Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 34 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and four amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has published two books - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles which he has compiled into books in PDF form.

Healing Part 4 – Can We Expect God to Heal People Today?

If we believe that Jesus paid for our physical healing in the atonement and that God desires to heal us, is it right to expect him to do so?

In my first article in this series, I concluded that the rejection of present day healing is a form of eisegesis in which we seek to conform the Word of God to our own experience and biases, rather than allowing it to conform us to it. Those who deny that healing is for today either reject miracles in principle, have little or no faith in God’s will or ability to perform them, or embrace a position called cessationism, which holds that the nine spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 are no longer needed or available since the completion of the New Testament. This way of thinking holds that we no longer need to rely upon the power of the Spirit to work alongside the verbal proclamation of the gospel message.

Cessationism is a culturally Greek way of thinking that understands faith as being mostly a mental exercise rather than a holistic (spirit, soul, and body) response to the most dynamic and wonderful proclamation ever made – Jesus is Lord! Cessationists are comfortable with limiting the meaning of God’s Word to what most of us in the West have experienced, which is an absence of the miraculous. Whenever we limit the Bible to what we have personally experienced, it is a form of humanism. Man is not the measure of all things. God is, and his Word measures us. A better approach is to ask God to bring our experience in line with what the Bible teaches. We rob ourselves if we settle for anything less.

It is foolish to discount our need for the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Jesus announced in Luke 4:18 that he was in partnership with the Holy Spirit during his earthly ministry. It is impossible to imagine how he could have carried out his mission without the Spirit’s power and the spiritual gifts.

If Jesus depended completely on the Spirit to fulfill his ministry, how much more must we!

The disciple is not above his master. (Matthew 10:24)

Jesus later instructed his disciples to wait until they received the baptism in the Spirit before embarking on fulfilling the Great Commission. (Acts 1:8) Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica that the gospel had come to them in word and the power of the Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:5) The first disciples had the written scriptures from the Old Testament; yet, they needed the power of the Spirit working alongside their gospel presentations to convince people of the truth of their message. Today followers of Christ, who have the written scriptures of the New Testament and Old Covenants, still need the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit, perhaps more than ever.

The deception that is upon the world has not decreased. People in general are not persuaded by a mere intellectual argument. We need God’s power to work together with the verbal presentation of the gospel!

Jesus is the same today as yesterday. (Hebrews 13:8) The Holy Spirit has not changed either, nor has our need for him diminished. The gifts of the Spirit, including healing, are very much needed today and are still available to us in Christ.

To each person the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the benefit of all. 8  For one person is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, and another the message of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10  to another performance of miracles, to another prophecy, and to another discernment of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11  It is one and the same Spirit, distributing as he decides to each person, who produces all these things. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NET1)

Rather than deny what we have not experienced personally, we should ask God to let his gifts flow through us to other people. That is the purpose of the gifts.

Healing is a demonstration of God’s compassion and power. Jesus showed how much God cares about suffering people by healing and delivering them from demonic oppression.

And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38 (NLT)

Jesus promised that his followers would do even greater works than he. (John 14:12) The Bible does not teach us to limit our expectations. Quite the contrary!

The early church expected the Spirit to heal people as part of the gospel proclamation. Jesus did not put an expiration date on his miracle power, and neither should we.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:8 (NLT)

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Healing Part 3 – Why Does God Heal People?

Understanding why God heals people will help us participate in this excellent ministry. If you read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series of articles, hopefully you are convinced that it is God’s will to heal people today. After all, Jesus is the same today (Hebrews 13:8) as he was when he walked the earth, healing all who were oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). This article examines what the Bible says about God’s motivation for healing people.

If we want to join our Lord in the ministry of healing, it is important for us to think as he does.

The more our hearts align with his, the better will be our understanding of his ways, and the easier it will be for us to walk in agreement with him.

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. 1 John 5:14–15 (NKJV)
It Is God’s Nature to Heal People

The first reason why God heals people is that it is part of his essential nature to heal and restore those he loves.

One of the Old Testament compound names of God was Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals you. All the compound names of God reveal who God is at his core.

He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you [Jehovah-rapha].” Exodus 15:26 (NLT)

God healed those who were faithful to him in the Old Testament. Under the New Covenant, blessings come to us based on the faithfulness of Christ. He is the One who earned this blessing for us, having paid for it dearly.

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)

My first article in this series goes into great detail regarding the proper interpretation of this verse.

Once a bill has been paid, nothing more is owed. We do not have to earn our healing in any way because Jesus completely paid for it!

It is a gift from a very gracious God whose nature is to heal and restore those he loves, and now he has the legitimate basis for doing so.

God’s Compassion Motivates Him

Compassion for those who are suffering was and is a primary motivation for Jesus to heal people.

Once when Jesus was tired from ministry to the crowds who thronged him, he tried to get away for some rest and recuperation. Instead, he found large numbers of people waiting for him when his boat reached the shore. Rather than being disappointed or irritable, this is what the Bible says about our Lord’s attitude.

Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matthew 14:14 (NLT)

Sickness and disease are part of the aftermath of Adam’s first sin. Death entered the world, with sickness being an ever present threat to diminish or end our physical lives.

God promises that in the new heaven and earth that is coming, there will be no sickness, death, suffering, pain, or even sorrow! (Revelation 21:4) As we wait for that glorious day, when God will permanently remove the horrible consequences of sin, our Lord is not content to leave us without remedy. Today he compassionately provides relief through gifts of healing. (1 Corinthians 12:9) What a privilege it is for us to be part of this ministry!

Jesus demonstrated God’s heart in this matter very clearly during his short earthly ministry. (Acts 10:38) He instructed his disciples to operate in the same way.

Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8  Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! Matthew 10:7-8 (NLT)

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension into heaven, the early church continued to demonstrate God’s love to people through preaching the gospel of reconciliation and performing compassionate healings. A reading of the Book of Acts confirms this. The disciples understood that Jesus’ mission of demonstrating God’s love to people is ongoing.

Healing Confirms the Truth of the Gospel

This leads us to another powerful reason God continues to heal today.

Our Lord uses healing and other miracles and signs to confirm the truth of his Word.

Jesus urged his hearers to pay attention to the miracles and healings he performed, because these things testified to his identity as the Messiah.

Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. 12  “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. 13  You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. 14  Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! John 14:11-14 (NLT)

Knowing how strong our propensity toward unbelief is, Jesus graciously performed signs and wonders to release people from their spiritual blindness. It still works today for many.

Those who teach and preach God’s Word should be unafraid to ask God to confirm the truth of the Bible by healing their listeners.

Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 9:35 (NLT)

Jesus said that certain signs, including healing, attest to the reality of the Kingdom of God in our midst.

Heal the sick, and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God is near you now.’ Luke 10:9 (NLT)

I believe that God does not expect people to believe solely because of our words, as important as they are.

