“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature (carnal/flesh) we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.” (Eph. 2:1-3 NLT)

It's all there in those three verses- The Law, The Flesh, and The Enemy.

If... I’m starting to sound repetitive to you, as if I’m stuck on the same old tune, I’m concerned that you might not be ‘getting it’ yet. Yes, I did preface a number of days ago that I was circling back to do an extended ‘review’ or recap of what I believe are key missing components in our foundational teaching, which consists of the law, the flesh, and the enemy. And I am convinced it has been our ignorance in these areas that has led to much needless suffering, pain, heartache, and yes, even ‘destruction’ among God’s people (Hosea 4:6; Matt. 9:35-36). But allow me to help you better understand my mindset these days and why I feel no release to move on to ‘other topics’...

The crew aboard the Titanic...once they realized the severity of their dire circumstances... they had only one mission and one message: Get the people in the lifeboats. Worrying over what was being served at the dinner buffet, or what musicians were entertaining that night, or who was piloting the ship... none of that mattered anymore.

For a host of reasons, the church has become overly preoccupied with trying to ‘save the Titanic’ when their focus needs to be on ‘getting in the Ark’. To be ‘in the Ark’ is to be ‘in Christ’, and this is where there has been a fundamental breakdown in our understanding as to what that actually means...to be ‘in Christ’. One is not ‘in Christ’ or ‘saved’ because they ‘said Lord, Lord’ (Matt. 7:21; Luke 6:46). And there has been a plethora of false gospels that have peddled a false security to countless numbers of sincere sheep today (2 Cor. 11:3-4). So I will continue to do my part here and keep teaching on what I know I’ve been given to share and expound upon. Your part is to study these scriptures to see if there is any truth to be taken hold of...and then allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you into even more truth that brings freedom and deliverance (Acts 17:11; John 8:32-36; 16:12-13).

So back to our opening text I gave you in Ephesians 2...

Paul is writing not to ‘church members’, but to those who are truly ‘in Christ’ and are a ‘new creation in Him (2 Cor. 5:17). Notice his use of ‘past tense’ saying to them...you ‘were dead’; and why were they ‘dead’ (spiritually)? Because of their disobedience and sins. Remember- sin is breaking the commandments/law of God (1 John 3:4). Sin brings death, always has and always will (Rom. 6:23). Sin is what separates us from God (Isa. 59:2). And apart from Him, we have no life (John 5:40; 10:10).

Again, we see the ‘past tense’ being used: “You used...to live in sin...just like the world...”. This would imply we no longer live that way, correct? And yet...what is the great lie that has been perpetuated down through the years in the majority of our churches? That we continue to be ‘sinners...saved by grace...and will always be sinners’. To suggest that we could actually ‘go and sin no more’ as we ‘abide in Jesus’ which means we...’no longer sin’ (1 John 3:6) puts you in the category of teaching heresy. How...on earth did we get here to such a place? Who cares what Jesus had to say about this ‘sin’ issue, right (John 8:34-35)?

Please take a moment and look back at John 3:36. This is one of those verses that I believe has been ‘hid’ to many in the church today, but explains so much when the scales begin to drop from our eyes. It describes our condition prior to coming to Jesus with all our heart - the ‘wrath of God was on us’. We were under a ‘curse’ as we were all under ‘condemnation’ because ‘all had sinned’ (John 3:18; Rom. 3:23; 5:12). And what does it mean to have the ‘wrath of God abiding on us’? Well...let’s continue reading in our passage in Eph. 2...

We used to be under the control or influence of the ‘devil’, as he points out, just like everyone else in the world is, or was at one time (1 John 5:19; Acts 26:18). Remember ...anyone who ‘sins’ is a ‘slave’ and not a ‘son’ (John 8:34-35) which would mean that Jesus is/was not our master, or ‘Lord’. And where did Paul say this ‘spirit’ resided? “IN us, or in our hearts’ (2). Would you take a moment and let that sink in, please. He’s not speaking in ‘figurative language’ here, when he speaks of evil or unclean spirits at work ‘in us’.

Our failure to fully grasp the significance of this ‘spiritual component’ at work has been a huge factor in our lack of knowledge which has led to much suffering (Hosea 4:6). We tend to get uncomfortable with this topic that deals with unseen spiritual entities of darkness. And yet...over and over and over we are admonished in scripture to be ‘not ignorant’ of his devices, to ‘give him no place’ and to be on high alert given he goes about ‘seeking to devour’ (2 Cor. 2:11; Eph. 4:27; 1 Pet. 5:8; John 10:10). Another ‘small detail’ that we have not fully understood...is how God ‘uses’ these forces of darkness to carry out His wrath and judgments. Yes...you read that correctly (1 Cor. 5:5; Ps. 78:49-50; Hab. 1:12).

And do you know what ‘gives place to this enemy’? Well look how Paul continues to explain that in Eph. 2:1-3...we were continuing to yield to our sinful and passionate desires of the flesh nature. That...is how we were controlled by this force of darkness. Sin and flesh is his ‘feeding ground’...which is the very reason that the Spirit of Christ leads us to...’put to death all the deeds of the flesh nature’. This was never intended to be some ‘holy option for super-saints’. If you continue to live according to the flesh...you will surely die (Rom. 8:13).

Look what Paul wrote in that same chapter 8:7-8 – to remain carnal makes us hostile towards God, incapable of fulfilling God’s law and therefore impossible to please Him. And when we fail to deal with that nature, as in surrendering to the leading of the Holy Spirit and putting it to death...completely...we then remain ‘subject to God’s anger’ and wrath. Again, what was Jesus’ warning to that man in John 5:14? –‘Go and sin no more...or else...?’. Oh, and to use my ‘ark’ analogy one more illustrating who are the ones who are actually ‘in Christ’ or are ‘His’... go finish up today with another one of those verses that I believe has been ’hid’ to many today; it’s found in Galatians 5:24. See you tomorrow?