Christian, are you available?

I knew a man who told a story of having lived in the same town as a youth, from the fourth grade through part of his junior year. He moved midway through his 11th grade year with his parents, over one hundred miles from his previous town, and finished high school in his new location.

Well over a decade later, at this man's place of employment, he met another employee there and through casual conversation, he found out that she, too, had attended his first high school, only she arrived there shortly after he had left. They would both have been in the same grade and she graduated from that school.

She brought in a yearbook from her senior year to show this man, and as he flipped through the pages and saw all the familiar faces of fellow students he had known from the fourth grade. He was amazed to see the athletes on the high school football team of what would have been his senior year. Most of these team members he could have run circles around, but in this yearbook they were pictured as prominent athletes.

Upon reflection, he thought, it's only right; no doubt those athletes had improved and deserved a spot on their team. But, this man knew he had been unavailable to be on that team, because of his move. The team from his previous high school was only made up of those who could make themselves available. And although some of them may not have been the best athletes, they filled vital spots on the team.

God wants us, as Christians, to make ourselves available. We, in the natural, may not seem to have the best abilities and may look around and see others we think might be better suited, but God looks at our heart. Make yourself available and trust God to use you to complete His team. As God's team members, we each have our special giftings and God desires that we make them available as members of the body of Christ.

God's standard is met, because we are in Christ (in His Son) and He qualifies us. God has instilled  giftings and desires in us to be vital team members in the church body in which He places us.

1 Cor. 1:26 NIV - "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth."

Col. 1:12 NIV - "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."

2 Tim. 4:5 NIV - "But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

God Resists the Proud but Gives Grace to the Humble

In the Apostle Paul's written letter to the church at Rome, we find in the eighth chapter, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:" Rom. 8:3 KJV 

This scripture verse is very impactful, for the question is raised as to what it is that the law could not do. The answer is given in the following verse, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:4 KJV  The answer is that the law could not make us, or give us, the righteousness that it demanded from sinful man because of the weakness of our flesh.

The word 'righteous' comes out of a root word 'just' or "authority to uphold what is right." 'Righteous' means "acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin." [2012 Merriam Webster, Inc.] Righteousness [noun form] refers to man and that which is required from man by God. The law demands righteousness from sinful man; whereas grace imparts righteousness to sinful man. Under law, everything depended on man and his obedience, but under grace, everything depends on Jesus and what He did on the cross.

Indeed we as born-again believers have received an imputed righteousness apart from the works of the law. (ref. Rom. 3:20-22, 4:1-15, 4:22-24)  Righteousness simply means right-standing with God, and to be righteous is to be in right relationship with God. The Old Covenant Hebrews believed that to be in right relationship or right-standing with God they had to keep all of the law. The law God gave through Moses, found in Deuteronomy, stated, "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us." Deut. 6:25 KJV

Pride says, 'I can do it on my own, by my own effort,' whereas grace and faith say, 'It's been done for me through belief in Jesus.' The law has to be kept perfectly if one is to attain to the righteousness of the law by his own effort. (ref. James 2:10 and Deut. 6:25) 

When the Israelites under Moses made the prideful statement that they could keep all of God's commandments, God shortly thereafter gave them the ten commandments, along with the rest of the law. (ref. Exod. 19:7-8, ch. 20) Once again, it states in Deut. 6:25, "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as He hath commanded us." I'm glad they agreed to that covenant and not me; don't let it be you either.

A covenant is basically an agreement. (ref. Amos 3:3) The Old Covenant Hebrews, under Moses, were entering into a covenant where their right-standing with God, or righteousness, depended on them keeping all the law. As Moses led the people out of Egypt, and God gave Moses the law, He also instructed Moses on the building of the ark, which would be a place where God's people could receive mercy. The ark, through a progression of time, went from being housed in a portable tent to eventually taking residence in the temple that Solomon built under his father David's instruction. Now we know our bodies are the "temple of God" and God's Spirit resides in us as born-again believers.

Pride says, 'I can do it on my own.' The Israelites, under Moses, made this prideful statement and entered into the covenant of law. Why would I need a Savior if I thought I could do it myself? Once again, the standard of the law is perfection (by your own merit or human effort) if you want to try and keep it apart from faith in Christ. Just look at the ten commandments and realize the only Man or Person who ever walked the earth and kept them all is Jesus. Jesus is fully man and fully God.

So once again, the ancient Hebrews were given the law because of their prideful attitude and fallen mankind, today, is under the law for the same reason. We find in the gospels, whenever someone would come to Jesus and ask, "What must I do to be saved?" thinking they could merit their own salvation, Jesus would give them the law. But, if someone came to Jesus and knew that by their own merit they were unworthy of salvation, but looked to Jesus, they found grace. (ref. Luke 18:18-25, 19:1-10, 1 Pet. 5:5-6, James 4:6)

As stated before, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh" Rom. 8:3a, God did by sending Jesus, "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." Rom. 8:4 KJV (also ref. Rom. 10:4, ch. 13:14, Gal. 3:3)

Scripture tells us, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." Rom 8:9 KJV  Remember when you first heard the "plan of salvation", it was said, 'Come just as you are with all your faults.' You put no trust or faith in your own effort or merit, and if you became born-again, at that moment you received an imputed righteousness. Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. That's how we began.

