Category: Discipleship Foundations

28: Christ’s Finished Work – Sanctification or Transformation

In this lesson we will examine how the Holy Spirit transforms us via the ongoing application of Christ’s finished work on a daily basis. Paul referenced this process in his letter to the church in Ephesus.

..that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NASB)

I include spiritual transformation, the process of “sanctification” or becoming holy or “set apart to God” in thought, motive, words, and action, in a grouping under Christ’s Finished Work. I have stated earlier that salvation has three dimensions – past, present, and future. Some aspects of Christ’s work on the cross are a “once for all” “done deal,” never to be repeated, such as propitiation and justification. These things were accomplished on our behalf before we were ever born. We simply “tap into” the benefits. Believers are also “in process” in some areas, as we are all too familiar. Perhaps every Christian should wear a tee shirt stating: “Under Construction – Please Excuse the Mess.” Additionally, part of our salvation still awaits us at a future time via the resurrection from the dead.

Sanctification, or, as I prefer to call it, transformation, is part of the present or ongoing work of Christ in our lives, but there is also a completed aspect to it.

Our daily “walk” with God depends on three things: 1) a personal trust relationship with Christ, 2) a dependence upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to supply what we call “grace,” and 3) faith in God’s promises found in the Bible. Without a proper understanding of God’s Word, we will not even know what those promises are!

For us to properly draw upon God’s grace (the ability he gives to us via his Holy Spirit), we must first understand that all that we need for godly living has already been given to us in Christ.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 2 Peter 1:2-3 (NASB)

Jesus has already done everything that God requires us to do.

The benefits derived from his life of perfect obedience have been transferred to us because we are one with Christ.  (1 Corinthians 6:17)

This enables us to live out in the present what Christ accomplished for us in the past. Paul, in the opening scripture passage above (Ephesians 4:22-24), exhorts us, to “put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” The “new self” is who we are as a result of the new birth.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

Our transformation into Christlikeness depends upon our “clothing” ourselves by faith with the finished work of Christ’s perfect life, death, and resurrection. What he did for us is already ours, but we must “apply” it by faith to our present situation.

God wants us to believe what the Bible says is true about us.

Jesus called it “abiding in the vine.” We live in the present by accessing what Christ has already done for us at Calvary and by waiting with expectation for the full manifestation of that salvation at the resurrection.

We live in a divine tension between what is done and what is still to come. This “tension” is called faith.

Faith is the key to the transformation process, as it is to everything in the Kingdom of God.

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)

In the above verse, we see that Paul lived in the present by accessing the past finished work of Christ on the cross. In the following verse, note that his present is also lived in anticipation of the coming completion of our salvation.

For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:5-6 (NASB)

The hope of righteousness is a term that acknowledges that we do not yet experience or manifest the righteousness of Christ in any complete or perfect way, even though we have the legal righteousness of Christ in our “spiritual bank account” through justification. In the present state, we are still flawed because our bodies (the “flesh”) are still connected to Adam’s sin. God removed sin’s power to rule over us but did not obliterate its pull through the “flesh” altogether, or we would be physically dead. At any moment, we are still capable of sinning, that is, until the resurrection, when we shall be made completely righteous in every sense of the word because our physical bodies connected to Adam will be replaced with glorious new creation bodies. In the present, therefore, we live with the tension caused by having a “fleshly” side and a “spiritual” side. We now have a period of time to learn how to rely on God’s promises and the Holy Spirit to transform our thinking, words, and behavior.

Sanctification or transformation depends upon changing how we think so that we come into agreement with God’s truth.

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)

By accepting the truth of God’s Word, we change how we think, which is the definition of repentance.

Lies must be displaced by truth. Strongholds of deception must be torn down so that the knowledge of Christ may flow into the barren and devastated places in our souls. Fear must be replaced by faith in our loving God. Unbelief must be rooted out, and a fresh crop of trust planted. Selfishness must be crucified so that love may develop and flourish.

Transformation is a daily process of dying to self and living to God.

Transformation requires faith, surrender, and obedience. Transformation is the working out of what God has worked into us via the new birth and Christ’s finished work.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB)

We have all that we need for life and godliness right now in Christ, but it takes a lifetime to work that out. The Christian will have good days and bad, ups and downs, progress and regression. There are still hidden areas of sin and deception in each one of us that God will expose and demolish one way or another. If we cooperate in the process, life will be much easier for us and more blessed.

Transformation is a joint venture with the Holy Spirit.

Love is never passive. God wants us to pursue him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Like Paul, we can make it our goal in life to know Christ and fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14 (NASB)

The Holy Spirit is beckoning us. Let’s do this!

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Can you explain how transformation or sanctification is both part of Christ’s finished work and an ongoing work of God’s Spirit in us?
  • Describe our part in the transformation process.
  • Explain what Paul meant in Romans 8:24 when he wrote, “For in hope we have been saved.”
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27: Christ’s Finished Work – Reconciliation

So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God—all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God. Romans 5:11 (NLT)

One of the things that is extremely useful for a Bible student is the art of simplification. Can we sum up a complex teaching in one easy to understand idea?

Christ’s Finished Work is a deep, multi-faceted subject, but I believe we can say that the purpose behind all Jesus accomplished on the cross is contained in the one word, “reconciliation.”

In fact, Paul called the gospel message the “word of reconciliation”.

Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NASB)

Reconciliation restores estranged parties to friendship by removing offenses and settling conflicts.

It doesn’t just happen all by itself. Reconciliation requires someone to take the initiative and the other party to respond. Reconciliation is always a two-way process; whereas, forgiveness can be unilateral.

Why did Christ die? Most people would answer, “So our sins could be forgiven.” But why did our sins need to be forgiven? Many would say, “So we can go to heaven.” These two answers are focused on our needs rather than God’s glory. It is only natural that we think of things from a human perspective, but we need to understand, however, that the gospel and all God does is primarily for His own glorious purposes and secondarily for our benefit. If we are properly aligned with Him, whatever is for His glory will always be for our benefit. Jesus’ motivation to endure the cross was first to please His Father and secondly to save us.

So, if we look at salvation from a more God-centered point of view, the purpose of salvation cannot be merely to get us into heaven. It has more directly to do with God’s pleasure, which was to reconcile us to himself.

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. Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

In addition to bringing God pleasure, knowing the Father is our greatest privilege and joy. Father God, or Abba, as Jesus calls Him, is the goal of salvation. He is the summation of all things.

When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:28 (NASB)

As Jesus neared the end of His time here on earth, he told His disciples that he eagerly anticipated His reunion with Abba.

Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, because now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. John 14:28 (NLT)

Jesus came to earth to live and die and rise again for our sake by the will of the Father, but His goal, after accomplishing this service, was to return to His Father to wait until our time arrives to join Him in glory.

Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1-3 (NLT)

When we arrive in heaven, it will be Jesus’ honor to show to us the glory He had and has with His Abba, a glory in which we will share as co-regents with Christ! How good and gracious is our God!

Father, I want these whom you've given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began! John 17:24 (NLT)

The Father is the kindest and most loving Person we will ever know. Salvation was His plan from the beginning. His heart is so large that He was willing for His only begotten Son to die so that we could be restored to a close relationship with Him.

To be forgiven is one thing, but to be embraced in His loving arms and restored to the full rights of sonship is quite another.

The prodigal son hoped that he would be forgiven and given a place with the servants, but, to his utter amazement, he was fully reconciled to his dad. Jesus told this parable to give us insight into the Father’s heart. Jesus’ ministry, in part at least, is unfolding to us the depths of Abba’s love for us.

No one has ever seen God. But his only Son, who is himself God, is near to the Father's heart; he has told us about him. John 1:18 (NLT)

If you ever want to know Abba better, Jesus is the One to show you. The secret to Christian maturity is a growing revelation of the Father’s love. Paul prayed for the church at Ephesus.

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:14-19 (NLT)

Can a person have a loftier or more important goal than knowing the Father and His incredible love? I cannot think of one.

As a result of our being reconciled to Father God, it is extremely important that we pursue reconciliation with family, church members, friends, neighbors, and sometimes even enemies here on earth.

So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24  leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. Matthew 5:23-24 (NLT)

God wants his people to demonstrate here on earth what is true in heaven.

Reconciliation begins with forgiveness, which is a unilateral decision to release someone from any offense or debt they may have incurred against us. If the forgiven person responds to our forgiving them, reconciliation is possible. Often reconciliation also requires confrontation, the pointing out of how that person has offended us.

If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. Matthew 18:15 (NLT)

The goal of confrontation is reconciliation. When we present the gospel, we should understand that we are God’s representatives imploring our hearers to accept God’s offer of forgiveness and reconciliation. To reject such a gracious offer is tantamount to agreeing that we deserve the flames of hell.

There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19  And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. John 3:18-19 (NLT)

The reconciliation offered by God through the gospel is his greatest gift to humanity.

To refuse it is to spurn God’s love and invite the destruction that results from being separated from God, who is the source and sustainer of life.

And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8  in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9  They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (NLT)
Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • How would you simplify the gospel message into one thought? Which of the following is preeminent in your mind?
    • Forgiveness
    • Redemption
    • Justification
    • Reconciliation
    • Receiving the Holy Spirit
    • Resurrection
    • Eternal Life
    • Ruling and reigning with Christ
  • Do you think it accomplishes anything good to ask people to consider God’s perspective on salvation rather than simply focus on the benefits that come to us?
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26: Christ’s Finished Work – Redemption from Demonic Oppression

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Acts 10:38 (NASB)

Many people today question whether demons are even real, seeing them as a throwback to earlier times before science provided a framework for understanding many seemingly mysterious diseases such as epilepsy. Others who do accept the existence of demons would argue that Christians cannot be afflicted by them. Their rationale is that once a person is indwelt by God’s Spirit, there can be no room for an evil spirit to cohabit the same individual. They might also argue that a Christian is “possessed” or owned by God; therefore, it would be impossible to also be “possessed” by an evil spirit.

If we dismiss the existence of the demonic on the grounds that it was an accommodation to mankind’s ignorance at the time the Bible was written, we end up dismissing a fundamental theological truth. The Bible teaches that there are fallen angels who aligned with Satan when he revolted against God in ages past. These angels were expelled from heaven and constitute a Satanic host of evil arrayed against the church.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NASB)

Scripture does not clearly reveal whether demons are fallen angels or some other beings, but we do know that they are aligned with Satan for evil purposes. Demons afflict people and dwell in them at times.

Apparently, the human body is quite inviting to evil spirits and gives them a medium through which to perpetrate evil acts. Jesus said that demons find “rest” in a human body.

"Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44  "Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came'; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45  "Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation." Matthew 12:43-45 (NASB)

In addition, by hijacking a human body and personality, demons dishonor God by marring or distorting his creatures and our God-given purpose to glorify him.

Jesus understood the reality of demons, using his authority as God’s Son to confront and expel them on many occasions.

Jesus, being God, knows far more than any mere mortal; so, whatever He declares is true, I feel perfectly safe believing the same. Otherwise, we find ourselves pitting our very limited intellects and experience against the wisdom and knowledge of God Himself.

If we accept that demons exist, which is the Biblical position, then how do they gain access and how does Jesus set us free from their power?

As previously mentioned, Adam relinquished to Satan the authority God gave him when he succumbed to temptation in the Garden. Satan gained access to oppress and harm humanity as a result and became a vicious oppressor. Because of our own sin and that of others, demon hosts gained access to people, who were somewhat defenseless against their onslaught. The Bible does not explicitly tell us how demons gain ability to oppress us, but observation plus analysis reveal some key insights.

Demons gain access to oppress us when we “open” the following “doors,” allowing them to come into our lives. Sometimes we deliberately open these doors, sometimes others open them for us, and at other times we naively open them.

  • Our own sin, especially bitterness,
  • Participation in the occult, whether innocently or not. This can include initiation into and participation in various secret societies, such as the Masonic Lodge.
  • Experiencing severe trauma during which or afterward we may open ourselves up to demons, which pose as our friends and offer help or comfort,
  • Abuse,
  • Generational strongholds and sins that are passed down from one family member to another, and
  • By believing lies that give demons a “hook” or “landing place” in our lives.

When Jesus healed and delivered people, about half the time he “healed” them and the other times he “delivered” them from demons.

We learn from our Lord that it is vital to discern whether an affliction has a physical or demonic basis.

When Jesus laid down His life at Calvary in perfect obedience to the Father’s will, he took back from Satan the authority Adam had ceded to him. Jesus became the Second Adam, the Progenitor of a new race of humans, who come into existence via the second birth. After his resurrection, Jesus told us that He alone now has “all authority” in heaven and earth. (Matthew 28:18)

The Bible also reveals that Christ’s victory over Satan and his minions extends to us who have voluntarily put ourselves under his authority by acknowledging him as our Lord.

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15 (NIV)

Jesus used his authority as the Son of God to deliver people from demons when He walked the earth. His authority now is connected to his being the crucified and risen Son of Man, the Lord of Lords. He shares or delegates his authority to his church which represents him on planet Earth.

Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven. Luke 10:19-20 (NASB) 

These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; Mark 16:17 (NASB)

Believers now have the authority of Christ that enables us to cast out demons. The Holy Spirit backs up our commands to these evil beings and forces them to obey.

But what about the other question? Can a Christian have a demon? The answer to this question hinges upon our understanding of what it means to be oppressed by a demon.

The King James Version of the Bible translates the Greek word “daimonizomai” as “demon possessed”. A better translation would simply be “demonized”. Nowhere is the idea of possession communicated in the Greek.

Once we divest ourselves of the possession aspect of the word, we no longer must answer, “How can a Christian be possessed or owned by an evil spirit since he or she now belongs to the Lord?” No evil spirit can own a Christian; however, I believe a Christian can be “demonized”.

Demons can harass, afflict, and oppress Christians, if we do not take the steps to either protect ourselves and/or rid ourselves of this problem.

Demons can gain access into our lives through the same ways they access an unbeliever’s life. For example, if a Christian has had occult involvement either before or after becoming a believer, there is a good chance that there is some level of demonization going on. If a person suffered severe abuse as a child, it is highly likely that some demonic oppression is present. It does not matter if the activity was naive or deliberate, the devil will take advantage of any open door.

Demons seek to hide their activity as best they can, especially from Christians who would not tolerate their presence, were it known. It often takes experienced ministers who rely upon the gift of discerning of spirits (1 Cor.12:10) through the Holy Spirit to identify and root these beings out of our lives.

It is crucial that we close every possible door of access to prevent their return.

Once a demon is found and the access “portal” closed through repentance and renouncing whatever let them in, it is a simple matter to expel them in Jesus’ name. There is no reason a Christian should suffer from demonic oppression.

Sometimes demons hide behind the lies we believe. These lie-based strongholds are more important and more difficult areas of bondage. Once the lie is identified and removed, any associated demonic oppression is easily remedied. We will talk more about this later.

If you desire further insight into deliverance from demonic oppression, a great resource to study is Neil Anderson’s Bondage Breaker. I have also written a series of articles on the subject, which can be found at the following link: https://thirdpeter.com/articles/discipleship-essentials/biblical-healing-and-deliverance/ . Part 21 begins the section on deliverance.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • If you become aware of a demon in a person, what will you do?
  • Put the following steps in order.
    • Lead the person in prayer to repent and renounce whatever allowed the demon access into his or her life.
    • Command the spirit to leave and never come back.
    • Pray for the protection of all persons involved. Command the spirits not to try to attach themselves to anyone involved.
    • Thank God for freeing the person.
    • Command any evil spirits to identify themselves.
    • Confess that everyone taking part in the deliverance is under the authority and protection of the Lord Jesus.
    • Bind any evil spirits and forbid them to manifest or act in any manner contrary to the Lord’s will.
    • Lead the individual in prayer to surrender to the Lordship of Christ, especially in the area under demonic oppression.
    • Advise the individual how to avoid reinfestation.
    • Discern if the spirit is gone.
    • Ask the Holy Spirit to give discernment and wisdom as to how to proceed.
    • Identify any spirit oppressing the individual.
    • Acknowledge that all parties are clothed with the righteousness of Christ.
  • Are all these steps necessary each time you expel a demon?
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25: Christ’s Finished Work – Redemption from Sickness and Disease

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (NASB)

Physical healing is part of the gospel, and Jesus still heals people today! Isaiah 53 is one of the main passages that support this truth. In it a parallel is made between Christ’s bearing our sins and his carrying our sicknesses and pains.

Physical healing is part of the atonement just as much as the forgiveness of sins.

In the passages below, I put the Hebrew words in parentheses.

Surely our griefs (choli - sicknesses) He Himself bore (nasa - to lift, carry or take), 
And our sorrows (makob - pains) He carried (sabal - to bear a heavy load); 
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, 
Smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 (NASB) 

 As a result of the anguish of His soul, 
He will see it and be satisfied; 
By His knowledge the Righteous One, 
My Servant, will justify the many, 
As He will bear (sabal - to bear a heavy load) their iniquities. 
12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, 
And He will divide the booty with the strong; 
Because He poured out Himself to death, 
And was numbered with the transgressors; 
Yet He Himself bore (nasa - to lift, carry or take) the sin of many, 
And interceded for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:11-12 (NASB)

The same Hebrew verbs are used to describe Christ’s finished work on the cross regarding sickness and sin and pain and iniquities.

It would be disingenuous for an interpreter to come to any other conclusion; nevertheless, since translators, like we, have theological biases, in most versions of the Bible we are fed a watered-down translation. Sickness becomes grief and pain becomes sorrow. Below is a translation that more accurately adheres to the literal meaning.

But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain;[13] even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done.[14] Isaiah 53:4 (NET1) 
 Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done.[30] “My servant[31] will acquit many,[32] for he carried their sins.[33] 12  So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes,[34] he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful,[35] because he willingly submitted[36] to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened[37] on behalf of the rebels.” Isaiah 53:11-12 (NET1)

Every Christian understands and believes that Jesus carried our sins to provide forgiveness and justification, but not everyone knows and believes that he also bore our sicknesses and pains so that we can experience healing for our minds and bodies.

We should ask ourselves how did the apostles view these verses? Fortunately for us, through the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, the Bible gives us the answer. Matthew’s gospel clearly tells us that physical healing is a fulfillment of Isaiah 53.

When evening came, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed; and He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "HE HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES." Matthew 8:16-17 (NASB)

If we hold to this truth, then we are left with the following questions. First, is healing for today, and, secondly, is healing for everyone, all the time? To answer the first question, we understand that the ministry of Christ continues today via the church which is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

The answer to the second question is more controversial. This is how I understand things. Healing is our birthright in the Kingdom of God. Jesus already paid for it; therefore, it is always right and proper to ask God for healing and believe the Word of God when it tells us, “by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24) In other words, our faith for healing is based on Christ’s finished work on the cross.

We place our confidence in what Christ has already accomplished on our behalf, realizing that it is God’s prerogative to apply that healing in His way and in His time.

To better understand this point, consider that we are also given eternal life through Christ’s finished work, and He told us that whoever believes in Him will never die. (John 11:26) Nevertheless, although the Lord has the power to instantly “translate” us into glory without our having to die (Philippians 3:21), as He did with Enoch and Elijah, most of us are going to die a physical death. This does not nullify Christ’s victory over death because the resurrection is God’s final solution.

