Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 2

Paul Explains the Spiritual Blessings from God the Father

Ephesians 1:4-6 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. KJV

Paul opens up the unfolding of the Ephesians and our spiritual blessings with one of, if not the most controversial teaching in all of Holy Scripture and that is “election”, but despite its controversy it cannot be ignored. I read that a Seminary Professor (his name is unknown to me) said, “Try to explain election and you may lose your mind. But try to explain it away and you may lose your soul!” Paul uses the English phrase “he hath chosen” and this phrase is translated by the Greek word eklegomai. The first two (2) letters of this word is from a primary preposition which refers to origin (the point or the source where the action proceeds or comes from or out of), and the entire word means in its primary sense to select or make a choice or to choose out.

The very beginning of this verse has divided many well-meaning people over many centuries, but despite the human division or misunderstanding of what Paul wrote here to these Ephesian believers it cannot be extracted from the Holy Scripture. This is Paul pulling the lid off the “mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things” (Ephesians 3:9) and making it known to these Ephesians and to every truth seeking believer of every century. This is a dreaded word in many circles “election” or God through His foreknowledge choosing every son and daughter that He would adopt unto Himself. It is a smack in the face of religious heritage or pedigree, which was the essence of the Jewish life and sadly many families of Christian background.

Paul declares with these words that background, heritage, nor pedigree makes any difference to the salvation of souls. Paul declared to the Roman believers that every soul born into the human family is born lost and separated from God the Father despite being born in the Palace in London England or born into a Jewish family or born into a family where the Father and Mother are born again Christians when he wrote, “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, ‘There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.’” (Romans 3:9-12).

Despite the reality of none being born good or desiring God, God the Father (who sees the end from the beginning) sent His Son our Lord Jesus Christ into this sin cursed world to retrieve, regain, and recover those Ephesians and those of us today and of every generation that would believe on Him (Jesus Christ) as Paul wrote to brother Timothy speaking of himself with these words, “The saying is sure {and} true and worthy of full {and} universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost. But I obtained mercy for the reason that in me, as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might show forth {and} display all His perfect long-suffering {and} patience for an example to [encourage] those who would thereafter believe on Him for [the gaining of] eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

Paul writes that God the Father blessed these Ephesians and us to be “holy” and this word is translated by the Greek word hagios which means to be sacred, clean, pure, morally blameless, consecrated, or a saint and it is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that makes us holy as Paul also declared with these words, “Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God {and} bring glory to Him in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God the Father has blessed us by choosing us “in Christ” (the Son of His Love) and because we are “in Him” we are now blameless (not sinless), but we have an intercessor a mediator between Him and us Christ Jesus our Lord (1 Timothy 2:5).

We have through Christ received the blessing from God the Father that gives us an eternal fixed position of being in His agape love as Christ our advocate ever lives to make intercession (Hebrews 7:25) in our favor for us before the Father’s Throne always making reparations, expiations, and amends for our sins in the Father’s Presence, hence we are “without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). Paul declares that our Heavenly Father predestinated us to this eternal loving relationship with Him through Christ’ Sacrifice. This English word predestinated is translated by the Greek word proorizo which means to predetermine, mark out, appoint, specify, declare, or ordain. In other words God the Father through giving us our Lord Jesus Christ has “marked out” (for Himself and for His “good pleasure”) eternal children. The English phrase Paul uses here “good pleasure” is translated by the Greek word eudokia which means for His (God the Father’s) satisfaction and eternal delight.

Paul wants to make it understandable to these Ephesians and to us that our Heavenly Father purposed our redemption through Christ before He ever said “let there be light” (Genesis 1:3) because He then already saw each one of us (His children) in a loving and lasting eternal relationship as Paul wrote in this manner to the believers in Rome, “For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].” (Romans 8:29-30).

God the Father spoke out of Heaven when our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist and made it clear how He felt about Him when He said, “And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, ‘This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” (Matthew 3:17). Therefore, God the Father has blessed every one of us whom He chose “in Christ” to be His Beloved sons and daughters as our Lord Jesus Himself declared with these words, “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22-23).