The Apostle Paul writes in Galatians, "This only would I learn of you. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Ch. 3:2-3 KJV  Paul also wrote, "And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith;" Phil. 3:9 KJV and he (Paul) also wrote, "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Rom 8:5-6 KJV

Scripture states, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye are led of the Spirit ye are not under the law." Gal. 5:16-18 KJV The flesh and the Spirit lust against each other. Another Bible translation says they desire what is contrary to each other, and indeed they do.

The mind focused on the flesh thinks it can on its own merit (the law or human effort)  attain to the righteousness of the law. (ref. Rom. 10:3-4)  But the mind focused on the Spirit rests in the fact that we have attained an imputed righteousness apart from the works of the law; our sin was punished at the cross (God took our sin and gave us His righteousness) and hence God is no longer holding our sin against us. Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Mat. 5:48 KJV  This He spoke to the Jewish people who were under the law in what is referred to as "the sermon on the mount." Jesus was trying to show them the severity of the law.

Scripture tells us in the epistle to the Galatians, "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." ch. 4:4-6 KJV  When the Apostle Paul wrote earlier in Galatians, "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" he, (Paul) knew the only One to have kept the law perfectly is Christ, and we are to put our faith in Him and not ourselves (or our own merit). For as Paul wrote in Romans, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth, for Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them." Rom. 10:4-5 KJV

As we said above, Jesus said, "Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect." Mat. 5:48 NIV Through our union with Christ, this is how the Father sees us. Consider John 17:23 NKJV, "I in them and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me." This is all the work of the Spirit.

I'll end with these words spoken by the prophet Zachariah, "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it." Zach. 4:6-7 KJV  God bless.

New Creations in Christ-Part 3 No Longer Enemies in our Mind

In this third and final segment of this series, "New Creations in Christ," I simply present an example- or a practical application of how what we have learned in parts One and Two of this series might play out in the life of a believer. We have been delivered from the law and the condemnation of the law (ref. Rom. 7:6, 8:1 and 2 Cor. 3:9), but we must understand how these truths- and the choice we make to properly apply them- reflect on our view of God.

A great example of this is something I've seen many times. Christians who smoke often feel very condemned; some I've known have allowed this condemnation to hinder them from church attendance and fellowship. They feel beat up with condemnation because of their powerlessness to quit this habit, but if they are born again, are they righteous? Yes, they are, and they have to know that they are and rest in this truth. Righteousness means they have a right-standing with God, apart from their works or self-effort. Now, we know smoking is harmful, and God knows it, too, but this addictive habit is very difficult to break. If a Christian who smokes rests in the fact that he or she is in right-standing with God, even as a smoker, he removes himself from the condemnation of the law, along with the desires or sinful passions aroused by the law, and thus eventually loses the desire to smoke, breaking his dependency on this habit. God wasn't mad at him for smoking. He's the One who made a way to set him free. [excerpt from Gates: Thanksgiving Papers, pg 38-39]

The enemy is on a smear campaign to distort our view of God's true love for us. It says in the book of Colossians, "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight;" (1:21-22)

I hope this study has allowed you to understand who you are as a new creation in Christ. God bless.

New Creations in Christ - Part 2 Our New Nature

The limitations of our physical bodies, which are weak because of the flesh, meant we as humans, in an unregenerative state had no ability or strength to meet the righteous requirements of the law. (ref. Rom. 8:3-4)  The supernatural change that took place in us the moment we became born again, allows us to supercede the weaknesses of the flesh. This all began and continues in response to faith.

The Apostle Paul's lament, found in the 7th chapter of Romans, reads as follows: "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (vs.'s 22-24)

He answers his own question by writing, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God: but with the flesh the law of sin. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 7:25 KJV, Rom. 8:1 NIV)

And Paul continues, "For the law of the Spirit of life hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 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. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."  Rom. 8:2-10 KJV

We, as Christians, no longer have Adam's [Adamic] nature, but a new nature, because our nature abounds from our spirit, which has been renewed. As a Christian, my "spirit man," the real me, is always on top of its game, always abounding in the fruits of the Spirit and always has the peace of God, even though my actions and emotions may say otherwise. (ref. John 14:27)

The indwelling Holy Spirit is my Comforter and brings to remembrance the things God has given me. As a believer, you don't bounce back and forth out of the Spirit and into [the flesh that you died to] at conversion, when you became a new creation. As Paul said in Galations, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." Gal. 5:24 KJV (ref. Rom. 6:6, Col. 2:11-12)  You were once spiritually dead in Adam - and dead in sin; now you are spiritually alive in Christ and alive in righteousness. Once again, the Apostle Paul states, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." Rom. 8:9a KJV

Paul is saying that at the moment of conversion, we died to the flesh and received the Holy Spirit. To put this all into perspective, it really helps to understand that a proper biblical definition of the word righteousness means "our right standing with God," and thus the righteous requirements of the law that are fulfilled in us conveys a continual right-standing with God. We are continually in the Spirit and not in the flesh - because we died to the flesh and are alive in the Spirit. (ref. Gal. 5:24, Col. 2:11-14)

Now this brings us to our response of faith. The Apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast," (ref. 2:8-9) which is true, but he also writes in Romans, for we are saved by hope. (ref. 8:23-24) Now, it is this hope that first revolutionized our heart and mind and continues to - as we live from faith to faith. Paul writes, "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Rom. 5:5 KJV

