ROMANS 8 WALK IN THE SPIRIT

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Doug

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Being saved by grace does not mean we should feel free to sin (Romans 6:1).

We are dead to sin (Romans 6:2). We need to know we were buried with him into death by the baptism of the Spirit, not water (Romans 6:4). Being raised up with him we should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). We should not serve sin (Romans 6:6) because we have been freed from sin (Romans 6:7). We are to reckon this as so (Romans 6:11). We can chose not to yeild to sin because we are not under the law but grace (Romans 6:14).

The law can not help us live unto God (Romans 7:6).

We should walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:1) because in the flesh (our natural sin nature) we can not please God (Romans 8:8). We need to know we are the children of God by faith (Romans 8:16) and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) and by knowing who we are to live accordingly.

When, not if, we sin we need to know we are justified (Romans 8:33) and forgiven by our redemption in Christ (Colossians 1:14) and nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:39).

We walk after the spirit by believing his word. We find how to live in the epistles of Paul and chose to live according to his word.
 

Episkopos

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Being saved by grace does not mean we should feel free to sin (Romans 6:1).

We are dead to sin (Romans 6:2). We need to know we were buried with him into death by the baptism of the Spirit, not water (Romans 6:4). Being raised up with him we should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). We should not serve sin (Romans 6:6) because we have been freed from sin (Romans 6:7). We are to reckon this as so (Romans 6:11). We can chose not to yeild to sin because we are not under the law but grace (Romans 6:14).

The law can not help us live unto God (Romans 7:6).

We should walk in the Spirit (Romans 8:1) because in the flesh (our natural sin nature) we can not please God (Romans 8:8). We need to know we are the children of God by faith (Romans 8:16) and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) and by knowing who we are to live accordingly.

When, not if, we sin we need to know we are justified (Romans 8:33) and forgiven by our redemption in Christ (Colossians 1:14) and nothing can separate us from his love (Romans 8:39).

We walk after the spirit by believing his word. We find how to live in the epistles of Paul and chose to live according to his word.


This sounds right...at least on the surface of it. How many, after 50 or 60 years in the Lord realize that the spiritual walk is out of reach of our best human efforts? It seems the error of the younger ones is to believe that we can somehow grow INTO holiness.

But the bible is testifying of something far greater than many can imagine. To walk in the Spirit one is walking as Jesus walked...totally without any spot or wrinkle of sin.

So then most believers' faith cannot extend that far. Imagine being able to do all things through the strengthening grace of Christ? Unheard of...scandalous!

So we must be translated INTO that spiritual walk. It isn't something we grow into. No, it is a full surrender into.

But we Western middle class raised people don't understand that kind of humility and brokenness. How many of us glory in surrender? All of the propaganda we are exposed to shows us we need to stick up for ourselves...to be strong. To be a winner...not a loser. But the call of Christ is to the losers in this world.

So there is a conundrum in the modern Western churches. We want to enter into Christ to walk in His power and life...but we are unable to because it seems impossible for us. And indeed it is very hard for us to do so. We underestimate the cost of this at every turn. Instead we follow fables and religious philosophies that give us the impression that we are fulfilling the biblical mandate. But is there really any power in these beyond the power to delude ourselves?

But we need to continue to ask, seek, and knock. We need to count the cost. Our thinking needs to be as poor and humble as actual poor and broken people the world over. No arrogance or pride is permitted.

God chooses whom He will translate to Zion to walk as Jesus walked. He vets us before allowing us through the veil into the spiritual realm of the kingdom of God.

We are rich...and it is with GREAT difficulty that we enter into the kingdom of God.

Sound impossible? Well, all things are possible with God. :)
 
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Doug

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This sounds right...at least on the surface of it. How many, after 50 or 60 years in the Lord realize that the spiritual walk is out of reach of our best human efforts? It seems the error of the younger ones is to believe that we can somehow grow INTO holiness.

But the bible is testifying of something far greater than many can imagine. To walk in the Spirit one is walking as Jesus walked...totally without any spot or wrinkle of sin.

So then most believers' faith cannot extend that far. Imagine being able to do all things through the strengthening grace of Christ? Unheard of...scandalous!

So we must be translated INTO that spiritual walk. It isn't something we grow into. No, it is a full surrender into.

But we Western middle class raised people don't understand that kind of humility and brokenness. How many of us glory in surrender? All of the propaganda we are exposed to shows us we need to stick up for ourselves...to be strong. To be a winner...not a loser. But the call of Christ is to the losers in this world.

So there is a conundrum in the modern Western churches. We want to enter into Christ to walk in His power and life...but we are unable to because it seems impossible for us. And indeed it is very hard for us to do so. We underestimate the cost of this at every turn. Instead we follow fables and religious philosophies that give us the impression that we are fulfilling the biblical mandate. But is there really any power in these beyond the power to delude ourselves?

But we need to continue to ask, seek, and knock. We need to count the cost. Our thinking needs to be as poor and humble as actual poor and broken people the world over. No arrogance or pride is permitted.

God chooses whom He will translate to Zion to walk as Jesus walked. He vets us before allowing us through the veil into the spiritual realm of the kingdom of God.

We are rich...and it is with GREAT difficulty that we enter into the kingdom of God.