My own Personal Note: The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company. The true believer or new creature’s heart is not merely the old heart set right, but he has an entirely new heart and new nature! Ezekiel 36:25-27 (AMP): “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness; and from all your idols will I cleanse you. A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. In addition, I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them.” In these three verses of scripture spoken by the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord uses the pronoun “I” six times. He does this to confirm what He will do and accomplish. The lost sinner is passive in this work of regeneration or new birth. It is the full and complete work of Almighty God. I became the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus for good works (that is morally excellent and virtuous actions, deeds, and lifestyle). My character and my conduct have changed, even though in this life I am still a mortal man. These words mean more than an outward reformation. I formerly saw no beauty in the Lord Jesus Christ now I love him above all things. Excerpt from my Book entitled “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs

“Does the sinner respond to God’s Grace against his own will? No, he responds because God’s Grace makes him willing to respond. The mystery of Divine Sovereignty and human responsibility will never be solved in this life. Both are taught in the Bible (John 6:37). Both are true, and both are essential.” Warren Wiersbe

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 1

Paul Greets the Ephesians

Ephesians 1:1-3 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. KJV

Paul begins his greeting to the Ephesians certainly recounting the many miracles that our Lord Jesus Christ worked through his hands in that region of the world and wanted to declare to the Ephesian believers that he was an Apostle of Jesus Christ only by God’s will. The English word “Apostle” is translated by the Greek word apostolos meaning a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (with miraculous powers); a messenger, set apart, and sent out with the message of the Gospel of Grace to the world. The English word Paul uses here “will” is translated by the Greek word thelema meaning the determination; specifically the choice or the decided decree of Almighty God. Paul declares to these Ephesians that he is what he is and accomplished what he accomplished among them (despite the strong opposition (Acts 19:21-41) by the determined decision of God the Father.

Paul had spent over two (2) years physically in the region of Asia (Acts 19:10) and now almost ten (10) years has past and Paul is led by God the Holy Spirit to pen this letter to the Church at Ephesus and spending so much time there physically, Paul knew personally many of the brothers and sisters in the Church and he calls them saints. There has been in the past and it remains to this very day confusion about what it means for someone to be a saint or the requirements or qualifications for one to become a saint. Paul was writing to some people who before his arrival were worshiping a false god or in truth a demon in the temple of Diana (the goddess Diana), but since they heard the Gospel of Christ Paul preached among them, repented of their sins and trusted our Lord Jesus Christ, Paul now declares them saints of God through faith in Jesus Christ.

A saint is not some super holy man or woman i.e. a Priest or a Nun or a Monk (although all Priest, Monks, and Nuns who trust Christ are saints), but a saint is a sinful man or woman who has been born of the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9) and are now set apart for God’s Divine purposes. The saints in Ephesus had not worked any miracles that Paul documented for us in this letter, but each one of these saints and every true saint from the time of our Lord Jesus Christ death, burial, and resurrection until right now have experienced the greatest miracle in all of God’s universe and that is the new birth. The true saint is not of this world spiritually any longer because Christ has taken us out of the world as He declared with these words in His High Priestly Prayer, “I have given {and} delivered to them Your word (message) and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world [do not belong to the world], just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that You will take them out of the world, but that You will keep {and} protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14-16).

Paul now calls them “the faithful” and this English word is translated by the Greek word pistos which means to be trustworthy, believing, sure, and true; to have an inward certainty. The believer in Jesus Christ because of the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit is faithful only because of this truth as declared in this manner by the Apostle John, “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:10-13).

When Paul declares that they will be bestowed God’s grace and peace, he is right then praying for the greatest two (2) of the Father’s many “spiritual blessings” granted to them and to us “in Christ”. This grace is not that which saved them and us, but it is extra or added grace needed for our daily lives from God’s infinite supply and Paul in turn is desiring them to be thankful for having received such great blessings as the Apostle Peter wrote with these words, “Who were chosen {and} foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts].” (1 Peter 1:2).

Paul now finishes his greeting to these Ephesian believers and to us with “praise and worship” of our Heavenly Father first for giving us His Son the Lord Jesus Christ and then for giving us all the spiritual blessings that are Christ Jesus’ and making them available to the Ephesians and to us “in Him” as Christ Jesus our Lord promised to the first disciples and to us with these words, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever--The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive (welcome, take to its heart), because it does not see Him or know {and} recognize Him. But you know {and} recognize Him, for He lives with you [constantly] and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans [comfortless, desolate, bereaved, forlorn, helpless]; I will come [back] to you. Just a little while now, and the world will not see Me anymore, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. At that time [when that day comes] you will know [for yourselves] that I am in My Father, and you [are] in Me, and I [am] in you. The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him.]” (John 14:16-21).

The blessings emanate (proceed or issue forth, as from a source) God the Holy Spirit in the Ephesians and in us. Our Lord Jesus Christ is right now seated at the Right Hand of God the Father and this is what Paul means by the spiritual blessings being in heavenly places, for they are to the Ephesians and to us “in Christ” and located where He is and we too are located where He is at the Right Hand of God the Father as Paul also wrote in this manner to the believers in Philippi when he said, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21).