The gospel was designed to come to people through preaching and the demonstration of the power of the kingdom of God.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NLT)

I believe it is disingenuous to claim that these signs and wonders only continued until the publication of the text of the New Testament. The early disciples also had the Scriptures, although limited to the Old Testament. Nevertheless, the gospel can be fully preached out of the Old Testament scriptures, as shown in the book of Acts. God backed up those infallible words of Scripture with tangible demonstrations of the Spirit’s power in the physical realm. He does the same today. His strategy has not changed.

What has changed is the way people interpret God’s Word. Instead of taking it at face value, as the early church did, many try to limit the meaning of the Scriptures to what they have personally experienced or can conceive to be true. This is simply another form of humanism, in which we seek to make ourselves the measure of all things. We must allow God’s word to measure and change us: not the other way around.

Jesus warned that we must know both the Word of God and the power of God in order to avoid error.

Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God. Mark 12:24 (NLT)

I hope that we will repent of the sin of diluting God’s Word to conform to our biases and get back to a God-centered interpretation of the Bible that includes the power of God being released through his people by means of the Holy Spirit. You and I can be part of this if we are willing.

Click here to see all the articles in this series on healing.

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Healing Part 2 – New Testament Confirmation

 

The New Testament confirms the truth that Jesus provided physical healing for us through his suffering and death, as is clearly revealed in Isaiah 53.

The New Testament explains the Old Testament in light of who Jesus is and what he accomplished.

Jesus spent considerable time explaining to his disciples how he fulfilled Old Covenant scriptures.

Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 (NLT)

Jesus is the focus of the entire Bible. If we fail to see him in the Old Covenant, we will miss its meaning and purpose completely. To miss Jesus is to miss life itself.

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NKJV)

It is clear that Matthew understood the implications of Isaiah 53 regarding physical healing.

He clearly stated that Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 53:4 when he healed people.

Now when Jesus entered Peter’s house, he saw his mother-in-law lying down, sick with a fever. 15  He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve them. 16  When it was evening, many demon-possessed people were brought to him. He drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick. 17  In this way what was spoken by Isaiah the prophet was fulfilled: “He took our weaknesses and carried our diseases.” Matthew 8:14-17 (NET1)

It is always instructive to see how the Bible interprets itself, as it does here.

Matthew leaves absolutely no room to doubt that Isaiah 53 addresses physical healing, no matter how later translators may skew the meaning because of their biases.

Let’s return to the New English translation to see how it honestly renders the passage from Isaiah.

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. 5  He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 (NET1)

Their notes reveal the following insight into their struggle to properly translate this passage.

17 sn Continuing to utilize the imagery of physical illness, the group acknowledges that the servant's willingness to carry their illnesses (v. 4) resulted in their being healed. Healing is a metaphor for forgiveness here.

Even these honest translators feel compelled to weaken the power of physical healing contained in these verses, but Matthew rescues us from this error. These verses cover all forms of healing, to be sure, including forgiveness, but we cannot afford to pretend it does not cover the physical aspect.

Peter also cites Isaiah 53 in his first letter.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (NET1)

Those who do not agree that physical healing is for today argue that Peter is here referencing a healing of the soul from the effects of sin and not physical healing.

Healing certainly applies to psychological and spiritual wounds, but it is not limited to them.

God did many signs and wonders through Peter, including remarkable healings. I am sure he understood that this power derived from what Christ suffered during his passion and death, just as did Matthew. They were students of the same teacher and were filled with the same Holy Spirit. God used them both to pen portions of our New Testament.

The Book of Acts reveals what the apostles believed through what they did. Actions speak louder than words. They believed that physical healing is available in Christ. So should we.

In conclusion, we owe a debt of gratitude to Matthew for clearing up this controversy of whether or not Isaiah 53 provides us with a doctrinal foundation for physical healing. Once we know where we stand, it should increase our faith that God still heals today.

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Healing Part 1 – The Inescapable Logic of Isaiah 53

What does the Bible have to say about physical healing? Jesus healed many during his earthly ministry; as did the first apostles. I have personally witnessed people receive healing from God through prayer, including myself. I know evangelists who preach the gospel to huge crowds in other countries where the Holy Spirit often heals and sets people free as a testimony to the truth of their message. Why is it that some churches teach that physical healing is available in Christ; while others insist that, since the completion of the New Testament scriptures, the gifts of the Spirit, including healing, are no longer active? Is God still healing people today, or has he backed off from the way he began the church age? In this series I will examine whether or not Jesus purchased healing for his people through his death and resurrection, whether healing is for today, why we don’t  see more current examples of this gift in operation, and the difference between true faith and what I call “magical thinking”.

Sadly, we Christians sometimes dilute the Word of God to match our own experience or presuppositions. We like to make excuses.

This is called eisegesis, the process whereby we read into the Bible what we want it to say instead of pulling out its true meaning (exegesis) and conforming our thinking to that. God’s Word should set our standard for thinking, behavior, and experience, not the other way around. It may be very difficult for us to admit that we are not experiencing all that God has provided to his people, because we are afraid to think about what that says about us. It is also easy to fall prey to the influence of worldly thinking and dead church tradition.

In the short run, it may seem easier to deny that healing is for today than to struggle with why we are not experiencing it. But in the long run, we want to know what the Bible really teaches and ask the Lord to make that our experience.

Four Important Hebrew Words

Isaiah 53 is the foundation for our understanding of physical healing.

Let us begin by looking at two verses from that chapter. But first, let’s be honest in admitting we all bring to the Bible a few or maybe a lot of preconceptions and biases. This is also true for those who translate the scriptures from the original languages. Those translators who do not believe that physical healing is for today will likely reflect that belief in the words they choose to convey the meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words. Regrettably, that has been especially true of this chapter in which some key words usually are not translated according to their most natural meaning. Below I quote from the New English Translation because it is very literal and seems to have less translators’ bias than some other versions. I put the Hebrew words inside parentheses.

But he lifted (nasa) up our illnesses (choli), he carried (sabal) our pain (makob); even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. 5  He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 (NET1)

For us to properly understand how Jesus provided healing for us through what he suffered, we need to pay close attention to the above four highlighted Hebrew words.

  • nasa – This verb means to bear or carry.
  • sabal – This verb means to carry a heavy load.
  • choli – This noun fundamentally means sickness.
  • makob – This noun translates best as pain.

Isaiah 53:4 says that he (Jesus) lifted up or bore (nasa) our sicknesses or illnesses (choli). The same verse also says that Jesus carried (sabal) our pain (makob). The NET translates this in a most natural manner. In other words, it says it as the Hebrew says it. (You may wish to read other translations to see how they use the same words.)

