"BY YOUR TRADITION"
"Beware lest any man spoil you THROUGH PHILOSOPHY & VAIN DECEIT,
AFTER THE TRADITION OF MEN, AFTER THE RUDIMENTS (elementary
teachings) OF THE WORLD, & NOT AFTER CHRIST." COL.2:8.
How few have heeded these inspired words of wisdom! How few even seem to be
able to discern that they are already trapped & spoiled in the vain philosophies,
traditions of men & teachings of the world! Unknowingly they are held captive in
the spirit of the world, & like their mother earth have become spiritually barren &
desolate - Isa. chptr.24. We are going to look at the tradition of man in a
non-traditional way in the hope that some will recognize even subtle areas of
captivity & call upon their Deliverer to continue to loose their bands of wickedness,
to undue their heavy burdens in order that they themselves might become fit for the
Master's use to set other captives free.
We are presently living in the midst of a visible & natural world as well as in the
midst of an unseen spiritual world - Eph.6:12. The Bible uses several major terms
to describe this spiritual as well as worldly plane of existence wherein we dwell.
The book of Revelation reveals the name of our present degenerate world of spiritual
bondage & that which is contained therein to be "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE
MOTHER OF HARLOTS & ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Rev.17:5; 18:2.
The Bible pictures this spiritual "mother of harlots" as a "great whore" (17:2), an
unchaste & destructive woman as well as depicting her as "that great city which
reigneth.."(17:18) over all ungodly governmental powers & peoples on the earth
causing them to drink of her intoxicating wine - Rev.14:8. "Babylon" is also
described as "the great city which SPIRITUALLY is called Sodom & Egypt -
(meaning fettered chains & double straits), where also our Lord was crucified."
Rev.11:8. Earthly Jerusalem & also Rome are other natural types of spiritual
Babylon.
Babylon means CONFUSION. Confusion is both a spiritual & natural (or should
we say unnatural) state of being that results where there is no real presence of godly
unity in peace & harmony. Confusion cannot help but breed intolerance, conflict &
DIVISION. Such is the earth in its political, social, economic & religious divisions.
In man's vain attempts to bring some lasting semblance of peace & unity, he has
enveloped himself in what has come to be known as "TRADITION". The
dictionary defines basic tradition as knowledge, customs & practices of mankind.
Strong's Concordance says "transmission", "a precept". Young's quotes "a giving
over, handing down". And so it is.
How has all this come about? We could go right back to the garden & all its aspects
of separation & division from God. However, the Bible gives us another major clue
in Gen.10:8-10. "And Cush (meaning black: terror) begat Nimrod (meaning "We
will rebel): He began to be A MIGHTY (great) ONE IN THE EARTH. ..the mighty
hunter before (Heb.-against) the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was
BABEL (confusion by mixing) and Erech (long), & Accad (a pitcher), & Calnah (the
wail is complete) in the land of Shiner (change of the city)."
The Bible name meanings are from "A Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names."
These names are important & often clarify the sense of an entire passage. Here we
see the beginnings of a spiritual truth that is surely coming to pass . We see that
confusing mixtures of truth & error would long be poured out until the wail, even
the groaning & travailing of creation is complete & there is a change of the city,
namely the NEW JERUSALEM. Until such time confusion shall continue to have
reign over our Babylonish earth.
The natural city of Babylon at one time became the greatest and most beautiful and
powerful ruling city on earth yet its far reaching tentacles also held captive the
chosen Israel of God. It became not only a great city but a great kingdom & empire
as well, which kingdom eventually fell to mix and eventually emerge as a great
influence in the Roman culture and empire.
Babylon also meant "gate of Bel" denoting a way of entrance. There is a dual
spiritual application here. Bel means "the god of the flesh (it can be taken positive
or negative) & was the Babylonian name of Baal, meaning--the Lord as master,
possessor, owner. Baal was the sun god of Babylon who's proper name was Marduk
or Merodach meaning "thy rebellion." Baal also became the chief male deity of the
Phoenicians & Canaanites.