My own Personal Note: “Christ was going to come and change the heart of every man and woman who would trust Him through faith. The Kingdom that He was bringing was not going to come with swords, armies, and force but rather by the way of His transforming Grace working in the hearts of individual men and women.” (Excerpt from my Book entitled “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs”

“This has been called the “Epistle of In-ness,” because it is so full of the preposition in. Saints are flesh and blood like ourselves, and we may be saints. The word means “set apart.” We are in Christ and He is in us, and any goodness we have is due to our giving room and scope to Him to realize His own ideals. To be in the heavenlies, Ephesians 1:3, means to live a spiritual life and to draw our reinforcements from the unseen and eternal world, which is focused in our Lord. We are in Him so far as justification is concerned-that is our standing; and He is in us for sanctification-that is the source of a holy and useful life. The condition of a blessed life is the conscious maintenance of this oneness.” F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

The True Gospel is Reaffirmed to the Galatians Volume 30

Paul ends his letter by Exalting the Cross of Jesus Christ

Galatians 6:14-18 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. KJV

Paul throughout his letter wrote to them about the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Galatians 2:20-21; 3:13; 4:5; 5:11, 24; 6:12, so it is only fitting that he end with this final exaltation of the Cross. Paul in complete contrast to these Judaizing teachers will not put his confidence in any of the Jewish heritage that brought him high esteem among his Jewish peers as he declared to these Galatians at the very beginning of his letter Galatians 1:14, but he will only rejoice and make his boast in the Cross of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul did not find the affirmation of his Apostleship through the fleshly man made method of having his converts marked by the outward fleshly sign of circumcision, but Paul found his service for our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed when men and women heard the Gospel of Grace he preached and God the Holy Spirit regenerated and baptized them into Christ Body making them new as he declared of the Thessalonian converts with these words, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak anything. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

Paul’s letter to these Galatians was all about Christ Jesus our Lord and he wanted the Galatians to understand that nothing outside of intimacy with our Lord Jesus Christ could make them new and cleanse them from sin’s stain, sin’s strength, and sin’s spectacle that it causes in every life. Circumcision and the Mosaic Law is nothing and can do nothing to make a sinful soul live in victory over sin and satan and Paul exerted much effort in his letters to all of the Churches to make it clear that the Judaizing teachers were to be avoided and stayed away from deliberately by every born again believer as he wrote with much zeal with these words to the Philippians, “FOR THE rest, my brethren, delight yourselves in the Lord {and} continue to rejoice that you are in Him. To keep writing to you [over and over] of the same things is not irksome to me, and it is [a precaution] for your safety. Look out for those dogs [Judaizers, legalists], look out for those mischief-makers, lookout for those who mutilate the flesh. For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit {and} by the Spirit of God and exult {and} glory {and} pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence {or} dependence [on what we are] in the flesh {and} on outward privileges {and} physical advantages {and} external appearances” (Philippians 3:1-3).

Paul knew that these wicked evil working Judaizing teachers did not desire to see these Galatians live in freedom and victory over sin and satan because they did not do so themselves, but their desire as Paul declared earlier was only to boast of their converts to others and to avoid persecution by other Jews (Galatians 6:12-13), but Paul in writing to the Roman believers summed up to them what made a person a true Jew when he said, “For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly {and} publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God.” (Romans 2:28-29). These Judaizing teachers were not even real Jews and certainly not true followers of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, therefore, Paul wanted these Galatians to disregard all of their teachings and have no fellowship with them and their unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11). The desire of Paul’s heart is that these Galatians and us today look only to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and receive His Resurrection life activated, set off, and sparked in us in our daily lives that we may be enabled by His Power only to live as we aught and do what we should and then give Him all the Glory (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Paul declares peace and mercy upon every soul that walks or orders their lives according to this “rule” of glorying in only the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The English word “rule” Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word kanon which means figuratively a standard (of faith and practice); by implication it means a boundary or sphere of activity. In other words, Paul wanted to be clear that there would never be present the true peace of God to anyone trying to reach Him by Ceremonial rites and rituals or by branding their physical bodies with the external mark of circumcision as a method of attachment to Him. Paul uses the expression the “Israel of God”  for the first time in any of his epistles here to denote and declare that although God the Father has not and will never cast-off the nation Israel from Him (Romans 11:25-29), He has now made the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ the new “Israel of God” and He is only right now bestowing peace and mercy upon those of us who are “in Christ” by virtue of the new birth.

Paul declares also in contrast to the outward mark of circumcision the false apostles, the deceitful workers (2 Corinthians 11:13) wanted to brand the Galatians with to authenticate their false work, Paul has received in his physical body the marks of suffering for Christ’ name sake by never backing down or watering down the truth of the Gospel to the Jews or Gentiles as he listed in (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Paul did not begin his letter to these Galatians by addressing them as “brethren”, but he closes his letter with the tender acknowledgement of them as his brothers “in Christ” despite his anguish, angst, and even anger over their folly or stupid mistake of being seduced (Galatians 3:1) by the Judaizing teachers he prays for the grace (Divine influence on the heart) of our Lord Jesus Christ to be with their spirits enabling them to resist the deceptions of the false teachers and stand in the truth of the Gospel of Grace he preached to them at their conversions. Paul was the physical manifestation of what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:4 “Love suffereth long” with these Galatian believers as we see in this closing benediction of his letter to them.

