"IN THE FLESHLY TABLES OF THE HEART" 2Cor.3:3

 

 

TWO MEN IN THE EARTH

 

In type and shadow, and in spiritual reality, there are really only two men in the earth.  The Bible calls them "THE FIRST MAN ADAM" and "THE LAST ADAM." 1Cor.15:45.  This speaks of the two types of humanity present in the earth.  "THE FIRST MAN is of the earth, earthy: THE SECOND MAN is the Lord from heaven." 1Cor.15:47.  Now those who are made of the dust are like all who are made of the dust. They have an earthly body and an earthy nature.  And as is the spiritual man from above, so also they that are born from above (Jn.3:3-8) have a new spiritual nature - 1Cor.15:48. 

 

"There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body." 1Cor.15:44.  In terms of the natural man, there is a "natural body" that was made to exist as a living earthly soul.  This body of humanity is covered with flesh and expresses an earthly nature and personality.  Inwardly he is composed of "soul" and "spirit." Jb.32:18; Dan.7:15; Zec.12:1.  Not only is man "a soul" in the terms of a living being (Ac.2:41,43; 7:14; 27:37), but he has within his body, a thing called "soul" which is referred to as "His soul" (Mk.8:38), "the soul" (Heb.6:19), "my own soul" (2Cor.1:23) amongst other similar terms.  God's word reveals earthy man as having a spirit, a soul and a body - 1Ths.5:23.  For much more detailed information on this subject see our articles entitled "The Spirit Within" and "The Undividable Division."

 

In terms of "A SPIRITUAL BODY" (1Cor.15:44) we refer to "THE SECOND MAN" which is also "THE LAST MAN ADAM."  This "man" who once on earth, took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, being found in fashion as a man (Phil.2:7,8) is now "the Lord from heaven", even our Lord Jesus Christ.  Before He departed the earth, He promised to send another "Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit." Jn.14:26.  He had promised to be WITH man and IN man that He might abide with them in Spirit for ever - Jn.16:17.

 

Now it is revealed, "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son INTO your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Gal.4:6.  Now, "the Spirit of the living God dwells IN the FLESHLY TABLES OF THE HEART." 2 Cor.3:3. The "two men", the spirit-soul of Adam and the Spirit of our Lord from heaven have come to earth to be together once again, only this time the Spirit of God is taking up His abode WITHIN the earthy tabernacle of the first man Adam - Eph.2:22.

 

 

THE FIRST MAN ADAM A FLESHLY NATURE

 

Now we have a problem.  The problem of incompatible personalities living in the same house!  One has the nature of the earth; one has the nature of the heavens.  One is unholy and fleshly, one is holy and spiritual and "THESE ARE CONTRARY THE ONE TO THE OTHER." Gal.5:17.  Warfare is unavoidable and inevitable!  It is the "VILE (spirit) BODY" (Phil.3:21) of the "FIRST MAN ADAM" that has a big problem.  And we are not talking about his natural flesh body.  He wants to live his own life, and so does everything he can to hold on to what he feels is his rightful possession.  On the other hand, THE SECOND MAN who has just moved in, is non other than our earth's land Lord (Psa.24:1-3) and He has every right to dwell in the building He built (Heb.3:4; 1Ptr.2:5) and which He also owns -1Cor.6:19,20. 

 

Did you know that this same FIRST MAN ADAM has been living his outward earthy existence under many different names?  One fitting name for this nature is "THE OUTWARD MAN." 2Cor.4:16.  This man has one basic identity; one nature that manifests outwardly, but he takes on many aliases.  Let's look into some of these other descriptive names of this man who is made up wholly of a "NATURE" that is intent only on "fulfilling THE DESIRES of the FLESH and of the MIND." Eph.2:3. The natural mind of every man including Paul, "is CARNAL SOLD UNDER SIN." Ro.7:14.

 

The fleshly nature of the carnal MAN'S mind is also known as "THE CARNAL MIND" (Ro.8:7; Col.1:21) and it is this nature also called "THE FLESHLY MIND" (Col.2:18), that is causing conflict between the two Adam's that reside in the house.  Dearly beloved, this is "THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND" (Eph.4:23) that needs renewal.  This spiritual nature of the first man Adam is older than the second, having first place in the natural house (1Cor.15:46) and he is also now revealed as "THE OLD MAN WHICH IS CORRUPT" (Col.3:9; Eph.4:22) even "THE BODY OF SIN." Ro.6:6. 

