Chapter three

Verse ten: In Romans 6:6 the Apostle Paul states that our “old man” (former sinning self) was crucified with Christ on the cross. The old sinful self was destroyed so that from that time onward the convert would not “serve sin” by yielding to Satan’s temptations. In Ephesians 4:2,3 he returns to that theme by telling those in the church that they (we) must “put off the old man” and be made new by a change of heart (mind), thereby enabling them (us) to “put on the new man” which is created by God “in (a state of) righteousness and true holiness.” God commands that the saint then remain in that righteous state. Only those who do so will be saved (Mat. 10:22). The Apostle Peter states that only the righteous will be saved, and them just barely (1 Pet. 4:18).

Everything the human being does or says, whether good or bad, begins in the mind (heart) (Jam. 1:15). In Philippeans 2:5 Paul tells us that we can have the mind of Christ: “LET this mind (heart) be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” when He walked the earth as a human being. “Let” indicates that operating on the Christ level mentally and spiritually is a matter of personal choice. The Apostle John makes the same statement using different Words in 1 John 2:6: “He who says he abides in Him (Jesus)–claims to be a Christian–must walk even as He walked” as proof of his sonship. John then goes on to say in verses 7,8 that the true saint will walk in both the Old Testament (“commandment”) and the New Testament (“commandment”). Note that God’s Word is called a “commandment”–singular. The Lord views the entire Bible as one entity. John makes certain that the reader understands that by the phrase “old commandment” he is referring to the Tora (first 5 books of the Bible) and the writings of the prophets “which you have had from the beginning.” The Words “commandment,” “law,” and “testament” all mean the same thing–the Holy Bible which God gave to the Word (Jesus of Nazareth) at various times throughout the past. Jesus then gave them to His prophets and apostles who spoke them then had them recorded “for our instruction” (1 Cor. 10:11).

Colossians 3:10 speaks of the true God-seeker obtaining “knowledge” about Jesus Christ so as to become the “image of Him who created him.” This is the only and all-consuming goal of the one who “hungers and thirsts for righteousness” who, we are told, is blessed by God (Mat. 5:6). Note that God promises to “fill” him/her with His righteousness. To be “filled” means that there is no room for sin. As was stated in 1 John 2:6-8, the way God fills righteousness seekers with righteousness is through their belief in both the Old and New Testaments. Such seekers retain that righteousness by obeying those Testaments. In all things relative to one’s walk with the Lord, EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO THE WORD which is God and Christ manifested in written form. Jesus of Nazareth was the Word (Jn. 1:1-4,14/Rev. 19:13) in human form. As the afore-mentioned Scriptures, along with many others, tell us, true saints are duplicates of the human Jesus. The definition of the word “Christian” is “little Christ.” As John said, if we claim to be His brethren we must “walk as He walked”–live as He lived. In order to do this we must know all that can be known about Him. This can be accomplished only by studying His Truth–the Word (Jn. 17:17), believing it and obeying it. Professing Christendom–this ministry’s mission field–fails on all three counts. And as if that was not rebellious enough, she proudly and loudly proclaims and displays her failure for all the world to hear and witness. Grace, she brags, allows her to rebel against God and get away with it. God seeker, come out of her and be separated from her, do not touch her. Then, and only then does God promise to be your God (2 Cor. 6:17). Why must one come out of the Institutional Church in order to be saved? Because righteousness and sin have nothing in common (2 Cor. 6:14-18). L.J.