Next, let’s look at how these same two Hebrew verbs are used with reference to sin. The core of the gospel hinges upon Jesus’ being a sin offering as the Lamb of God (John 1:29), which completely satisfied the wrath of God and provided forgiveness and reconciliation to those who trust in him. If he did not carry our sin on the cross, we are still lost and under God’s judgment. Isaiah 53:11-12 makes it clear that he did.

Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. “My servant will acquit many, for he carried (sabal) their sins. 12  So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up (nasa) the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels. Isaiah 53:11-12 (NET1)

Here we see above that the Hebrew verbs sabal and nasa, which are used to describe what Jesus did with our pains and sicknesses, are also used to show us what he did with our sins.

The logic is inescapable. If we are forgiven by his carrying our sins; then, we are healed by his carrying our sicknesses and pains.

If he did not carry our sicknesses and pains, he did not carry our sins. All Bible believing Christians unequivocally adhere to the latter; therefore, all should also believe in the former, whether or not we have personally experienced physical healing.

To prove that this is proper interpretation of the Hebrew, the Holy Spirit provided us with a confirmation in the gospel of Matthew.

That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick. 17  This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, “He took our sicknesses and removed our diseases.” Matthew 8:16-17 (NLT)

The reason many find it easier to believe in forgiveness than in physical healing is because forgiveness is for us a largely subjective experience, the reality of which will be confirmed experientially when we each stand before God in judgment. At that point, we will know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether or not the gospel is true and we were completely forgiven for our sins by what Christ did for us. Healing, on the other hand, requires us to experience it in the present, which tests our faith immediately, instead of putting it off until the indefinite future. We should not back away from the trial of faith that physical healing presents. Both forgiveness and healing are part of the atonement. Both are real. Both can be our experience.

In fact, healing confirms the truth of forgiveness, according to Jesus.

Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 6  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 7  And the man jumped up and went home! 8  Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority. Matthew 9:5-8 (NLT)

Isn’t it time for us to abandon our unbelief and embrace the truth of physical healing through the atonement? Isn’t it time for our experience to rise to the level of biblical truth instead of lowering the bar to match our experience? Yes, it is.

Click here to see all the articles in this series on healing.

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How Can We Regain a Childlike Heart?

 

Jesus said that it is necessary to have a childlike heart to enter the kingdom of God.

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Luke 18:17 (NLT)

Many of us tend to idealize childhood because of its lack of adult responsibilities or worries. Although it is not true for all, children have few shadows of sadness, disappointment, and shame. No big sins, failures, dashed hopes, or betrayals should cloud their hearts. Ideally, hopefulness, happiness, carefree innocence, contentment, and joy should be the experience of children. Does this describe your memories of childhood? I hope so.

Sadly, for many others, childhood was marred by the too soon awareness of how wicked the world is and the too early exposure to adult sins, temptations, and responsibilities. Abuse, neglect, shame, fear, loneliness, abandonment, and betrayal mark the childhood memories of some. These recollections and experiences may still echo in their minds and reverberate in our souls, resulting in a kind of PTCD – post traumatic childhood disorder. When something or someone churns up these old memories, powerful negative emotions may erupt.

Not surprisingly, the way we experience childhood can powerfully impact who we are as adults. What are we supposed to take with us from childhood into a mature and healthy adulthood? What are we supposed to leave behind? Paul clues us in on this.

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 1 Corinthians 14:20 (NLT)

God never intended for us to become familiar with evil. That was Satan’s idea, but now that the “cat is out of the bag,” our Lord does want us to develop in us a proper ability to discern between good and evil and to progress to an adult understanding of what is good.

But, what if we experienced a terrible childhood? Can the evil done to us be undone? Can we recover what was taken from us and get beyond the scars? Is their any way for us to receive what we should have received and missed out on as young children? As adults, is it possible to enjoy life as one who was properly loved and nurtured during childhood, even if we were not? Can childhood somehow be regained?

Sadly, many of us who were happy children in healthy families may have somewhere along the line lost our “childlikeness” because of sin and our responses to life’s pain and disappointments. We may have become cynical and find it difficult to fully trust God. We analyze first and believe secondly, if at all. Is there hope for us, too? I believe so.

Children and the Kingdom of God

Jesus loved little children and said something quite profound about them. Once when some parents were bringing infants and small children to him to receive his blessing, the disciples tried to push them away, apparently wishing to protect their master from this distraction and preserve his dignity as a teacher. Jesus became indignant and responded:

...“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children.  Luke 18:16 (NLT)

Rather than drive away the children because they were “not worth his time,” or “incapable of receiving what he had to offer,” Jesus opened the door wide for those little ones to come to him. What did Jesus mean when he said that the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children? What did he intend for us to grasp when he declared that no one will even enter God’s kingdom, unless we receive it like a child? Were these merely poetic words or an invitation?

The New Covenant and Childhood Regained

No matter how old a person may be, we are always children to God.

Jesus frequently tenderly addressed his listeners as children.

Dear children, I will be with you only a little longer... John 13:33 (NLT)

When Jesus rose from the dead, far more was affected than we now comprehend. Not only were sins forgiven, but the first raindrops of a coming flood of restoration of the entire creation was set in motion by what the Bible calls the New Covenant.

Central to what Jesus accomplished was to make us God’s own children.

Instead of leaving us as hopeless orphans, Jesus made us a part of God’s family.

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20  Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21  the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22  For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23  And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. Romans 8:19-23 (NLT)

If we only understand that the New Covenant produces forgiveness for sinners, we miss so much. Sins were indeed erased by the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross, and we who believe are declared “not guilty” by our Creator through his resurrection, which is called justification. Those who put their faith and allegiance in Our Lord Jesus, the Messiah King of Israel, are set free from everything that enslaved them, even though we may not immediately experience it. This includes sin, death, disease, demons, addictions, religious legalism, and everything else that the devil uses to hold people captive. This is the meaning of redemption.

But perhaps the greatest gift of all is our reconciliation to Father God and being brought into his family through the new birth.

God forgives, justifies, sets free, and restores us to his heavenly family as fully loved and accepted blood-bought born-again children, in whom dwells God’s own Spirit, the Spirit of sonship.

We are sons (and daughters) because the Spirit of God’s Son lives inside us.

We experience Jesus’ relationship with Abba as a result.

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16  For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. Romans 8:15-16 (NLT) 

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5  God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6  And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” 7  Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. Galatians 4:4-7 (NLT)

The passages above speak of our being given full rights as adopted children. This will be fulfilled at the resurrection of the dead when we will be glorified and will manifest completely all that Jesus died to give us. This will be an expression of something that has its origin in eternity – the relationship of the Father with the Son. We who believe and receive the gospel enter into that relationship through the new birth and the indwelling Spirit.