Natural Babylon's wall, iron gates, & garden were great artificial wonders of the
world. Her natural visible strengths & beauties, had by John the revelators' time
long ago fell to the earth nevermore to rise. But Isaiah, Jeremiah, & John saw &
spoke, of a great spiritual anti-type of this natural city & kingdom. This spiritual
Babylon the great, still has high & mighty walls, strong iron gates of tradition &
deceptive artificial beauties that hold God's people captive at will. Praise be to God,
she is also destined to perpetual destruction, & that very shortly.
The Lord of lord's & King of kings was conveying much hidden spiritual truth both
to John & the church through the impartation of tremendous spiritual visions, when
amongst other things, he was given to see "a WOMAN sit upon a scarlet coloured
beast." Rev.17:3. Upon this woman's forehead "was a name written, mystery,
BABYLON THE GREAT.." Rev.l7:5. The SCARLET coloured beast in the deepest
level of the spiritual (1Cor.2:13; not the letter of the ) word, portrays & represents
the collective sin filled nature or soul of mankind. "Though your sins be as
SCARLET, they shall be white as snow." Isa.1:18.
Sin only surfaces out of the depth of man's heart & mind - Mrk.chptr.7. Since man
is a spirit in a natural body, Satanic influences which are also spiritual, manifest
from within. We wrestle spiritually not against outward natural enemies
(Eph.6:12) but against inward ones that rule in the realms of man's spiritual
darkness, even his mind. Know ye not that your own carnal mind is "a deceiver and
an antichrist" (2Jn.7) which "is enmity against God?" Ro.8:7. Truly,"this is that
spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now alread
is it in the world." 1Jn.4:3.
That uncleansed portion of man's heart & soul is revealed also as "the seat (throne
power) of the beast (Rev.2:13; 13:2; 16:10) and as "the bottomless pit" (Rev.20:3)
from whence cometh evil & death. In direct contrast & warfare, the regenerate
portion of a believer's heart is opened also to the throne power & eternal life of God
in Christ. The mind-heart realm in the spiritual soul of man is the place where evil,
whether it be of human source (iniquity), or of angelic source (demonic), can be cast
down, bound & destroyed by the appropriated power of God. Greater is He and His
mind that is in you than the beastly mind of humanity that usurps itself in this inner
"world of iniquity." The outer world we live in is a manifest reflection or image of
that which is allowed to sit on the throne of the carnal mind.
The mysterious woman "Babylon" whom John saw, whose name (denoting her
nature or characteristics) was upon her forehead, even that place where the brain
makes heart felt decisions, was seen sitting "upon a scarlet coloured beast" "upon
many waters." Rev.l7:l. This inwardly depicts the collective unregenerate souls of
the multitudes of mankind, & in the natural visible realm is seen as the multitudes of
the earth's nations, kingdoms & tongues - Rev.l7:12; Isa.57:20. In other words,
man's fallen bestial nature carries the confused mind of this reigning woman. We
are being sat upon & weighted down by the soulish deceptions & traditions of the
mind. We must therefore begin to rise up in the Spirit of the Lord & begin to take
our rightful place in the heavens & in the earth as the mature sons or God.
The dragon offers the mind of man a great deal of ungodly power & authority
(Rev.13:2) and the deceived mind unknowingly worships & gives allegiance to the
devil which gives this power unto the beast - Rev.13:4. Saints beware, for the
analytical power & the choices we make can easily stem from the unrighteous &
traditional influences of the beastly carnal mind. Remember we are created to
glorify God & to reflect His image & likeness "in the image or the heavenly."
lCor.l5:49. Today, the monetary system has become the foundation of "a golden
image" & the lust (inordinate desire) of mammon in "the image of the
earthy"(1Cor.15:49 ), is at the root of all evil - 1Tim.6:10
The "image of the beast"(Rev.l3:15) of fallen mankind can be found reflected
outwardly in several major realms, namely the earth's political, social, economical,
& religious systems. The manifestation of these things in the earth become the
natural products of spiritual Babylon. Natural worldly Babylon is really the image
and product of the wild beast nature of man's carnal mind.
Whole nations & empires are also metamorphically described as beasts (Dan.7), as
are rulers & kings - Ezk.29:3; 32:2; Rev.13:l-18. Behemoth in Jb.40:15 describes
the greatest beast. These beasts are combined & conjoined in the book of Revelation
& have both natural & spiritual meanings & fulfillments. More often than not,
these things are describing the inner residents of the dark kingdom in the fallen soul
of mankind.