So when we were born again, because of this hope, the love of God was shed abroad in our hearts and minds, when we received the Holy Ghost. Those under the law have no hope of fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law. In the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul writes about the unsaved person under the law, "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:" Eph. 2:12 KJV

The law demands perfection [and that it be kept perfectly] if one thinks he can keep it apart from faith in Christ. (ref. James 2:10) The law is demanding and unyielding and always makes you come up short. It always says there is yet one more thing you must do to be in right-standing with God. It always leaves you in despair, with no hope, looking at your short-comings and weaknesses. But the law was given so we would stop having faith in our own ability and merit, and realize that apart from Christ, we are sinners who need a Savior. (ref. Jer. 18:11-12, Gal. 3:24-25)

The word of God says, "Study to shew (show) thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Tim. 2:15 KJV  What this means for us is that we are to look into the word of God and find out that, as Christians, we are approved of by God, all because we are in Christ. We have an imputed righteousness from God (right-standing with God) and we are not to be ashamed. (ref. Rom. 4:6, 11)

As stated in chapter one, verses 16-18 (NIV), of Paul's letter to the Romans, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,"

Recorded in John's gospel, Jesus said, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. (3:36 KJV) In Paul's epistle to the Ephesians we find, "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." (2:3 KJV)

Before we were born again, we were "by nature the children of wrath," but now as believers in Christ, we have been delivered from the law and the penalty of transgressing the law. (ref. Rom. 7:6) As stated in Romans 4:15, "Because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression." Also, as found in the Apostle John's first epistle, "Whosoever commiteth sin transgresses the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (3:4 KJV)  It tells us in the book of Romans, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (6:11 KJV)  And for the Christian, there is no condemnation. (ref. Rom. 8:1) The law is referred to as "the ministration of condemnation and the ministration of death." (ref. 2 Cor. 3:7-9) So, we as Christians are no longer by nature children of wrath. In John's gospel, it is written, "But as many as received Him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name;" (John 1:12 KJV)

To believe on Jesus' name is to believe in His inherent goodness, and His work of the cross demonstrated His love for all of mankind. It's an unconditional love, because none of us deserved it. (ref. Rom. 5:8) But now once again, for we as Christians, His love has been shed abroad in our hearts, and the Apostle Paul's lament in the 7th chapter of Romans, saying, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" hopefully is better understood by his answer. "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh, the law of sin." (ref. Rom 7:24-25)  But now remember, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwells in you." Rom. 8:9a KJV

If you're born again, the Spirit of God is dwelling in you. Now this brings us to the root. Our soul, which is made up of our mind, will and emotions, is how we possess this knowledge and transfer what is in our spirit, "the fruit of the Spirit and the supernatural realm" to all areas of our life.

Our own willpower often doesn't work and lacks any value when it comes to restraining sensual indulgences. (ref. Col. 2:20-23 NIV) But we do have the power of choice. We can choose to recognize Romans 8:9a, which says, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be the Spirit of God dwell in you." And when you understand this, you are thinking correctly and honoring the word of God that tells you what took place the moment you became born again, as well as understanding that before you were born again, scripture tells us "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now, we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter." Rom. 7:5-6 KJV

This is choosing to be spiritually minded vs. carnally or fleshly minded. Now - God's laws are written on our hearts and minds and we are led by the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit, not by an external code, and the dominion of sin has been broken over our lives because we are not under law but under grace. (ref. Rom. 6:14)  God has given the believer, as promised, a new heart and a new spirit and taken away our stony heart, and now our hearts are no longer deceitfully wicked.  (ref. Ezek. 36:26, Jer. 17:9)

We no longer have the spirit of bondage again to fear, but we have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba Father. The Holy Spirit is always present to convict the unsaved person of his sin, the devil - that he has been judged - and the believer of his righteousness. (ref. John 16:8-11, Rom. 8:15, 1 John 4:18) By knowing and thinking this way, we are being renewed in the spirit of our mind and allowing our soul, which is our mind, will and emotions, to function as it should. This is something we as Christians can do, and the unbeliever cannot. (ref. Eph. 4:22-24, Eph. 4:17)

Our mind must be focused on the truth of what we studied here. This is done by an active choice of the will, and it will greatly affect our emotions. (ref. Rom. 12:2, Eph. 4:21-24, Isa. 26:3) Hebrews,  chapter 6, tells us we have hope as an anchor of the soul. (ref. Heb. 6:19) Our mind is to be renewed to these truths. We once, before we were born again, were enemies in our minds toward God; we thought He was out to get us. (ref. Col. 1:21) Now, we know better, for after all, faith is to believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (ref. Heb. 11:6)

Scripture tells us, "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thes. 5:8-9 KJV

I'll end this teaching with this; scripture tells us, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Cor. 13:13 KJV Our faith and hope in Christ are first received by receiving the unconditional love given to us from God, then we are able to extend that love we've received to others and truly be God's hands and feet.  God bless.

New Creations in Christ - Part 1

What can we as Christians learn from the butterfly?  Quite a bit, really.

Let's take a look.

First, for the butterfly to have become a butterfly, it had to start out in life as a caterpillar and go through a process called metamorphosis. Without getting too technical, this caterpillar became, in a sense, a new creation. It once was, or started out as, an earthbound mud and tree crawling creature that had to inch its way along to survive. It and it's fellow caterpillars would have to be content to slug along in the mud and branches, unable to escape the limitations of their bodies.