My own Personal Note: Paul wanted these Galatians and all of us today to understand that there is nothing outside of close intimate connection with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ that is to be boasted about, not Denominations, not Church work, not baptism, not sacraments, not a Priest, not the Pope, not anything but a “new creation” in Christ Jesus that takes place at the new birth as our Lord Jesus Christ declared with these words in His conversation with Nicodemus, “Jesus answered him, ‘I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother’s womb again and be born? Jesus answered, ‘I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above). The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’” (John 3:3-8).

“In the Divine order of history it is still ‘to the Jew first.’ But natural relationship to the stock of Abraham has in itself no spiritual virtue; ‘circumcision of the flesh’ is worthless, except as the symbol of a cleansed and consecrated heart. The possession of this outward token of God’s covenant with Israel, and the hereditary blessings it conferred, brought with them a higher responsibility, involving heavier punishment in case of unfaithfulness. (Romans 2:17-29; Romans 3:1-8) This teaching is pertinent to the case of children of Christian families, to those formally attached to the Church by their baptism in infancy and by attendance on her public rites. These things certainly have ‘much advantage in every way.’ And yet in themselves, without a corresponding inner regeneration, without a true death unto sin and life unto righteousness, these also are nothing. The limiting phrase ‘in Christ Jesus’ is no doubt a copyist’s addition to the text, supplied from Galatians 5:6; but the qualification is in the Apostle’s mind, and is virtually given by the context. No ceremony is of the essence of Christianity. No outward rite by itself makes a Christian. We are ‘joined to the Lord’ in ‘one Spirit.’ This is the vital tie.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The True Gospel is Reaffirmed to the Galatians Volume 29

Paul’s Final Unmasking of the Judaizing Teachers to the Galatians

Galatians 6:11-13 Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.  As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. KJV

Paul concludes his letter to these Galatians by declaring to them that this letter was so important to him that he chose on this occasion to write these most crucial words with his own hands. Paul used someone to transcribe his other letters, for example Paul’s letter to the Roman believers was written or transcribed by Tertius as declared by these words in the actual letter, “I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.” (Romans 16:22). Whether there was a physical impediment (eye trouble?) that caused Paul to transcribe all of his other letters we do not know, but what we do know here with this letter is that Paul wanted these Galatians to know that this letter to them came directly from his own hands.

Paul ends where he began his letter with the sounding of an alarm (as we declared in the last study also) (Galatians 1:6-7) to these Galatian converts warning them of the motive of these Judaizing teachers for wanting them to be circumcised. Paul declares that their motive of compelling the Galatians to be circumcised and observe the Mosaic Law was to fend off or ward off the persecution from their fellow Jews as Paul suffered declared with these words by Dr. Luke, “When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, ‘Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.’ For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. Then all the city was provoked, and the people rushed together, and taking hold of Paul they dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. While they were seeking to kill him, a report came up to the commander of the Roman cohort that all Jerusalem was in confusion. At once he took along some soldiers and centurions and ran down to them; and when they saw the commander and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.” (Acts 21:27-32).

As we see from this documentation of Paul’s treatment, it was not popular to declare the true Gospel of Grace among many Jews; therefore, the Judaizing teachers perverted the Gospel by adding to it circumcision and the Mosaic Law keeping appeasing the Jews and gaining favor or goodwill with them, while at the same time exploiting and manipulating some of the Galatians in order to get financial gain from them. It was not their deep reverence for the “Law of Moses” that motivated these Judaizing teachers, for they did not keep or isolate the “Law of Moses” in their hearts and minds guarding it, but their desire was to boast everywhere of the quantity or number of their personal converts. These men were not interested in these Galatians or anyone else for that matter coming into a real relationship with the God of Abraham (Genesis 26:24), but they wanted glory for themselves among men. These Judaizing teachers wanted the praise of men (Jew and Gentile) when people saw how many followers they had. These men were boasters and Paul dealt with the Jews in this matter of boasting in themselves and in the “Law of Moses” in his letter to the Romans when he wrote, “You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ just as it is written. For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.” (Romans 2:23-25).

These Judaizing teachers made a fine outward impression among people, but they did not have any inward desire to please God as our Lord Jesus declared with these words to the Scribes and Pharisees, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:25-28). It was the intention and motivation of these Judaizing teachers to make the Galatians believe that they too were followers of Jesus Christ while at the same time making the Jewish followers of the Mosaic Law think that they too kept the Law of Moses, when in reality both were deceptions perpetrated by these men for their own glory of living out what they perceived to be the good life. The Judaizing teachers were selling something that did not even exist or that was not real and that was a melding, mixing, and merging of Christianity with Judaism to form a monstrosity that would only damn souls eternally and not save souls eternally.