For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (NASB)

God’s truth regarding Christ’s victory over death has already been accomplished and paid in full, but it has not yet been fully manifested in history. Healing has been fully accomplished and paid, too, but it has not been fully revealed or experienced yet.

Healing comes in many ways. Sometimes it is an instantaneous healing akin to a miracle. At other times it may be a gradual matter. Some die of a sickness or disease while believing that God is their healer. In this last case, healing for them will not come until the resurrection when all things will be set right.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Hebrews 11:13 (NASB)

It is very important for us is to believe and confess the truth of God’s Word regardless of the circumstances and not become offended if things fail to materialize as we hope.

God is glorified when His people trust Him despite encountering and enduring what seems to contradict His promises.

As Job said: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Physical death is not the end of the story. The resurrection will be the grand finale. That is where faith will be rewarded in full, even if we fail to receive here on earth that for which we are trusting God.

For now we choose to maintain a positive confession of faith that agrees with what God’s Word teaches, regardless of our personal experience.

We do not pretend that we are not sick when we are in order to maintain a “good confession.” That is denial. Instead, we can say, “I am sick, but I am trusting that through Christ I have been healed and have the promise of experiencing that healing in God’s timing.”

An important part to having overcoming faith during sickness is to ask God to give us a “personal” or “rhema” word from Scripture.

This is when God “quickens” or makes a portion of the Bible come alive to us so that we understand that the promise is specifically for us at this time. This is very personal and “subjective,” but it is real. This provides us with a firm ground of faith upon which to stand for a healing in the here and now. In lieu of such a “rhema” word, we simply stand upon what the scriptures in general tell us: “by His stripes we were healed.”

As members of the Body of Christ, we have the privilege of extending Christ’s victory over sickness to others. Healing is part of God’s means to authenticate the gospel to unbelievers and is part of His mercy ministry to mankind.

God not only intends that we learn to appropriate this wonderful gift for ourselves, but he wants us to share it with others who so desperately need it.

As Christians, we can proclaim healing in the glorious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to provide the power that backs up the authority we have in Christ. Never shy away from praying for others to be healed. Doing so provides God with an opportunity to demonstrate that he is real.

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) 

These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won't hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them." Mark 16:17-18 (NLT)
 
Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • What is the greatest obstacle to your praying for people to be healed?
  • Have you ever experienced healing in your own mind or body?
  • Have you ever seen God heal someone else?
  • Would you like to?
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24: Christ’s Finished Work – Redemption from Powerlessness and Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Fear and a sense of powerlessness are two lie-based strongholds that plague many people. The fear-power salvation paradigm is one with which many people can identify, especially Muslims.

People who live in cultures which practice animism and other forms of spirit worship need to know that followers of Jesus receive authority from Christ and power from the Holy Spirit to overcome the fear associated with being powerless against evil spirits.

Witch doctors and other shamans try to hold people in bondage through the fear of spiritual reprisal should anyone break from the established or traditional order of things to follow Jesus. Jesus sets us free.

Those who experienced sexual and other forms of abuse during early childhood may still be haunted by a nagging sense of powerlessness when around their former tormentors or if they are put into a situation that reminds them of the abuse. Even though they now may be quite capable of defending themselves, they may “feel” quite inadequate still because of the embedded lie that they cannot. Jesus can liberate us from this type of bondage!

Before Jesus defeated Satan’s power through His death and resurrection, we all lived under his evil tyranny.

Satan gained authority over humans by duping Adam into sinning and transferring his God-given authority to him. Although God is the Sovereign over all creation, Satan gained a temporary and limited authority to wreak havoc upon mankind until the coming of the Messiah.

His kingdom of darkness cast its dreary shadow over the entire world. Only Israel, God’s chosen nation, offered any glimmer of hope, as they clung to God’s promise of a coming Messiah who would defeat this oppressor.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

When Jesus walked this earth in public ministry, he used his innate authority over the enemy as God’s only begotten Son to liberate oppressed people.

Jesus lived in obedience to his Father and did what He told Him to do. He never swerved from obedience and never relinquished his status as God’s Son, unlike Adam.

And no doubt 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)

The power that enforced the authority of Jesus’ words came directly from God’s Holy Spirit.

God’s plan was to equip Jesus’ disciples with the same authority and Spirit of God so that they might be proper ambassadors for God’s Kingdom, too.

The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." 18 And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Luke 10:17-19 (NASB)

This power and authority was shared with His disciples who ministered in His name while Jesus remained physically here on earth. The real victory was won, however, when Jesus died on the cross and subsequently rose again.

At Calvary, Satan was stripped of his authority that he had usurped from Adam. All authority in heaven and earth was vested in the Son of God who became the Second Adam, the progenitor of a new creation, via His resurrection.

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:15 (NIV) 

 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Matthew 28:18 (NASB)

When a person is born again into the family of God, he or she receives a permanent transfer from the realm of Satan into Christ’s benevolent Kingdom.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 (NASB)

To be delivered from fear and powerlessness, the first thing a person must know, believe, and confess is that Jesus has released us from the kingdom and power of Satan.

The devil has no “right” or authority to rule our lives any longer. Satan, however, is a liar and an accomplished bluffer. He will do everything he can to convince us that we are not free at all. This is why we must “stand” on God’s truth, regardless of how we feel about it or what we may experience. Jesus is Lord over Satan and all demonic forces, and we are under his protection.

In addition, all believers receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of “power, love, and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) Jesus also wants every follower of His to receive what He calls the “baptism in the Holy Spirit.”

This is another experience with God’s Spirit by which we become “immersed,” so to speak, in the Spirit of God. It can be compared to standing under a waterfall, which would effectively submerge us under the “outpouring.” God wants us to operate in the same anointing that Jesus had when he walked this earth.

We, too, are to become liberators of those who are oppressed by Satan.

This is a great privilege and an opportunity to reverse things against our former tormentor by devastating his kingdom of darkness through the preaching of the gospel, using the authority of Christ, and operating in the gifts of the Spirit.

But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NLT)

When we are filled with God’s Spirit, we have the authority of Christ which overcomes the power of the enemy and  the power of the Holy Spirit within us to enforce Christ’s authority.

We thus become dynamic liberators in Christ’s name. This power, however, resides in imperfect “vessels.” God, in His wisdom, chooses to let His power be perfected in our weakness.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NASB)

Christians live in the tension of power combined with weakness so that we might learn to always rely on Christ and never on ourselves.

This is very perplexing to some who find it to be difficult to accept by faith that they have authority and power in Christ despite their human weakness. Instead of focusing on Christ’s power and authority, they only see their own weakness. This is made worse in some cases by past experiences of powerlessness when God seemed to be nowhere around. For these people, believing that God has delivered them from powerlessness seems like just so many empty words. What can help these people experience Christ’s victory?