But, through a wonderful process called metamorphosis, the earthbound caterpillar becomes transformed into a winged butterfly, able to soar on the winds, high above the mud and trees of the earth of which it was once limited. Now, this butterfly has the ability to fly to the specific food sources it would need to survive and also it's new winged body would permit it to catch the fast-moving trade winds and jet streams that would easily allow it to escape the harsh winter climate in which it could not survive, enabling it to move to a warmer climate.

It truly would be harmful, as well as silly, for the butterfly not to know it's a butterfly and continue to remain earthbound, crawling along in the mud, not using it's new ability of flight as a means of escape from the oncoming elements. Like the wings of an airplane, which incorporate "the principal of lift," which creates an upward pull, which when in motion allows the airplane to supercede the pull of gravity; the butterfly has the ability to fly and supercede the earthly gravitational pull, but to do this it must instinctively, or naturally, know it can, in order to put this all in motion. It's no longer a caterpillar, but now has a new identity.

For the once earthbound caterpillar, who is now a butterfly, being able to fly, the training process is probably short, as well as instinctive. The patterns and repeated methods of operation that the former caterpillar had lived by, had to be discarded, as it adapted to it's new way of doing things.

We can learn things through repeated process. When I was a child growing up, first learning to tie my shoes, it seemed really hard. I had to attempt it over and over, with the aid of my mother, to get to the place where I could accomplish it. I'm now in my '50's and it would be silly for me to still be struggling with tying my shoes. Through repeated attempts as a young boy, I reached a place where, as the saying goes, "It seems like second nature."

In the case of the caterpillar who is now a butterfly, there is a truthful reality to that which has taken place. For the caterpillar, it happened during the process of metamorphosis, but for us as Christians, this change took place the moment we became born-again and were placed in Christ. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5:17 KJV

The limitations of our physical bodies, which are weak because of the flesh, meant we as humans, in an unregenerative state, had no ability or strength to meet the righteous requirements of the law. (ref. Rom. 8:3-4) The butterfly escaped the earthbound limitations of his former wing-less body by the transforming process of metamorphosis. The supernatural change that took place in us the moment we became born again, allows us to supercede the weakness of our flesh. This all started and continues in response to faith. The gospel message is the message that says we gain a righteousness (right-standing with God) apart from works or the law (merit or human effort). (ref. Rom. 3:20-22 and also Phil. 3:9) The message allows us to take our eyes off of ourselves (and our weaknesses) and place them squarely on Jesus and His finished work; the work of the cross and His resurrection.

The word of God says, "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight;" Col. 1:21-22 KJV

We are no longer enemies in our minds (toward God) because of wicked works (our short-comings or weaknesses in the flesh) This creates continued faith, rather than condemnation, which is by the law (ref. 2 Cor. 3:9). My spirit man, the real me, is righteous. This all took place the moment I became a new creation. (ref. Col. 2:11-14) Scripture tells us, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created Him. (Col. 3:9-10) KJV

It also says, "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Rom. 6:6 KJV) and as found in Gal. 5:24, "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

Since this all took place the moment we became born-again, (once again-ref. Col. 2:11-14) we can rise above our earthbound limitations (the flesh) and think on things above, (ref. Col. 3:2) where we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies (ref. Eph. 2:6, Eph. 4:21-24). I'll conclude with the scripture found in Romans chapter 12, verses 1-2, "I beseech you therefore brethern, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

Now, God bless and soar high!

God's Righteousness, not Self-Righteousness - by Conformity to His Death

The Apostle Paul knew he was crucified with Christ. He knew this had taken place for him (when he was born again and baptized into the body of Christ-ref. I Cor. 12:13), as it did for all of us who were born again, at the moment of our salvation. He also knew that he had died to sin, died to the law and had crucified the flesh (died to the flesh) at the moment of salvation. He knew that reckoning it so was key to his thought life or mindset and to rely on what had already been attained for him by the work of the cross (Christ's sufferings). By reckoning this so-daily-(Paul said, I die daily) he was being made conformable unto Christ's death in his mind (thought life); he was conforming his thought life to the truth of what took place when he was crucified with Christ.

Please join me in this study as we delve into God's word.

9 and may be found in Him [believing and relying on Him], not having any righteousness of my own derived from [my obedience to] the Law and its rituals, but [possessing] that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; " Phil. 3:9-10 AMP

"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Gal. 2:19-21 KJV

Righteousness simply means right-standing with God, and to be righteous is to be in right relationship with God.The Old Covenant Hebrews believed that to be in right relationship or right-standing with God they had to keep all of the law. The law God gave through Moses found in Deuteronomy stated, "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the Lord our God, as he hath commanded us." Deut. 6:25

In Leviticus, it says, "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the Lord."  Lev. 18:5  KJV

