Contrary The One To The Other

"The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Gal.5:17; Ro.7:14-25.

Why cannot ye always do the things that ye would? Because dear brethren, believe it or not, you have a sinful "OLD MAN" still living in your house. But he is dead and buried someone proclaims. He no longer dwells there. But is that really what the scriptures say? Come. We have better things to do than bury the dead. Is it not our calling to bring life unto them? Let's go together to Berea for a time to search out the truth of the matter - Ac.17:10,11.

Now, if there really be an "old man" in our temple, who could he be? Well, the New Testament speaks of only two men representing the two basic manifestations of man's spiritual being. One is the younger and one is the elder - Gen.25:23. One is in death and darkness. The other in life and light. One is holy and righteous in its nature. The other is sinful and corrupt in nature. One works and dwells hidden in "the mystery of iniquity." 2Ths.2:7. The other works and dwells hidden in "the mystery of Godliness." 1Tim.3:16. However, "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter." Prv.25:2. And you who are "kings and priests unto God" (Rev.1:6; 5:10) are worthy of His honour to do so.

If you will take time to search deep enough, even deep (Psa.42:7) into the "fleshly tables of the heart" (2Cor.3:3), there you cannot help but discover that the "old man" is none other than "the man of sin" (2Ths.2:3), "the body of sin" (Ro.6:6; Col.2:11; Ro.7:24) that has not yet died and still dwells in the midst of God's temple (2Ths.2:4) whom ye are - 1Cor.3:16. This man in the religiousity of his deceived mind arrogantly proclaims himself to be equal with God, even to be God the Father or Son himself!

He indwells the members of humanity both as an individual and corporate man as does the Lord Jesus Christ. He is in reality, a proud, sinful, self-serving spiritual corporeal body with spiritual "sinful flesh" Ro.8:3. He is a "fleshly" essence of spirit, manifesting his ungodly nature (Eph.2:3) of self (Ac.26:9) through the natural body "which (nature) is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts...of the mind" (Eph.4:22); even every man's "carnal mind (which) is enmity against God." Ro.8:6,7; Col.1:21.

This carnally minded old man is also scripturally revealed as the "the fleshly mind" (Col.2:18) with its "fleshly wisdom" (2Cor.1:12) and its "fleshly lusts." 1Ptr.2:11; Ro.7:23. He manifests in "all the things of the flesh" (Ro.8:5) such as the "the filth of the flesh" (1Ptr.3:21), "the works of the flesh" (Gal.5:19) and "the lusts of the flesh" (Gal.5:16; Eph.2:3; 2Ptr.2:18; 1Jn.2:16), "filling the desires of the flesh and of the (fleshly) mind." Eph.2:3. He is also part of "the NATURAL MAN (who) receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God." 1Cor.2:14.

The natural, physical heart or brain of man is not sinful. The physical body apart from its personal spirit is dead (Jas.2:26) and it is sinless, because sin dwells only in high spiritual places of the spirit realm and not in/as the physical properties of flesh and blood - Eph.6:12. The Apostal Paul recognized the spiritual wrestling and warring in the unrenewed portion of his mind which he said was "bringing me into the captivity to the law of SIN WHICH IS IN MY MEMBERS." Ro.7:23. He saw in its still present enmity and opposition to "the mind of Christ" (1Cor.2:16) that "the flesh (with its sinful and iniquitous fleshly mind) lusteth against the Spirit (of God), and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Gal.5:17.

Brethren, you cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God, much less exercise them, except ye both recognize and allow continual renewal in the spirit of your mind in putting off "THE OLD MAN" and putting on "THE NEW MAN" - Eph.4:22-24. It is foolish and contradictory to think we can do that if we believe the old man is in reality, already dead! If the old man is in fact dead and lifeless, then we of course would have nothing at all left of him nor his hinderances to overcome. We will have already attained to the evident completeness of "the manifestation of the sons of God" (Ro.8:19) and the "resurrection of the dead", a manifest prize of perfect completeness in Christ which even the great Apostle Paul had not attained nor apprehended - Phil.3:10-16. A few have always claimed this but their actions have always spoken louder than words and yet they continue to die as is appointed unto mortal men - Heb.9:27; Eccl.12:7.

Thank God, the utter destruction of this old man of sin "the son of perdition" (Jn.17:12) that spiritual offspring of the father of lies (Jn.8:44) is ordained in that he is being destroyed even now through "the weapons of our warfare (that) are NOT CARNAL" (2Cor.10:4) in the light and truth of the new man's coming - 2Ths.2:8. Rest assured in the typology of this truth, "there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever." 1Sam.2:32. Jesus Himself said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant (the son of perdition, the old man) abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Jn8:34.

