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The Spirit Gives Life
Kat:
This is part of Ray paper 'The Sermon On The Mount is for You!'
http://bible-truths.com/lake16-D3.htm ------------------
THE TIME HAS ALREADY COME FOR OUR JUDGMENT
"For the time is come that judgment must begin [this began two thousand years ago] at the House of God..." (I Pet. 4:17).
The JUDGMENT, COUNCIL, GEHENNA, AND PRISON (Matt. 5) of Christ's Sermon on the Mount are for US; Christ's disciples; those chosen; the faithful; the overcomers; the few; the elect. And these judgments are NOW in each generation of the chosen few throughout this Church age.
Many of these disciples were baptized already by John the Baptist. They heard John's prophetic words:
"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, AND with fire" (Matt. 3:11).
Now Jesus is upon the Mount for the express purpose of selecting out of His many disciples, the twelve that will be His closest followers-His twelve Apostles. But He doesn't mention the Holy Spirit of God even one time in this Sermon on the Mount. And I am sure that they all but forgot about that other part John had prophesied about being "baptized... with FIRE." Jesus introduces the "fire" in His Sermon, but says nothing of this "Holy Spirit." They will see the need for both near the end of their training with Jesus, but none of them comprehended the need for Holy Spirit AND fire during their spiritual apprenticeship under the Master Teacher.
This whole Sermon on the Mount is Christ's teaching on how to live an exceedingly higher level of morality and righteousness than was taught before, and the accompanying Judgments if one does not live up to these standards.
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As I was reading this part of the article, I began to see a correlation between the disciples and the experience we go through in the church.
Many gets baptisted in the church, and this is the point in my life as a young adult to began a serious attemp to live for God.
Many of the disciples were baptized by John the Baptist, then they were called by Jesus to follow Him.
In the church is where I was introduced to Him and learned quite a lot about who He was. All those years in the church I spent trying to serve and obey Him.
Jesus Christ's disciples followed Him for over 3 years, being taught and trained by Him.
I was in the church for years, trying to be a good Christian. Christ is showing us that we can not gain 'spiritual' understanding from the church, and the last few years in the church this realization was becoming quite clear.
The disciples were following Jesus and listening to His teachings for years too. Were they able to stand on what Jesus Himself had taught them?
Mat 26:56 But all this happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples fled, forsaking Him.
I think at some point all of the chosen come to realize they can not do it on there on, you know you need something more and that is the Holy Spirit. Maybe that is only fully realized after we have received the Spirit, but the difference is profound.
quote from paper ------------------------------------------
Jesus introduces the "fire" in His Sermon, but says nothing of this "Holy Spirit." They will see the need for both near the end of their training with Jesus, but none of them comprehended the need for Holy Spirit AND fire during their spiritual apprenticeship under the Master Teacher.
The problem was never with the Law, but with the people:
"O that there were such an HEART in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always..." (Deut. 5:29).
The problem was never with God's Law, but with the peoples' heart-they were carnal, and when one is carnal, he cannot keep a "spiritual" law:
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:6-7).
And here is absolutely proof that there needed a change in the Covenant, not in the LAW OF THE COVENANT:
"For if that first covenant ['covenant,' not law] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For FINDING FAULT WITH THEM, He said, Behold, the days come, says the Lord, when I will make a NEW COVENANT [not a New Law] with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... For this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my LAWS [same old laws-but new covenant] into their MIND, AND WRITE THEM IN THEIR HEARTS..." (Heb. 8:7-9).
There it is!
The New makes alive and ends in "eternal [eonian-immortal] LIFE."
"Who also has made us able ministers of the NEW Testament; not of the letter, but of the SPIRIT: for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives LIFE" (II Cor. 3:6).
This along with the blood sacrifice of Jesus IS the New Covenant; the Gospel; the Kingdom of God.
The Old letter of the law was glorious, but the newly applied Spirit of the law does "much more exceed in glory" (II Cor. 3:9). The Old Covenant law was how God's people were judged under Moses: the New Covenant law is how God's chosen Elect will be judged under Jesus.
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mercy, peace, and love
Kat
Robin:
That is just so perfect it makes me cry.
Thank you Kat.
dogcombat:
Good post Kat,
I think the question becomes, as we mature in Christ, is: Which is expediant? Witnessing to people about Jesus? Or People witnessing Jesus in you? As Paul mentioned in Phillipeans 1:
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Also with Paul telling us that "the law is spiritual", we must crucify our beastliness within us. So that Christ's light shines to those whom He will draw.
Ches
hillsbororiver:
Hi Ches,
That was an excellent perspective on a great post by Kat!
Thanks all,
Joe
Kat:
Hi Ches,
I couldn't agree more :)
1Tim 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Th 1:5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
v. 6 And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,
v. 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
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