It has really been the faulty systems of man's own jurisdiction, administration, &
tradition that binds him to that which is earthy, bestial, sensual & oft times devilish.
There have been no godly standards kept. Every man wants to do that which he
pleases in his own way. So we are seeing by the Spirit that BABYLON could also be
said to be an accumulated world wide system OF THE TRADITIONS OF
CARNALLY MINDED MEN which is "making the word of God of NON EFFECT"
(Mk.7:13) in both the natural & spiritual lives of men. Wild beasts were made to
live by instinct but man was made to live by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God - Mat.4:4.
The wild beast nature of man has rebelled & blasphemed against God for thousands
of years but the age is almost upon us wherein the nature or man shall dwell in
peace & unity in the presence of the nature or the Lamb - Isa.11:6. It has been long
enough that the woman's house, even the inward carnal mind of man dwelling in the
traditions, confusion & rebelliousness of this world, has been the way to hell, going
down to the chambers of death - Prv.7:27. Babylon's deceiving lips speak the
flattering words (Prv.7:21) of "the false prophet" whose voice constantly bears the
message of the beast & his worldly image.
The voice of Babylon, heard as a universal, collective spiritual body of spoken and
written deception, is expressed in myriad's of religious, social, economical, and
political terms, philosophies & traditions--all in opposition to the holy Spirit of Truth
found in the written & spoken word of God - Jn.6:63. One could describe the "false
prophet" as being any fleshly body or media of Satanic & worldly testimony--the
opposite to the body of the Spirit of Truth bearing the testimony of Jesus, the Spirit
of true prophecy - Rev.19:10. Soon, "with violence shall that great city Babylon be
thrown down" & her destructive sound shall be heard no more at all - Rev. 18:21-24.
Divine Precepts vs. Human Tradition
The antonym to the great antichrist kingdom and city is the great city & kingdom of
God. Both are natural & spiritual kingdoms. "That GREAT CITY, THE HOLY
JERUSALEM (Rev.21:10) symbolizes the collective body of the sons of God raised
up to experientially sit in ruling authority with Christ - Eph.2:6; Heb.12:22. The
heavenly Jerusalem represents the true church, the invisible body (& city-Mat.5:14)
of Christ that is presently in the world (yet to a degree in captivity to Babylon) but
are neither willing nor ignorant partakers of her polluted ungodly whoredoms nor
her traditionally corrupt alliances.
It is very evident that the majority of the church today is still strongly bound in
HUMAN tradition, whereas she should be breaking free & seeking to serve only in
DIVINE tradition - 2Ths.2:15; 3:6. She should not only be preaching, but
genuinely living according to DIVINE PRECEPTS. But to her shame, she is yet
almost lifeless, crushed under the heavy weights or her own HUMAN PRECEPTS.
"Wherefore the Lord saith, this people draw near me with their mouth, & with their
lips do honour me, & their fear toward me is taught by THE PRECEPT (things set
up) OF MEN." Isa.29:13; Ezk.33:3l,32; 14:3; Matt.15:8. Through lack of spiritual
knowledge & exercise (Heb.5:13,14), the church like the Jews, is unable to discern
what is truly of man & his wild beast nature & that which is of God & the nature of
the Lamb - Ezk.22:26; Zep.3:1-7.
Why is this so? A major reason is because the TRADITION of the institutional
church, of organized religion is bound in varying degrees, laws, forms & customs of
legalism, formalism, ritualism, ceremonialism, pharasaism, & outright hypocrisy,
becoming completely entangled in her own denominationalism, doctrinal creeds &
programs thereby adding to her invisible"yoke of bondage."
Many "profess that they know God, but IN WORKS they deny Him, being
abominable (Prv.6:16-19; 11:1; Lk.16:l5) & disobedient, & unto every good work
reprobate." Tit.1:16. Like the original believers, they have been turned again "to
the weak & beggarly elements" (Gal.4:9) of the world, "after THE TRADITIONS
OF MEN, after the rudiments OF THE WORLD & not after Christ." Col. 2:8.
Many there be that give heed "to Jewish FABLES & COMMANDMENTS OF
MEN, that turn from the truth." Tit.1:14. Jesus asks, "Why do you also transgress
THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD BY YOUR TRADITION?.. Thus HAVE YE
MADE THE WORD OF GOD OF NONE EFFECT BY YOUR TRADITION."