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4  Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6  So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. Ephesians 1:3-6 (NLT)
Jesus and His Abba

The eternal Son, the Logos, the Second Person of the Trinity, is “eternally begotten.” (John 3:16, John 17:5) This means his relationship with the Father has always been and will always be. When he became a human being through his miraculous virgin birth, he experienced human sonship in the family of Joseph and Mary, but his primary relationship was and is with his heavenly Abba Father. We are not sure what kind of parents Joseph and Mary were, but we assume they were good ones by human standards, providing Jesus with a safe and secure loving and nurturing environment in which to grow up. However, we actually know more about his relationship with Abba.

Jesus acknowledged his devotion to his Abba when he was very young. When he remained behind at the Temple, engaged in discussion with religious leaders, and was finally located by his distraught parents, he said the following when they remonstrated him for staying behind.

“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?” Luke 2:49 (NLT)

From a very early age, his primary allegiance was always to Abba, and he also understood Abba’s love and commitment to him.

I wonder how this made Joseph feel? Jesus knew he was adopted. He loved his adoptive father, Joseph, but his first allegiance was to his eternal Father. Jesus received from Joseph and Mary human love, discipline, education, and social and career skills – things every good parent supplies as best he or she can.

From his Abba Jesus received everything that he needed to be a fearlessly secure and loving human being.

The Bible privileges us to glimpse a beautiful impartation from Abba to his Son, when Jesus was gloriously transfigured on the mountain in front of three of his disciples. Abba said in front of those three who were there:

...“This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” Matthew 17:5 (NLT)

What son would not want to hear his father speak these loving, affirming, and empowering words?

  • “dearly loved Son” – These words firmly set Jesus’ identity as a dearly loved son. That is our core identity. If we are not rooted in this, we will struggle mightily. It is not enough to be a son. Every one of us needs to be loved. God made us to be loved, and we need to hear it spoken.
  • “who brings me great joy” – This affirmed that Jesus was fully accepted and very much liked by his father. It is one thing to be loved and another to be liked. Being liked is perhaps an even greater affirmation than being loved, and being told that we bring joy to someone is the epitome of affirmation. If we are merely tolerated because we are family, it scars our souls. We long for deep unconditional acceptance, which is only found in God. Our acceptance by Abba is based on Christ’s total acceptance by his Father, which he was born into and subsequently earned. We all know that we fall far short of measuring up to God’s standards and wonder how God can accept us at all. The beauty of the gospel is that we get to “ride on the back” of Jesus’ relationship with Abba. He earned for us unconditional acceptance. Praise the Lord!
  • “Listen to him” – These words empowered and commissioned Jesus with the knowledge that his Abba Father gave him an important job to do. Jesus knew that he was a person to be heeded, followed, and respected. Abba gave him significance, which is one of the deepest desires of the human soul. True significance only comes from God. If we are significant to him, that should be enough. Little children are significant to God, and he calls all of us to a very great work – to be ambassadors of reconciliation who take the glorious good news to others. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Unfortunately, many fathers and mothers are unable or unwilling to properly love, rejoice in, and validate their children, which can leave them insecure, afraid, angry, and searching for these three things from others. Looking for love in the wrong places only leads to more heartache. Where is the best place for us to get what we may have missed out on from our earthly parents?

Jesus, the Doorway to Abba’s Heart

Jesus came to demonstrate a proper relationship with Abba. He died and rose again to restore us and introduce us to his Abba and explain or reveal him to us.

He did this by living and speaking as Abba would. Jesus revealed Abba continually though his lifestyle and words. The Bible says this about Jesus.

No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son— the One who is at the Father’s side— He has revealed Him. John 1:18 (HCSB)

But there is a revelational aspect to this demonstration as well. Our hearts need to be enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Nothing pleases Jesus more than to introduce us to his Abba and open our hearts to understand more about him and just how much he loves us; so that we can believe, receive, and enjoy that relationship with the help of God’s Spirit.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26  Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! 27  “My Father has entrusted everything to me. No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Matthew 11:25-27 (NLT)

If we ask Jesus to reveal more about his Abba to us, he will!

But only the childlike will be able to receive this revelation, since they are the only ones who desire to know Abba in a greater way. Only the humble can enter the kingdom.

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” 2  Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. 3  Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Matthew 18:1-4 (NLT)

Unless we become humble and repentant like little children, we cannot enter the kingdom and receive its blessings. How can we do this?

Steps to Regaining a Childlike Heart

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) He is the doorway through which we enter into all of God’s blessings. He is the Wonderful Counselor and Great Shepherd of the Sheep. The only way to regain a humble childlike heart is to come humbly to Jesus and ask him to do this in us.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Humility will prompt us to let go of (repent from) our sins and receive healing for any wounds, those things that are robbing us of God’s blessings. (If you wish to read more about how God heals and sets us free, click here.) This is a very personal thing. The Spirit will show us whatever may have destroyed and still be destroying our childlike wonder and awe of God, our ability to receive and show tenderness, our ability to trust from the heart, our ability to freely express our emotions, our ability to be excited, to be angry as appropriate, to feel joy, to worship, to forgive… You get the idea.

Repentance needs to be rather ruthless. We cannot afford to coddle anything that hinders knowing, loving, and serving Abba better.

Only the Holy Spirit can do this for us and in us. He indwells us and is our Helper. He uses the Bible to direct our steps in this process. His goal is to fully transform us into the likeness of the only begotten Son, which means becoming humble and gentle in heart, like a child, like Jesus.

This is a lifelong process that will be suddenly and completely culminated at the Second Coming. John put it this way:

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2  Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 1 John 3:1-2 (NLT)

Since those of us who have declared faith and allegiance to Christ are already children of God, we have the privilege of boldly drawing near to our Abba through the wide open door that Jesus provided for us. The Holy Spirit accompanies us right into God’s throne room.

We, like Jesus, can confidently approach our Abba, knowing that he loves us beyond comprehension, that he is joyfully pleased with us, and that he has commissioned us with the infinitely important work of representing him to a world of spiritual orphans.

We should ask Abba to love on us and heal our wounded hearts. Let us come to him as little children, humbly and expectantly. Let us ask Jesus to reveal Abba’s love to us in an ever greater way. We will not regret it. God’s love is the most powerfully transforming force that exists.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for opening the door into Abba’s loving heart. I ask you to open my understanding to comprehend his love in a greater way. Restore to me childlike humility and faith. Holy Spirit, I trust you to carry out this transformation and restoration. Show me where I need to repent and help me to ruthlessly turn away from sinful thinking and actions that are based on rebellion, hurts, and lies. I want to start thinking and behaving more like who I really am, Abba’s child. Amen.

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Living in Divine Tension

 

Walking in the spirit requires us to navigate the tension between that which already is and that which is to come in God’s kingdom and our lives.