But, the Old Covenant Hebrews, or Israelites, were wrong in their belief that they could keep all the law and therefore maintain their righteousness. Fortunately, God also gave them the Levitical priesthood and a system of sacrifices, which brought a measure of mercy to their lives. The animal sacrifices done in faith under the Old Covenant were a covering for sin, but they foreshadowed or looked forward, to the day when Christ would shed His blood on the cross; Jesus being the completely sufficient sacrifice for sin. So now, those who by faith appropriate the proper covering; Christ's shed blood, are acceptable before God, found completely justified and righteous (see Rom. 5:16-17). Christ's blood is not only a covering, but it completely washes us clean; whereas the animal sacrifices done in faith, had to be repeated again and again, and offered only a temporal covering for sin.  Once again, as Paul states, "And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:" Phil. 3:9 KJV

We are to recognize that as born-again New Covenant believers, we have received an imputed righteousness (right-standing with God) the moment we became born-again.  Jesus took our sin and gave us His righteousness. (ref. Rom. 4:11, 24-25 NIV) This is all made possible because of Jesus' perfect obedience. (ref. Rom.5:16-19, 10:4) The Old Covenant Israelites agreement to keep the law,  and their relationship with God was a conditional agreement or covenant.

As found in the book of Exodus (19:7-8) "And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord has spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord." KJV This was a self-righteous statement or a statement of pride and we find in the very next chapter, God gave them the law. Now upon knowing this, many ask, Why did God give the law to the ancient Israelites if he knew they couldn't keep it?

The Apostle Paul explains in his epistle to the Galatians, "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (3:22-27)

The law acted as a schoolmaster and directed us toward Christ. It did this by creating or being such a high standard (it demanded perfection). This is a standard that God's holiness required to be accepted or in right-standing with God and found righteous, if one wished or believed he could meet it by his own merit or effort. Right-standing and relationship with God, indeed their very spiritual life for the Israelite, under the Old Covenant, was contingent upon this conditional agreement they entered into with God. This high standard (indeed impossible standard) was meant to drive one to despair (lose any hope of keeping it) and thus see their need for a Savior. 

The Apostle Paul also explained in the 3rd chapter of Romans that the law was given for yet another reason. "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." (3:19 KJV)

Once again, the standard of the law is perfection (by your own merit or human effort) if you want to try and keep it apart from faith in Christ. Just look at the Ten Commandments and realize the only man or person who has ever walked the earth and kept them all is Jesus. Jesus is fully man and fully God. So all humanity would need a Savior. That's why in Galatians, it states, "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." (Gal. 4:4-6 KJV)

Now you might be saying, that 's all fine, but I'm not an Old Testament Hebrew or Israelite, born under the law. Well, think about this, you have standards you live by, and place on others and others place on you, that if not met, judgment comes. That's all a law system can do is judge and condemn. Now we do need societal laws and order (structure) in our households, etc. or society wouldn't function properly. But make no mistake about it, the world operates in large part under a law system which is conditional-opposite of the unconditional love of God. 

Scripture tells us, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him!" Rom. 5:6-9 NIV

So, once again, the ancient Hebrews were given the law because of their prideful attitude and fallen mankind today is under the law for the same reason. We find in the gospels, whenever someone would come to Jesus and ask "What must I do to be saved?" thinking they could merit their own salvation, Jesus would give them the law. But, if someone came to Jesus and knew that by their own merit they were unworthy of salvation, but looked to Jesus, they found grace. (ref. Luke 18:18-25, 19:1-10, I Pet. 5:5-6, Jam. 4:6)

So now, with all this said, we go back to the opening scripture reference, in which Paul said, "and be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;" Phil. 3:9-10 KJV  Paul concluded Phil 3:10 by saying "being made conformable unto His death." Is this something we must do? And if so, how do we do it? 

Well, the good news is, if you are born-again, then you've already done it. The Apostle Paul writes, "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, (I Cor. 12:13a KJV) But you may be saying, I'm born again, but I don't remember that happening. That's why the Apostle Paul asks in Romans 6:3, Don't you know?  3"Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin." Rom. 6:3-7 NIV

The Apostle Paul states, "We died to sin: how can we live in it any longer?" Rom. 6:2b NIV (Once you were dead in sin, dead in Adam [spiritually dead]. Now, as a born-again Christian, you are alive in righteousness, alive in Christ, and spiritually alive. (ref. Eph. 2:1) Therefore, it's impossible to be dead in sin and alive in Christ at the same time.

Now let me ask you. How many of you remember dying? You did when you became born-again. You died to your old self, the flesh, and you became spiritually born-again. Now let me ask you...Can a dead man sin? Can a dead man have guilt? So now, we are dead to sin and alive to God. You are dead indeed to what?   Sin.    Are you worried about your sin problem? You shouldn't be. It's been done away with.  The Apostle Paul said, If you have the Spirit, you're not under the law, because you don't need the law if you've already been made righteous, so we don't need a law system to make ourselves righteous. This is what happened to us when we became born-again. My spirit man, the real me, has been made righteous.

Paul's epistle to the Colossians explains it this way...
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: 12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Col. 2:11-14 KJV   Verse 12 of Colossians 2 gives the proper order; we were first buried with him, then raised with him, through faith of the operation of God. This is why the Apostle Paul says, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

That's the power of the gospel. I'm not who I used to be and neither are you, if you're born-again. You have a new identity. We are now worthy because of what Christ has done. This is all made possible because of the New Covenant... an unconditional covenant.

