Without understanding of man's "fallen nature" ...there's no need for a Saviour

The following is an excerpt from a biography I'm presently writing about Brother Lindsey. The biography is titled, "The Walking Bible". Since I began writing the biography (2009) God has since taken me in another direction which has become... this Blog. Since back then, this writer has began publishing past radio broadcasts by Brother Lindsey. Before Brother Lindsey died, him and I discussed keeping this ministry alive. I committed to him and through that committment... this Blog and my Church in Williamsburg have both become God's vehicles to carry this Gospel for God...and Brother Lindsey. May this Blog in dedication to Brother Lindsey bless others as much as it this writer. Here's the excerpt...

Hubert's preaching always contrasted "fallen man" with the power of the true Gospel. Hubert’s reasoning was the depravity of man needed to be taught more in the modern Church-world so men would see more of their need for the redemptive work of Christ. Hubert’s preaching always kept the topic of the fallen state of man under the light of the Glorious Gospel. Hubert Lindsey was very sensitive to fallen man’s helplessness, his hopelessness, and his inability to change morally without the redemptive power of Divine Grace. Hubert always emphasized the need for teaching both the frailty of man and the power of a resurrected Savior. Hubert knew that without recognition of man’s fallen state the unsaved world would have no need for the power and presence of a living Christ. Hubert preached Christ to all his listeners and explained in depth mans need for deliverance from the pollution of sin caused from man’s inherited fallen nature.

When Hubert preached he always addressed two types of sin. First was the act of sin that man commits; second was the actual sinful nature of man. Hubert’s Gospel always steered men to turn away from both kinds of sin to an acceptance of the person of Christ as means of redemption. At the end of his sermons Hubert always offered his audience invitation to the redemptive power of Christ. Hubert had no problem understanding that only through the person of Christ could sinful men be led to repentance.

In all of his preaching Hubert always made the point that repentance means to change your mind. Hubert had a God-given way of describing the two-fold meaning of repentance. In one respect he would show repentance as man’s change of mind from wrongdoing and from sinful acts. Secondly, he would teach that repentance is man’s change of mind from what he is by nature. Repentance from the fallen state of man is not taught much in the mainstream today. Hubert understood that only the power from preaching the Gospel leads sinful men to repentance from what they did...and from what they are.

Luke 24:47… And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,

Acts 13:38-39…Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things

Hubert Lindsey confidently recognized the fact that the fallen nature of man was a doctrine taught in almost every book of the Bible. Hubert believed that without this doctrine being taught man would lack understanding or the need for the work of the Holy Spirit that morally sanctifies man from the nature of sin. Hubert wouldn’t budge from the fact that man was carnal by nature as taught in the Bible. He knew that Christ was man’s only hope to be delivered from that propensity of sin! Hubert believed and taught that a man had to know “what he is” before he could find deliverance from the carnal heart through the Spirit’s Sanctifying work. Hubert professed there was a time in the past when the subject of the depravity of man was taught on more. Brother Lindsey proclaimed that the doctrine of depravity faded in the past 100 years. That’s why he called what we’re living in today, “The modern Church-world”. Among other things the modern Church-world has drifted away from teaching on …the depravity of man.

In 1985 Brother Lindsey put this great subject onto an audio recording. It was titled, “Original Sin and doubt”. This audio recording contained a wealth of scriptural evidence that is “a must” for every Christian library.

Hubert attended a Faith Conference in the 80’s where many known figures in the modern Faith Movement attended. He was approached by a popular mainstream Pastor and asked, “What are you going to preach on tonight”. Hubert stated, “Doubt”. The Pastor asked Hubert, “Why doubt at a Faith conference?” Hubert stated because the Holy Spirit deals with the negative side of the human being.

The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin and reveals doubt to the human conscience. Doubt is… faith in Christ’s greatest hindrance. Doubt is the fruit of man’s negative side that causes man to miss Christ. Hubert preached on doubt because it’s a product of the carnal heart. Doubt and uncertainty hinders people from believing or exercising faith in Christ. Hubert preached on doubt so he could show people how God could “rid” man from “it”. When Christ is revealed the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit directly “reproves” the negative part of man that produces doubt and unbelief.

John 16:8-9… And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me;

The Holy Spirit’s Witness

(The inner work of the Holy Spirit in the soul of a believer)

The witness of the Holy Spirit affects the inner part of man’s make-up in both sinner and saint alike. It deals with how the Spirit of God reaches the human soul in Salvation. The Holy Spirit affects the human soul when man "hears" the truth of the word of God. As the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit inwardly work together the unholy will and desire of man is affected or swayed. The Spirit’s witness through the Gospel message affects the mind and will of sinful man enough that sinful man can be led to repentance. The Spirit’s conviction pricks the heart by stirring the conscience and revealing to man (Christ) thus showing man his need to turn away from a life of sin.

