"The Revelation of Righteous Judgment"

Series
PART 7

"JUDGMENT AT THE HOUSE"

(CONTINUED)

I Peter 4:17..."For the time is come that JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE
OF GOD..."

II Thess. 2:3..."Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of
perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is
worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is
God..." (KJV).

Verse 8..."And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the
spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming" (KJV); "When
that happens, the lawless man will be plainly seen---though the truth of the Lord Jesus
spells his doom, and the radiance of the Lord Jesus will be his utter destruction"
(Phillips); "And then he will be revealed, that wicked man whom the Lord Jesus will
destroy with the breath of His mouth, and annihilate by the radiance of His coming"
(NEB).

With great anticipation we look forward to this great and glorious event...when "the man
of sin" is not only revealed, but totally and completely removed from the temple
premises! How we long to be free from every vestige of his vile presence, which for so
long has held us down, and has obstructed us from fully apprehending that for which we
have been apprehended of Christ. It is apparent that as long as he has any room in us, we
will experience a measure of turmoil. We will encounter the inner struggle of two natures
at enmity with one another. However, we rejoice in the fact that though the warfare be
long, the victory is sure! Christ shall surely be triumphant in His cause; and we shall
reign with Him!

This glorious promise is exemplified in the Old Testament account of Saul and David.
For the sake of brevity, we will get right to the point of our subject in II Samuel, chapter
3. As we enter into this part of the story, Saul (who is a type of the old man, "the man of
sin") has already been dethroned; as you recall, when he realized he was about to be
overcome in battle by the Philistines, he committed suicide by his own sword (I Sam.
31:1-6). As a result, David (a type of the new man, the "hidden man of the heart") was
anointed king over the house of Judah (II Sam. 2:4), and a little later in the narrative,
would go on to be anointed king over all of Israel (II Sam. 5:3).
We read in verse 1 of chapter 3: "Now there was long war between the house of Saul and
the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed
weaker and weaker". Though Saul could rightly be reckoned as dead, his house continued
for a season. Perhaps to some, it may have appeared that his family lineage would
perpetuate. And no doubt, there were segments in the community who remained loyal to
his kingdom. They were determined to resist this new administration to the end, in hopes
that Saul might someday rise again. However, as time went on, the house of David
progressively increased, steadily growing mightier in power and authority, while the
house of Saul waned more and more. Little by little, Saul was losing his influence in
Israel. His kingdom eventually became a thing of the past.

In relation to this, we read from the Amplified version of II Cor. 16-18: "Therefore we do
not become discouraged---utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear.
Though our outer man is progressively decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is
being progressively renewed day after day. For our light, momentary affliction (this slight
distress of the passing hour) is ever more abundantly preparing and producing and
achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory---beyond all measure, excessively
surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and
blessedness never to cease! Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but
to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and
fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting". How we praise
God for this rendering!

Beloved, we can accept this as an accurate description of the spiritual activity taking
place within each one of us, who are pressing toward the mark. The old man, the man of
externals, is to be reckoned dead. Though it may not seem that way at times, we know
that it is nevertheless true. Remember, we walk by faith, not by sight! We are dying daily
to his influence, and he is decaying and wasting away in our lives! At the same time, the
inward man is being renewed "day by day". The increase of his virtue and strength comes
partly as a result of his reigning in Judah (Heb. "praise"). This new man has learned that
his authority over all things in life continues to grow as he abides in the realm of praise.
No matter what the situation, nor how dark it may appear, he gives praise to God in all
things. He refuses to be discouraged, or overwhelmed by the onslaughts of either Adamic
or satanic opposition! Furthermore, he does not base his belief of the demise of "Saul's
house" on what is seen---for he knows that appearances are only temporary. They are
subject to change. Rather, he bases it on that which is not seen---and knows that God will
not fail to perform "that good work He has begun"! He is convinced that his destiny is to
rule and reign with Christ, to be seated with Him in His Throne. Therefore, he abides
continually in a state of positive assurance, that this momentary "light affliction", this
brief conflict with "Saul's house", is actually working in his favor...and will ultimately
produce "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"! Hallelujah!