Standing in What Christ Did in the Past

The nature of our salvation requires us to live in the present while simultaneously looking backward to the past and forward to the future. We remember the once-for-all finished work of Christ (Hebrews 10:10) by which he actually completed our salvation. When he said, “It is finished,” (John 19:30) our Lord meant it. Nothing can be added to or subtracted from what Jesus accomplished. It simply must be believed and received by faith, a faith that includes our faithful allegiance to him as Lord. This is the basis of our ability to rest in God’s grace.

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4–10 (NKJV)

The immediate beneficiary of Christ’s perfect finished work is the innermost part of us – the Spirit, where we are born again, declared “not guilty,” and given a right standing with God. This is where God dwells inside us. We are united to God’s Spirit through the miracle of justification.
 

But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13  There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14  For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:12-14 (NLT)
 
Looking forward to What Christ Will Do in the Future
We are also looking to the future when we will receive the last installment of our great salvation – the resurrection of the body. The spirit was saved over 2000 years ago at Calvary, but the body still waits in eager anticipation of the glorious day when Christ will return to raise his people from the dead.
 
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Galatians 5:5 (NKJV)
Through justification we have already been made righteous (Romans 5 :1), but that righteousness is not yet as complete as it will be when our bodies are raised from the dead. At that point, we will be fully glorified and delivered from the power of death.
 
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:50–54 (NKJV)
 
At that point, we will be completely and finally saved. Nothing will remain to be done. The final link to Adam’s transgression, the body, will be transformed forever. The battle with what the Bible calls the “flesh” will be over.
 
However, in the meantime, we live in the present in a divine tension between the past and future aspects of our salvation. The present requires that we experience a daily experience of God’s grace. Our past salvation was accomplished without our participation. Christ did it for us. Our future resurrection is not something we can pull off either. God must do it.
 
The present process of our transformation or sanctification, however, is a partnership between God’s Spirit and us. As we trust and obey the Spirit of God, he applies the benefit of Christ’s finished work to our lives. Our eager anticipation of what is yet to come motivates us to live for our Lord and his kingdom.
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3  And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 (NLT)
 
The look to the past assures us that God already has done the “heavy lifting” that guarantees the final outcome.
 
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13–14 (NKJV)
The “redemption of the purchased possession” is the resurrection of the body. Until that happens, we are sealed with God’s Spirit, meaning that we belong to him.
 
The look forward comforts us with the confident expectation that we will not struggle forever with the “flesh” and sin. This motivates us to live each day by faith, drawing upon the Spirit’s life and power within. Looking backward teaches us that sin, death, disease, oppression, slavery, and the devil have already been conquered, despite any contrary outward appearances. Looking forward to the resurrection and final judgment, which include the rewards Christ will dispense to those who faithfully serve him, inspires us to make the commitment and sacrifice to serve him with our whole heart. We live in a divine tension between the past, present, and future. Those who are already made perfect in spirit are being made holy in the soul while awaiting the glorious resurrection of the body. This is a tension between the already done merging with that which is still in process and waiting completion.

The daily work of the Spirit in transformation and the future glorious promise of the resurrection are firmly rooted in the already finished work of Christ. God is working out in time what has been settled for eternity.

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Walking in the Spirit Is as Easy as Swinging

We can gain understanding of our union with God’s Spirit by considering the analogy of the pendulum action of a swing. We can apply our union in the Spirit of Christ to everyday life.

Walking in the Spirit describes our experience of the Holy Spirit’s living Christ’s life through us, enabling us to be effective and joyful representatives of him and his kingdom.

The Mechanics of a Swing

We have a tire swing in our front yard hanging from an enormous limb on a huge river birch. Over the years it has been a popular spot for our grand kids, church kids, and neighborhood children. The way a swing works is simple. The rope is attached to a stable base that serves as a fulcrum. The swing (tire) oscillates back and forth. It’s range is limited by the length of the rope. On our swing, we can push the kids back and forth or in a circular motion. We can give them a gentle ride or push really hard to get a wider and higher oscillation. We can learn a lot about walking in the Spirit from this.

The Anchor Point: God

The most important factor in making a great swing is finding the perfect anchor point. It must be high enough, strong enough, and well located. It needs to be able to support whatever weight is put on it without breaking. There needs to be plenty of room for the swing path arc. Our anchor point in the Spirit is God.

When a person is born again by placing his or her faith and allegiance in Jesus the Lord, he or she is anchored to the Lord in the Spirit.

In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18  so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20  where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:17-20 (NASB)

God is our Rock, our immovable fortress, our sure and steadfast hope. We can trust that he will never leave us or grow weary of his commitment to us.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NASB)  

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NASB)
The Connection: The Spirit

No matter what kind of anchor we have, if the connection is not adequate, the swing will fail. On our tire swing, a strong nylon rope and some chains connect the swing seat to the tree. The connection has a couple of great knots, some bolts, and some quick links. All the components are strong enough to withstand weight well beyond what might be put on it.

We all believe that God will never fail, but what can secure our connection to him so that we will never be separated from Him? The answer is simple: God uses himself to connect us to himself.

The doctrine of the Trinity means that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons — the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a mystery revealed in the Bible and clearly above our mental limits.Thankfully, truth is not dependent on my ability to figure it out. Truth is whatever God says it is, no matter what so-called experts may say. The moment we limit the meaning of the Bible to what we can comprehend is when we make ourselves out to be God.

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way! Matthew 11:25–26 (NLT)

These doctrine of the Trinity contains three important points: (1) the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons, (2) each Person is fully God, (3) there is only one God. (From Desiring God website)

The Holy Spirit becomes one with our spirit when we are born again.

But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (NASB)

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NASB)

that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. John 17:21 (NASB)

Relating to the connection of the swing to the tree, we who believe in Christ are securely connected to God because God now lives in union with us.

The New Covenant is between Jesus and the Father.

I am the LORD; I have called you [Jesus] in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:6-7 (ESV)

Jesus lived the perfect life, died a sacrificial death to atone for our covenant violations, and made it possible for us to benefit from it all. When he died in our place on the cross, God included us in that death.

knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7  for he who has died is freed from sin. Romans 6:6-7 (NASB)

When he rose again in perfect righteousness, power, and glory, God included us in his resurrection.

Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:8-11 (NASB)

At the new birth, our spirits are joined to the Holy Spirit, allowing Christ’s resurrection life to flow through us.

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 (NASB)

As long as God remains faithful to himself, we have a secure connection to the anchor.

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, 5  that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, 6  even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, 7  so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8  who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (NASB)
 
The Seat: The Soul

Here is where we get to the most personal part of our analogy. The swing seat is the fun part of the swing. It would be no fun to sit on the anchor point because it doesn’t move. The wider and higher the arc path taken by the swing seat, the more fun we have, unless we are afraid to swing high. Little children are sometimes very timid and don’t want to go high, but the more secure they become and the more confident they are that the swing will hold, the more likely they will want to go higher. The photo on the right hilariously depicts the difference in our ride experience depending on our faith level.