I believe the key is for us to trust in the loving sovereignty of God. Romans 8:28 tells us that God is working all things together for good in our lives. This means that even the things that seem to be “bad” are being turned around to work “good” for us. When Jesus was crucified, it seemed as if the kingdom of darkness had won the day. Nevertheless, God sovereignly ruled over everything, even at the cross, so that Christ’s apparent defeat in death resulted in a resounding triumph via the resurrection.

To experience Christ’s victory, we must make the decision to view life through the lens of Romans 8:28.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NASB)

If we choose to trust and even praise God during our most difficult and confusing times, we become overcomers. Praising and acknowledging God during difficulties and perplexities takes faith and elevates us above our current situation so that we can see things more clearly from God’s perspective.

If we experienced something awful in our past or even now in our present, it is vital that we take that part of our personal history and acknowledge that God is sovereign over it and is in the process of making it work out for our good and His glory. As Joseph did so long ago, we can proclaim with assurance, that although what was done to us may have been meant for evil, God will make it result in our salvation.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. Genesis 50:20 (NLT)

When we gain the confidence that God is our Keeper and nothing can slip by Him, we have a secret to overcoming fear and any sense of hopelessness or powerlessness.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • Besides having a sense of powerlessness, what are some other reasons people suffer from chronic fear?
  • What have you discovered is essential to experiencing deliverance from fear?
  • Have you ever used Romans 8:28 as a basis for acknowledging and praising God amid even the worst things that have befallen you, knowing that he is working everything out for our good somehow? What was the result?
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23: Christ’s Finished Work – Redemption from Defilement

[Jesus Christ] who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:14 (NASB)

Now we will look at another salvation paradigm – clean versus unclean. The Jewish ceremonial law made a clear distinction between that which was holy or set apart and fit for God’s service and that which was not. Animals, people, and objects could be clean or unclean. Unclean people and objects could become clean through ritual washings and other prescribed acts. Some of the things that could make a person unclean are listed below.

  • Touching something that is unclean – Lev. 5:2
  • Menstruation (issue of blood) – Lev. 12:2
  • Leprosy (skin disease) – Lev. 13:3
  • Bodily Discharges – Lev. 15:2
  • Eating an unclean animal – Lev. 20:25
  • Sexual activity – Lev. 15:18
  • Sin – Ezra 9:11
  • Demonization – Luke 9:42

The unclean person or thing had to be isolated to prevent the contamination of those who were ritually pure.

In this way, you will keep the people of Israel separate from things that will defile them, so they will not die as a result of defiling my Tabernacle that is right there among them. Leviticus 15:31 (NLT)

If a person was in a state of being unclean, he or she was not fit to serve the Lord. This was one reason the priest refused to help the injured man in the parable of the good Samaritan. He would have contaminated and disqualified himself from priestly service.

Say to them, 'If any man among all your descendants throughout your generations approaches the holy gifts which the sons of Israel dedicate to the LORD, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from before Me; I am the LORD. 4 'No man of the descendants of Aaron, who is a leper or who has a discharge, may eat of the holy gifts until he is clean... Leviticus 22:3-4 (NASB)

In light of this, it is understandable why the woman with a bloody discharge was terrified when she was asked if she had touched Jesus’ garment. Under the Law, her action would have defiled Jesus. And consider that Jesus was and is God’s tabernacle, where God dwelled in all fullness. She would have been worthy of death for touching the tabernacle! But what actually happened?

But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction." Mark 5:33-34 (NASB)

This account reveals that Jesus has the power to deliver us from uncleanness. Instead of being defiled by being touched by this unclean woman, Jesus healed and restored her to ritual purity.

Jesus also taught us that uncleanness does not come from what we touch or eat but from what is within us.

And He said* to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 20 And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22 deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23 "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." Mark 7:18-23 (NASB)

The Old Covenant type of ritual defilement pointed to the much larger issue of internal defilement through sin. Sin is what separates us from God.

Going much deeper than individual sins, our “sin nature,” which is sometimes called the “old man” or the “flesh,” is the internal inherited cesspool of corruption that generates our lawless behavior.

Every human being is born into this world in a state of uncleanness because of original sin.

For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. Psalms 51:5 (NLT)

Jesus redeemed us from this internal defilement by taking our defilement into himself when he hung upon the cross.

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NASB)

Thus we see the divine exchange. Christ took our defilement, and we received His cleanness.

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NASB)

Sanctification is a state of holiness or being set apart to God, the opposite of defilement.

It is essential that we accept by faith what Christ has done for us. Our holiness does not depend on our own performance, nor can it be accurately discerned by how we feel.

A person, who has been made to feel “dirty,” “tainted,” or otherwise defiled must bring that to the cross and leave it there. In addition, such a person must retrain the mind and conscience to accept our God-given state of holiness in the Lord.

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13-14 (NASB)

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • How would you minister to a victim of sexual abuse who still feels “dirty” because of what was done to him or her?
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22: Christ’s Finished Work – Redemption from Shame

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Psalms 34:5 (NLT)

Shame can be either a painful negative emotion for having done something specific that was wrong or foolish, or it can be a general pervasive negative emotional state resulting from a chronic sense of self-reproach or sense of failure. The latter may originate in childhood and is more difficult to alleviate.

Some of our shame is well-deserved. If we sin against God and others, shame can be the consequence. It certainly was for Adam and Eve.

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7  At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Genesis 3:6-7 (NLT)

Sin reveals the unseemly side of us that most of us wish to conceal, as did Adam and Eve.

We usually try to hide if we are threatened with our shame being exposed.

This can make relating to others a big challenge, since they/we often go to great lengths to cover up any areas for which we might feel ashamed. We fear that, if we are truly known, we may be despised and rejected, which is sometimes the case, as it turns out. As a result, sometimes we grow to like or love someone based on the façade presented to us, rather than the real person. This can be unnerving to the person who is hiding because of the fear of one day being exposed. It is also a problem for all of us because we wonder if we truly know the one we love. This kind of hiding can involve big issues or small.

Eventually who we really are will surface, however, and that is when relationships get tested.

This process can end in disillusionment which allows us to get rid of our illusions about the other person and face the truth. This is often a necessary step in building a great relationship or marriage.

Deep friendships and great marriages can develop when people take down the façade and continue to love one another despite knowing the other person’s weaknesses and sin.

Conversely, friendships and marriages can rip apart if the deception and resulting disillusionment are too great. This can also happen in a church.