· Acts 2:37-38…now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent

Repentance is work of the Holy Spirit in the human soul that helps sinful man to change his mind. The Spirit places a new desire in the heart to quit wrongdoing and helps one to recognize a consciousness to Christ. The Holy Spirit testifies Christ to the heart of man.

· John 15:26…But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me

As the Spirit testifies to the heart, man can see himself as he really is. Sin is exposed as the power of the Holy Spirit affects the will of man enough that a change of mind can be made. Mans choice to change is made as the goodness of God leads him to repentance.

· Rom 2:4…not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance

The Spirit’s witness makes Christ known to the human soul. This work of the Holy Spirit affects mans choices and decision making process. When a sinful man sees himself in the presence of Christ brokenness from the guilt of sin occurs. By the Spirits conviction man becomes sorrowful for sinful acts and wrongdoing. Sorrow then turns to consent of the human will in repentance, belief, and acceptance of Christ for the forgiveness of sins.

· 2 Cor 7:10…For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation

Unlike conviction and repentance which affect the will of man, believing and receiving deals with consent of the human will. Consent of human will is given through mans faith toward Christ. It is worked out through a life of obedience to God. Contempt of human will is reflected toward Christ through doubt, rejection, or unbelief. It is worked out through a life of disobedience to God. The Holy Spirit’s invitation through preaching the Gospel can disturb the conscience enough to sway the will of man. Through acceptance of Christ man makes a willful choice to get away from what he is. His choice to willfully exercise faith allows the power of God to produce a life of subjection and obedience to Christ. Note the fact that faith and the Holy Spirit enter into man through hearing… the word of God.

· Gal 3:2…Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
· Rom 10:17…So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Holy Spirit cuts through the hardness of man’s negative side and bears witness with the spirit of man. The witness of the Holy Spirit unites with the spirit of man through regeneration of the new birth. The mind, will, and desires of a believer are not only affected …by the power of the Holy Spirit but are now… changed. Repentance and remission of sins allows this believer to be pardoned from all past sins. Justification is a pardon granted from God for all the past sins of a man who now trusts in Christ for the forgiveness of sins. For this reason the Gospel is preached.

· Luke 24:47…And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations
· Acts 13:38-39…through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things

When man believes and gives his heart to Christ he receives the down payment of a new life in the Spirit. He is sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

· Eph 1:13…after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise

Sealing is an initial work of the Spirit that places a believer into Christ and into Christ’s spiritual body. When man is sealed into Christ by the Spirit, life is viewed through a different set of eyes. Man becomes aware of the Holy Spirits presence. He knows his sins are forgiven by trusting the death of Christ alone. He is conscious to righteousness rather than wrongdoing. He is given a holy heart with holy desires and reverence to God. He joyfully abides in the Spirit with a realization of holiness without guilt or condemnation from sin. He knows Christ and knows that his changed moral make up is sealed with the Holy Spirit. He’s Gods property and ownership. The seal of the Spirit of truth enables man to be guided morally into all truth.

· John 16:13-14…Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Forsaking sin, the attitude of a believer

Christ commanded His disciples to go into "all" the world and preach the Gospel because He knew the power and the effect the Gospel message would have on the unbelieving world. Saint Luke stated the words of Christ in the 24th chapter that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name. Both repentance and remission of sins are received in the heart of man through the effect of the truth of the Gospel message upon the unregenerate heart. What does the Gospel message have to do with the unregenerate man forsaking sin? How does the Gospel message effect the unbelieving world? These questions arise.

 As the Gospel message is ministered to the hearts of men the Holy Spirit has an effect on the unbeliever that "sways" mans thinking and attitude. The unbeliever sees himself in light of the Spiritual presence of the person of Christ. Sin is revealed as the goodness of God "leads" an unregenerate man to repentance or change of mind. This leading, this spiritual effect, and this power that flows from the truth of the Gospel message "stirs" the conscience of the unregenerate soul. It stirs him enough to give him the attitude to "turn away from sin". It stirs him enough to give him the attitude to quit sinning. It sways him enough to give him the attitude to "forsake sin and dirty living". This is the work of the Holy Spirit that breaks the will of fallen man and turns him away from the desire to live unholy in the eyes of God. Forsaking sin is the attitude of an unregenerate man in repentance. Forsaking sin is a natural desire of an unregenerate man who weighs out the things he did in the past...and puts them in light of the truth about Christ that comes from the hearing the Gospel message. Yes my brothers and sisters forsaking sin is the attitude of the unbelieving soul, even before God's Grace comes in to remit and forgive man from all past sins.