My own Personal Note: If someone cares more about what other human beings think of them (their character, their motives, their desires) rather than what God knows about them internally, then that soul is destined for eternal destruction regardless of what legacy they may leave here on the earth that mankind may lift up and esteem for many years.

“So far are they from a real zeal for it. But yet they desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh - That they may boast of you as their proselytes, and make a merit of this with the other Jews.” John Wesley

“The policy of the Judaizers was dishonorable both in spirit and in aim. They were false to Christ in whom they professed to believe; and to the law which they pretended to keep. They were facing both ways, studying the safest, not the truest course, anxious in truth to be friends at once with the world and Christ. Their conduct has found many imitators, in men who ‘make godliness a way of gain,’ whose religious course is dictated by considerations of worldly self-interest. A little persecution, or social pressure, is enough to ‘turn them out of the way.’ They cast off their Church obligations as they change their clothes, to suit the fashion. Business patronage, professional advancement, a tempting family alliance, the entree into some select and envied circle-such are the things for which creeds are bartered, for which men put their souls and the souls of their children knowingly in peril. Will it pay?-this is the question which comes in with a decisive weight in their estimate of matters of religious profession and the things pertaining to God. But ‘what shall it profit?’ is the question of Christ.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

The True Gospel is Reaffirmed to the Galatians Volume 28

Paul Exhorts the Galatians to do Good to Each Other

Galatians 6:6-10 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. KJV

Paul begins by encouraging the Galatians and us today to share in the efforts of those that our Lord Jesus Christ has placed “in His Body” as Preachers and Teachers of the “Word of Truth” in all good things. Paul adds in all “good things” that he might distinguish with clarity and clearness to these Galatians from what was being taught by the Judaizing teachers who perverted the “true Gospel” by adding circumcision and keeping of the Mosaic Law. The English phrase “good things” Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word agathos which means beautiful, valuable, and virtuous; things that are literally good and morally good. In other words, the pupil or student of the Word of God is to be discerning of those who declare the Gospel (which many of the Galatians were not doing), hence the need for Paul to write this letter to them to sound the alarm against the Judaizing teachers as he wrote to the Corinthian believers the true intent and heart of all of God’s true human instruments with these words, “We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate {or} handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight {and} presence of God to every man’s conscience.” (2 Corinthians 4:2). 

The student of the Word of God (when he or she discerns the true Gospel is being taught) must then become a partaker and a partner in fellowship with that faithful mouthpiece of God the Father and share or be a companion with them in their efforts in getting out the Word of Truth (by the sowing of financial seed and in various ministry work needed to reach the lost with the Gospel of Grace). This next verse has been pulled out of its context over and over for many centuries now, but if we see the bracket of Galatians 5: 25 through Galatians 6:1-10, then we understand that Paul’s desire was to warn these Galatians that if they were obedient to the “Law of Christ” = LOVE in their relationships with one another, then they would not be led astray by the Judaizing teachers or anyone else for that matter because they would be continually led by God the Holy Spirit into Divine Truth (Galatians 5:16-18). Paul is here showing them that they are sowing to the “flesh” by heeding the Judaizing teachers and their desire to get them to follow after the rules of the Mosaic Law and circumcision in order to be justified before God the Father and to grow closer in their relationship with Christ and become more like Him verses them following the dictates and inner promptings of God the Holy Spirit implanted in their regenerated “spirits” or the new nature they received at their new birth which is the only way they could please God the Father and grow closer to Christ and become more like Him.

Paul wants them to know, recognize, and understand completely that God the Father will not be deceived, will not be mocked by the fruitless and futile ceremonial worship and service that was the product of what the Judaizing teachers were peddling to them. The English word mocked Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word mukterizo which means to turn up the nose at someone or to ridicule someone or humiliate by deriding and treating with contempt as our Lord Jesus Christ was so done when He went to the Cross for man’s sin, “And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.” (Mark 10:34). Therefore, Paul declares to these Galatians that if they sow to God the Father the “fleshly” worship and service of the old Mosaic Ceremonial law keeping, then they are only to expect that moral corruption (i.e. the works of the flesh Galatians 5:19-21) will be the fruit or the harvest reaped, but if they are “led by the Holy Spirit” (Galatians 5:18), then they will reap the harvest of eternal life right now (Galatians 5:22-23) and of course after their bodies die when they are in Heaven with Christ Jesus our Lord.