Often we cannot truly know a person until after we have had a disagreement with them or go through a crisis together. How we weather those storms can more perfectly reveal the nature and depth of our relationship. One of my mentors once told me that he never truly trusted a person until after he had a fight with him. Whenever a new person or family joins our church, I am usually excited to get to know them. My hope is that they will prove to be good friends and valuable assets to the kingdom. In the back of my mind, however, is the realization that one day they may turn out to be just the opposite.

Disappointment and disillusionment are risks we take when we dare to love people.

There are countless numbers of believers who are drifting with no church home because at some point they were hurt and disillusioned by members of some local church. What makes this particularly sad is not so much that offenses and disappointments take place in the church. Rather, it is because people do not realize that this is to be expected in any group of humans, even the church. Believers must be prepared to encounter and work through these things. If we are going to survive and thrive in a very sinful world, we must come to terms with the fact that people are not always who they pretend to be.

One person who is incapable of being disillusioned is God.

God knows us completely and anticipates our every thought, word, and action. Nothing we ever do surprises him. King David knew and wrote about this truth.

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2  You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. 5  You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! Psalm 139:1-6 (NLT)

God’s omniscience makes it even more remarkable and encouraging that he chooses people to belong to him even before they are born.

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. Ephesians 1:3-5 (NLT)

Adoption is never by accident. It is an intentional act of love. Every child, whether biological or adopted, is a treasure. Parents may have some idea of who their biological children are, but the full revelation comes over time. Adoptive parents have less idea of who their children may be because they usually have no idea what family traits may have been passed down. But God knows everything about all of us. He will never step back in disgust or disappointment after we make a huge misstep or sin, thinking that he made a mistake in choosing you or me.

God knew ahead of time all we would ever think, say, or do, and still chose to love us. This is a big antidote to shame.

Abandonment and rejection are at the root of much shame. These two things signify that the other person is of little value. Sometimes the reason for the abandonment or rejection is understood; sometimes, not. In the latter case, the affected person is left to imagine the reason. Little children are quick to assume blame, thinking that there must be something wrong with them. This can lead to the development of a pervasive since of shame mentioned in my opening definition.

Sometimes shame can be associated with sinful things we have done or were done to us. People who commit sexual abuse, for example, should feel shame for their actions; that is, until they experience the forgiveness and cleansing provided by our Lord Jesus. Children who are preyed upon by abusers also experience a sense of shame in many cases, even though the abuse was not their fault. Unfortunately, many predators tell their young victims that it was their fault, establishing a “lie-based stronghold” in that young one’s mind. This sort of lie must be replaced with the truth in order for shame to be eradicated.

Whether our shame was earned through our own sinfulness or improperly thrust upon us by some predator, Jesus has done everything necessary to set us free.

When Jesus hung naked upon the cross, enduring scorn, rejection, abandonment, injustice, and disgrace, he took that shame on our behalf, along with the shame attached to our sin. Just as He carried our sin and guilt to the cross, He also bore our shame there.

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NASB)

Because He carried our shame, we do not have to bear it.

Here are some promises.

"Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. The shame of your youth and the sorrows of widowhood will be remembered no more, 5 for your Creator will be your husband. The LORD Almighty is his name! He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of all the earth. 6 For the LORD has called you back from your grief—as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband," says your God. 7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will take you back. 8 In a moment of anger I turned my face away for a little while. But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:4-8 (NLT)

But the LORD will save the people of Israel with eternal salvation. They will never again be humiliated and disgraced throughout everlasting ages. Isaiah 45:17 (NLT) 

Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." 1 Peter 2:6 (NKJV)

But that is now. Did Jesus ever liberate anyone from shame during his three-year itinerant ministry? The answer is “Yes!” He set free the demoniac, who endured the shame and disgrace attached to his condition. He was forced to live alone in the tombs away from society. Jesus healed lepers who had to isolate themselves and cry out “unclean” whenever they moved about. Jesus allowed the adulteress in John Chapter 8 to walk away forgiven and with dignity after rescuing her from those who would have stoned her to death for her publicly exposed sin. He forgave and restored Peter, who shamed himself and his Lord by denying him publicly three times. When Jesus walked the earth he delivered people from shame and continues to do this today.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT)

Therefore, we who follow Christ can know that our shame was carried away by Our Lord Jesus Christ and we no longer must bear it. Jesus came to liberate his followers from shame. To believe and live out anything less is unbelief. We can throw off any oppressive weight of shame by faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Now we have the privilege of honoring the One who was shamed for our sake.

We can make it our aim to honor and glorify God by putting our full trust in him and his promises and by boldly declaring the Gospel and name of Christ without fear of any shame the world may attempt to thrust upon us. If we are proud of our Lord, he will return the favor at the Last Judgment.

Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Matthew 10:32-33 (NLT)

Let’s trust the Lord to help us to be bold witnesses for Christ. Whenever we may fall short, let’s quickly repent and receive forgiveness and cleansing from our sin and shame and have another go at it.

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion
  • For you, has disillusionment ever been a necessary step in growing deeper in a relationship?
  • How important is shame in determining how a person relates to God and other people?
  • If you were ministering to someone riddled with shame, how would you counsel them?
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21: Christ’s Finished Work – Redemption from Death

Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—Jesus also became flesh and blood by being born in human form. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the Devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he deliver those who have lived all their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT)

The gift of eternal life means that in an ultimate and fundamental sense the power of death has been defeated.

Jesus told Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. 26 They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish. Do you believe this, Martha?” John 11:25-26 (NLT)

Jesus did not deliver us from experiencing a physical death, but He did liberate us from the second death, the one that lasts forever.

And death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15 (NLT)

If we are born once, we die twice. If we are born twice, we die once.

That means that those who are born again by the Spirit through faith in Christ will never experience the second death. Those who are not born again will.

Fear of eternal separation from God after being found wanting at the judgment seat of Christ is what is behind the fear of death in many people.

By delivering us from the threat of eternal condemnation, Jesus also set us free from the bondage produced by the fear of death.

I assure you, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. 25 "And I assure you that the time is coming, in fact it is here, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted his Son to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge all mankind because he is the Son of Man. 28 Don't be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God's Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to judgment. John 5:24-29 (NLT)

After assuring his disciples that they would never be condemned, Jesus spoke of the coming judgment and resurrection from the dead. It is vital that we see the connection even as Jesus did.

Confidence at the judgment seat of Christ depends upon our conviction that we have been set free from the threat of the second death.

