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The Daily Word of Righteousness
The Fullness of Salvation, #5
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil 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. (Galatians 5:16,17)
The foolish believer will neglect the eternal life that has been born in him and will occupy himself with eating, sleeping, working, playing, and reproducing. He will insure that his animal existence is sustained in comfort as far as possible but will give only token attention to attaining the fullness of eternal life. He believes, because of erroneous teaching, that eternal existence in Heaven has been ascribed to him because of his belief in Christ.
If an individual has eternal spiritual life he has it wherever he is, whether on earth or in the realm of spirits. Eternal life is a kind of life, not a place where the believer goes. The person who is filled with eternal life is able to overcome Satan, the world, and his own lusts and self-will. He reveals in his personality the righteousness, love, joy, peace, and patience of the Kingdom of God.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Galatians 6:8)
The above admonition was addressed to "the churches of Galatia."
To this point we have discussed salvation from guilt to forgiveness, and salvation from spiritual death to eternal life. Now let us proceed to the third aspect of the redemption in Christ.
Salvation From Spiritual Bondage to Spiritual Freedom
Whatever can be found in the Scriptures is true for whoever will read the promise, put his or her faith in God, and obey God until the blessing comes. In addition, there are times and seasons when particular areas of redemption, of the Kingdom of God, are being stressed by the Spirit of God.
It is the writer's point of view that release from spiritual bondage is being emphasized by the Spirit in the present hour.
Spiritual bondage, as we are defining it in our present outline of salvation, consists of unclean spirits that dwell in our flesh along with our soul and spirit or, because of some tendency in us, have access to our flesh and soul. Every true saint of history has walked in faith, keeping his bodily lusts under control by the help of the Holy Spirit. Now the Lord has come to His Church to deliver us from the spirits that have kept us in spiritual bondage.
Notice that evil actually dwells in our flesh as an alien force:
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. (Romans 7:20)
It is not the flesh itself that is sinful, it is the sin dwelling in the flesh that is sinful.
How did the body of sin enter us? By inheritance, by a sudden shock or wound, and by our deeds.
Many of the spirits and moral weaknesses that plague the sincere Christian have been inherited from parents, grandparents, and other ancestors. Demons of occult practices are examples of inherited sin.
To be continued.