It is totally unscriptural and therefore erroneous to believe that the old man is now already dead in the sense of being ineffectual and no longer active or operative in those who are believers in Christ. However, it is entirely scriptural to believe that man's unregenerate spiritual nature is actually "DEAD IN SINS." Eph.2:5. Unlike the regenerate nature of the new man, it is not at all DEAD TO sin or to sinning, but it is spiritually DEAD IN sin! It is not dead in a physical sense but it is bound and dead under lifeless letters of law that made sin alive - Ro.7:6-14.

Yes, the old man's nature is spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. "And you hath He quickened WHO WERE DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS." Eph.2:1. The word of God elsewhere declares unregenerate men to be dead even while they live on this earth - Matt.8:22; 23:27; Jn.11:25; Eph.5:14; 1Tim.5:6. Just as the natural "BODY WITHOUT THE SPIRIT IS DEAD" (Jas.2:26), so the spiritual body of man without the life giving Spirit of the Lord is also said to be dead.

Before we were given the life of Christ, we were ALL DEAD - 2Cor.5:14. Our old nature was considered dead but only in the foregoing sense of being dead IN sin. But now in His grace and mercy, "you, being (formerly) DEAD IN YOUR SINS and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." Col.2:13.

Now, it is this newly quickened regenerate man who is "dead" but in a totally different meaning of death. It is only this NEW MAN, this "INNER MAN" (EPH.3:16) that is now revealed as being "DEAD WITH CHRIST" (Ro.6:8; Col.3:20; 2Tim.2:11), "DEAD TO SINS" (Ro.6:2; 1Ptr.2:24), "DEAD TO THE LAW" (Ro.7:4; Gal.2:19), dead to the appetites and "desires of the flesh and of the mind" (Eph.2:3), "DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN." Ro.6:11.

"YE (not your "old man" but you in your renewed spirit as a "new man") ARE DEAD (WITH Christ and risen together WITH Him--being dead TO sin and its wages; dead to the old self; dead to the old law and its ordinances; dead unto the world), and your (new) life is hid with Christ in God." Col.3:3. If this were speaking of our old man, then that totally contradicts erroneous doctrinal belief that the old man is totally dead and buried and consequently no longer functional. Why? Because that teaching insists that the old man is no longer YOU. So how could YOU who is now a new creation, a new man--possibly be "YE" who some believe is no longer YE or YOU?

This foregoing doctrine comes from wrongly interpreting scripture and the meaning of "death" in relation to the old man, rather than seeing it is the new man who is in fact dead in the sense that he is unable to function. He is dead TO the functions of sin. He is dead WITH Christ, sanctified and holy, totally apart from anything of the old. It is he, our growing NEW creation MAN who is dead IN (union with) CHRIST to anything of the old creation. Therefore it is of a truth that "if any man be (dead to sin and alive) IN CHRIST he (that renewed man) is a NEW CREATURE; old things (sin, old self, old law, all former worldly things) are passed away; behold, all things (now) are become new (born in the Spirit of Christ in us)." 2Cor.5:16.

Neither in scripture nor in the realities of this natural life is the old man dead. It is only the NEW MAN that is "DEAD WITH CHRIST" Ro.6:8; Col.2:20. It is only the new nature that is dead to serving the old nature. For we know that only "HE THAT IS DEAD (not our old man but rather our new man together with Christ) is freed from sin." Ro.6:7. He is no longer bound to serve sin. So the truth is, we, that new nature in us, is "DEAD TO SIN" in contrast to being DEAD IN SIN as is our old sinful nature. "How shall we (in our new born spirits), that are DEAD TO SIN, live any longer therein?" Ro.6:2. The truth is, nothing that is born anew from above can live in sin - 1Jn.3:9,5. And "it is a faithful saying: for if WE (our new man) BE DEAD WITH HIM, we (again our new man) shall also (because of this deadness to sin) LIVE WITH HIM." 2Tim.2:11.

Now when we grasp that revelation, we are to relate and identify our new man, our new nature, with Him that died unto sin once but now lives unto God - Ro.6:10. How do we begin to do this? Paul says, "Likewise, RECKON ye also yourselves (YOU, YOUR NEW PERSON in the spiritual reality of a new union with Christ - Gal.2:20) TO BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Ro.6:11.