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we are like Christ here in this world. 18 Such love has no fear because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of judgment, and this shows that his love has not been perfected in us. 1 John 4:17-18 (NLT)

For believers, physical death will be an instant transition into God’s manifest presence where we will experience the extreme joy of being with God and the extended family of born-again believers.

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 That is why we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So our aim is to please him always, whether we are here in this body or away from this body. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 (NLT)

Once again we are encouraged to be confident when we stand complete in the righteousness of Christ before God at the judgment. We have nothing to fear. For believers, judgment will not determine heaven or hell. That has already been decided in Christ, since he took our condemnation and judgment upon himself.

For us who trust in and follow Christ, the judgment will be a place where God will reward our works of faith and love done in cooperation with God’s Holy Spirit.

It is extremely important that we do not allow Satan to rob us of our freedom from the fear of death by implanting his lie that God will ultimately reject us. We are accepted in the beloved, the eternal Son, Jesus Christ. Because He lives, we live. Death has been defeated through His resurrection!

For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. 54 When this happens—when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die—then at last the Scriptures will come true: "Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:53-55 (NLT)
Click here to see the other articles in this series.
 
Questions for Further Study and Discussion 
  • What is the only thing that can prevent our being cast into the lake of fire?
  • What are some of the reasons a person might fear death?
  • How does Christ set us free from these fears?
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20: Christ’s Finished Work – Redemption from Dead Traditions of Men

And so, by your own tradition, you nullify the direct commandment of God. Matthew 15:6 (NLT)

This verse records Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees for allowing men to donate money or land to the synagogue that otherwise would have been used to support their aged parents, thus relieving them of their duty to provide for them. God is not impressed when we dodge a clear command to honor our parents under the pretext of being generous in a religious way. I remember counseling a young man who ducked into a denominational church wearing a hat. His hair was a mess, and he was embarrassed to remove his hat. The gate keeper of the church asked him to leave if he would not remove his hat. That young man was seeking after God, but the roadblock of a religious tradition barred the door. Sure, if he had been more mature, he would have swallowed his pride and uncovered his head. However, he was not that mature, and neither was the gate keeper. It ended poorly because tradition triumphed over mercy and love. When I spoke to this young man, another stumbling block had been erected in his life. Hopefully he forgave that man and moved on. Sometimes traditions of men keep us locked in bondage.

Nowhere is the deviousness of the human intellect so clearly seen as in our religious traditions that we think are expressions of devotion to God, but which defeat the clear intent of His Word.

Every group has traditions, even those who profess to be free from such things. Non-tradition can easily become a defining tradition. When Luther distanced himself from the Roman Catholic Church, he was careful to try to retain everything that he deemed was not a contradiction to Scripture. Others were more iconoclastic and rooted out anything they considered was not clearly found in the Bible. Hence, Lutherans have a more formal liturgical type of worship service somewhat reminiscent of Catholic tradition, while some more radical groups did such things as banning musical instruments from worship services, since the New Testament nowhere mentions them. The question we must ask ourselves is: “Which philosophy is correct, retention or iconoclasm?”

To answer this question requires that we step back and examine our presuppositions. The Protestant Reformation protested flagrant abuses and errors found in the Catholic Church at that time. Luther found much good in the church but could not abide certain things. Thus, he posted his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg to launch a religious and political upheaval. He was careful to not “throw out the baby with the bath water”, so to speak. Others did not have his love and appreciation for the Roman church. They hated it and found it rotten to the core. Their version of the Reformation was much more an overthrow of the entire system. Centuries later, it is interesting that the church polity and style we follow more resembles the radical reformers than the Lutherans.

The Catholic Church adopted a theology that gives as much weight to church tradition, including ex cathedra pronouncements by the Pope, as it gives to the Holy Scripture. Evangelical Protestant tradition insists on sola scriptura, meaning the Bible is our only infallible source for doctrine and practice. As children of the Reformation, sola scriptura is an established doctrine. Things break down a little right off the bat, however, because not everyone interprets the Bible the same way. Different Protestant groups have established their own church traditions based on their interpretations of the Bible. Hence, some groups rally around what is called “Reformed” doctrine, based on John Calvin’s teachings. One group may make its stand on the proper mode of water baptism, which divided the Baptists and Methodists during the great early camp revivals in our nation. Other groups believe resolutely in the present-day baptism in the Holy Spirit and the operation of the spiritual gifts, while still other groups declare that these things are no longer in operation and are “of the devil”. Depending on the group to which you belong, you will think the other group has man-made religious traditions that nullify God’s Word. Christians have been fighting each other for centuries over doctrinal disputes. What is a person to do?

Some people get confused and rattled by all this wrangling. They wonder how anyone can determine what is right, or if there is a “right” side to the argument.

Jesus came to set us free from men’s traditions that conflict with the Word of God.

The core of God’s Word can be summed up in two commandments – love God and love your neighbor. (Matthew 22:36-40)

God has given us unity with our spiritual brothers and sisters based on our being children of the same Father, servants of the same Lord, and indwelled by the same Holy Spirit. Whether or not our doctrine is perfect does not affect any of these core unities.

Even if we dispute the meaning of certain scriptures, we are to maintain a unity of heart and Spirit.

Some doctrinal differences are so great, however, that they must be resisted vigorously.

Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. 4  I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-4 (NLT)

Deciding what doctrines are pernicious is the responsibility of church leaders who are guardians of the truth.

Anything that detracts from God’s glory, Jesus’ lordship, or the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives, leads us to disobey God’s clear commands, or promotes immorality cannot be from God and must be heartily resisted because of their destructiveness.

The truths enunciated in the early church creeds are a good starting point for identifying what is essential.

However, if we allow a non-essential doctrinal tradition to separate us from our brethren, it is wrong. Honest God-fearing Christians see things quite differently.

If we hold to our own interpretations and traditions with a high regard and show respect for those held by others, and we refuse to allow our hearts to be divided from other groups because of these things, it shows that we have been redeemed from the power of tradition. Doctrine divides, but God’s love and the Holy Spirit unite us.

I believe God has made His Word deliberately ambiguous in certain areas to test our hearts. I do not suggest biblical truth is relative or malleable, but I do believe our ability to grasp the enormity and complexity of God’s truth is limited by our imperfect human minds. To make the human intellect the measure of what is true is gross arrogance. To insist that our group is the only group that really “gets it” is an expression of an ugly form of pride. To hold to one’s own convictions with magnanimity of heart towards those who disagree is an expression of spiritual maturity. Let’s use the following maxim as our guide.