NEW CREATION TRUTHS

There are certain facts concerning the new creation that are absolutely essential to our
spiritual understanding, if we are to fully experience all that is available to us in Christ.
Many saints are defeated in life, not because of a lack of spiritual provision, but because
of their failure to clearly comprehend and act upon that which is already theirs through
the indwelling Spirit. Be it known that from the moment we first accepted Christ, and He
took up residence within us, we were then and there equipped with everything we would
ever need to live victoriously over the flesh. That's right...everything. II Peter 1:3-4 says,
"His divine power hath given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby He hath
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers
of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". And
again, in Eph. 1:3..."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST JESUS"! (That this is not
merely a future experience should be evident, in that both Peter and Paul spake of it in the
past (aorist) tense: "...HATH GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS"; "...HATH BLESSED
US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS")! By this we understand that everything that
belongs to Him, everything that was acquired by Him, and everything that is attributed to
Him, came with Him...and is now resident within us! "In Him dwelleth all the fullness of
the Godhead bodily. AND YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the Head of all
principality and power..." (Col. 2:9-10)! It naturally stands to reason that all that is in
Him is now in us, if in fact He has truly taken His abode in us. And all these things are
available to us now, as we live and walk in the Spirit! Praise God!

All of this would be virtually inaccessable to us, however, and would have absolutely no
meaning to us, were it not for the fact that we, through the process of identification, have
been accepted "in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:6). We would emphasize that the phrase "IN
CHRIST" is the key that unlocks many a marvelous passage in Scripture. Be it known
that our reception into the family of God came as a result of our entering into vital union
with Him through faith. And this acceptance came as a result of His substitutionary work,
and sacrificial death on the cross; there was nothing we could do to obtain it! "For in
Christ our release is secured and our sins are forgiven through the shedding of His blood.
Therein lies the riches of God's free grace lavished upon us, imparting full wisdom and
insight" (Eph. 1:7-8, NEB). This is the foundational truth upon which all other new
creation truths are built, and through which all spiritual blessings are received. And what
a wonderful, life-giving, liberating truth it is!

You see, everything that He endured, He did so for us. When He was crucified, it was not
for some secret sin of which He was guilty. It was because "the Lord hath laid on Him the
iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:6). As our Great High Priest, He singularly represented us; the
whole of mankind was upon His heart. Therefore, by faith, we may truly say that when
He hung upon the cross, we hung on the cross in Him. Because He stood in the gap for
us, when He died, we died in Him. When He descended into the lower parts of the earth,
we descended also; for He went in our place. He bore the entire weight of our well-
deserved judgments in Himself, in our stead, because of love. No greater display of love
exists!

How do we know that the sacrifice of His life was accepted? Because after three days and
three nights in the heart of the earth, God raised Him from the dead! "[He] was delivered
for our offenses; and was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25)! The fact that He
came forth from the grave, from the dark netherworld of departed spirits, and is now
seated in the heavenlies, "far above all principalities and powers", is proof positive that
the penalty for sin was borne, that justice was served, and God was well pleased! "By the
which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all"
(Heb. 10:10)! There will never need to be another sacrifice made to atone for the
multiplied sins of men; His was eternally sufficient...and our sanctification is complete in
Him! "But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and
Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption" (I Cor. 1:30)! Praise the Lord! He is
all in all!

The first part of II Cor. 5:21 says, "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin...". He, who was "tempted in all points, yet without sin", was made a sin-offering for
us. Why? For the express purpose "...that we might be made the righteousness of God in
Him"! What exactly does it mean to be made the righteousness of God in Christ? It
means that because of the atoning work of Christ, we are able to stand in the very
presence of God, totally focused upon Him, without any sense of guilt, reproach, or
condemnation for sin past to distract our attention! The word "righteousness" literally
means, "right-standing with God"; therefore, we have the assurance that in Him, by Him,
and through Him, we have access to the Father. Jesus our Lord has so thoroughly
removed our sins, so completely separated them from us, we can now "come boldly unto
the Throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need"
(Heb. 4:16)! Whatever our need might be, we can approach the Righteous Judge in
absolute faith and confidence that He will supply. "Beloved, if our heart condemn us not,
then have we confidence toward God" (I John 3:21)! There is no need for us to shrink
back in fear, to be intimidated or belittled by a sin-consciousness, for "there is therefore
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus..." (Rom. 8:1)! What a glorious
standing we have in Him! "For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all
of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren..." (Heb. 2:11)! Glory to
His name! He has made us one with Him! And the righteousness He has provided for us
is the same righteousness He possesses! It is not a lesser quality of righteousness; it is the
very righteousness of God in Christ!