Unlike with our spirits, where we are in constant peace and communion with God, our souls are prone to “swings” of emotion and varying degrees of confidence.

If we learn to depend on the state of our souls to inform us of our spiritual condition, we will be up and down in our assessment, shifting between elation and discouragement. Some days we may feel great about who we are in Christ. On “down” days, we may start to doubt if we were ever saved at all.

God gave us our souls (minds, wills, and emotions). The soul is a good thing, but it was never meant to be our guide in life. God retains that for himself.

When Adam sinned, his spirit became disconnected from God (“died”) and he became a “soulical” person.

But a natural [soulical - Greek: psychichos) man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB)

After the Fall, Adam, Eve, and their descendants ceased being led by God’s Spirit. We learned to rely on our own souls to guide us in life. We learn to live this way from birth onward.

It is only when we are born again that we can begin to learn how to depend on the Spirit of God instead of ourselves.

The Relationship between the Spirit and Our Souls

As we learn to depend on God’s Spirit for life, direction, and strength, we learn to look at what is going on in our souls from the proper perspective. We don’t have to be afraid of, despise, or try to quench our souls. We just need to realize that this part of our being is often a very unreliable indicator of truth and reality. For example, I may feel afraid because of something looming on the horizon over which I have no control. God wants us to learn how to somewhat disregard this fear. Instead of caving to it, we can instead focus on God and his promises, which provide the proper perspective and peace.

And here is a big key: if we want to have peace in this life, we must learn to go to that quiet place where we are anchored to God in the Spirit.

We can go there anytime we like. Jesus opened the door for us into God’s presence, and our heavenly Father is always delighted to commune with us. When we spend time in God’s presence, listening to the Spirit, we are strengthened and quieted. We gain the right perspective on our situation and we are enabled to walk in the Spirit by faith, regardless of how our soul may feel about it.

Walking in the Spirit requires us to live by faith.

Faith does not get its bearings from outward things. Its focus is on Jesus and his Word, just as when Peter walked on the water.

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7  for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8  Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9  So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (ESV)

In the above passage, Paul wrote of his determination to walk in the union of his Spirit to God, rather than allow his fears to rule his life. His fear of the Lord outweighed his fear of the unknown and death.

Paul’s security in the Lord was stronger than the insecurities he felt in his soul. This is how God wants us to live, too.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (ESV)

In fact, according to Paul, we should give thanks for the stresses and tests that come upon our souls because they force us into a tighter reliance upon the Spirit of God who indwells us.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
 
Conclusion

The swing analogy tells us that our souls may experience swings of mood and varying degrees of feeling secure in God, but we can and should always drop back to our anchor point in God.

If we understand that our anchor point and connection are secure in God, we can live fearlessly.

Since we actually are one with God in the Spirit, let’s act like it.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (NASB)

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Walking in the Spirit Is as Easy as Walking on Water

Walking on water is easy, if the Lord holds us up; so is walking in the Spirit.

Walking in the Spirit describes what it is like for the Holy Spirit supernaturally to enable us to live above the downward sinful pull of the “flesh” (our body’s residual connection to Adam’s sin) and temptation in general and to experience God’s internal guidance, life, and empowerment, which allows us to be effective representatives of the kingdom of God and fulfilled as people.

Because most of us are only familiar with living out of our own strength and resources, the idea of living above the downward pull of sin seems strange and unfamiliar, maybe even impossible.

Although I no longer jog, I did for years. I was in pretty good shape and could run for miles without much problem. However, the idea that a human being could run a marathon at a sub-five-minute-per-mile pace seemed physically impossible. I could not run even one mile at that pace! It was not in the realm of possibility for me, but because people are on record for having done it, I knew it was possible. Walking in the Spirit is similar. It may not seem possible to us because we have not yet experienced it, but the Bible says it is. We may even know someone who lives that way on a regular basis.

We should never base our theology on what we have experienced. Rather, we should accept what the Bible teaches.

When we try live out of our own strength and ability, we are doomed to failure. God never intended or designed us to be able to do that. From the beginning the Creator planned for us to draw on his life and ability, but Adam and Eve chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil over the tree of life. They wanted to be self-authenticating independent beings instead of what God designed us to be, God-authenticated dependent people who experience God’s abundant life.

Sin is rooted in our stubborn desire to be independent from God.

Our pride is the reason why we try to be our own boss and life source.  Even well-intentioned people with “good morals” sin against God by refusing to surrender to Jesus’ lordship and humbly draw upon God’s resources. There is no possible way to be a “self-made” man or woman in God’s kingdom. Doing it “my way” made for a good Sinatra song, but it is a path that leads straight to hell.

All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6 (NASB)

Therefore, a prerequisite to learning how to walk in the Spirit is to repent from trying to do life on our own.

This is the essence of repentance. God wants us to surrender ourselves to the rule of the Lord Jesus by placing our complete faith and allegiance in him. (Romans 10:9-10) When we do this, He sends his Spirit into our lives to be our Helper, the One called alongside us and dwells in us. Then we begin the lifelong process of learning to “lean not on our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6), but to lean on the Spirit of God.

How to Walk on Water
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:25–31 (NKJV)

Jesus walked on water because he needed to get to the other side of the lake without a boat, but there is more to it than that.

Our Lord demonstrated an important principle of life in the Spirit: with God’s help we can do the seemingly impossible.

The recorded fact that Peter also walked on water confronts our logical reasoning ability, as do the amazing feats of marathon racers. If Peter could do it, why not others? Could I walk on water, too? Just how does a person do that?

If God had required Peter to support himself on the surface of the water, he would have failed. It was beyond the realm of his ability. We all know that heavy objects sink because their density is greater than the water’s. But if God supernaturally overcame the natural physics of buoyancy and density, Peter could walk on water, and he did. The most challenging thing for Peter was getting up the nerve to step out of the boat onto the water, which is exactly what Jesus invited him to do.

Walking on water requires us to have faith that God will hold us up. That is the key to walking in the Spirit, too.

Peter had no previous experience of being able to walk on water. It seemed impossible; yet, he saw Jesus doing it! Because Jesus told him to come to him on the water, he had a promise from God. All he needed was to believe Jesus’ words.

Faith enables us to “step out” when we have no outward “proof,” apart from God’s promises. Some call this a “leap of faith.” In the sense that Peter had to push himself off the boat’s side, it was a leap;l however, it was not “blind” faith. Peter fixed his eyes and hope on Jesus as he took his steps in obedience to Jesus’ clear command to come to him.

Faith is never blind. It always has God and his promises in view.

