We have written in prior booklets that the word "Spirit" (above) should be capitalized (as in King James) because the contrast is not between our flesh and our human spirit but between our flesh and the Spirit of God. This possibly is the case.

But as we have been writing these brief essays on the eighth chapter of Romans we are looking favorably on some of the newer translations which use a lower-case "s" since they believe Paul to be offering a contrast between our flesh and our spiritual nature. (I can go either way on this.)

I am coming to think they may be correct because of the logic of the text.

We know the physical body is dead because of the sin that dwells in it. Sin always brings death.

But is there any eternal life in us? Yes, there is, because the righteousness of Christ has been ascribed to us. So I think it is fair to say we are dead on the outside and alive on the inside. In the Bible righteousness and life always go together. The soul that sins dies. The person who acts righteously gains life for his efforts.

To this point we have found Paul partly out of his predicament in that he now is without condemnation. He is righteous in his inner born- again nature because the righteousness of Christ has been ascribed to him.

Remember, all of this inner righteousness depends on Paul following the new law the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. If Paul should go back to living in the flesh he will die. Paul states this fact in several places in his Epistles.

Are we eternally secure? Absolutely yes if we walk in the Spirit of God, abiding in Christ. Are we eternally secure if we do not obey God in this matter? Absolutely not, and here is the deadly error of today's preaching.

We have assigned our body to the cross along with its sin. We rejoice in Christ because our inner nature is alive in God's sight because of the righteousness of Christ assigned to it.

Now we are to obey the Apostles until Christ is formed in us.

Do you remember our model of salvation? It comprises three steps that operate in a specific framework or environment.

The specific environment is that our whole first personality is dead on the cross with Jesus. Our new born-again nature has been raised with Christ and has ascended with Him to the right hand of the Father.

The first step within this framework is our receiving total forgiveness for the sins of the past (and of the present and future also if we continue in the Spirit of God.)

The second step within the framework of death and resurrection is our keeping the commandments of Christ and His Apostles through the Spirit of God. It is this second step that is largely misunderstood in Evangelical circles. But there is no way of validating the first step and passing on to the third step other than by keeping the commandments of Christ and His Apostles, looking to the Lord continually for His help.

With regard to looking to the Lord for help in keeping His commandments we need a word of caution. God is graciously sending deliverance ministries to the churches. These are desperately needed. But we must always keep in mind that the purpose of our being delivered is that we might be better able to keep God's commandments, not that we might just have a better life or a happier family. The objective of the Bible is not that we might have a happier, more successful life but that we might be reconciled to God and gain victory over sin.

Now to the third step within the framework of death and resurrection. The third step is the forming of Christ in us. As we keep the commandments of Christ and His Apostles the Divine Nature is formed in us. It is the forming of Christ in us that is the new covenant, the Kingdom of God, and eternal life.

Are you with us thus far?