We were so impressed by the wording of Rom. 8:1-4 from the Amplified version, we felt
it necessary to share it here in it's entirety. Keep in mind that this is Paul's summary of the
seven previous chapters, and that it is in this chapter that we are brought to see the
glorious hope of sonship (as we shall see, there is a definite connection)! Let these words
soak deep down into your consciousness, to bring refreshment to your spirits; let them
renew your minds! "Therefore there is now no condemnation---no adjudging of guilty of
wrong---for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live not after the dictates of the flesh, but
after the dictates of the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus [the
law of our new being], has freed me from the law of sin and death. For God has done
what the Law could not do, [it's power] being weakened by the flesh [that is, the entire
nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh
and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh---subdued, overcame,
deprived it of it's power [over all who accept the sacrifice]. So that the righteous and just
requirement of the Law might be fully met in us, who live and move not in the ways of
the flesh but in the ways of the Spirit---our lives governed not by the standards and
according to the dictates of the flesh, but controlled by the Holy Spirit". He goes on to
say, "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For the Spirit which you
have now received is not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but
you have received the Spirit of adoption--- the Spirit producing sonship--- in the bliss of
which we cry, Abba! That is, Father" (verses 14-15)! This is God's description of the life
and attitude of a son!

Beloved, there is no greater revelation of the righteous judgment of God than this! To
know and believe that He is our righteousness; to have this as our settled and unwavering
state of mind; to be thoroughly and completely and utterly convinced of this, is to be
freed from the law of sin and of death. It brings us out from under the dark cloud of
condemnation, and into the warm sunshine of God's love! Furthermore, when we really
and truly accept this as the law of our lives, it releases us from the shackles of fleshly
dictates and interpretations of the Law, which had previously held us down and repressed
us in fearful bondage (because of our lack of ability to perform it in our own strength),
and into the power of the Spirit! It brings us into the light, as He is in the light; into the
full acknowledgment and potential and glory of our sonship to God! That should make
you feel like shouting!

KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE

Beloved, we are convinced that unless we see ourselves as God sees us, and unless we
judge ourselves as God judges us (as being the righteousness of God in Christ), we will
never quite fulfill our call to sonship. Unless we truly believe that God is for us, not
against us; that He has completely forgiven us of our past sins; that He has chosen,
elected, and ordained for us to succeed over every obstacle we might ever face, we will
never be prepared to judge the nations in righteousness, or restore creation to its pristine
glory. The reason for this is because how we see ourselves directly affects how we see
others. It alters our perception and judgment. If we see ourselves as condemned, or that
maybe God is privately "out to get us", we will generally have the tendency to bring
down the gavel of judgment on others. We will most likely be harsh, critical, and
condemning of those around us. If we harbor feelings of unworthiness or inferiority, we
will be prone to put others down, in an attempt to make us feel better about ourselves.
But if we see ourselves as the objects of God's grace, we will be more inclined to view
others in like manner. It will cause us to abound in mercy and forgiveness, to be moved
with compassion toward all men. We will see that Christ came to save men's lives, not
destroy them. And as representatives of His, we will desire the same.

However, there are those who have gone to extremes, in declaring the righteousness of
God. They have attempted to justify the spirit of lawlessness; and in doing so, have
changed the truth of God into a lie. While we must be fully and firmly persuaded in our
minds that He has imputed unto us His righteousness, and that "now are we the sons of
God", even though it might not yet appear that way (I John 3:2), we must also be careful
not to fall into a subtle snare of the devil. Let it be clearly understood that imputed
righteousness is not a cloak for unrighteous conduct! It is not an excuse for the flesh!
Some have taken the scriptures in I John 3:9 and 5:18, and, in an effort to explain them,
have stumbled. What do these verses say? "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit
sin; for His Seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God"; and,
"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God
keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not". Since it is apparent that
believers are still capable of transgression, even after their conversion (I John 1:8; 2:1),
there must be a logical explanation for this.