Soud impossible? Well, all things are possible with God. :)

Hello
Paul states he also never attained to the resurrection power to be conformed to the image of Christ and crucify the old man and live unto Christ: Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
 
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ScottA

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We are either born again of the spirit of God or we are not. Some will be in time, and some not. So two things are possible:

1) If we attempt to walk in the spirit but are not born of the spirit of God, we kid ourselves. We can do nothing to attain access to the spirit realm that we might walk in it, except "ask, seek, knock." Meanwhile, we can also study God's word to know Him; but the study and knowledge does not make us spiritual. The spirit of God is a gift from God that we are drawn to by His first drawing us and then us opening up to Him and letting Him enter into us, birthing in us a new spiritual creation in Him: Us in Him, and He in us.

2) If we actually are born again of the spirit of God, it comes, It is finished--instantly. But by varied degrees of faith we see through the spiritual glass dimly to one degree or another, and some not hardly at all even unto death. Some, though they have been born again will be "wowed" by a great experience of having flung the door open to God, from which can be described as "rapture." Others will ease the door open ever so slowly feeling an knowing God in so gentle a way that they never experience any radical inertia, even causing them to not believe that it is even real among others. Too the gentle of spirit, those headlong persons who take the radical rapturous plunge (or receive it so) are the "oomy, oomy" "spiritualizers", even "heretics." Jesus described this inability to adjust to the changes one undertakes, even telling the apostles that they "cannot bear" everything that He still had to reveal to them, as a form of spirit task loading. In times past this difference caused the killing of the prophets, torture, etc.. That same difference even has good Christians right here, squabbling daily. Unfortunately.

And yet, no one seems to be up to the challenge of complete spiritual attainment as seen of Jesus...or walking on water and passing through walls might be witnessed of Christians. Even so, Jesus did say we would see even greater things than even He did.

Nonetheless, God...even in us...is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Even if it take a lifetime.
 
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Episkopos

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2) If we actually are born again of the spirit of God, it comes, It is finished--instantly.
The one-step salvation scheme... Actually the born again experience is like a sample given out at a department store. One needs to go to God in a full surrender to get the whole package. And the cost of the whole thing is...ALL! This process is the crucifixion of the outer man so that God can empower the inner man to walk as Jesus walked.

Sanctification is instant when one is crucified...not just born again. It is a common error to think that once we are born again we can grow INTO sanctification by just trusting that we will. To remedy that error we need to forego on the religious rhetoric and really encounter God through the Spirit in an abiding way. A person who walks in the Spirit is walking in the light, and has been translated into a holy walk where there is no sin at all.

This process used to be called "the second blessing"...in times past. We see this in the baptism at Pentecost....whereby Jesus said to wait to be empowered by the Spirit. But this depth of conversion has fallen out of "style" in the modern world. People are looking for the quick fix now.

So there are many believers who are running around after being born again...but who lack the power to walk in that newness of life...the perfected humanity of Jesus Christ. The resurrection life. In fact very few indeed know anything of this. And this is due to this one-step teaching concerning salvation.
 

shnarkle

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Hello
Paul states he also never attained to the resurrection power to be conformed to the image of Christ and crucify the old man and live unto Christ: Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Isn't he just pointing out the same thing he's already pointed out before, i.e. that it isn't he that is doing the attaining at all, but "Christ in me"? He can never come to know Christ objectively because he already has been known by Christ subjectively from within. He says the same thing in Galatians: "we know God, or rather are known of him...etc."
 

Doug

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Isn't he just pointing out the same thing he's already pointed out before, i.e. that it isn't he that is doing the attaining at all, but "Christ in me"? He can never come to know Christ objectively because he already has been known by Christ subjectively from within. He says the same thing in Galatians: "we know God, or rather are known of him...etc."

I would have to study this out but yes there is Romans 8:11 where God quickens us and Philippians 2:13 works in us but Paul still seems to indicates some action on his part Philippians 3:13-14.
 

shnarkle

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I would have to study this out but yes there is Romans 8:11 where God quickens us and Philippians 2:13 works in us but Paul still seems to indicates some action on his part Philippians 3:13-14.

Sure, he's the branch producing fruit, but it is God who provides the increase of fruit. The fruit will be produced regardless of whether Paul is around or not. Anyone can be cut off with no loss of fruit being produced. In fact, it someone isn't producing fruit, fruit will be produced when they're cut off because pruning fosters the production of new growth.
 

ScottA

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The one-step salvation scheme... Actually the born again experience is like a sample given out at a department store. One needs to go to God in a full surrender to get the whole package. And the cost of the whole thing is...ALL! This process is the crucifixion of the outer man so that God can empower the inner man to walk as Jesus walked.

Sanctification is instant when one is crucified...not just born again. It is a common error to think that once we are born again we can grow INTO sanctification by just trusting that we will. To remedy that error we need to forego on the religious rhetoric and really encounter God through the Spirit in an abiding way. A person who walks in the Spirit is walking in the light, and has been translated into a holy walk where there is no sin at all.

This process used to be called "the second blessing"...in times past. We see this in the baptism at Pentecost....whereby Jesus said to wait to be empowered by the Spirit. But this depth of conversion has fallen out of "style" in the modern world. People are looking for the quick fix now.

So there are many believers who are running around after being born again...but who lack the power to walk in that newness of life...the perfected humanity of Jesus Christ. The resurrection life. In fact very few indeed know anything of this. And this is due to this one-step teaching concerning salvation.
I am not sure if you just said you are for or against.

But the error comes from thinking we need to make installments after knowing the price is paid in full. That's called "unbelief."
 
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