Rules and Spirit
 

We read in Galatians and Romans that law came to "keep" Israel until the Lord would come in incarnation. It was temporary! And Paul noted that rules and legislation were ONLY for Israel during their immatuire state before the Lord came. Gal 4 speaks of Israel being children and only heirs during the time of law. But once Christ came, graduation occurred and God knew it was tiome for spiritual maturity to begin. Hence, out with rule books and intrduction to walking after the Spirit with new birth.

We can look at individuals in the same light. Those who CANNOT learn to walk in the Spirit, and seem to WANT rules and codes are simply spiritually immature. It is so easy to live by a set of rules. Our fleshly nature is very accustomed to that. We have rules everywhere, even in secular society. But to learn to be led by the Spirit and walk in that Spirit is far beyond the experience of rule keeping.

Keep in mind that when we walk after the Spirit, we will nto fulfill lusts of the flesh, and we will live the way Law TRIED TO get Israel to live, yet we do it all without resorting to a list of rules!

So many in churches today, apostolics and all, would far sooner live by rules. Folks, we have to mature. It's high time we walk after the Spirit!

Good post, Bro. Blume. I wish I could say things as well as you do.

In my opinion, Romans 8:1-4 teaches that the righteous requirements of the Law are met in us who walk according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh. Also, that we are not supposed to argue about "do's and don't's" and judge one another on things like that. In my opinion Romans 14 means we each have to work out our own salvation based on what Jesus has worked into us and it is the "weaker" ones who want a list of rules and standards.

Thanks for your kind words, brother. I agree perfectly with your good points as well. The weaker brethren could be also said to be spiritually immature.

If one is walking in The Holy Ghost then they will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. If one is being led of The Holy Spirit then they will be led into true Holiness because The Holy Spirit is a Holy Spirit so following it's leading will produce Holiness in the life of the believer.

Perhaps the "weaker" [as they've been called in posts above) ones just SEEK a "measuring stick" by which to gauge their growth, or somethings, codes, whatever, to follow, LOOK TO, as they attempt to become whatever it is they are supposed to become like? How can they possibly KNOW yet what is to come., if they can't get past the basics? It is certainly not a bad thing to seek this, its only a natural impulse.

Good thoughts!

Romans 14 and 15 uses the term "weaker" in this precise context, by the way.

It is not bad when one is first newly saved. They cannot but walk after the flesh. In fact, living by rules is walking after the flesh. I think God expects that in newly saved people. But it is a problem, and can become bad, when such a walk is never replaced by one after the Spirit. This was part of the core problem with the Galatians!

When we LOOK TO rules, as a measuring stick, we are simply lacking the leading of God's Spirit. One does not know how to be led by the Spirit, nor sense direction from Him in such a case.

Another problem involved in not getting past the basics can be the ministry. If the ministry does not teach it, what can the saints do?

But natural impulses is what walking after the flesh is all about. And it actually came from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Hmmm...

It seems it would be hard to differentiate between walking after the Spirit and following rules as the NT lays out so many.

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves with modest apparel...."

Laying out how to handle the gifts, the Lord's supper, etc.

Just to name a few.

I think, mainly, we should be careful not to write our own "Mishna"?

I first saw the title and it sounded like a thought I would find enjoyable and then I saw who authored the thread and I knew it was going to be great.

Excellent writing brother.

In todays church world those who would begin a movement to maturity are often marked as rebellious and in the midst of a wonderful maturity in Christ they are thrown off kilter by a reaction they do not understand.

Spiritual maturity is a what God desires for all of us.

AMEN AMEN!

GREAT POST! ;)

Huh? You mean if I follow after Jesus' rule to treat others like I wish to be treated I'm walking in the flesh and not the spirit? Unless your definition of "rules" is standards and not the teachings of Jesus. Would you consider any of Jesus' teaching to be rules?