Forsaking sin comes from the act of repentance. Forsaking sin is a desire to quit wrongdoing because of enlightenment that Christ places upon the unbelieving soul. The attitude of forsaking sin is the right attitude to receive the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation. The power of the Gospel, the power of God's Grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit that flows from Calvary is the power that breaks, sways, and changes the unbelieving heart...to a place of repentance. When the power of Calvary is "trusted" completely by a man that repents and forsakes sin... a miracle takes place. The miracle is the remission of sins that man receives "when" he personally trusts Christs redemptive work on the cross at Calvary. Through this man (Christ) is preached the forgiveness of sins. Reconciliation is made for the lost soul in Heaven. God speaks pardon to man who repented with the desire to forsake sin. This man can believe and trust Christ because the eyes of his understanding have been enlightened. Christ is revealed and accepted. Sin has been forsaken. The attitude of forsaking sin took place before the new birth in repentance. Now the repentant heart can accept and trust Christ for personal forgiveness. All sins are remitted. A power from above has showed the man who forsook sin a new life and a new walk. Grace brings a new experience of righteousness and right living. Not weaving in and out of wrongful living. Even before the saving Grace came in mans attitude was to forsake sin. After Grace came in the regenerated man had power to live holy and to do right. He not only forsakes sin in repentance but has a God given desire to live holy and right in the eyes of God.

Don't let man deceive you God's Grace is enough to live holy. Repentance and godly sorrow is enough to usher in the power that a believer needs to be the person they ought to be. Isn't that beautiful? Don't be confused sin is forsaken in repentance. Holiness of heart is found in Salvation. Glory! Believing in and trusting in Christ for personal forgiveness is also a renunciation of sin. Why? Belief allows the Holy Spirit to give you a desire to quit sin. When the Holy Spirit takes you over you will quit your meanness completely. Your body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. You are delivered from sin and washed in the Blood. You don't have to forsake sin anymore. You did that when you repented. Now by the Grace of God, you just cease from sinful living. You become "proof" our Savior lives. He's alive in you! Glory! You're saved! Your heart is clean! No more dirty living!

Luke 24:44-47...And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations,

There is no process in becoming a child of God...you either have salvation of the soul or your soul is lost

The mindset today is to achieve Christ by "works". These works I speak of are "religious works". These religious works are the activity of man in effort to obtain a better standing with God by his own religious actions, works, or practices. These religious activities of man are very dangerous and even cause some to miss the activity and truth about God's Divine Grace in the Church the body of Christ. God's Divine Grace is not a process "worked out" by men that call themselves Christians. A believer in Christ has a new and better life of clean living in an ungodly world because he's been changed by Divine Grace that is given through faith alone in the person of Christ. A believer in Christ is a sinful man that has been "cleansed" from a heart of disobedience and sinful conduct...through trust alone in what Christ did for him personally at Calvary.

Forgiveness of sins is granted to the penitent not because of human sorrow only. Forgiveness of sins is granted because of the fact that Christ is a Savior. When man believes and trusts in Christ, trusts in Christ at Calvary, and trusts in Christ's power from the Throneroom forgiveness is granted to the heart of man and offers Salvation to the human soul. Forgiveness is granted to the human soul because man "trusts and believes" in Christ crucified... for personal forgiveness. Christ's shed blood and the suffering of a Saviour are man's only grounds for personal forgiveness.

Acts 13:38-39... Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man (Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him (Christ) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

There is no process for man to do any religious act... to receive forgiveness for all the past sins that were committed. There is no process to become more spiritual with God by religious works, actions, or practices. The Christian life is not a process to get more spiritual or to be gradually be delivered from sin. Studying God's Word does not make you more spiritual. Spirituality does not even come through praise and worship. People should praise and worship Christ "because" they're delivered from sin "not to be delivered from sin. Sin is not essential in the heart of a believer in Christ.

Recognizing Christ is the key to everyday Christian living. Realizing Christ as a personal Saviour is essential to the better life of holiness. Realizing who Christ is and what He did for you personally allows the conscience to be cleared from all sins of the past. Realizing who Christ is allows Christ to govern your heart and life every day of your existence on planet earth. Recognizing Christ is not a process, it comes through your personal belief and trust in Him. Realizing where you stand daily in Christ shows your subjection to a Saviour that lives. Behaving yourself as a child of God "proves" that a Saviour lives and actually changes the heart of a sinful man. Becoming a child of God is not a process of religious works but the activity of God's Divine Grace in the heart and life of a believer in Christ.