We would call to your attention one line of reasoning that, though certain facets of it are
fundamentally correct, the final conclusion is definitely not. Perhaps you are familiar
with it. Those who embrace it explain it this way. Technically speaking, in the event of
the new birth, it is actually the spirit of man that undergoes transformation. Jesus attested
to this when He said, "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). Therefore, it
is man's spirit that is born of God; the soul and body generally remain the same. Unless
accompanied by a special act of grace, his external and soulish features largely remain
unaffected. Pardon our crudeness of speech, but if a man was buck-toothed and bald-
headed before his conversion, chances are he will still be buck-toothed and bald-headed
afterward! Isn't it the truth? Likewise, it is probable that he will retain many of the same
mental and emotional inclinations that he had before. He may very well think the same
way he did previously about certain things; and he may react in a similar manner
emotionally...that is, until he is convinced otherwise. Therefore, the initial born again
experience has to do with the spirit in man; the mind and body are to be dealt with later.
We know these things to be true, and worthy of our acceptance.

Now comes the error.

In Rom. 7:16-18, we read where Paul says, "If then I do that which I would not, I consent
unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in
me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is
present with me...". Now, the conclusion some have drawn from this, and from the
scriptures quoted above, is that since no good thing dwells in the flesh, it should therefore
be excused from all moral obligations. Why should we expect anything good to come
from it, they say, since in the first place it is intrinsically evil by nature? Furthermore, it is
reasoned that while the soul and body can and will sin (since they have not yet been
converted), the spirit cannot. It was "created in righteousness, and in true holiness", and ,
as such, is innocent from all transgression, because it has been "born of God"! Therefore,
regardless of the manifestations of the flesh, no matter how vile and ungodly they may
become, they believe that in the eyes of God the spirit is void of responsibility! It is not
included in the act, and is thereby exempt from any blame! (This doctrine has
traditionally been referred to as antinomianism, that is, "anti-law").

Now, while all of this may sound very spiritual on the surface, what would be the end
result of it? Quite obviously, it would lead to a licentious lifestyle, free from all moral
restraint. It would encourage abandonment from accountability; and enable one to openly
indulge in the lusts of the flesh, without any sense of conviction. To believe this way
would mean that repentance is not needed after conversion, that "grace covers it all"! And
it would suggest that God was no longer interested in things such as equity, fairness,
justice, or truth.

Recently, we read in the newspaper where a serial killer made an apology to the families
of his victims: "I regret with all my heart what my hand has done". Now, suppose this
man claimed to be a "born- again" believer. Should the judge therefore dismiss the
charges against him, or find him not guilty, simply because he claimed that his hand
acted independently from his heart? Hardly! And yet, this is exactly what some would
suggest, who condone such beliefs! We would simply ask: How would Jesus have
responded to this? Would He have believed that this man's hand acted contrary to his
heart? We will let Him answer for Himself: "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders..." (Matt. 15:19)! Enough said! That should be the definitive word concerning
the source of this man's actions!

How then should we view the statement, "whosoever is born of God cannot commit sin"?
While the Authorized (KJV) rendering is somewhat misleading as we view it at face
value, the key to a proper understanding of these verses is found in the word, "commit".
The Greek definition gives it, "to practice habitually". Most modern translations make
this important clarification. J.B. Phillips translates it to say, "The man who is really God's
son does not practice sin, for God's nature is in him, for good, and such a heredity is
incapable of sin". Wuest's Expanded Translation words it thus: "Everyone who has been
born out of God with the present result that he is a born one of God does not habitually
commit sin because His seed remains in him. And he is not able habitually to sin, because
out of God he has been born with the present result that he is a born one of God". And the
Amplified is very enlightening: "No one born (begotten) of God deliberately and
knowingly habitually practices sin, for God's nature abides in him---His principle of life,
the divine sperm, remains permanently within him---and he cannot practice sinning
because he is born (begotten) of God". It is not that he cannot sin; rather, he will not
allow sin to have dominion over him. He will not permit it to become a recurrent way of
life. There is another nature within him, the very Spirit of holiness, that will invariably
rise up in opposition to the works of the flesh, and condemn sin in the flesh. While it is
still possible for the believer to sin, this new nature absolutely cannot; therefore, it will
not allow deviate behavior to persist in the believer! How we thank God for the
restraining, convicting voice of the Spirit!