In Peter’s case, the only “proof” that he could walk on water was that Jesus was doing it and told him to join him, and that was enough. So, Peter climbed up on the gunwale of the boat and then slipped or jumped onto the surface of the water. What an adventure! What a bold step! He was rewarded with experiencing God’s power to do the impossible.

Our part in the miracle of walking in the Spirit is to take “steps of faith” in obedience to God. (Romans 4:12) God’s promise is to support us when we do.

When Peter did his part, taking that first step, God did his part by holding him up.

Standing in Grace

God’s grace supports us and keeps us from being sucked under by the waves of doubt, temptation, adverse circumstances, and the downward pull of “the flesh” and sin.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2  through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1-2 (NASB)

We stand by faith in God’s grace. Perhaps you have seen cars apparently floating on water at some televised golf tournaments. Someone had to build an invisible platform just under the surface of the water to hold the car up.

God builds a platform of grace under us when we put our faith and allegiance in Christ and the power of the indwelling Spirit.

Walking erect requires our being able to stand first. The enemy seeks to knock us down, but God’s grace gives us the victory, if we do our part in the process.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13 (NASB)

Peter had to keep his eyes on Jesus to stay on the surface of the deep. As soon as he allowed fear, doubt, and adverse circumstances to distract him, he began to sink. The same thing can happen to us, if we do not keep our focus on Jesus and the grace he provides. Peter, learned this lesson well and wrote the following.

Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 1 Peter 5:12 (NASB)

It took faith for Peter to walk on water, and it takes faith to stand in grace and walk in the Spirit.

The Difference between Trying Hard and Living by Faith

Jesus did not tell Peter to try really hard to walk on water. He merely commanded him to do it. Whatever Jesus commands us to do is possible for us, if we learn how to lean on him to perform it.

God loves to command us to do things that are beyond our natural abilities so that we can learn to live by faith in the power of the Spirit.

Trying hard to live the Christian life is called “legalism.” It always ends poorly. We get frustrated, angry, or discouraged. Sadly, we often transfer our inner turmoil to those around us. Frustrated and unhappy legalists are poor advertisements for the gospel. Why would anyone want to be like that?

Because we have never understood how to walk in the Spirit, many of us who follow Christ conclude that the Christian life is impossible and fall away from the Lord. God, in fact, does want us to give up without falling away. He wants us to finally stop trying to live out of our own resources and allow him to live through us. He wants to bring us to the same place he brought the apostle Paul, who wrote the following passages in Romans Chapters 7 and 8.

For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23  but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24  Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Romans 7:22-25 (NASB)

The following chapter begins with the glorious proclamation:

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4  so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 (NASB)

Meditate on these two passages until the Spirit gives you understanding.

Until we realize that Jesus has removed us from being under the Law’s power to condemn us, we will never live in freedom.

Until we learn to lean on the Spirit’s life and power within, we will never experience the abundant life.

It’s like walking on water. God gives us the ability to do what seems impossible, if we take steps of faith.

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Walking in the Spirit Is as Easy as Flying

Walking in step with the Holy Spirit can be likened to flying in an airplane. When I fly, I like to sit by the window. It never ceases to amaze me how a jet can lift off the ground and ascend through the clouds to incredible heights. I don’t have to exert myself at all, except to purchase my ticket and jump through all the airport security hoops. The plane and pilot does the work. I simply enjoy the ride. In this article, I will attempt to help us better understand the “mechanics” of walking in the Spirit.
 
Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading [literally "walk in the Spirit"] in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 (NLT)

Paul taught that when we walk in step with the Spirit we do the things that please God.

The indwelling Spirit is always in harmony with the will of God, is always motivated to do the will of God, and is permanently available to us to enable us to live out of this motivation and harmony.

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10  so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11  strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously 12  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. Colossians 1:9-12 (NASB)

Walking in the Spirit describes the experience of the Holy Spirit demonstrating his supernatural ability to enable us to live above the downward pull of sin and the “flesh” and experience God’s guidance and empowerment to be effective representatives of the kingdom of God.

Because most people are only familiar with living out of their own strength and resources, the idea of living above the downward pull of sin seems unbelievable.

When we live out of our own strength, we are doomed to failure because we were never intended or designed to do that.

From the beginning God planned for all people to draw on his life and ability, but Adam and Eve chose the tree of the knowledge of good and evil over the tree of life. The tree of life represents living out of God’s resources in the Spirit. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents living out of our own resources, knowledge, and ability. That has not worked out very well. Sin is basically the disastrous attempt to be our own boss, our own source, and our own god.

The first step in learning how to walk in the Spirit is to admit we cannot do life on our own and surrender to the Lord Jesus.

Once we take this step, he gives us his Spirit to be our Helper, the One who is called alongside and who dwells within us. At that point we begin the lifelong process of learning to “lean not on our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5-6), but to lean on the Spirit of God.

The Law of Lift

The laws of density and buoyancy describe how objects rise if they are less dense (more buoyant) than the medium around them. When objects encounter a less dense medium they stop rising. Likewise objects fall toward the ground until they encounter something more dense. For example, a ship made of steel can float on less dense water because there is so much less dense air in its hull. If the hull is breached and fills with water, it will sink until it encounters the more dense sea floor.

Airplanes are no exception. Since they are denser than air, how is it that they can fly? The answer is that, if a plane attains enough speed, the design of the wings causes the upward lift of slower moving air under the wings to push the plane upward. If properly designed and flown, a plane overcomes gravity, as long as the necessary airspeed is maintained. The law of lift temporarily overcomes the tendency of the dense structure of the plane to fall toward the more dense ground. If airspeed drops too far, so will the plane. The law of density and buoyancy has not been suspended, but temporarily overcome by the law of lift. This is a decent analogy of what it means to walk in the Spirit.

The Downward Pull of the “Flesh”

The downward pull of the flesh does not go away when we walk in the Spirit. It is overcome by the lifting power of the Holy Spirit.

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us [Greek: katergeo], so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. Romans 6:6 (NET1)

I chose the New English Translation in the verse above because it properly translates the difficult Greek word, katargeo, which means either to render inoperative or to abolish. It is clear that the “flesh” or “body of sin” still can influence us after we are born again, but we no longer must obey it. We can now walk in the freedom of the Holy Spirit if we so desire.

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. Galatians 5:16-17 (NASB)

Just as surely as a plane that loses speed will descend to encounter the ground; so, the “flesh” will pull us down into sin and carnality, if we do not continually overcome it by choosing to walk in the power of God’s Spirit.

God did not annihilate our “flesh.” Instead, he removed its power to dominate us, leaving us with the option to lean on him and experience victory.

This requires us to keep our focus on the Lord. It is helpful to devote ourselves to worship, prayer, Bible meditation, and whatever helps us to continually draw upon the resources of the Lord rather than our own.