Matt.15:3-6; Mk.7:13.
In a similar vein, Paul asked, "Wherefore if ye be DEAD WITH CHRIST FROM
THE RUDIMENTS OF THE WORLD, why as though living in the world, are ye
subject to ORDINANCES, (touch not; taste not; handle not; which all are to perish
with the using) after THE COMMANDMENTS and DOCTRINES OF MEN?"
Col.2:20-22. "Why tempt ye God to put A YOKE UPON THE NECK..?" Ac.l5:10;
Matt.23:4.
The sad result of all this, is separation & division of the church both in the natural &
spiritual realms. Condemnation of the guiltless arises because of self righteous
pride & blindness (Matt.12:1-7) & the name of the Lord is blasphemed among the
Gentiles - Rom.2:24.
Jesus commanded His church "that ye love one another" as He loved them. "By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Jn.13:34,35. But, even the true church has let TRADITION & petty DOCTRINAL
differences divide them one against the other. Such things as water sprinkling or
immersion: to speak with tongues or not to speak with tongues; reconciliation of all
things or of a few... and the list goes on & on. True Christian love does not divide
nor breed carnality (1Cor.3:1-4) setting one against the other, rather it brings unity
of spirit centered in Christ in spite of our carnal nature - Jn. chptr.l7. How can we
truly love God & yet not love our brethren? 1Jn.4:20.
Tradition has always been a major characteristic of false religions & it has crept
into the true. It always leads to spiritual & sometimes physical bondage & death.
"He that leadeth into CAPTIVITY shall go into CAPTIVITY; He that killeth with
the sword (even the word) must be killed with the sword." Rev.13:10. This same
divine principle is found in Matt.l5:14. "Babylon signifies captivity & bondage of
God's chosen people - Isa.50:33; 52:11. "Judah was carried away captive out or his
own land" (Jer.52:27) & so also are God's people to this day. Babylon is the "land
of their captivity" (Jer.30:10) even in the realm of the soul.
God calls her "Ye destroyer of mine heritage - Isa.50:11; 51:49. She is also "a
destroying mountain (spiritual kingdom), ...which destroyeth all the earth."
Jer.51:49. "As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall (Rev.17:6) so at
Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth." Jer.51:49; Rev.18:24. But alas, it is
prophesied she shall sink in her own mire of violence, she shall fall in her own self
destruction; a reaping of just reward for that which she had sown - Rev.18:21. She
shall not rise from her evil but shall be "desolate forever." Jer.51:26, 62, 64;
Ezk.16:41.
Daniel saw "a GREAT image" (Dan.2:3l) but it shall not survive. "A GREAT
ROCK in a weary lane (Isa.32:2--a shadow of Christ coming in His kingdom)
becomes "the STONE ("cut out of the mountain" of Babylon - Dan.2:45) that smote
the image"(Dan. 2:25) of Babylon's great kingdom, even as David before he was
crowned, smote the Philistine giant. This "kingdom of God "shall break in pieces &
consume all these kingdoms (that make up Babylon), & it shall stand forever
Dan.2:44. Then shall it be said, "True & righteous are His judgments for He hath
judged the great whore." Rev.19:2.
Free From Tradition
In several senses of meaning, Babylon "hath been a golden cup IN THE LORD'S
HAND - Jer.51:7. Some, if not all Christian practices of traditional religion, have in
a sense, been even as the Old Test. laws, as "a schoolmaster"(Gal.3:24), a necessary
part of the learning process to bring US to a mature knowledge or the Son of God
even "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ -
Eph.4:13. God has always had a faithful overcoming people in the earth ready to
graduate, ready to receive their full adoption (Gal.chptr.4) --a remnant of the
church being prepared (Rev.19:7) to assume responsible roles as literal reigning
kings & priests in the kingdom of God that shall one day soon govern the whole
earth - Rev.2:26,27; 5:10; 11:15; 12:10; Dan.7:22-27 etc.
