Growth ETERNALLY NIGH

[netchaplain]

What is the most effective method of knowing and understanding anything? It is by contrasting everything to everything. God’s holiness is most seen when compared to evil, thus when evil and God’s holiness are side by side they are more clearly understood—because of their differences. The sole purpose of evil is to manifest God’s holiness, therefore the more that is learned of one, the more is learned of the other.

With the blessing of an ever deepening learning of holiness, comes also the ever deeper learning of the decadence of the sinful nature but be not discouraged, for the deeper learning of this nature results, by the Spirit’s teaching, in a deeper manifestation of our being “partakers of the (Christ’s – Col 3:10) divine nature” (2 Pet 1:4), which also increasingly manifests our separation (concerning guilt and dominance - Rom 6:12,14) from the "old man" (sinful nature).

“But ye are not in the flesh (sinful nature), but in the Spirit” (Rom 8:9). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).

- NC


ETERNALLY NIGH –MJS
[url]http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/day/2014/05/31/[/URL]

 

[Sandy Zalecki]

Praise the Lord for that!!

 

[ironmonk]

What is the most effective method of knowing and understanding anything? It is by contrasting everything to everything. God’s holiness is most seen when compared to evil, thus when evil and God’s holiness are side by side they are more clearly understood—because of their differences. The sole purpose of evil is to manifest God’s holiness, therefore the more that is learned of one, the more is learned of the other.

With the blessing of an ever deepening learning of holiness, comes also the ever deeper learning of the decadence of the sinful nature but be not discouraged, for the deeper learning of our “old man” results, by the Spirit’s teaching, in a deeper learning of God’s holiness, and if there is understanding here (of which will continue to deepen) you can be assured that as God’s Spirit reveals this to us, not only is this one of many truths of which He is “bearing witness with our spirit” (Rom 8:16), He is also using this truth to remind and assure us of our separation from the old man (sinful nature).

“But ye are not in the flesh (sinful nature), but in the Spirit” (Rom 8:9). “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom 8:1).

- NC


ETERNALLY NIGH –MJS
http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

That was lovely.

 

[netchaplain]

That was lovely.

Hi IM - Thanks for the complement, and God's blessings to your Family!

 

[for_his_glory]

Amen. If we are lead by the Spirit then we will not be tempted by those things of the flesh and fall into bondage of the evil that dwells in the flesh.

Rom 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

[netchaplain]

Hi Sis - Always grateful for your replies! I believe Romans 8:6 is in reference to the unbeliever. The believer in Christ can be at a carnal maturity (1 Cor 3:1), but not carnally minded, because this incurs eternal death or the "second death."

"For to be carnally minded is death,...." The phrase the apostle here uses, includes the best part of corrupt man; the mind, the understanding, the judgment, the will, the affections, the thoughts, the reason, and reasoning's of man; and may be rendered, "the wisdom," or "prudence of the flesh"; so called, to distinguish it from that wisdom which is from above; from that natural and civil wisdom, which is laudable; and it shows that the wisest part of man is but carnal: all sorts of persons destitute of the grace of God are concerned herein . . ." John Gill.

I believe Romans eight is contrasting one who is born again to one who is not born again, for the chapter reveals only two positions one can be in, which none can be in both.

For complete comment: http://www.ewordtoday.com/comments/romans/gill/romans8.htm

 

[for_his_glory]

So many times when one witnesses Christ to another I believe they forget that the one they are speaking to is yet fully carnal and can only comprehend with a carnal mind that filters logic into the equation, but yet lacks that of the Spiritual as they only see the logical. Carnal logic does not always reason well with the Spiritual mind as the carnal is yet dead to that of the life that is in Christ.

 

[netchaplain]

So many times when one witnesses Christ to another I believe they forget that the one they are speaking to is yet fully carnal and can only comprehend with a carnal mind that filters logic into the equation, but yet lacks that of the Spiritual as they only see the logical. Carnal logic does not always reason well with the Spiritual mind as the carnal is yet dead to that of the life that is in Christ.

I agree, the unbeliever is nothing but carnal because they are still (as we were) being ruled by the "old man" (sinful Adamic nature). This is the intention of being "carnal minded." A believer will always be affected by the old man in some degree (for continued growth) but never again dominated or ruled by it (Rom 6:12, 14).

"Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled" (Tit 1:5). This passage is in direct reference to the eating of foods but has no less significant application concern all things. Hence the old nature's permeation of the entire person via "their mind and conscience."

 

[for_his_glory]

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

How do we do this?

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.