"O ME!"

While it is true that this Adamic "man" within us is the source of our (as well as all of
mankind's) woes; and while it is true that we must maintain a proper attitude in this "civil
war" of natures, resisting the one, and embracing the another, we must also accept
responsibility for the deeds done in our bodies. Too often God's people have made
excuses for their wayward behavior---with defenses like, "We're only human, you know";
"The devil made me do it"; "God will change me when he gets ready"; or, "I know it's
wrong, but God knows my heart". How convenient these, and other excuses like them,
have made it for the flesh! Rather than rectifying our problems, however, these lame
excuses have only served to fortify them! They have actually given place to further
aberrations in conduct!

The fact remains that when it is all said and done, it will not be Adam, or the devil, or any
other person who is judged for the deeds done in our bodies---IT WILL BE US! We will
all have to give our own accounts, and reap the consequences for every action not
covered by the blood! This should be an indisputable fact!

The story is told of a certain slave during the days of slavery by the name of Henry. One
day, as he was splitting logs out by the woodshed, his master happened to be passing by.
"ADAM! O ADAM!", Henry exclaimed, as over and over the blade of his axe pounded
into the hard logs. "Henry", his master inquired, "why is it that you say 'O Adam' every
time you swing the axe"? "Well", he said, "if it weren't for Adam sinnin' back there in the
Garden, I wouldn't have to be workin' by the sweat of my face"! A little while later, the
slave owner called Henry to the main house. When he arrived, his master led him back to
his private office. "Henry", he said, "I've been thinking about what you said today. And
as I considered your words, I began to realize just how unfair life had been to you. You
have worked for me since the time that you were first able, and you have worked hard
and faithfully. Therefore, I am prepared to exalt you to a position of great authority. From
this day forward, you will be in charge of all my servants. Your word will be as my word.
Furthermore, you will have your own room in my house, and be treated as if you were
my own son. Nothing will be withheld from you". No doubt, Henry probably wondered if
this could really be happening to him! It seemed too good to be true!

"One last thing I must mention", the master said. "All that I have is at your disposal. You
are free to explore the many fascinating items of my home. However, there is something I
must warn you of". Pointing to a small box on his desk, he said quite solemnly, "You
must never open this box. For if you do, you will have to leave this house, and return to
your former status as a servant".

For the first time in his life, Henry felt that he was free. What an exhilarating experience!
For the first few weeks, he spent much of his time just wandering about the plantation,
admiring the beauty and splendor of it all. It was as if he had new eyes...everything took
on a brand new appearance to him now! After that, he began to explore the many
interesting rooms throughout the home: a vast library, fascinating collections,
breathtaking architecture. There was so much to take in! It was just as the master had
said; he was free to enjoy it all...and he was treated in the household with all the dignity
and respect of a son! What more could he ask for?

One day the master went away on business. And before long, Henry's curiosity was
aroused. "I wonder what could be in that box? Why would he deprive me of this
knowledge? Surely it would not hurt for me just to peek inside". So very gently, ever so
carefully, he lifted the lid, just enough to look inside. And just as he did, a small white
mouse jumped out! Frantically, Henry chased the tiny rodent from one room, and then to
the next. But there was no use; he could not recapture it!
When the master returned home, there was no denying what had happened. And so, just
as he had warned, Henry was stripped of his privileges. He was sent back out to the
woodpile, to resume his chores. After that, whenever the master would pass by the
woodshed, he would hear Henry chopping wood. Accompanying every swing of the axe,
he would hear the sad refrain, "O HENRY! O HENRY"! I

f we are honest with ourselves, we can all remember times when we could identify with
Henry. Wouldn't you agree? Now, we admit that it may have been Adam who initially
got us in the fix we're in; but Jesus fixed it where we would not have to remain there! He
has provided a way of escape! Therefore, if we find ourselves "bogged down" in the dirt
and mire of the flesh, we cannot rightly pass the blame for our condition on anyone or
anything else. As we have pointed out, Adam attempted to do this in the Garden, but to
no avail. God would not let him by with it; and neither will He us! If we accept the truth
of God's Word, not only will we agree with Henry, but will be forced to exclaim with
Paul, "O wretched man that I AM"!