Ye who can hear what the Spirit saith unto the church in this hour, "stand fast
therefore in THE LIBERTY WHEREWITH CHRIST HATH MADE US FREE, &
BE NOT ENTANGLED AGAIN WITH THE YOKE OF BONDAGE." For,
brethren, "ye have been called UNTO LIBERTY; only use not liberty for an
occasion to the flesh, but BY LOVE SERVE ONE ANOTHER." Gal. 5:13. "Take
heed lest by any means this LIBERTY OF YOURS become a stumbling block to
them that are weak" (1Cor.8:9), "not using YOUR LIBERTY for a cloak of
maliciousness, but AS THE SERVANTS OF GOD." 1Ptr.2:16. This is the true
nature of "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" (Ro.8:2) & "where the Spirit of the
Lord is (even in your inward & outward life) there is LIBERTY." 2Cor.3:17.
There is a glorious liberty from tradition & the like that can be appropriated to
deliver us "from THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION." Ro.8:21. A truth that can
set us truly free - Jn.8:32. This liberty is not directly found in any of the traditional
systems of man's captivating religions, but it is round in the personal process of
learning who we are & who we are not, in Christ Jesus. It is discovered in the
power of the Spirit being allowed to bring "INTO CAPTIVITY every thought to the
obedience of Christ" (2Cor.10:5) that men may recover themselves out of the snares
of the devil (having been taken captive by him), unto the will of God - 2Tim.2:26.
This liberty or which we speak, is a major characteristic of true religion, pure &
undefiled before God. It is a genuine heart felt freedom of love & service, unable to
be bound or restricted by any carnal creed or tradition of man. True liberty & pure
religion is not found in any self originating efforts to try & serve God in outward
ritualistic law of man made tradition, but in the possession of a genuine reverential
fear of God & a desire to serve Him with all the heart & all the soul - Deut.10:12.
True Religion
True religion begins through a genuine acceptance of the fact that God because of
His nature, has committed Himself to us - Jn.3:16. In a personal way, "we love Him
because HE FIRST LOVED US." 1Jn.4:19. We are given from above, a faithful
desire & ability to begin to love God "with all the heart, & with all the
understanding, & with all the soul, & with all the strength" & to love others as
ourselves - Mk. 12:33; Hos.6:6. "What doth the Lord require of thee (to observe
tradition? No!), but to do justly, & to love mercy, & to walk HUMBLY WITH
GOD." Mk.6:8. Also, be teachable (Ac.9:6; Lk.11:1), maintaining a trusting child
like spirit (Matt.18:3) in SINGLENESS OF HEART - Ac.2:46.; Eph.6:5; Co1.3:22.
Another key is sincerity - Josh. 24:14; 1Cor.5:8. As sincere Christians, we must
learn to LET the faith which God has placed within us become an EVIDENT
FAITH, even a substance "which worketh by (genuine) love." Ga1.5:6. "Let love
be without dissimulation, abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good."
Ro.12:9. As we learn to do this, we are progressively putting on charity "which is
THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS" Col.3:14. True liberty, religion, & love walk
hand in hand.
When we begin to see these things by the Spirit & begin to live them out, we are
fulfilling the command to worship God "in spirit & in truth." Jn.4: 24. True
service, godly commitment and spirit filled worship is rarely found in organized
religion, nor is it confined at all to earthly or natural places such as church buildings
nor in their attendance. Neither is it found in trying to observe outward traditional
forms & patterns of churchianity religion which is so prevalent in the world today.
Rather, it is found in the genuinely righteous INWARD ATTITUDES & CHOICES
OF THE HEART. These qualities most often are developed in coming through &
over coming manifold temptations & difficulties in trying places - 1Ptr.1:7, 8. This
develops authentic & sincere individual worship of God in trueness of spirit & not in
the falseness of flesh & ecclesiastic liturgy.
Religious or ecclesiastical Babylon is founded & presently upheld in
uncompromising sectarian denominationalism. It is founded in man made creeds,
doctrines, laws, ordinances, rituals, ceremonies, programs, forms, & all manner of
carnal religious habits & exercises present in human tradition. A deceptive spirit of
worldliness &/or a deceiving spirit of polluted religion operates in varying degrees in
individuals as well as amongst numerous sects & denominational divisions of
Christianity today. This kind of religion would set itself up as a mediator between
man & God. But the truth is, there is only one true mediator "between God & man,
the man Christ Jesus." 1Tim.2:5.