The Apostle Paul said this about the power of the gospel; 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed in a way that awakens more faith]. As it is written and forever remains written, "The just and upright shall live by faith." Rom. 1:16-17 AMP

The Expanded Version states it this way: 16 [For] I am not ashamed of the Good News [Gospel], because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes--to save the Jews first, and then to save Gentiles [the Greeks; here meaning anyone who is not Jewish; contrast v.14] 17 The Good News [Gospel] shows how God makes people right with himself [or God's righteous character; the righteousness of/from God] that it begins and ends with faith [or that advances from one believing person to the next; or that begins with God's faithfulness and results in people's faith; from faith to faith]. As the scripture says, "But those who are right with God will live by faith [or those made righteous through faith will live (eternally)] Rom. 1:16-17

God said, "10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Heb. 8:10-12 KJV

This is God's work of restoration spoken of by the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians:  18 But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].
19 It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor)." II Cor. 5:18-19 AMPC

Jesus also said in Mark's gospel, "the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." (1:15, KJV)

In the last chapter of Luke's gospel, Jesus (being risen from the dead) said to His disciples, "..that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:47

The definition of the word 'remission' goes as follows: 1. the act of remitting, or the state of being remitted. 2. pardon, as of sins or a crime. 3. release from a debt, penalty, or obligation.

Repentance simply means to turn and go in the other direction. I like to put it this way; remember, before you were born again, you were on a fast track heading down the highway of life. You were trying to earn your way to heaven by your effort and performance. Then you heard the truth of the gospel, the message that said it wasn't your performance, but what Christ did on the cross that offered you His unconditional pardon, and you accepted His offer. He took your sin and gave you His righteousness. You accepted His sacrificial atonement. You repented, which means you changed the direction of your thinking; you went in the other direction. Now, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, all because of Jesus.

Before you were born-again, you, in effect, were saying you could gain a righteousness on your own, with your own effort and performance. Then you heard the gospel of grace and you learned of a righteousness apart from works, all because of what Jesus did. You changed direction in your thinking and put your faith in God and not in yourself. This was true repentance and you received an imputed righteousness, which is the righteousness of God; a free gift. This is what happened to you, if you became a born-again Christian.

Now, why is it so important to know and remember that we have (past tense), the moment we became born-again, died to sin, died to the law and crucified the flesh? (ref. Gal. 5:24, Rom. 6:6,11, 7:4-6, II Pet. 1:9, I Cor. 12:13)  As stated in Galatians, "and they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." (5:24) (ref. I Cor. 6:11)

The Apostle Paul writes in the book of Romans, "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." (7:5 KJV) But, once again, we died to sin and we died to the law. The Apostle Paul also said, "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ;" Rom. 7:4a  And he (Paul) also said, "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." Rom. 8:9a KJV That's us as born-again believers!

So, once again, why is it important to know and remember that we have (past tense, the moment we became born-again) died to sin, died to the law and crucified the flesh? Well, as the Apostle Peter states in his second epistle, "But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was (past tense) purged of his old sins. II Pet. 1:9 KJV  And as found in Hebrews, "For then would they not have ceased to be offered? (this speaks of sacrifices for sins) Because that the worshipers once purged should have no more conscience of sins." Heb. 12:2 KJV

God tells us through Paul's message to the Romans that "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." (3:20 NIV) With the Israelites, under the Old Covenant of law, if they did good...they got good. If they did bad...they got bad. Scripture tells us that through the law we become conscious of sin. The word 'conscious' means: con [with] - science [knowledge]. So, these people living under the law were knowledgeable about their sin. It could be said, they were sin-conscious and with that came the fear of punishment. (ref. Heb. 2:15) This mentality affected the Hebrew people in the wilderness. It affected them once they crossed over into the Promised Land, and it affects people today, if they allow themselves to be put under the law.

So, we should focus or remember that we have (past tense) died and have been planted together in the likeness of his death, and we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. (ref. Rom. 6:5) Now don't dig yourself up in your thinking. We are secure in our salvation because it is a righteousness apart from the law (human effort or performance). This is why the Apostle Paul said I die daily. (ref. I Cor. 15:31) He (Paul) would not allow himself to dig himself up in his thinking. He knew he was crucified with Christ and reckoned it so. We don't want to be like a farmer who had planted seed and in his impatience runs out and digs up the seed, thinking it is not doing anything. Patiently rest in your God-given righteousness, looking at the work of the cross and not yourself-or your behavior. If you think this way, eventually your behavior will line up with your thinking, which is putting the horse before the cart, instead of putting the cart before the horse.

The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans, "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (8:24-25 KJV) For as Paul wrote in Galatians, "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (5:5 KJV)

The Apostle Paul knew that once, before he was born again, he was dead in the flesh and not alive in the Spirit. As Paul wrote in Ephesians, "Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (2:3 KJV) It's worth reading this passage in the NIV version also. "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath." (continue reading Eph. 2:4-9 on your own.)