Finally, Paul encourages them to not get disgusted or dread or despair in doing that which is right and in accordance to the will of God found in the Word of God which Paul knew would be a temptation for these Galatians and us today especially when we perceived the world becoming more evil at the passing of every day. Paul also knew the tendency for complacency arising out of our own hearts and our old nature making us become satisfied with the status quo and choosing comfort when we are assailed by the principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12) as they work through the people of the still unredeemed world to hinder the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ. Paul encourages them to strive on because a harvest of souls will be reaped by the Great Husbandman (John 15:1) and patient endurance is the Galatians responsibility and ours today as the Apostle James declared with these words, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” (James 5:7-11).

It is a recorded historical fact that one of our Lord Jesus Christ most faithful son and servant George Mueller prayed for the salvation of someone for more than four (4) decades and did not see that person saved in his lifetime here on the earth, but the man was saved (born again) after Mueller died and Mueller’s faithfulness in prayer is a confirmation of the Word of God written by Solomon here, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol (the place of the dead), where you are going.” (Ecclesiastics 9:10).  This is a great example of what the Apostle Paul was teaching these Galatians and us today here in this portion of his letter. Paul declares that the only time we have for sowing and reaping is now during our brief redeemed life here on the earth (James 4:14) and we should spend it doing the will of God by getting out the Word of God and allowing God the Holy Spirit to do what He does by convicting sinners of sin, righteousness, and judgement. Paul wants the Galatians and us today to live peaceably with all men (Romans 12:18) and do them good and not harm, but he concludes where he began and that is the Galatian’s and our top priority should at all times be to do good (moral virtue and moral excellence) to our fellow brothers and sisters of the household of faith in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 2:19-22).

My own Personal Note: Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians to not get weary in doing good is necessary for everyone of Christ’ sons and daughters as I described in this manner in this excerpt from my Book entitled “Silent Assassins of the Soul” speaking of John the Baptist, “The Lord Jesus also prepares His people, as well as those who are still rejecting and resisting Him, through hardship and suffering. For example, we learn from the mouth of John the Baptist that, despite the fact that he had been filled with the Holy Spirit in his Mother’s womb, he still did not understand all that was required of him, and at his lowest point (imprisoned in Herod’s dungeon) sent men to ask the Lord Jesus if He was the One or if there would be someone else to come after Him.”

“Life is a seedtime. It is the opportunity of preparing for Heavenly harvests. The open furrows invite the seed, and every moment, in some form, we scatter seeds that we shall inevitably meet again in their fruition. Let us remember especially our obligations to God’s own children.” F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

The True Gospel is Reaffirmed to the Galatians Volume 27

Paul Exhorts the Galatians to Share one another’s Burdens

Galatians 6:1-5 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. KJV

Paul ended the previous chapter with an exhortation to these Galatians and to us today to refuse and reject the position or posture in thinking one’s self of more importance to the Body of Christ than another, which would produce a boastful or bragging attitude and lead only to envy and strife (Galatians 5:15 & Galatians 5:26). The cause of this turmoil had been aroused by the Judaizing teachers who thought of themselves in this manner, comparing themselves to themselves and not to our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 10:12-18). Paul wants to see such attitudes in these Galatians and in us today eliminated, exterminated, and extinguished completely knowing that the Christian life is not a competition between believers, but instead it is to be an intimate, loving, and caring family that hurts when one family member hurts and rejoices when one family member is joyful as Paul wrote in this manner to the Roman believers, “Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others’ joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others’ grief]. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] {and} give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself {or} be wise in your own conceits.” (Romans 12:15-16).

With all of that in mind, Paul exhorts these Galatians and us today to share the burdens of other believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul declares that when a member of Christ Body is surprised by the onslaught of sin in their lives and weighed down by moral failing, then those who are spiritual or in other words fully yielded to the Holy Spirit’s leading should step up and restore such a burdened brother or sister. The English word restore Paul uses is translated by the Greek word katartizo which means to repair, fit, adjust, or mend by putting together what is torn or broken. Paul has in mind here with this word the idea of a Doctor who would set the broken bone in a person’s arm or leg so that the bone would heal properly. The broken bone would picture the moral failure in the believer’s life and the setting of the bone would picture the “spirit of meekness” exhibited by another brother or sister “in Christ” that is not overtaken by this particular fault, trespass, or sin as Paul wrote in this manner to brother Timothy, “And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone {and} mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled {and} suitable teacher, patient {and} forbearing {and} willing to suffer wrong. He must correct his opponents with courtesy {and} gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it], And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God’s] will.” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

The “spirit of meekness” also implies it to be done by the one who is spiritual with gentleness and humility understanding that they are likewise not immune to becoming overtaken or surprised by the same sin heeding the words of this same Apostle when he wrote this to the Corinthian believers, “Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Paul declares to them and to us that when this action is taken by a spiritual believer in this manner the “law of Christ” will be fulfilled and that law of His is exactly this as He said to the early disciples with these words, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35). Love for our Lord Jesus Christ must translate, transform, and transfer into love for who He Loves and that is all of His redeemed blood bought children. This love for “one another” will motivate us to desire the best for “one another”, not to hurt “one another”, but to restore “one another” when any one member of the Body is overtaken by a burden (1 Corinthians 12:26). This English word burden Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word baros which means a weight or a load; it has the idea of someone carrying a heavy cargo up a steep hill with no help to make it to the top requiring frequent stops to rest making the journey long and hard to bear or endure.