Concerning the church as being one kingdom & temple, & the kingdom of this world
on the whole, as the other temple, we see Babylon in its entirety, is a religious,
economical, social & political house and kingdom DIVIDED AGAINST
ITSELF--none of its divisions which will stand forever - Dan.2:44; Lk.11:17,18. But
is any of that which is of Christ & His Spirit divided? 1Cor.1:13. Is it the true
Spirit of love that builds spiritual "fenced cities" (Ezk.36:35; Hos.8:14) and sets
spiritually unpenetrable barriers & walls of defense around her doctrines &
traditions?
We may yet be IN the midst of any or all of Babylon's deceitful aspects but we are
made free in Christ not to be OF it - Jn.17:14; 14:30. This is much easier to do once
we can recognize it for what it actually is. We may have to be IN the world but we
are free not to be OF the spirit OF the world.
The Fruit Of Life And Death
The tree (way-Prv.3:17,18) of life, the lifestyle which we choose is a reflection and
image of our hearts desire. Desire is created in all of us & is closely linked in man's
spirit to the will. Man's fallen corrupted desire is unto earthly glory & mammon.
The love (lust, inordinate over desire) of mammon is at the root of all evil - 1Tim.
6:10. Satisfied carnal desires are actually as much in death as are frustrated
desires. Both are void of true spiritual life.
There are three basic things people can do with their lust. They are free to continue
to feed & gratify it; they can try to control it, or they can practice biblical self denial
and go to the Lord in humbleness & repentance to receive deliverance from it. Only
when our inordinate desires are recognized for what they really are (sinful), & then
turned unto God in a sincere act of our will, does He begin to deliver us from the evil
iniquity that remains in that desire, replacing it with living fruit of His Spirit. Once
one comes into a certain understanding & level of overcoming by the Spirit, they are
sealed in that area of victory & the fruit will remain. When our desires are right,
we need not struggle with wrong ones.
Some people see God as a threat to their desires. Maybe that's why some don't seek
Him as they should! The queen (soul, the woman Babylon's spirit) in our temple,
seeks constantly to control & reign over the king of glory. But thanks be to The
Almighty, there is a desirous people wherein "the desire or the ages shall come.. ..&
will fill this house with glory" (Hag.2:7) "and the counsel of peace shall be between
them both" (Zec.6:13) when "the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His
temple."Mal.3:l. The two shall be come one in a divine fusion of power & glory.
Until then, self will,iniquity lust, wrong desire, ungodly motivation etc. is the root of
the tree (way, lifestyle) of the knowledge of good & evil. The fruit that can grow on
the unpruned branches (Jn.15:5) of this tree is unacceptable to God & is biblically
termed as "the works of the flesh." Gal.5:19. This fruit in basic, all inclusive
terminology, is simply called "sin" which contains the many seeds of death.
It is the beast nature within man that is constantly being fed this bad fruit, even this
food of death. This food is found in abundant supply, stored & housed in man's
traditions. Man feeds & acts on words & traditions that are lifeless & damaging in
the spiritual realm just as the flesh loves to eat junk foods that are nourishless &
harmful in the body realm. This only produces what the Bible calls spiritually
"dead works." Heb.6:l.
These works can be great & wonderful works in man's eyes (Matt.7:22), but in
God's eyes & nose they are a stench to His nostrils & remain as "works of darkness"
(Ro.13:12; Eph.5:11), "works of the flesh" (Ro.5:19), &'' works of the devil"
(1Jn.3:8), all of which are found in one form or another in religious "works of the
law" (Ro.9:32; Ga1.2:16; 3:2,5,10), bound under the law "of works." Ro.3:27.
The "flesh" may appear righteous & pure in outward appearance but within the
carnal man it is "full or dead man's bones." Matt.23:27. As one seeks to purge his
conscience "from dead works" (Heb.9:14), "the works that are therein shall be
burned up" (2Ptr.3:10) by the Spirit of God who Spirit is "a consuming fire." Heb.
12:29. As a part of Babylon, "she shall be utterly burned with fire." Rev.18:8,18.
In direct opposition & contrast to these lower laws, is the higher operation of "the
LAW OF FAITH." Ro.3:27. This also operates in "the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus" (Ro.8:2) wherein are found "the works of Christ" (Matt.11:2)
fulfilling all "the works or God." Jn.6:28; 9:3, 4. Brethren, initially "ye are risen
with Him, through the faith of the operation of God" (Co1.2:12) & that faith is "not
of yourselves...not of works, lest any man should boast.'' Eph.2:8, 9; Tit.3:5.