Know it is only in your yielding to the Holy Spirit working through the renewed spirit of man that can bring the soul (its remaining old nature) under subjection to Christ - 1Cor.9:27; 15:31; 2Cor.4:10. We live in a sensual body of flesh that has OUTWARD physical and soulish manifestations, "but though OUR OUTWARD MAN (old natural and soulish man) perish, yet THE INWARD MAN (the new man) is renewed day by day." 2Cor.4:16. When we live and excercise only our natural senses in this world, we live in the first or old man Adam. When we exercise the faith of Christ, we dwell in Christ and in the spiritual world.

Again, nowhere does scripture say that our old man is dead in the sense that he is inactive, destroyed and powerless. But it does in fact in many places relegate "death" to the new man. Speaking of our old man, we see scripture revealing our old nature as existing only in a state of being "IN DEATH" (1Jn.3:14) or "DEAD IN SINS" Eph.2:5. This includes the outward body realm - 2Cor.4:16. The only place the multiple facets of both spiritual and physical death presently does not operate is in the believers NEW MAN - Jn.11:26. That new man only, has "eternal" life - Jn.3:15; 6:44.

The new inward man is no longer subject to any form of death associated with the old outward man's mortality. This old nature, experientially still exists and remains in believers in preparation to be "CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, (in order) that the body of sin (our old man) MIGHT (Grk.-katargese..an active aorist subjunctive verb indicating future, not past) BE DESTROYED, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Ro.6:6.

Contrary to unscriptural beliefs, the devil who has the power of death, is still operating in that power. It is no illusion. He works his various forms of death in the body and soul of the old adam nature - Ro.5:12-21. It is a present, albeit temporary (2Cor.4:18) reality. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through (His) death He MIGHT DESTROY (Grk."katargese" ...future tense) him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Heb.3:14.

How could our corruptible old man have died or been fully destroyed if we are yet instructed to "put off concerning the former conversation THE OLD MAN, which (still) IS (not was) corrupt according to the deceiful lusts; and be (continually) renewed in the (old still unregenerate) spirit (spiritual essence) of your mind (soul); and that ye (experientially and progressively) put on THE NEW MAN, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness?" Eph.4:22-24. In this manner and sense we are said to have "put off the OLD MAN with his (corruptible, unholy, unrighteous) deeds and have put on THE NEW MAN, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him." Col.3:9,10.

That is the process of crucifixion. The process whereby the Spirit of Christ now is putting the corruption and mortality of the old man to death, destroying this spritual nature and body of sin - Ro.6:4-6. For it yet remaineth that "this corruptible must put on (sink into, be merged into) incorruption, and this mortal must put on (by sinking into, being merged into) immortality. So WHEN this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, THEN shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, DEATH is SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY." 1Cor.15:53,54.

In all of the foregoing revelation all scripture relates to either the active operation of the old man or the new man. And it all takes place under the auspices and power of divine spiritual law. If the old man had truly died, there could no longer be any operation of any sinful corruption that is even remotely connected with the old man either in mind or in body.

The old man is NOT dead! But his doctrines are. All doctrine apart from truth is in reality also "contrary the one to the other." It is dead and lifeless...devoid of the life and truth of the Spirit of God. Any doctrine that would imply otherwise is "another gospel." 2Cor.11:4; Gal.1:6. Even the fact that sincere religious men are still susceptible to allowing their "minds to be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2Cor.11:3) is ample proof of the old man's present existence in the power of delusion "that they should believe a lie." 2Ths.2:11.

All the carnal things, the fleshly things, the corrupt things of sin and death operate within the mental and spiritual psyche of one man only. Your old man...even that original identity in the first man adam which is a carnal and earthy soul. These unrighteous and corruptible things express the nature of that man. All holy things, godly things, incorruptible things of righteousness and eternal life are the only expressions or manifestations associated with the other man. The new man!

All that originates from the human heart and mind and is expressed in works or deeds have their source in either the old man or new man. There is none other! Be wary of any religious proclamation that claims the old man is dead and therefore something else or someone else apart from him is still active. Beware of any doctrine that presents vain excuses in trying to justify as something else, the still ever present and sometimes obvious manifestations of the carnal mind and its clearly visible unholy expressions in themselves and in others. Those who would do this only further prove that the deceptive old man of self is far from being dead in themselves!

Just as there are only two contrasting trees revealed in Eden, there is only one old nature and one new nature revealed in us. There is only sin or righteousness. There is only one that is part of the old creation in Adam and one that is part of the new creation in Christ. There is only one first adam (the old) and one second adam (the new). There is only one "old man" spoken of in the scriptures and one "new man" spoken of in the scriptures. There is only one natural man and one spiritual man. There is only one Old Testament and One New Testament. There is only one overall old covenant and one new covenant form of law. There is only the letter of the word as opposed to the Spirit of the word. There is only the "carnal mind" (Ro.8:7; Eph.2:3) as opposed to "the mind of Christ." 1Cor.2:16.

