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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Tremendous "If", continued
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:13,14—NIV)
This passage of Scripture reveals beyond all doubt that the concept of an impervious state of grace has nothing to do with the New Testament. It is a deduction made by theologians from a few verses.
What does a Christian have to do if he is to continue in eternal life? He must put to death through the Spirit the appetites and passions of his fleshly nature.
Is this what Romans 8:13 states?
Is Romans 8:13 true as it stands? Or is it true that the Christian will live even though he does not put to death through the Spirit the appetites and passions of his fleshly nature?
What if the individual has made a profession of belief in Christ, and then spends most of his time eating, sleeping, playing, working, and reproducing? He makes no real effort to touch God in prayer each day, to meditate in the Word, to gather with fervent disciples, to offer his body a living sacrifice to God? Will he die spiritually after having "accepted Christ"?
Even though Paul says he will die if he does not live in the Spirit, will he still be saved by an impervious "state of grace" that goes beyond the teaching of the Apostle?
If your answer is yes, I suggest you cease reading this essay and turn your attention to something more enjoyable to you. I base all of my teaching on the written Word, and when we maintain a position in clear opposition to the Word I have no more to say.
Again:
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8:13,14—NIV)
How can we know we are living in the Spirit and being led by the Spirit?
If we are living in the Spirit, the Spirit is leading us to put to death the impulses of our sinful nature. If we are not being led to put to death the impulses of our sinful nature, then you can be pretty sure we are not being led by the Spirit of God.
Only those believers who are open to the Lord, who are confessing their sins and turning away from them by the Lord's help, are living in eternal life. The remainder may be correctly oriented to the program of salvation but they are not entering eternal life. Eternal life is not a legal state in which we hope to have eternal existence. Eternal life is the Life of God Himself. God's Life is holy—actually holy. Let no person imagine he can live in God's holy Life and continue to sin because of an impervious state of grace. This is totally incorrect, totally unscriptural.
To be continued.