Monday, October 18, 2010

You don't have to let the old nature get the best of you

Christians! There is a better life than having an inner struggle going on in your heart...all the time. God doesn't want Christian's to struggle with the sinful nature. He gives man a way to get rid of sin. God provides a means of deliverance from the struggle caused from the old nature. It's called sanctification by the Grace of God. The struggle with the Old Adam is what many Christian's deal with at this present hour. This struggle allows the devil's nature to get the best of people from time to time... but it doesn't have to be that way. Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world. The Bible teaches Christian's are able to overcome the wicked one. It's also clear that this statement is true in a saved man's life...before he gets sanctified.

1 John 2:14...and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

1 John 5:18..We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

People are no taught about this in the Church World. If people were taught about this...they would find out they could be delivered from the devil's nature instead of defeated by it. It would be confirmed with the Holy Scriptures and then you would see alot more victorious Christian's. They wouldn't allow the old nature to knock them down as much. They wouldn't allow the Devil to find a place in their lives. They wouldn't constantly proclaim defeat. They would be professing victory over the Old Adam. People would have a stronger witness and understand the truth of the Holy Scriptures more. Sanctifying power that follows the new birth... can be found and experienced in this life unlike what they are told through through human opinion. I realize the Devil can knock a man down and God will pick him back up. Over and over again. A sanctified man won't let the Devil knock him down. The power of God's Grace in the sanctified heart gives man a better life and a stronger grip on the Holy Spirit. This life produces a life of victory over the Old Adam.

The life of victory over the Old Adam is not found in the new birth. The new birth is where forgiveness is found not victory over the Old Adam. Victory over the Old Adam is found after man is born of the Spirit. A new life is made in Christ then crucifixion to self occurs. The believer realizes he has to get out of the way in order to have the life without struggle, without the inner conflict, and without the war in his members. That life is found only through a sanctified heart given by the Spirit of God. Entire sanctification can be found and experienced on this side of heaven. Yes, you can be entirely sanctified on this side of Heaven. When sanctification is found (in the life of a believer in Christ) the Old Adam will not get the best of you anymore. The struggle with the old Adam is taken away. You don't have peace in Christ you have the peace of God that "rules" your heart. No more inner conflict. No more war in your members. No more struggle with self.

Sanctification is not a progressive experience that gradually comes in the life of a believer. It's the final work of the Holy Spirit unlike the initial work of the Spirit in the new birth. Sanctification takes place upon a believer (not a sinner)...like it did upon the Apostles on the day of Pentecost. Then later this subject is taught by Peter who testified this same sanctifying experience took place upon the Gentiles (house of Cornelius) like it did on them on the day of Pentecost. The Gentiles had experienced a purifying experience in the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire like the Apostles did on the day of Pentecost. They were saved first (born of the Spirit) and then later they received the sanctifying power of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost right on the spot...instantaneously. they were filled! They were emptied of self! They were purified from the Adamic life! Sanctification came to purify their hearts from the still existing nature of the Old man. This purification by the Spirit of God dealt with the Old Adam that still existed in their lives. They were already saved prior to this Baptism with the Holy Ghost. So what were these saved men purified from? The Old Adam.

Acts 15:7-9...And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

God knows the Old Adam can get the best of people. He gives man a way to be delivered from that. Sanctification through the baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire is the only way to find victory over the Old Adam. Sanctification "purifies" or ""burns up" the Old Nature. That's what John the Baptist meant when he said,

Matt 3:11-12...I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Christ will burn up the chaff in your heart. Christ purifies and sanctifies! Christ destroys the Devil's nature. Christ forgives the sinner in the new birth...but Christ gets the believer out of the Devils prison house...when the believer is sanctified entire with the Baptism with the Holy Ghost and fire. Then the old nature will not get the best of you anymore. The new new nature now rules without a struggle...by the Grace of God! Isn't that beautiful?

This stuff needs to be taught more! This stuff needs to be experienced in the hearts of faithful men...then it needs to be lived out and witnessed. What better place than Churches on Trial? Sanctification will produce fruit. The fruit of Sanctification is... the Old Adam will not get the best of you anymore. Amen?

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