All other terms in scripture that describe either of these two types of creation fall into either one of these categories or the other. There is no third category. No third creation. No third Adam. No third man. No third mind. No third nature. There is no third bodily member or function that we can truthfully relegate to being something other than the sin and evil that always is, and only is, associated with the old man and no other...and which Paul revealed is still present with us and within us - Ro.7:20-24.

"O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve THE LAW OF GOD; but with the flesh THE LAW OF SIN." Ro.7:24.

The Bible also speaks of only two primary unseen realms wherein spirit exists. One is called "the mystery of godliness" 1Tim.3:16. The other which which is in conjuction yet contrary to it, is called "the mystery of iniquity." 2Ths.2:7. The operation and manifestations of spiritual powers within these two realms also take place within the spirit-soul makeup of both the new man and the old man. These spiritual operations are governed by the Creator and again fall under the dominion of His two basic caterories of spiritual law wherein both these major mysteries are found. One law contains the administration of death. The other only the administration of eternal life. One is after "the law of a carnal commandment." Heb.7:16. The other "after the power of an endless life." Heb.7:16.

Under THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY which operates in the earthy realms of the world, the flesh, and the devil, all related things such as are associated with and related to "the old man", are bound under "THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH." Ro.8:2. This major law is also biblically called "THE LAW OF SIN" (Ro.7:23,25) which law also encompasses the "LAW OF MOSES" (Lk.2:22; Ac.15:5), "THE LAW OF CARNAL COMMANDMENT" (Heb.7:16) and "THE LAW OF CARNAL COMMANDMENTS CONTAINED IN ORDINANCES." Eph.2:15. The spiritual powers and operations under these laws are not at all apart nor immune from the overall preeminent Almighty power, authority or will of God Almighty - Isa.45:7; 46:9-11; Col.1:16-18; Eph.1:11. They are in spiritual reality, one law with diverse functions under God's divine dominion.

On the other hand we are told of THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS. Therein, our "new man" operates under the highest dominion of creation wherein we being made free in the power of the Most High's law called "THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS." Ro.8:2. This law is revealed in several other scriptural terms namely, "THE LAW OF FAITH" (Ro.3:25), "THE LAW OF RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Ro.9:31), "THE LAW OF CHRIST" (GAL.6:2), "THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY" (Jas.1:25; 2:12), "THE ROYAL LAW" (JAS.2:8) and "THE LAW OF GOD" - Ro.7:25; 87. This righteous law, as does the law of sin and death, works inwardly in man. We who are apprehended of the life giving Spirit of God "delight in THE LAW OF GOD after THE INWARD MAN" (Ro.7:22), the NEW MAN within us.

In both the old man and the new man, the mysteries of these laws are always connected with the "works of the flesh" and "the fruit of the Spirit" (Gal.5:17-23) and "these are contrary one to the other so you cannot do the things that ye would." Gal.5:17. On this account we have the flesh nature which manifests fleshly things and causes vanity (Psa.39:5) and originates from the will of man to do evil. Its power and operation is contained in the mystery of iniquity, hidden in lust in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil - Gen.2:9.

In direct glorious contrast on the other side, we see a Spirit nature which manifests pure spiritual things and brings forth fruitfulness (Gen.1:28) that comes from the will of God to do godly goodness - Gal.5:22; Eph.5:9. This is contained in the mystery of godliness hidden in love found in the tree of life - Ro.7:23; Ro.8:13.

On one side we see the cursing that came in the form of all that is in death because of sin - Ro.5:19; 8:10; Deut.30:19. Herein was manifested the kingdom of Satan (Lk.11:18) which is also hidden in secret places (Jb.20:26) of Satan, the devil, the serpent...the father of all lust. He is instigator of all death and lies - Jn.8:44; Eph.2:13. He is the source of the spirit of false light made manifest in flesh - 2Cor.11:4; Rev.9:11; 12:9.

In direct glorious contrast on the other side, we see the blessing that came in all that is in "life" because of righteousness - Ro.5:19; 8:10; Duet.30:19. Herein was manifested the kingdom of God (Lk.11:20) also hidden in the secret places (Psa.91:1) of God, the Father of all - 1Cor.8:6; Mal.2:10; Heb.12:9. He is originator and source of all life and light. The source of the Spirit of the true light made manifest in spirit, even Christ - Jn.1:1-10; Col.1:27.