The moment we consent to practices expressly forbidden by God, whether in active

participation, or in the privacy of our imaginations, they become ours. This may not be
popular theology, but it is true nevertheless. And the moment we become stained with
sin, we stand in need of cleansing. "But your iniquities have separated between you and
your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear" (Isa. 59:2)!
Thank God, there is a fountain filled with blood, drawn from Emmanuel's veins! It was
shed for this purpose, that we might be cleansed from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS! "If
we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9)! Do you believe it? While forgiveness is not automatic,
it is, however, a characteristic of God's divine nature we can count on. Therefore, when
we genuinely repent before the Lord (change our way of thinking), His own infallible
Word has declared that HE IS FAITHFUL, and that HE IS JUST (His reputation is on the
line here!)...not only to forgive us, but also to cleanse us...not just from some forms of
unrighteousness; He makes it a point to say, "ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS"! In other
words, when He forgives it, He forgets it! He then restores us back into a right-standing
in His presence, as if the sin had never occurred! We have it in writing! Glory to God!

As we said before, it is crucial that we learn to judge ourselves correctly, by the

revelation of the Spirit. We must not allow condemnation to obstruct our progression in
God, once we have confessed and repented of our sins (this constitutes unbelief on our
part in His willingness to forgive). As long as we continue this way, we are listening to
the wrong spirit, and are entertaining thoughts about God that are not true. Therefore, we
must put the past behind us, if we are to have peace with God. Neither must we allow our
consciences to become seared through a false concept of righteousness. Certainly, any
doctrine that works like an antisthetic to your conscience, silencing the voice of your
inner man; and any message that justifies the works of the flesh, is not of God. This is the
voice of the stranger that Jesus warned of (John 10:5)! We must find the balance in our
relationship with God, if we are to "go on unto perfection"! Know this: if we choose to
live in affinity and oneness with the Adamic nature, in accordance to the dictates and
desires of the flesh, we will surely die. "To be carnally minded is death...". But if we live
in harmony and in union with Christ, acknowledging Him in all our ways, and
conforming to the impressions of the Spirit, we shall live! It's just that simple!

THE MARK OF MATURITY

Allow us to say that the true nature of sonship is one of RESPONSIBILITY. One cannot
possibly grow up into the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, without
assuming greater responsibility for the deeds of the WHOLE MAN; spirit, soul, and
body! Accountability naturally increases with maturity. Even a child knows that. But if
we cannot believe that it is possible to "possess our vessels in sanctification and in honor"
with the help of God now, how do we ever expect to rule and reign with Christ over the
whole of creation in the ages to come? It simply cannot be! Therefore, let those who
think they have "learned better" boast of their so-called "liberty" all they want; we who
desire truth in the inward parts know that subjugation of these earthen vessels is part of
our mandate from God (Gen. 1:28)! It comes with the territory!

While we know that there is nothing we can do of ourselves to become righteous, it is

vital that we yield ourselves unto God, "as those that are alive from the dead, and our
members as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Rom. 6:13). And how exactly do we
do this? Prov. 3:5-6 provides the key: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not
unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy
paths"! As we learn to acknowledge His voice in all our ways; as we develop a keen
sensitivity to the impressions of His Spirit, and possess a readiness to turn from our own
ways, the moment we sense the slightest displeasure from Him; and as we allow Him to
live His life through us, He is then able to direct us in the paths of righteousness for His
name's sake. And this, dear friend, is the mark of sonship! We cannot possibly fail, when
He takes the reins!

Beloved, we have more to say on these things, but we will have to wait till our next
writing. However, we are persuaded that in the closing hours of this age, there will arise a
people who are arrayed "in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the
righteousness of the saints" (Rev. 19:8)! They will have learned what it is to accept who
they are in Christ Jesus, utilize their God-given endowments, i.e. "every spiritual blessing
in heavenly places in Christ", and to subdue every earthy tendency within them. Through
the empowering of the Spirit, they will "cleanse themselves from all filthiness of flesh
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God". When this happens (and it is happening
even now), God shall have cleansed His temple, "established His throne in
righteousness", and "prepared His throne for judgment"! Therefore, REJOICE O YE
SAINTS OF THE MOST HIGH! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

to be continued...

GOOD SEED PUBLICATIONS

c/o Terry & Tykie Crisp
672 Goodman Rd.
Dawson, GA USA 31742