 

 

A CORRUPT SPIRITUAL MIND AND BODY OF DEATH

 

Again in another place, this corrupt man and body is called "THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH." Col.2:11. Again, we are not talking about the natural flesh body albeit it is included.  Because the wages of sin is not only natural but also spiritual death (Ro.6:23; Ro.8:6), this OLD MAN'S spiritual body is also referred to as "THE BODY OF DEATH." Ro.7:24.  Yes, this old man with his body of sin and spiritual death can now be brought to light as "THE MAN OF SIN", "THE SON OF PERDITION" who squats in the inner spiritual temple of God - 2Ths.chptr.2.  Once more, this is not a literal man we are talking about here. And we will say some more on this later.

 

From within the flesh (even out of the heart of man - Matt.15:19; Prv.12:20; Jer.4:14; Ro.1:21) comes vain and sinful thoughts and "works of darkness" called "THE WORKS OF THE FLESH." Gal.5:19.  These carnal works are amongst "THE THINGS OF THE FLESH" (Ro.8:5), namely "FLESHLY LUSTS which war against the soul." 1Ptr.2:11; Ro.7:23. 

 

These are also called "THE LUST OF THE FLESH" (Gal.5:16; Eph.2:3; 2Ptr.2:28; 1Jn.2:16) and "OF THE MIND" (Eph.2:3), even "THE FILTH OF THE FLESH" (1Ptr.3:21) of that fleshly man of sin that opposes the Spirit of Christ, the new man nature also within us - Gal.5:17; Ro.7:23. With the fleshly carnal mind we as believers, serve "the law (ruling power) of sin" (Ro.7:23,25) which is "not subject unto the law of God, neither indeed can be." Ro.8:7.   Yet on the other hand, we "delight in the law of God (Ro.7:25) after THE INWARD MAN"(the spirit of Christ dwelling in us - Ro.8:9, 10). Ro.7:22.

 

SINFUL and CARNAL MINDS, FLESHLY MINDS, "CORRUPT MINDS" (1Tim.6:5) are all the SAME as what is also known as "SINFUL FLESH." Ro.8:3.  Paul said, "What I hate, that do I....Now then it is no more I that do it, but SIN THAT DWELLETH WITHIN ME." Ro.7:20.  Paul didn't ignore nor refuse to recognize his fleshly adamic nature, rather he expounded on it in his writings-- exposing its power.  And he didn't believe there was NO SUCH THING in him.  To the contrary he proclaimed, "I know that IN ME (that is IN MY FLESH), DWELLETH NO GOOD THING." Ro.7:18.

 

It is none other than this primordial man with this mind of sinful flesh that is enmity towards God. Though "we walk IN THE FLESH", we are not to "war AFTER THE FLESH" but are to wage warfare in obedience to the Spirit of God - 2Cor.10:3-5.  "We are to put no confidence in the flesh" (Phil.3:3), for "IN THE FLESH" (Ro.8:8,9) nature of man only "evil is present." Ro.7:21. 

 

"This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the LUST of the flesh.  For THE FLESH (mind) 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.   But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law" (Gal.5:16-18) referring primarily to "the law of sin and death" (Ro.7:23; 8:2).  Rather, ye are walking "in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." (Ro.8:2) "That the righteousness of the law (of life) might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." Ro.8:4.

 

 

THE LAST MAN ADAM, A DIVINE NATURE

 

THE LAST MAN ADAM is not without different names describing His intrinsic nature either.  As should be expected, most are in sharp contrast with the names and nature of the first man Adam. His nature is not of the old nature filling the desires of the flesh, but is a new and different nature...a holy and "DIVINE NATURE." 2Ptr.1:4. The Nestle Greek text says it this way. "If any one [is] in Christ, [he is] A NEW CREATION; the old things passed away, behold they have become new." 2Cor.5:17. 

 

"The old things passed away" have to do with man's previous moral and spiritual condition (see Amplified Bible), not his old sin nature passing entirely away nor all things in his nature made new.  What is passed away is the old state of things. The former life that was subject only to death is now become fresh and new. A new life has begun being "born from above" (Jn.3:7 Grk.), "born of the Spirit" of God - Jn.3:5,6,8.