IN ESSENTIALS UNITY, IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY, IN ALL THINGS CHARITY

Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with—even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. Romans 14:1 (MSG)

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

Questions for Further Study and Discussion

  • Can you name a man-made tradition that you or your church holds that is not clearly in Scripture.
  • Can you name any areas in which you have observed a man-made tradition lead someone to disobey clear biblical teaching?
  • If we find ourselves in a dispute over a particular doctrinal point of view, such as the rapture, what is the best way to handle it?
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19: Christ’s Finished Work – Redemption from Lawlessness

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Romans 6:1-2 (NASB)

Lawlessness is the opposite side of the coin from legalism. Legalism and lawlessness are both forms of rebellion against God. Lawlessness rejects God’s standard of righteous living altogether. It fully embraces sin and gives free rein to the sin nature. Legalism, as we have seen, embraces God’s standard of righteousness but rejects God’s way of attaining it through faith in Christ.

When we first hear about how Jesus set us free from the power of condemnation, the carnal mind is tempted to draw the conclusion that we are now free to be lawless, or, as Paul put it in the verse above, “to continue in sin that grace may increase.” A person who thinks this way has not yet experienced the transformation of the mind through the power of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. The regenerated person receives a new heart that desires to serve God and be pleasing to him. The old nature inherited from Adam will always desire to sin; therefore, we should not be surprised when these sorts of thoughts occur to us. However, we must resist these temptations to believe a lie.

Spiritual maturity is the condition of thinking and living in harmony with God’s Spirit and Word.

God has not abandoned his desire for his people to live according to his ways. The only thing that has changed in the New Covenant is how we get there. The new way of the Spirit produces in us the obedience and purity of heart that the Law could not. All the Law can do it expose how far short we fall.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3  The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4  He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 (NLT)

A distinguishing characteristic of those who serve God and those who refuse God is the fear of the Lord.

Part of the fear of the Lord is a regard for the consequences of our actions. Those who fear God fear his judgments against sin.

God’s born-again children should properly fear the Lord. We know that God loves us, and we love him back, but we still stand in awe of him and the discipline he may bring should we defy him.

A person who flaunts his or her sin is either not regenerated or still is yielding actively to the sin nature for some reason. Regardless of the reason, a lawless person embraces that which nailed Jesus to the cross. Such a person may be ignorant of the truth, or may be bitter or offended with God in some way, using that as an excuse for sin, or may be trying to cover up his or her pain by “self-medicating”. The answer for the unregenerate person is to put his or her faith in Christ and surrender to his lordship. This article is aimed at the born-again believer who still is living a lawless life.

“Walking in the Spirit” is a phrase Paul uses that describes the condition of allowing the Holy Spirit to live His life through us in such a way that makes us obedient and pleasing to God.

The gospel not only provides forgiveness: it also provides the power to live a new kind of life.

The best defense many times is a strong offense. If we actively seek after God by doing the things that promote deepening our relationship with him (worship, prayer, meditation on God’s Word, etc.), we are less likely to give ourselves over to sin.

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19  singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20  And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18-20 (NLT)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NASB)

Walking in the Spirit produces an obedience that legalism cannot because it begins from a position of resting in our having already obtained God’s favor and blessing through Christ, instead of working to gain that favor through our performance.

If what we are doing is producing in us the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, etc.., we can be sure it because we are resting in God’s grace. Legalism, in contrast, is an attempt to gain God’s favor and blessing through our own performance, proving, so to speak, that we deserve it. Legalism cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit. Usually it results in frustration, discouragement, pride, impatience, and judging others.

Walking in the Spirit makes us aware of God’s graciousness toward us and encourages us to show appreciation and love to the One Who has done so much for us.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:2-4 (NASB)

The only way obeying God is not a heavy burden is when our love and appreciation for him is coupled with his grace toward us through faith.

When Jesus lives through us, we can serve God willingly.

I believe our Lord described what this is like better than anyone else.

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)

Refusing to let the Holy Spirit have His way in our lives is the fundamental sin of self-directed living.

When the Holy Spirit directs us, He also gives us the power to perform what He shows us to do; whereas, the Law leaves us to our own devices.

Jesus described our predicament under legalism as follows, speaking of the Pharisees who represented legalistic self-righteousness:

They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden. Matthew 23:4 (NLT)

Grace is God’s power via the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life.

The Christian’s highest calling in life is to bring glory and honor to God. Anything that dishonors God can never be a product of grace or true righteousness. Grace was never meant to be an excuse for sin or permission to sin. Quite the opposite, it is the reason we do not have to sin any more after being born again. Through our identification with Christ in His death, the sin nature lost its power to dominate or rule us.

Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace. Romans 6:14 (NLT)

The lawless Christian is deliberately yielding once again to the domination of sin, which is a contradiction of the efficacy of the cross. Such a person’s life is actively testifying to all who know him or her that the cross of Christ is powerless to deliver someone from sin.

What do you think God should do about that? The lawless Christian should be in fear and trembling, wondering what God may do to preserve the testimony of Christ.

How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Hebrews 10:29-31 (NASB)

Since Christ took our punishment for sin on the cross, he is not required to punish us as our sin deserves any longer. (Psalm 103:10)

When God disciplines a lawless son or daughter, it is the stern love of a Father who wants the best for his child.

God will chasten or discipline a rebellious person with three ends in mind: (1) to draw us to himself in love, (2) to make our lives match the truth that the gospel sets people free, and (3) to transform us into Christ’s image and likeness.  Everything God does is motivated by his love for us and will work for our good and his glory. (Romans 8:28)

God knows when to be gentle with us and when to be stern.  (Romans 11:22)

Even though God’s mercy is great, sin is no light thing, and it is very unwise to put God in a position where He may need to do something drastic to preserve the integrity of his name and the gospel.

Living by grace requires that we walk in the tension created between knowing that God does not demand perfection from us in keeping “the rules,” but He does expect us to surrender our lives to him and make a sincere effort to walk in cooperation with and obedience to his Spirit.

Jesus has set us free from legalism and lawlessness so that we can bring glory to the Father through heartfelt obedience.

Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. Romans 1:5 (NLT)

 

Click here to see the other articles in this series.

 

Questions for Further Study and Discussion

  • Do you think that most believers are surprised when they discover that the “flesh” can never be rehabilitated?
  • Can you describe how legalism and lawlessness are both examples of rebellion against God?
  • How would you explain to someone that lawlessness in a Christian is a contradiction of the effectiveness of the cross of Christ and the truth of the gospel?
  • Can you give an example of how an unbeliever might use the contradictory lifestyle of a lawless Christian as an excuse to reject the gospel?
  • Does it make sense to you why God disciplines his children who are lawless?
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