, or acceptable. Such an approach is, in every way, dangerous, debilitating, and reproaches Christ.
When our conscience is awakened to the inner witnesses salvation brings, we will have less difficulty with the hard experiences of life and be more able to triumph over temptation. Our enemies will not trouble us as much, and Satan will be more readily and effectively resisted.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, help me to turn away from all forms of godliness that deny the power thereof, leaving me to my own resources, and subduing the witnesses You have provided.