In light or this New Testament truth, internal & external obedience does not avail to
true spiritual profit nor fruit unless the action originates from the Spirit of the Lord.
Self sacrifice & religious works of all sorts are as "sounding brass or a tinkling
symbol"(1Cor.13:1) unless the motivation for it is a genuinely activated work of the
Holy Spirit based in the love of God - 1Cor.chptr. l3. The works of faith are the
results of appropriating faith at the time of need. True works are a divinely
inspired manifestation, an action which produces positive results from God and for
God.
God is a Spirit, the Spirit of agape love. If you have not the gift of God's love
(1Jn.3:16), namely the Spirit of life present within you (Ro.8:19), & cannot confess
with spirit, soul & body, life to this fact, then regardless of what you think, you have
not even the beginnings of biblical charity - 1Jn. chptr. 4. You need salvation!
The manifest activation or true biblical faith is called "works". So also is the
manifest action of the flesh & its carnal belief apart from biblical works, also called
"works". Confusion reigns when we fail to differentiate between the traditional
works of the flesh & the work of the Spirit. The major difference is, that one work
has its origin of the natural mind, of the traditions of man, of the human spirit, while
the other has its source only of the divine Spirit that inhabits man. No man can
know or do the works of God but by the Spirit of God - 1Cor.chptr.2.
The physical body of man without the natural creative, life-giving Spirit of God is
naturally & physically dead. So the inner spiritual body of man without the saving
Spirit or Christ is also considered spiritually dead. In like manner, natural human
faith combined with natural human works is considered "dead works" because
neither the faith, nor the works, originated, nor were appreciated, out of the
working will of Christ within - Jas. chptr. 2; Phi1.2:12,13. Let us not be so foolish
to think that even though we have begun a new life of faith in the Spirit, that we can
be made perfect by the works of the flesh in the tradition of man - Ga1.3:13.
Let us...
You will find that a key word in the Bible is the little word "LET." In a positive
sense it means "to be willing", "yield", "forbid not", "allow or permit by choice"
and to "be obedient to." In a negative sense, it means to "deny", "abstain "allow
not", "obey not", "lay aside", "leave alone" and "put off or away."
"LET us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and LET us put on the armour of
light" (Ro.13:12) "and LET the peace of God RULE IN YOUR HEARTS ." Col.3:1
Yes beloved, "LET us cleanse ourselves of all filthiness of the flesh and spirit
(2Cor.7:1) and "LET us go on unto perfection." Heb.6:1. His precepts and
traditions must become ours and ours must be lost in Him!
"LET love be without dissimulation." Ro.12:9. "LET all your things be done with
charity" (1Cor.16:4) "according as HIS DIVINE POWER hath given unto us all
things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of Him that hath
called us to glory and virtue." 2Ptr.l:3; 2Cor.4:6, 7.
We shall sum all these things up in saying, "Above all these things put on charity,
which is the bond of perfectness. And LET the peace or God rule in your hearts."
Co1.3:14,15. In other words, "LET this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus." Phil.2:5. If you choose to LET, you will also be enabled & empowered to
"SET your affections on things above, not on things on earth." Co1.3:2. In the
"things" of the earth lie waiting, the snares of every tradition of man.
"WOE to the inhibitors of the earth and of the sea." Rev. 12:12.
"The time when things are to be brought to a crises, & the period of their fulfillment
is near. He who is unrighteous .(unjust, wicked) LET him be unrighteous still, &
he that is filthy (vile, impure) LET him be filthy still, and he that is righteous (just,
upright) LET him do right still, and he who is holy LET him be holy still
(Dan.12:10). Behold, I am coming soon and I shall bring my wages and rewards
with me, to repay and to render to each one just what his own action and his own
work merit." Rev. 22:10-12; Isa. 40:10; Jer.l7:10 [Amplified Bible].
"I AM THE ALPHA & THE OMEGA, THE FIRST & THE LAST (THE BEFORE
ALL & THE END OF ALL) Rev. 22:13.
K. Ross McKay
|
|
 |