The Judaizing teachers wanted to place on these Galatians the “burdens” of the Mosaic Law (Matthew 23:4), but the “burdens” Paul refers to here are the moral frailties, failures, and flaws that each one of us has, but Christ’ “law of love” worked out in His Body will respond to these as needed to mend and fit the disjointed member back into his or her place in the Body of Christ giving all the Glory to our Lord Jesus. Paul declares that it is the man or woman who does not think highly of themselves that is “walking in the Spirit” and able to sympathize with the weaknesses of others in the Body of Christ (Philippians 2:3). The man or woman who thinks they are something is foolish and this was exactly the attitude of the Judaizing teachers regarding themselves and this is why Paul warns these Galatians and us today against any such haughty mind set. The person that has the idea that they are endowed by our Lord Jesus Christ with some spiritual superiority is absurd and bears the fruit of self-conceit and vanity again reaffirming Paul’s warning in Galatians 5:26.

The responsibility of each of the Galatians and each of us today is to look at ourselves comparing ourselves to our Lord Jesus Christ and not to “one another” and by doing this on a daily basis each person should clearly see all of their moral failings in the light of His Perfection and full obedience to God the Father, for which of us can say these words about our lives as did our Lord Jesus when He said, “And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” (John 8:29). Instead of thinking to highly of ourselves we should seek a clean and clear conscience before God the Father regarding what we endeavor to do for His Glory (whatever that may be) and in so doing individually we will not seek the approval of others, but only God’s approval of us (including our motives). This is extremely critical because each of these Galatians individually and each of us today individually will stand before the “Judgement Seat of Christ” and all of our deeds done through our bodies (including the motives) will lay open and naked before Him, thus signifying that we must bear up under our own moral weaknesses with grit and determination to fight and make war with our own faults because our Lord Jesus will reward us accordingly and with complete and pure truth (Romans 14:10-13 & 2 Corinthians 5:10).

My own Personal Note: In every letter written by the Apostle Paul, you will always find him praying for the saints to come to know how much each one of us are loved by our Heavenly Father, along with knowing all that we have “in Christ” (Ephesians 1:18-23 & Ephesians 3:14-21), but you will also always find him exhorting individual believers to seek and desire only good for their fellow brothers and sisters “in Christ” and warning against all manner of division, strife, envy, jealousy, anger, wrath, etc. toward “one another” (Ephesians 4:31 & Philippians 2:1-18). This was the motivation of the Apostle Paul and it should be ours as well.

“If we must certainly be called to an account hereafter, surely we ought to be often calling ourselves to an account here, to see whether or no we are such as God will own and approve then: and, as this is our duty, so if it were more our practice we should entertain more becoming thoughts both of ourselves and our fellow-Christians, and instead of bearing hard upon one another, on account of any mistakes or failings we may be guilty of, we should be more ready to fulfil that law of Christ by which we must be judged in bearing one another’s burdens.” Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

The True Gospel is Reaffirmed to the Galatians Volume 26

Paul’s Conclusion to the Galatians is to live Controlled by the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:24-26 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. KJV

Paul concludes this section of his letter to the Galatians after detailing what the works of the flesh look like in contrast to the fruit produced by God the Holy Spirit with the axiom or the logical self-evident truth that should be present in the life of every regenerated, redeemed, and renewed child of God. Paul declares the true believer to “have crucified” the flesh. This English phrase “have crucified” is translated by the Greek word stauroo which means figuratively the act of self-denial or to extinguish, subdue, and deaden or kill internal passions from the old nature that are wrong. Paul has already earlier explained to them that they have a war going on inside of them when he wrote this, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 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). We already showed in a previous study that this war is not between the “flesh” and God the Holy Spirit, but it is between the born again believers “old nature” which equals the “flesh” and his or hers “new nature” which equals the “spirit” (the part of the believer’s threefold make up that is completely regenerated, redeemed, and renewed right now).