But, the Apostle Paul received the unconditional love of God, (ref. Rom 5:8) and knew what the Apostle John meant when he wrote, "There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God's judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God's love]. I John 4:18 AMP The Apostle Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." I Thes. 5:9 KJV  James writes in his epistle, "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (1:20 KJV)

Now all this brings a proper understanding to the first chapter of John's first epistle. (ref. I John 1:7-10) When you came to Christ, you confessed you were a sinner in need of a Savior. (Once again, if someone is prideful and thinks he can save himself by his own merit, or believes that they are without sin-why would they need a Savior?) But we (who are born-again) did confess that we were sinners, in need of a Savior. And God who is faithful and just, forgave us ALL our sin. He is faithful because it is His nature and character and he was just to forgive us our sins because the wrath that was against mankind's sin was placed squarely and entirely on Jesus at the cross. It was exhausted on Him, as He bore our penalty and punishment. As born-again believers, He has cleansed us from ALL unrighteousness, as he took our sin and gave us His (imputed) righteousness. (ref. Rom. 3:26, 4:24, I Cor. 6:11)

Now, we can boldly do as instructed in Romans 6:13, "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." KJV (For we are not unrighteous, but righteous). This is what the Apostle Paul meant, in large part, when he wrote in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." KJV

Now, the only way we can yield our members as instruments of righteousness and present our bodies a living sacrifice is by knowing that as born-again believers, we too, have been crucified with Christ, and have died to sin, for as the Apostle Peter wrote, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." You have to know you died to sin, by dying to the law and to the flesh, to live unto righteousness. The Apostle John reminded us, "I write unto you little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." I John 2:12 KJV

"And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4:32

Col. 3:13 says, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

This is why the Apostle Paul could say, 'I'm crucified with Christ, but yet I live.'
When he was crucified with Christ, he died to sin, he died to the law, and he died to the flesh--all at the moment he was born-again and baptized into the body of Christ.

This is why it's important to understand that at the new birth, we are baptized into Christ's body; water baptism is symbolic of what took place at the new birth. (Heb. 6:2 refers to plural baptisms) Our death to sin, the law and our flesh all took place at the new birth.

As Paul penned in the book of Romans, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." (10:3-4 KJV)

I leave you with these scriptures for further thought and meditation.

Luke 15:7 NIV
7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Matthew 9:13 KJV
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:17 KJV
17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

I Timothy 1:9 KJV
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

Hebrews 7:12 KJV
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

I Cor. 15:56 KJV
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Galatians 3:12 KJV
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.

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Examining Paul's Thorn in the Flesh

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

Paul's account of his "thorn in the flesh" is found in 2 Corinthians, chapter 12:7-10. The Apostle Paul writes this second letter to the church in Corinth from Macedonia, while on his way to Corinth in approximately 55 AD. Even for the Apostle Paul speaking into the church at Corinth in these formative years met with those who would at times oppose his authority, leaving Paul feeling led to qualify himself or validate God's calling on his life.

Paul, in a sense, builds a case for his ministry by contrasting the true signs of apostleship found in his ministry against certain false apostles who were preaching a false gospel in an attempt to lead people astray. Paul writes of the signs and wonders which accompany the true gospel as he teaches it and also the persecution which can arise for preaching this same gospel. In so doing, Paul lays the groundwork that must be understood to truly see the teaching of Paul's "thorn in the flesh" in it's proper context.

What's brought out by the Apostle Paul earlier in this epistle and climaxes in this account is a proper understanding of what suffering is for a Christian, and what it is not, what grace is and how it empowers us, where our faith should be focused, and how we stand in our authority, the way we are to wage war as a Christian and what it is to be a true servant of righteousness. (ref. 2 Cor. 11:15)

Paul's effort to defend his ministry and expose these false apostles and their untrue claims, or boasting, is really the lead in to the account of Paul's "thorn in the flesh." The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Cor. 11:16 "I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting.  vs 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. vs 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. vs 21b What anyone else dares to boast about - I am speaking as a fool - I also dare to boast about.

Paul then proceeds to list his Hebraic heritage, as well as his vast servitude for Christ and his many accomplishments and sufferings in his missionary endeavors as he served the Lord. He speaks of his heavenly vision and then recounts his "thorn in the flesh."

Note: The words boast and glory are often used interchangeably between the NIV and the KJV translations of chapters 11 & 12 of 2 Corinthians.

Although Paul chose to use this method to validate his ministry in the eyes of the Corinthians, he begins to, in essence, explain why his hope or faith is not tied into any of his accomplishments or merit gained by his pedigree or performance. It is with this foreknowledge that this account takes on it's real meaning and intended value to us as Christians and allows it to be applied to our lives.

Beginning with verse 7 of 2 Cor. 12, we read, "And lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." The Apostle Paul is letting the readers know that he had "opened a door" for the enemy to come in and harass him or buffet him. The reason he states for this happening is, "lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations" which he had received from God. The Apostle Paul was at this point in a quandary as to how to shut the door he had opened to the enemy. Verse 8 tells us he thought God could do it for him. "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me." Verse 9a gives us God's response, "And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

Here in God's response lies the answer to Paul's problem, and ours, anytime we are in a quandary or our hope falters; grappling for a solution to an unmet need. God's answer of grace being sufficient for Paul is also his answer for us. In fact, as we examine these definitions, we will see exactly why.

Definition of Grace
a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b: a virtue coming from God
c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance

Definition of Unmerited
not adequately earned or deserved: not merited

Definition of Pride
: the quality or state of being proud: such as
a: inordinate self-esteem: conceit
b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect
c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship <parental pride>

Definition of Boast
1 : a statement expressing excessive pride in oneself: the act or an instance of boasting (see 2 boast: brag
2 :a cause for pride

Definition of Infirmity
1 a: the quality or state of being infirm
   b: the condition of being feeble: frailty
2 : disease, malady
3: a personal failing: foible <one of the besetting infirmities of living creatures is egotism>--

(taken from the merriam-webster.com online dictionary)

Definition of Infirmity
1 a physical weakness or disability
2 a defect of personality or character
3 an infirm condition; feebleness

(taken from The New Webster's Concise Dictionary of the English Language, 2003 ed.)

