THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE In this series, I have dealt with the nature of spiritual life. It all revolves around new creatureship which occurs in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17), and is sustained and brought to maturity through the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 3:18). The culmination of spiritual life requires an uninterrupted concentration on Jesus Christ as He is revealed in the Gospel – the "record God has given of His Son" (1 John 5:10-11). Apart from this, it is not possible to realize Divine approval or acceptance, no matter what is done.
"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor 3:15-18, KJV)
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All of this may seem very apparent, but that is not at all the case. From the very beginning, the church has had trouble in this area – the area of seeing the nature and effectiveness of New Covenant life. For example, it has been plagued with those who could not conceive of an approach to God that excluded circumcision in the flesh (Acts 15:1). Others saw life in Christ as providing for personal gain and misrepresentation (Acts 5:1-10). Still others sought to promote the keeping of days and other regulatory ordinances that really did not require Christ (Col 2:16-17). Some returned to a principle of Law, perceiving Christ as not sufficient (Gal 5:4). It was not long until whole churches left their "first love" (Eph 2:4). Some thought nothing of tolerating those within their number who held to doctrines Jesus Himself hated (Rev 2:14-15). There were actually churches who allowed some to teach Christ's servants to commit fornication and eat meat offered to idols (Rev 2:20).
Some churches thought they had everything they needed, yet were miserable, blind, and naked before Jesus (Rev 3:17). Some had a name that they lived, yet were dead (Rev 3:1). There were some elders that usurped leadership, gathering followers unto themselves instead of Christ (Acts 20:29-30). In the time of Jude, certain crept into the church unawares, who were "ungodly men." They turned the grace of God into "lasciviousness," and denied" the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 1:6).
With the advent of religious institutions and the invasion of spiritual Babylon, corruption within the church has accelerated. In these cases Jesus is really not the object of attention. It is enough to put His name on buildings, jewelry, and books that really have little to do with Him.
But all of this has not changed what God is doing in Christ Jesus. He is still revealing His Son and Himself in the Gospel. He still is changing those who fix their eyes on that Gospel, and refuse to move them away. The Holy Spirit is still advancing those beholders from one stage of glory to another, shaping and perfecting them for the world to come. Neither the heavenly agenda nor the means of fulfilling it has changed. Blessed is the person who insists on beholding the glory of the Lord in the face of Jesus Christ. That person is moving forward, being conformed to the image of Jesus.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for life that is full, satisfying, and glorifying to Yourself.
– Tomorrow: New Series,