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AN INTERACTIVE SUMMARY OF PUTTING OFF SIN; PUTTING ON CHRIST
The following paragraphs are presented as a summary of Putting off Sin; Putting on Christ. The review questions are designed to facilitate a clear comprehension of the thesis statements contained in that document. Click on the answer of your choice to determine the level of progress you are making in understanding the major points presented in this summary. For your convenience a link to the entire document is provided at the end of this lesson.
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; To be made new in the attitude of your minds; And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
"Put off your old self."
"Put on the new self."
Two current approaches to the problem of sin in the Christian life are as follows: the Christian is in a state of grace in which God does not see his sin; or, Christ in the Christian will overcome sin, the Christian need not exert effort to accomplish victory over sin. From our point of view, both of these approaches are unscriptural and destructive of the moral character of the believer.
There are numerous commandments in the New Testament that we are to obey. The flavor of them is not that God does not care whether we keep them or not because He has saved us by a sovereign grace. Nor is the flavor of them that if we just wait, Christ will overcome the sin that is in us.
The commandments given by Christ and His Apostles are to be obeyed. He has given us the Holy Spirit, His own body and blood, the born-again experience, and the testimony of the Apostles in order that we might keep His commandments. If we love Christ we will keep His commandments and those of His Apostles. To not do so is to avoid the program of salvation.
The truth is, the Christian churches are, perhaps for the most part, teaching error. The result is millions of baby Christians who have no idea that God expects them to be exerting themselves each day to overcome their worldliness, the lusts and passions of their flesh and soul, and their self-will. In America, the churches’ testimony of good works is quite weak. Therefore the government and secular realm are filled with moral depravity. People with integrity are becoming scarce. The fear of God has left the land, and wisdom with it.
Many of the Epistles of the New Testament contain exhortations to righteous living. The Apostles would be aghast if they knew the day would come when Bible scholars would claim the believers are not supposed to heed the exhortations because they are "saved by grace."
Review Question#1. Please click on the answer you think is correct.
What should our attitude be toward the commandments given by Christ and His Apostles?
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; To be made new in the attitude of your minds; And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:22-24)
"Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires."
Christ in His apostle has commanded us to "put off" our old, corrupt, deceitful self. How do we do this? First, we have to recognize that our original, adamic personality is corrupt and deceitful. None of the Utopian schemes advanced over the past few hundred years, including Communism, has worked out in practice or ever will work out. Why is this? It is because the basic nature of man is not good but corrupt and deceitful.
Having recognized that the most righteous individual, if his or her righteousness is not proceeding from the new creation of Christ in him, is basically corrupt, what do we do?
We walk in open, daily repentance before the Lord. The Holy Spirit is faithful to keep pointing out to us the areas of our life that need to be overcome. We are to confess our sins and turn away from them vigorously. We are to come boldly to the Throne of Grace for help. When we are determined to gain victory over a specific sinful behavior, Christ will help us. It never is the Lord’s will for a Christian to walk in known sin.
"Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
How do we put on the new self? We do so by praying every day, reading our Bible every day, attending church on a regular basis (hopefully with fervent disciples), being ministered to and ministering, giving of our material means, and doing all else associated with wholesome Christian discipleship.
It is of supreme importance that we keep looking to the Lord. We must look to Christ for every decision we make. We must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ. We keep putting on the new self, moment by moment, as the Spirit of God guides us.
Let me emphasize that this is what salvation is. Salvation is the program of putting off the sinful nature and putting on Christ. When we are not doing this each day we are not a disciple; not a Christian; we are not being saved.
How could we be being saved when we are not following Christ moment by moment? Is salvation a ticket that brings us to Heaven no matter how we behave? Search the Scriptures. You will not find any such plan of salvation. What is being preached today is another Gospel, and Paul’s curse is on it.
Review Question #2. Please click on the answer you think is correct.
Salvation can be described as:
a. the program of putting off the sinful nature and putting on Christ.
b. mental agreement with various doctrinal points of emphasis.
If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Galatians 5:15,16)
To live in the Spirit we have to look to the Lord constantly for every decision we make.
Life actually is a series of desires and fulfillments. There is a hierarchy of desires in our life such that each desire can be defined as a source of lesser desires while itself is governed by a higher source.
For example: we desire food, and that desire is fulfilled when we eat. In order to obtain food, we first may have to desire money. But the desire for food is part of a higher desire, which is to live. The highest of all desires, and the source of all lesser desires, is for joy.
So life actually comprises a series of decisions and a series of desires and fulfillments. To live in and by the Spirit is to be guided by Christ in all decisions and all fulfillments. This is the rest of God.
In short, if we are to put off sin and put on Christ we have to pray without ceasing. Every decision we make, every choice of fulfillment, in fact, every desire we have, must be brought to Christ. This is what it means to walk in the Spirit of God.
