We are told explicitly in Eph. 2:1-3....what our condition was (or continues to be) prior to being born again and ‘made alive’ in Christ. Paul writes: You. Were. Dead....

He even tells us what/who was operating ‘in’ us, which was the ‘prince of the air’ (Satan 1 John 5:19; Acts 26:18; 2 Tim. 2:26). And the vehicle, or platform which gave place to this spirit to operate...was our ‘flesh nature’. Take your time with those three verses in Eph. 2 and you will see this plainly...what I share with you here is nothing but the truth from God’s word (Acts 17:11)

There is good reason as to why the Spirit of God begins to lead us to ‘put to death the deeds of the flesh’ (Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5-8). And those who truly are ‘children of God’ and ‘belong to Christ’...have done just that (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:24). And let’s not forget what Paul also brings out there in Romans...that if we continue...to live according to the flesh...we will die (8:13). That has always been the penalty for sin, which is what living according to the flesh nature is as it violates everything about God’s law, which can be summed up by loving others as Christ first loved us’. (Rom. 6:23; 8:7-8). Why do you suppose Paul warns that those who continue to live in this manner will NOT...inherit the kingdom of God’ (Gal. 5:19-21)?

Another interesting side note to this narrative is we fail to see the full meaning of Romans 8:1. Many are quick to quote just a portion of that verse, saying ‘there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ’. It also goes on to say, (in the KJV and others)...’for those who walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh’. And those who are walking according to the Spirit...will ‘not fulfill the desires of the flesh’ (Gal. 5:16). Let’s also not forget what it means to be ‘in Christ’, which is explained clearly in 1 John 2:3-6 and 2 Cor. 5:17). Please note the use of the word ‘IF’ in both passages as well.

I would like for you now to turn to a passage in John’s gospel, 5:28. It reads: “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice...” and then Jesus goes on to describe what happens to those who have ‘done good’ and to those who have ‘done evil’ (39). I am in no way trying to take away or alter the surface meaning of this passage here and it’s ‘future application’; but...you may also want to consider an additional ‘spiritual layer’ of prophetic truth to be revealed as well:

Prior to coming to Jesus, we were ‘dead’. Jesus said...”I have come that you might have life, and have it abundantly...” (John 10:10). He also said...’My sheep hear My voice, and I know them... and they follow Me’ (John 10:27). So when we respond to His invitation to ‘repent and follow Him’, it is then...that we begin to ‘walk in the newness of life’ that Paul writes about in Romans 6:1-12)

Can I just tell you that for the person who truly experiences this ‘conversion’ of being ‘made alive in Christ’ and becoming a ‘new creation’....that you don’t have to ‘fake it’ or put on some outward, religious face/appearance to appear....’alive & holy? IF...the Spirit of God truly dwells in you... it will be evident to all (John 13:34-35; Rom. 8:11). But you have to respond in both faith... and obedience to ever see the light of day and be set free of all bondages; and if you are doubtful of this being possible, you might go read the story of Lazarus in John 11:38-44. In case you missed that part of my story of my personal awakening that took place five years ago, I have likened it to my own personal ‘Lazarus experience’, where Jesus called me out of my tomb of darkness and stench (post from 10.24.21)

What did Peter say we have been ‘called out of’, in 1 Pet. 2:9? I believe he says it was ‘darkness’, which is what we touched on this past week- ‘spiritual darkness’.

Now one might want to ask....”How do I myself...get up and walk out, or come out, of this place of darkness that I know...I still reside in?” (If you continue to live in/or according to the flesh...guess what? You are still in darkness’). And my answer to you would be...the same way Lazarus or anyone else does this....’one step at a time’.

Have you not read in various places in the four gospels where Jesus was conversing with people who were completely lame...and then He tells them to....’take up your bed and walk’? In fact, not only did Jesus utter those words of encouragement and healing, but so did Peter and Paul in similar scenarios (Acts 3:6; 14:8-11).

Would you give that a moment and put yourself in those places so that you might truly appreciate what a ‘miracle’ that was...to think that all a lame person had to do was respond to Jesus and ‘get up and walk’...after living a life of being lame. In fact, Jesus made it sound like it was no big deal...just as simple as ‘forgiving sins’ (Matt. 9:5).

What do you suppose the results would have been, say in the case of that man by the pool in John 5:1-14...if he responded to Jesus saying...’that’s impossible, I can’t get up and walk’! He did offer some excuses as to why he was unable to do so, but Jesus ignored that and just flat out told him to ‘get up’ (5:8)...and he did. Jesus later warns him that he is to ‘go and sin no more... or something worse may come upon him’ (14).

I think we can agree the first miracle of being healed ‘immediately’ (9) was impressive in itself. How many of us have ever witnessed such a miracle? I mean...no physical therapy was needed here. The guy just got up and walked; period.

So what is your first gut response when you hear Jesus say: “Go, and sin no more”, or ‘be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect’ (Matt. 5:48)? I’d be willing to bet that your first response would be to say...’nobody can do that!’....compliments of the popular lie that most of us have heard preached and taught our whole lives in church. So then let me ask: “Why would Jesus say such a thing, to ‘go and sin no more’...(John 8:11)...if that was impossible to do? What kind of twisted God would demand such a thing of us...if He was not prepared to empower us to actually do that?

And why do we love to quote Phil. 4:13, about being able to ‘do all things through Christ who strengthens us...’ if we are going to add a footnote stating: “Except sin no more”?