The Fear of the Lord

A good pilot spends time inspecting his plane before takeoff because once in the air everything must be working properly or bad things can happen. God expects us to vigilantly look after the things that he has put under our responsibility, so that we can walk in the Spirit each day.

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16  making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17  So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20  always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21  and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.  Ephesians 5:15-21 (NASB)

A good pilot knows that attention to details can mean the difference between success and failure, life and death. You might say a good pilot has a certain good sort of fear in her or his approach to flying.

We likewise should maintain a proper fear of the Lord as we walk in the Spirit each day, realizing that we have a responsibility to make sure things are in order in our lives.

We have wicked spiritual enemies all around us who desire to sabotage our walk with the Lord, our own “flesh” being the most vile and untrustworthy.

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31 (ESV)
Conclusion

To conclude, I believe that it is legitimate to compare walking in step with the Spirit to flying. When everything is working properly, there is no struggle in flying. The combination of a properly working plane and a good pilot creates a stress free experience of flight. Pilots, however, must be vigilant to inspect their planes regularly and do any needed repairs or maintenance. Likewise, spiritually speaking, even though we have been given all we need for success (2 Peter 1:3), we must never presume that walking in the Spirit allows us to become slack in our devotion to the Lord. Carefulness and vigilance, coupled with complete trust in the Lord, will allow us to experience the victory of the Spirit of life within us.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:2–4 (NKJV)
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Taking Personal Responsibility for Our Own Sanctification

While it is true that only God’s Spirit can transform us, it is also certain that we must take responsibility to do our part by cooperating with God in the sanctification process. Learning to believe in and lean on his presence and power is one of our greatest challenges and adventures.

God Never Encourages Passivity
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)

Even though the Holy Spirit, our Helper, lives in and through us, our relationship with Him is a dynamic union and partnership that requires us to be active and engaged.

God wants us to actively present our bodies to him. This is necessary because our mortal bodies are the one part of our being that is still firmly linked to Adam and the judgment of death. Paul described the pre-resurrected body as a “body of death” and a “body of sin.” (See this link to read more about this.) The body is not evil, but it is linked to sin and death as a result of still being under God’s judgment against Adam’s sin. This will be rectified at the resurrection of the dead, but, until then, the “flesh” describes the Adamic body’s pull toward sin and independence from God.

In order to counter the downward pull of the flesh, we are told to actively present our bodies to God for his service.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13  and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12-14 (NASB)

Passivity can allow sin to master us. To defeat sin and the pull of the “flesh” on a daily basis, after reckoning that we are dead to its power through justification (Romans 6:4-7), we are instructed to partner with the Spirit to fight by adopting an aggressive posture of actively offering ourselves, our bodies, our minds, and our lives to the Lord for his service and glory.

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. 19  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25 (NASB)

The above passage tells us to actively “walk” by the Spirit, be “led” by the Spirit, and gives us the responsibility to “crucify” the flesh.

We have already been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6), but we must take responsibility to put the pull of the flesh to death everyday by denying ourselves the right to go our own way and by choosing to trust and rely on God’s indwelling Spirit to help us.

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13  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. Romans 8:12-13 (ESV)

When we do this, we will discover that God’s grace comes alongside to empower us. God helps us as we seek to obey him and as we rely on God’s indwelling Spirit.

Grace never encourages us to be passive or idle when it comes to our sanctification. Rather it produces works of faith which validate the Christ life that indwells us.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
 
Saved by Works?

The apostle Paul clearly taught that we are saved (justified) by faith without having to keep the Law of Moses. (If you would like to read in more depth about this important doctrine, click here.) When it comes to sanctification, the ongoing daily process of transformation into Christ’s image, however, we are saved, in a limited sense, by works. Our works always originate and depend on God’s grace.

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36 (NKJV)

God works in us what we produce as good works.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

Ultimately all praise and glory will go to him.

Jesus said that a good tree is known by its fruit. This means you can tell what is in a person by what comes out of him or her.

"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18  "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20  "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Matthew 7:17-21 (NASB)

When we stand before the Christ’s judgment seat, we will be judged in two ways.

  1. First, are we written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (justified by faith)? This is by far the most important criteria.
  2. Secondly, we will be judged according to our deeds.

For those of us who are written in the Book of Life, our deeds will determine our reward, not whether God accepts us or not. The only way to be accepted by God is on the basis of Christ’s death and resurrection, his sacrifice on our behalf and his lordship.

Those written in the Book of Life will have accompanying good deeds. Who we are will be manifested in what we think, do, and say. Christ’s indwelling life will produce good fruit because good trees produce good fruit.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13  waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)

God’s people do good works.

For those who are not found written in the Book of Life, their deeds will conform to their sinful independence from God at the core of their being and will confirm their just condemnation to hell.

Some may believe that I am somehow mixing grace and legalism when I say our sanctification is related to our works, but I am not. We must properly understand how the two work together.

The key to understanding the interplay of faith and works is to avoid the error of thinking that our faith can be disassociated from how we live. It cannot be. According to Jesus, what we do and say clearly reveals what we believe.

James, the Lord’s brother and leader of the church in Jerusalem, understood this well. He expressed how the two combine to reveal the true grace of God in our lives.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18  But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:14-18 (ESV)
 
Taking Responsibility for How We Live

Years ago I struggled to understand how this passage from James can be harmonized with Paul’s teaching that we are saved by faith without the works (of the Law).  It’s really very simple. If we are using our performance (keeping the Law) to establish or maintain a right relationship with God, which only comes by faith in the finished work of Christ (justification), we are guilty of legalism. We cannot earn our way into God’s good graces. It is a free gift.

However, that being said, if our faith relationship with Jesus and our partnership with the indwelling Holy Spirit does not actually change us in character and behavior, it is a counterfeit.

A good tree will produce good fruit. We can say we believe, but our actions reveal the truth of the matter more perfectly. Talk is cheap. People can and will say anything that they believe will gain a benefit for them. Actions speak louder than words.

Another way to put this is that, if our doctrine about grace does not result in our being obedient to God, it is a false gospel.

The goal of the true gospel is obedience that arises from faith.

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2  which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3  concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4  and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5  through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, Romans 1:1-5 (ESV)

Professing Christians who show no apparent change in their lifestyle as a result of their faith in Christ should question the reality of their conversion.

Those who do know the Lord should pursue ransformation, the lifelong process of of becoming more like Jesus which is carried out by the indwelling Spirit in cooperation with our faith and obedience.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2  Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 (NASB)

Those whose faith and hope are rooted in Christ and who know the power of the indwelling Spirit are responsible to God to purify themselves, which means we cooperate with God by actively participating in the ongoing transformation process called sanctification. We do our part, and God does his. We cannot passively expect him to do everything. That would be irresponsible.

Click here to read other articles in this series.

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