On one side is revealed the man (Isa.14:16) "lucifer", the collective image and embodiment of the deceiving spirit of Satan in the adamic man. The personification of the deceiving spiritual power of enticement lust activates a driving force of unholy desire in soul and flesh called iniquity, causing man to desire to do only his own will - Isa.14:12, 13; 2Cor.11:4; Jas.1:14,15.

In direct glorious contrast on the other side, is revealed the Lord Jesus Christ, the personification, the embodiment and express image (Heb.1:3; Eph.2:9) of the enlightening spiritual power of God's love now manifest in adamic man. This power of love in the will of God, motivates a holy desire in the spirit and will of man to do the will of God - 1Jn.4:7-14; Jn.14:23; Phil.2:13; Jn.17:23-26; Eph.3:9-11.

On one side we see this evil iniquity, works also as the spirit of anti-christ (1Jn.4:3; 2Jn.7), even the false prophet (Rev.19:20) which operates primarily as the spirit of fear (2Tim.1:7), the spirit of error (Jn.4:6) the spirit of bondage (Ro.8:15), the tormentor (Matt.18:34) and is manifested in the son of perdition - 2Ths.2:13. This son is composed of the nature of sin (Ro.7:8-23), and is revealed in/as the nature of the beast (Rev.13:4), the old man (Eph.4:22), the carnal mind (Ro.8:7) the first man adam (1Cor.15:45), in vessels of wrath (Ro.9:22) and is hindered by the prince of the power of the air (Eph.2:2) and evil angels - Psa.78:49; 2Ptr.2:4.

In direct glorious contrast on the other side, we see righteous good works also as the Holy Spirit of Christ (Phil.1:19; Eph.4:30; Psa.51:11) which operates as the spirit of faith (2Cor.4:13), the spirit of truth (1Jn.4:6; Jn.16:13), the spirit of adoption (Ro.8:15), the Comforter (Jn.14:26; 15:26) and is manifested in the Son of righteousness - Mal.4:2. This Son is composed of the divine nature (2Ptr.1:4), and is revealed in/as the Lamb (Rev.13:8), the new man (Col.3:10; Eph.4:23), the mind of Christ (Phil.2:5), the last adam (1Cor.15:45), in vessels of mercy (Ro.9:23), ministered by the Prince of peace (Isa.9:6) and holy angels - Rev.14:10; Heb.1:14.

On one side we see the will or choice of man to be disobedient results in unrighteousness (Ro.3:5) and in works of the flesh (Gal.5:19) and manifestation of the sons of man as the corporate body of death (Ro.7:24) which is a vile spiritual body (Phil.3:21), mortal and corruptible - 1Cor.15:23.

In direct glorious contrast on the other side, we see the will or choice of man to be obedient results in righteousness (Ro.3:5) and in the fruit of the Spirit (Gal.5:22) and the manifestation of the sons of God (Ro.8:19) as the corporate body of life (2Cor.4:10,11) which is a glorious body (Phil.3:21), immortal and incorruptible - 1Cor.15:23.

On one side we see the vile body sown also as a natural body in dishonor (1Cor.15:43 44), sown in weakness bound under the law of sin and death (Ro.8:2) because the wages of sin is death (Ro.6:23) and sowing to the flesh reaps only death's corruption - Gal.6:18.

In direct glorious contrast on the other side, we see a glorious body being raised as a spiritual body in glory (1Cor.15:43,44), raised in power, set free under the law of the Spirit of life (Ro.8:2) because the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Ro.6:23) and sowing to the Spirit reaps life everlasting - Gal.6:18.

Man's soul in darkness (Ac.26:18) ultimately shall be changed from bondage (Gal.2:4) into liberty (2Cor.3:17), from the oldness of the letter (Ro.7:6) into newness of the Spirit (Ro.7:6), from the image of the earthy (1Cor.15:49) into the image of the heavenly (1Cor.15:49), from the image of the beast (Rev.13:15) into the image of the Lord (2Cor.3:18), from the power of Satan (Ac.26:18) unto the power of God (Ac.26:18), from a false prophet (Matt.7:15) into a true prophet (Matt.7:20), and from wrath, destruction and condemnation in death...unto peace, restoration and rewards in life.

ALL THINGS IN DEATH SHALL BE SWALLOWED UP IN THE VICTORY OF CHRIST'S LIFE BY HIM WHO QUICKENETH ALL THINGS MAKING ALL THINGS NEW - 1COR.15:25,26,54

"THIS I SAY THEN, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, AND YE SHALL NOT FULFILL THE LUST OF THE FLESH" Gal.5:16