Every believer in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is a threefold being of spirit, soul, and body as Paul prayed for God the Father to preserve the Thessalonian believers, “And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound {and} complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The “old nature” is still alive within the born again believer and will never be taken out completely until our death and the new glorified body we receive from our Lord Jesus Christ, but until then Paul declares to these Galatians and to us today that we must cooperate with God the Holy Spirit to progressively and continually deaden the works or “affections” and “lust” that rise up from our old man still waging war within us. The English word affections is translated by the Greek word pathema which means emotions or influences that produce passions that are beyond normal limits or unreasonable, especially sexual desires that are outside the will of God. The English word lust Paul uses is translated by the Greek word epithumia which means a longing for that which is forbidden by God or to set one’s heart on and covet that which is wrong. Paul in writing to the Roman believers made this declaration, “We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him(Christ) in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective {and} inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.” (Romans 6:6).

This crucifixion takes place at the moment or instance of our new birth, but it is our responsibility from then on to yield to God the Holy Spirit in order that the “flesh” or old nature is continually put to death as Paul writes to the Colossians who are already born again believers with these words, “IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at {and} seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds {and} keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory. So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed {and} covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God). (Colossians 3:1-5) Note: Read Colossians 3:1-17 to get Paul’s complete exhortation to not only just these Colossians, but to all true believers of every generation.

Paul goes back to what he said in Galatians 5:16 encouraging them and us today to be controlled by our regenerated, redeemed, and renewed “new nature” and feed it constantly and continually while at the same time starving our “old nature” and then and only then will these Galatians and us today truly “walk in the Spirit”. God the Holy Spirit (as we declared in a previous study) will not force these Galatians or us today to follow His lead, but will stay quieted within us when He is grieved by our sin, disobedience, and rebellion from the Word of God and the Will of God and this is why Paul wrote this to the Ephesian believers, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth each one of you with his neighbor, for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:25-32).

Paul warns these Galatians that they were on the very path of grieving God the Holy Spirit and cutting off His effectiveness in their individual lives and in the collective lives of their Churches if they sought after “vain glory” that is honor or praise from men and not from God (John 12:43). Paul also warns them against causing anger and resentment in their midst. They should never ever be jealous of each other. The heirs of the grace of life as the Apostle Peter put it (1 Peter 3:7) should never intentionally provoke their brothers or sisters to anger or be jealous of any brother or sister “in Christ” knowing that we all are equal right now as Paul has already declared to them in this letter (Galatians 3:28). Our Lord Jesus Christ is going to reward every son and daughter of His according to their “works” and no one will be able or want to say that he or she did not receive their just reward.

Our Lord Jesus likewise warned against this desire to be seen by men and applauded by them with these words, “Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be recognized {and} honored {and} praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already.” (Matthew 6:2). The desire of theses Galatians and us today should at all times be to please our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. When we please Him it does not matter whom we displease as we saw the Christian Sister in Kentucky “Kim Davis” stand up for what she believed Christ Jesus our Lord was telling her to do in not signing the Marriage Licenses uniting or joining together same-sex couples. Paul declared to the Colossians with these words detailing our responsibility, “Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ (the Messiah).” (Colossians 3:23-24).

My own Personal Note: You and I cannot achieve victory by our own will-power (for we have none that is sufficient). Rather, victory comes through faith, by an act of our will to enter into and abide, remain, continue, and stay in Christ’ power. Through surrender and submission to the leading of the Holy Spirit day by day we experience victory as He cancels Satan’s dominion, rule, authority, power, and control over sexually immoral behavior. Excerpt from my Book entitled “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs”

“We who are Christians profess to be under the influences of the Holy Spirit. By His influences and agency is our spiritual life. We profess not to be under the dominion of the flesh; not to be controlled by its appetites and desires. Let us then act in this manner, and as if we believed this. Let us yield ourselves to His influences, and show that we are controlled by that Spirit. It is an earnest exhortation to Christians to yield wholly to the agency of the Holy Spirit on their hearts, and to submit to His guidance.” Albert Barnes

“Be not desirous of vain glory - Of the praise or esteem of men. They who do not carefully and closely follow the Spirit, easily slide into this: the natural effects of which are, provoking to envy them that are beneath us, and envying them that are above us.” John Wesley

“As in their baptism they were obliged hereunto (for, being baptized into Christ, they were baptized into His death, Romans 6:3), so they are now sincerely employing themselves herein, and, in conformity to their Lord and head, are endeavoring to die unto sin, as He had died for it. They have not yet obtained a complete victory over it; they have still flesh as well as Spirit in them, and that has its affections and lusts, which continue to give them no little disturbance, but as it does not now reign in their mortal bodies, so as that they obey it in the lusts thereof (Romans 6:12), so they are seeking the utter ruin and destruction of it, and to put it to the same shameful and ignominious, though lingering death, which our Lord Jesus underwent for our sakes. We must set ourselves in good earnest both to mortify the deeds of the body, and to walk in newness of life.”  Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…