"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."
The day of redemption is in the future. It is the time when the Lord Jesus comes to those who are looking for Him, delivers them from every vestige of sin, and finally clothes their resurrected flesh and bones with a house from Heaven that contains no sin and is militantly righteous.
The expression "you were sealed" means we have a portion of the Holy Spirit in us at this time and thus are recognized as being a candidate for the fullness of redemption.
Such glorious, complete redemption is conditional. We must be living as a victorious saint. We must be putting to death the sinful deeds of our body as the Holy Spirit points them out to us.
This is why the Apostle Paul warned that if we live according to our sinful nature we will die. He means if we do not choose to live as a victorious saint, we will receive back our flesh and bones in the Day of Christ but there will be not be a sin-free house to clothe our resurrected form. We will be found spiritually naked. We will reap corruption.
Review Question #3. Please click on the answer you think is correct.
If we live according to our sinful nature what will occur in the Day of Christ?
a. We will suffer loss by inheriting a smaller mansion in Heaven.
b. We will be found spiritually naked. We will reap corruption.
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. (Ephesians 5:3-7)
Sexual immorality and greed have no place among God’s saints. Because we have been saved by grace and not by works of righteousness we have done does not mean it does not matter if we are immoral or greedy. Here is the great error of today’s Christian teaching.
On several occasions Paul speaks out against adultery and fornication. Such actions produce spiritual death whether or not we name the name of Christ.
The rich man was thrown into Hell because of his selfish greed. He would not render assistance to Lazarus. He who is not generous is not known by the Lord Jesus.
Obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse joking are common among Christians. Whoever speaks in this manner reveals that he or she is not living in the Spirit of God. God will gives us victory over our tongue if we come to Him with enough determination.
The Apostle Paul states that an immoral, impure, or greedy person is an idolater. Furthermore, such have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Paul is writing to Christians. He is warning them clearly that if they continue in immorality, impurity, or greed, they have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
How, then, can a Christian leader teach that we are saved by a sovereign grace independently of our conduct?
Either the New Testament as it stands is the Word of God or else it is not.
Either the Apostle Paul wrote by the Spirit of God or he did not.
Are we stating if a Christian continues in immorality or greed he has no inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
Absolutely. He or she has no inheritance in the Kingdom of God.
Why is this?
It is because immorality and greed are not permitted in the Kingdom. Whoever practices such cannot participate in the Kingdom.
But doesn’t grace make it possible for us to participate in the Kingdom even though we practice immorality or greed?
No, it does not. The purpose of grace is not to excuse the sins of Christians. The purpose of Divine grace is to make it possible for us to be delivered from immorality and greed.
When will we be delivered?
Whenever the Holy Spirit points out to us that we are sinning, He is ready to deliver us. We must confess our sin and turn away from it. If we do, the Spirit will give us victory over it.
Review Question #4. Please click on the answer you think is correct.
The purpose of grace is:
a. to excuse the sins of Christians.
b. to make it possible for us to be delivered from sin.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21)
We are to be careful how we live. We are not to be foolish but to understand the will of Christ. I like to say that we are to post a guard. This means, no matter where we are or what we are doing, we are always to be aware of the will of Christ.
Christians like to go on vacations, and attend parties. It is very easy on such occasions to let down our guard. The moment we do, Satan can trick us into actions or words that ought not to be done or said. We are to be praying even while we are on vacation; even when at a party. If we are not instant in prayer, we can suffer serious spiritual or physical injury.
I find that the American pattern of working for thirty years and then retiring is not beneficial for Christian people.
First of all, the moment we relax and settle back, saying I have enough money laid up so now I can rest and enjoy myself, at that very moment the Lord may come and demand an account of our life.
Old, experienced Christians have a lot to give. It is fine if an individual works for a corporation and then retires from that work. But he or she must never, never, never, then settle back. The truth is, the retired person is in a good position now to build up the Body of Christ.
He will be treated as a lazy, disobedient servant if he does not use all God has given him to build the Kingdom of God.
We are to serve Christ with all of our strength until He calls us home. There is no such thing as retirement from the Kingdom of God.
We absolutely must continue to make the most of every opportunity until the Lord tells us our task has been completed. If we do not, we are not going to meet a smiling Christ when we die.
Review Question#5. Please click on the answer you think is correct.
What can happen if we become careless and let down our spiritual guard?
a. Satan can trick us into actions or words that ought not to be done or said.
b. The blood of Jesus prevents God from seeing our careless behavior.
LESSON COMPLETED, GREAT WORK !
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Source Document:
Putting off Sin; Putting on Christ
Copyright © 2002 Trumpet Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
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