Thoughts on the Finished work of the cross?

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Of course. The burial and resurrection is infered and assumed in "the work of the cross."

Exactly, and this should be understood when anyone thinks of the cross. Unfortunately it isn't.

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by mfblume

We have to go from positional righteousness to practical righteousness, but we have to do that in the right manner. Paul said in Ro 7:6 that we have to serve God, but we cannot do it through the oldness of the letter, but rather in the newness of the Spirit. Oldness of the letter does not have to be restricted to following the Old Testament laws. It can also be involved in someone who thinks there is no place for the Spirit to empower us to do God's will instead of using solely our will power and human might.

Without Him, we can do nothing; but through Him, we can do all things.

It is not by our might, and not by our power, but it is by His Spirit.

Sometimes we may get discouraged, but like David we can encourage ourselves in the Lord.

Paul was contrasting following the OT letter of the law with the NT serving God with the Spirit. Without the baptism of the Holy Ghost and maintaining that relationship with him daily, maintaining the oil in our lamps so to speak, we can do nothing. If we do try and do something without Him or without being in right standing with Him, then we will just be doing it with our will power and human might; which will make us no different than the trinitarian, easy-believism, Pentecostals who speak in tongues anytime they want to at their own will. Speaking in tongues anytime you want to at your will is not the NT baptism of the Holy Ghost, therefore whatsoever they do for God with that counterfeit is only of their own free will, their own heart, and their own human might; regardless of what they claim. Incidentally, it could also be of "another spirit".

Walking in the NT newness of the Spirit, will cause one to walk in loving obedience to His word, in submission to Him, to His word, and to His ministry.

[mfblume]

Theoldpaths, I knows some trinitarians who would never think to do anything through will power and without Him. I am not condoning their doctrine, but saying some of them do have walking after the Spirit right on the money.

[PMBrown]

Keep preaching it, mfblume!! We all need this.

[Michael The Disciple]

Hi Guys,

I have never heard any Preacher from any sect or denomination teach we can serve God by will power. In 34 years and various groups. I disagree with them in many ways but on this all have spoken the same thing. This life can only be lived by the Spirit.

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Hi Guys,

I have never heard any Preacher from any sect or denomination teach we can serve God by will power. In 34 years and various groups. I disagree with them in many ways but on this all have spoken the same thing. This life can only be lived by the Spirit.

We are not saying they preach "Serve God by will power." They do it without knowing it is serving in will power.

Here is how:

They look at the issue of sin, and do not think to even pray for God to strengthen them (Rom 6:13) so they can overcome it. They simply TRY THEIR BEST. And they preach TRY YOUR BEST. I've heard them say, "Grab self by the scruff of the neck and pray and make yourself do what God wants." They think that is our responsibility. Praying to them is giving God a grocery-type wish-list, and telling HIm to heal everyone we know who is sick. Praying for God to empower them to overcome the flesh and sin is not in their minds. They never thought to pray like that!

They are unaware that the primary purpose of the Spirit in us is to quicken our mortal flesh, while it is still mortal,. so that sin does not rule in our mortal flesh, so we are not debtors to live after the flesh, and sin all the time.

They think obeying Acts 2:38 is walking after the Spirit, and do not realize that after we are saved and live for God in this world, we must THEN learn how to walk after the Spirit. No one knows how to walk after the Spirit when they first obey Acts 2:38.

They think they're not holy enough, so they must try harder.

They see a weakness in themselves, so they try harder to fight it.

Such people do not understand what Rom 6:13 is all about.

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Theoldpaths, I knows some trinitarians who would never think to do anything through will power and without Him. I am not condoning their doctrine, but saying some of them do have walking after the Spirit right on the money.

If they have "the" Spirit as opposed to "a" spirit, then the Spirit will lead them and guide them into all truth. I've also heard of Apostolics who got the real Holy Ghost while not attending churches with truth, but they were eventually lead out of false doctrine and into truth. God is great!

[theoldpaths]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Hi Guys,

I have never heard any Preacher from any sect or denomination teach we can serve God by will power. In 34 years and various groups. I disagree with them in many ways but on this all have spoken the same thing. This life can only be lived by the Spirit.

The thing is that those who are not in truth are deceived and they don't even know it. Now the way of the deceiver is sublety - he's not going to come out and say - you guys in this false church don't have the real Holy Ghost and therefore are just relying on faith, will power, and your own human strength. That's not how the deceiver works.

The bible speaks of those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof; leading captive silly women laden with lusts, ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

If the gospel of the truth is hid to whosoever, then they are lost.