GOODNEWS LETTER
Number 350 December 15, 2010
AND SO THE BATTLE GOES ON
"But as then he that was born of the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now," Galatians 4:29.
A Christian is at a crossroads, many times. He knows what to do but lacks the strength to do it. The flesh battles the spirit constantly. If we understand this fact, we have the proper truth to do the right thing. But, without following the truth, we shall repeat the act of living after the flesh. Make no mistake about it, the flesh is alive and, it wants to be number one. The flesh wants to control us.
Therefore, one reason I love studying God's word is to check out and see if my understanding of doctrine is correct. There is always
harmony in the Bible, from the beginning to the end - Genesis to Revelation. So, beginning in the Old Testament and learning the historical truth that is recorded there, allows me to see what the New Covenant teaches. All thoseTYPES and SHADOWS Keep me straight (See Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5; 10:1).
The reason to study types and shadows is clear. There is always a match from the Old to the New. When we study both, a clear and defining fulfillment is seen. Each type from the Old has its fulfillment found in the New. The Old presents a historical and a physical account. But, when we come to the New, each Old Testament truth is revealed and changes from fleshly to a spiritual understanding.
There is no question that the Old deals with the flesh; while, at the same time, the Old lays down the necessary item that will overcome the flesh when we come to the New. The best example of this is the Lamb's blood in the Old. The animal TYPED the Person of Christ. Then, in the New, the blood became efficacious when Jesus Christ died on the cross. The difference between the two Testaments is the difference between man's flesh and his spirit.
The New is about the spirit. But, even though we are free from the Old dictates, we have to understand that the flesh will always be involved until the resurrection, when we recieve a body that is glorified. For believers today, the blessing of the New is that Christ died and removed the flesh as a hindrance to approaching God, the Father. In the New, our spirits are free and we may "...come boldly to the throne of grace" (Heb. 4:16).
Thus, if we understand the doctrine of God's grace, we are blessed to realize the benefit we have in the work of the Son. Clearly, His living and dying for sin makes the difference between the Law from the Old and God's grace of the New. If our knowledge is correct about the historical and physical truth of the Old; that is operated until Jesus arrived, we shall be in the ball park, at least, when we get to the New Covenant.
There's no doubt that the Old Testament was fulfilled. And, when we say fulfilled, we mean that the Old Testament no longer is binding upon man. Sometimes, I feel like yelling it out to those who try to stay under the Law, "What part of fulfillment do you not understand?"
The Old was fulfilled. No amount of man's belief can change this truth, either. It doesn't matter how much we trust in a false doctrine - if it's wrong then, it's wrong. The Law is gone. Right? Yet, many are still trusting in it for gaining salvation. They think their works will do what Abraham, Moses or Daniel could not do. But, the fact remains, as long as we live in the flesh, we are in bondage. Our spirits are not free.
That's why I get so excited about the truth of Christ dying for me. Even, while sitting behind this computer and dwelling upon His love, I feel almost like being saved again. It's an exciting life. And, it's an eventful life. It is living in the presence of God through His Son, Jesus. Amen!
And, when we study how the Law operates - that it only kept us in bondage, any desire to be under its dictates is so Old and so wrong. Paul does acknowledge that the Law was beneficial. "...the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ," Galatians 3:24. But, Paul also knew that the flesh will always try to operate faith from the schoolmaster perspective. The flesh always loves to do the work, even after we have been set free.
However, any attempt to do the Law, takes us backwards. We have graduated, Brethren! Our diploma hung on the cross and we walked the aisle to go out into the world and work for Christ. We cannot not redo or, attempt to redo, His finished work. We were free! We are FREE!
In chapter four of Galatians, Paul explains the difference between the Old and New. To get the true meaning, he takes us back and picks up the account of Abraham. Paul teaches us the lesson of Abraham by explaining the two sons that were born to him. "The one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman" (Gal. 4:23). The very next verse presents an allegory; which, Paul says that the two mothers of the two boys, Sarai and Hagar, represent the TWO COVENANTS - Sarah, the New and Hagar, the Old.
That's not a hard thing to learn. But, it seems that we are ever learning about these two women in order to keep us in check about our doctrine. And, it's important; for, Paul ends chapter four with, "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free" (woman) (Gal. 4:31). Because of Christ, I learn that I'm not a child of Hagar, any longer. No, I'm a child of promise. I've been born again; not of "blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God," John 1:13. Hallelujah!
SO, HOW DOES THE BATTLE GO ON? Again, by studying the meaning of Abraham's two boys, Ishmael and Isaac, we can ascertain that the children of promise are persecuted by the children of the flesh; just like Ishmael was always on the case of Isaac. "But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now," Galatians 4:29. Ishmael bothered Isaac, greatly. And, the lesson is this: the flesh bothers, and hinders, the working of man's spirit - even after being saved - even, after being baptised and serving in a New Testament Church.
It is a never-ending truth; that, as long as we live in the body - the flesh-body, a battle will go on between the flesh and the spirit of man. The battles are over what the Holy Spirit leads our spirits to do. The flesh wants its time in our life; but, the spirit of man is able, by God's grace, to withdraw from the flesh and serve the Lord. Remember, however, without faith, these two parts of man are always in a fight.
In chapter five, Paul gives us a list of what we are to do in order to win the battle. He informs us what we are and, what we are not.
(1) 5:1 - We have liberty because Christ set us free. (2) 5:2 -There is no profit in Christ through circumcision . (3) 5:4 - No justification by the Law. (4) 5:4 - We fall from grace if we try to keep the law. (5) 5:5 - We are to wait for righteousness by faith. (6) 5:14 - Our liberty allows us to fulfill the law by loving our neighbor as ourselves. And, finally, (6) 5:16 - Walking in the Spirit (Holy) keep us from lusting.
The closing thought brings us to Galatians 5:17. In this verse, we see, indeed, that a battle goes on. "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
If we know the reason why trouble hangs around, keeping us from doing the Lord's will, we may then apply the proper spiritual method to overcome any problem that the flesh presents. Of course, the end of the matter is the resurrection. Until then, it is a life of repentance. It is a life of relying upon the work of Christ which comes by God's wonderful grace. For believers today, we have to hear Paul's words in verse 18, "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the Law."