Human works and man's religious activities are stinch to the nostrils of God! Why? Human works cause men to miss the work of Christ from Calvary and from the Throneroom...now in the present tense. Religion is man's attempt to reach Christ. Christianity is where Christ is found through belief and trust. Religion is a human process. Christianity is a human experience found through faith and belief in the person of Christ. Christ is the head of the body...not you! Christ governs your heart and life because He's God. Christ purchased the Church with his own Blood. It's what Christ did at Calvary that gives you and I personal forgiveness not our own sorrow or our own works.

Titus 3:5-7...Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

When we get into the mode of part time belief...sinning religion...asking for forgiveness... and committing sin over and over again...the Bible calls this "worldly sorrow" that only brings death.

2 Cor 7:10... For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Godly sorrow bringeth Salvation to the human soul. Why? Salvation is the work of God's Divine that gets man in the Spirit...that gives man the new birth, and that gives man a desire to quit practicing sin. What I'm saying is, "Sin is not essential in the heart and life of a child of God". Divine Grace forgives man of all past sins and rids man of sinful conduct in the present tense. A child of God's desire therefore is to "forsake" sin and sinful conduct. Divine Grace keeps the Holy Spirit present in the life of a believer in Christ. A believer in Christ is just as subject and conscious to Christ's Holy presence in the workplace as he is in the local Church. No process to get into Christ and no process to get into the Spirit. This mindset of the gradual process to reach or achieve Christ through religious works is a very dangerous deception that's rampant today in the mainstream.

I like Peter's word when the people that crucified the Lord of Glory were stirred so much by the Holy Ghost they asked, " What shall we do?" Peter responded, Repent and be baptized everyone of you for the remission of sins.

Acts 2:37-38...Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins

Sins are remitted when sinful men get into Christ! Glory to Christ! The Gospel message leads sinful men to repentance! The Gospel leads sinful men to Christ and forgiveness that only comes from a Saviour's love. The Gospel message causes men to turn from sin and disobedience. they repent, believe, and trust in Christ! The Gospel is why Rick Roehm writes these words. God Bless you all! May the Grace of God become "real" to your hearts...because God's Grace....

Titus 2:11-12...that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

How does the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer “affect” the works of the Devil?

The Church is what keeps the Holy Spirit present in the life of a Christian. Men become conscious to the Holy Spirit’s presence when they hear the Gospel message. The Holy Spirit is recognized “after” men accept Christ for forgiveness of sins. Acceptance of His righteousness allows the Holy Spirit’s regenerating power to change the moral make-up of fallen man. This work of the Spirit of God in the human soul is what “defeats” the cause of the Devil. Christ …through the omnipresence of the Holy Spirit manifests holiness and righteousness within the human soul. How? …By giving the believer a divine nature. This new nature gives man power to live holy; and the strength to overcome sin. The Bible teaches that God purposed Christ to manifest Himself in heart of man…first to keep the believer from committing sin…second to destroy the works of the Devil.

· 1 John 3:8…He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Through the "miracle of the Church" the Holy Spirit was given to all men who accept Christ’s power and presence into their hearts. Holiness of heart comes into members of the body through a conscious recognition of Christ. This work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is what “defeats” the Devil’s cause. How? Christians resist the Devil by faith. Christians are in subjection to Christ not the Devil or His demons. That’s why the Scriptures teach that through man’s faith in Christ, “The Devil will flee”.

· James 4:7…Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

· 1 Peter 5:8-9…because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith,

Regardless of what the world says, Christians have victory over the Devil! The Spirit of God says so! The Bible says so! The victorious life of a Christian over the Devil is produced because the power of a living Christ is manifested every minute, every hour, every day… in the heart and mind of a believer!

This writer is thankful that members of the body of Christ… have the mind of Christ. Their mind is pure because their heart is pure. Clean thoughts and clean thinking gives the believer the ability to overcome sin and the works of the Devil. Members of the body of Christ think right and do right because they are “kept” by the power of God.

· 1 Peter 1:5…kept by the power of God through faith

The keeping power of God in the heart of man provides the believer with a way to “escape temptation” and to “escape the deceptive works of the Devil”. Without strength given from the Holy Spirits witness man is helpless to the powers of darkness. With Spirit given strength in the heart of a believer, the child of God has power to “overcome” sin, disobedience, the flesh, and the Devils devices. Here’s how!

The Devil and the powers of darkness are subject to Christ whose Spirit of holiness governs the heart and life of a believer. Through the power and presence of a resurrected Savior the Devils authority is spoiled. A believer’s triumph over the works of the Devil comes not only because of what Christ did on the cross; but what Christ is doing presently in from the Throne room. Members of the body of Christ triumph over the powers of darkness because Christ “spoiled” their powers openly. How? ... He is God! He rose from the grave! He’s alive forevermore! …Halleluiah!

· Col 2:15…And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.