Note: the word "infirmity" and the word "weakness" are often used interchangeably between the NIV and the KJV translations in chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Corinthians.

We can see that boasting and pride are the opposites of grace and unmerited favor. Grace is at the heart of New Testament teaching and contradicts pride. This is why Paul writes, in ch. 5:12 of 2 Cor., "We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart." Shortly after this verse, Paul explains the "grace of God" and how this is the message we as New Testament believers should be promoting. This is found in 2 Cor. 5:16-20, which says, "Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." He then concludes, stating, that God made Jesus who had no sin to "be sin" for us so that "in him" we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.

Righteousness means by definition that we are in "right-standing" with God. This is a right-standing apart from our works or performance. (ref. Rom. 3:21-22) Understanding this, we can see that the Apostle Paul had "opened a door" and allowed the enemy access by being prideful of all the great revelations God had given him. Paul, too, was on a learning curve as a Christian at some point in his life concerning this issue and chose this time to give the account of his "thorn in the flesh."

Pride is the opposite of faith, because pride points to your accomplishments and takes your eyes off of Jesus, (our true faith-object.) The remainder of verse 9, in 2 Cor. chapter 12 tells us the Apostle Paul got his eyes off of himself and back on Jesus as he states "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities (weaknesses) that the power of Christ may rest upon me." The Apostle Paul in making this statement is reiterating what he says in his epistle to the Philippians, found in ch. 3, verses 8-10, "Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" Paul's reference to suffering in the previous verse harmonizes with the beginning of Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians where the Apostle Paul states, "for just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows." 2 Cor. 1:5 NIV

A study of the word "suffer" in scripture shows us that at times it is used in reference to permitting something, such as found in Jesus' words when he said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 19:14 KJV  The significance of this is found as we examine why the Apostle Paul used the term "thorn in my flesh." This phrase is taken from several locations in the Old Testament; (Num. 33:55, Josh. 23:13, Judg. 2:3) In Numbers 33:55 it says, "But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes and thorns in your sides and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell." God states that he had given the land as an inheritance for the Israelites to possess it and they were to go in and dispossess the inhabitants of the land.  (ref. Num. 33:53) The inhabitants of the land that they were to drive out were squatters. God had given them (Israelites) the land and God said failure to drive them out would cause these squatters to be pricks in theirs eyes and thorns in their sides, and vex them in the land where they would dwell.  In other words, these Israelites permitted this to happen to them in some cases, and in these areas where this was allowed to happen, they did not receive their inheritance. (ref. Deut. 4 38, Judg. 3:1-6)

When the Apostle Paul was prideful concerning the revelations God had given him, he was failing to utilize the empowerment that could "shut the door" to the enemy. In the book of James we find "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Jam. 4:7 NIV  We also find in Peter's first epistle "and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. (1 Pet. 5:5b-6)

God's grace, or unmerited favor, was the only way for Paul to "shut the door" on the enemy and drive him out, but to do so he had to give up any vain imagination that he was special in God's eyes, because of his own merit. (ref. 2 Cor. 10:5) This is how we wage warfare in the spiritual realm (unseen world). When the Apostle Paul was obedient to do this, he took revenge on the enemy. (ref. 2 Cor. 10:6) It's obvious to me that this is what Paul did and found the victory because he closes out his account of the "thorn in his flesh" by saying, "therefore I take pleasure in infirmities (weaknesses), in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."  2 Cor. 12:10 KJV

Speculation as to what Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was has arisen from such scriptures as found in Gal. 4:13-15. Here Paul says, "Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. And my temptation which was in my flesh, ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? For I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me." Another scripture is found in Gal. 6:11 and reads as follows: "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand." Once again, this is speculation as to what the Apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was - and as stated earlier the word weakness and the word infirmity are used interchangeably in this account.

When the Apostle Paul got back under grace, he "shut the door" to the enemy and kicked the squatter off his land (satan from Paul's body). Sickness is a part of the curse that Christ has redeemed us from (ref. Gal. 3:13) and healing and restoration are our inheritance to be claimed in the atonement. It's our right-and satan and his crew of demons have no right to it. So, any infirmity (weakness) that the Apostle Paul said he would boast in or glory in, was just to say he would never be proud looking to his accomplishments, etc, but that he would take strength, looking to Jesus and what Jesus would do even in Paul's weakness.

The Apostle Peter wrote in his first epistle, "But, and if, ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye:" 1 Pet. 3:14a

Now, not many people open a door by being prideful over the abundance of the revelations given to them as did the Apostle Paul. But pride can come in-in many different ways and can cause us to think we are worthy in God's eyes because of our own merit. Receive God's unconditional love daily and you will be able to give it out to others as well as "shut the door" on the enemy, and by doing so you will be a true servant of righteousness. (ref. 2 Cor. 11:15)

The Apostle Paul provided an answer to the Corinthians for the false apostles who were boasting as the world does, as once again he stated, "For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance (what is seen), and not in heart." Let this be your answer as well.  God bless.

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