 

The nature of THE SECOND MAN in contrast to the "OLD MAN" (Col.3:9) is called the "NEW CREATION" (2Cor.5:17; Gal.6:15), ''THE NEW MAN" (Col.3:10; Eph.2:14; 4:24), which in "NEWNESS OF SPIRIT" (Ro.7:6) is the true "MAN OF GOD." 2Tim.3;17; Tim.6:11.  In contrast to the "BODY OF SIN" (Ro.6:6), this spiritual body is to be made manifest as a body of life - 2Cor.4:11.  One has the nature of sin and death.  The other the nature of life and peace.  "TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH; but to be SPIRITUALLY MINDED is life and peace." Ro.8:6.

 

"THE INWARD MAN" (2Cor.4:16; Ro.7:22) or "THE INNER MAN" (Eph.3:16) is synonymous with the spiritual HEART of men of faith wherein dwells the Spirit of God - Eph.3:17; Gal.2:29.  This man is also known as "THE HIDDEN MAN OF THE HEART" (1Ptr.3:4).  Therein, in contrast to THE darkened nature of the CARNAL MIND is "THE MIND OF THE SPIRIT" (Ro.8:27; 11:34) otherwise known as "THE MIND OF CHRIST." Phil.2:5; 1Cor.2:16.  The first man is DEAD IN SIN.  The last man is DEAD TO SIN!   One man is in gross darkness, the other in great light.

 

"What communion hath light with darkness?" 2Cor.6:14; Lk.11:34-36.  In God's eyes, none! Therefore God has commanded the light of His life to shine forth out of the darkness of our hearts - 2Cor.4:6.  This glorious rising light (2Ptr.1:19) increases in its intensity and glory as it destroys the dark sin nature of our hearts, changing us from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord - 2Cor.3:18.  The spiritual reality is that the old nature continues to perish daily being replaced by the new nature as we walk in the light of this mind of Christ.  "Though our OUTWARD MAN PERISH (our earthen vessel and its carnal nature), yet THE INWARD MAN is RENEWED day by day." 2Cor.4:16.

 

 

WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YE ARE DEAD?

 

As we have already made clear, there is a sin nature, a carnal mind, a fleshly nature wherein dwells both "SPIRITUAL THINGS" and "CARNAL THINGS." 1Cor.9:11.  There is a new nature that is no longer of the sin nature of carnality and flesh "if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." Ro.8:9.  So if "ye then be RISEN WITH CHRIST, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on THINGS ABOVE, not on THINGS ON THE EARTH.  YE ARE DEAD and your life is hid with Christ in God." Col.3:2, 3.  In other words, the NEW LIFE you have with Christ in you is DEAD TO SIN.  It does not mean that your first Adam nature is totally replaced by the new nature.  Nor does it mean it is dead in the sense that it ceases to live or is incapable of acting. Not at all!

 

We who were once spiritually dead IN our SINS (Eph.2:1) but now made alive, are DEAD (inactive, immune) TO SIN only in daily yielding to this new creation life that dwells within us.   It is only this Spirit in us that that abides in God that sins not - 1Jn.3:6.  However, in our present earthy condition, there remains something else in us, a corrupt sinful nature that turns toward envious desires - Jas.4:5. 

 

But you are dead to the ever active power of sin only "if ye through the Spirit do MORTIFY (daily and cause to be put to death) the deeds (sins) of the body" (Ro.8:13), if you "walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."  Ro.8:1-5. "IF you walk in the light as He is in the light....the blood of Jesus Christ...cleanses us from all sin." 1Jn.1:7.  "MORTIFY therefore YOUR MEMEBERS which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience."

 

 

RECKON YOURSELVES DEAD UNTO SIN

 

"If YE BE DEAD WITH CHRIST" (Col.2:20) to sin, you remain DEAD TO SIN as long as "ye RECKON (estimate, conclude, reason, think on; suppose - Strong's 3049) also YOURSELVES TO BE DEAD INDEED UNTO SIN." Ro.6:11.  Every believer is to consider, reckon and understand that he is living with Christ...his former relation to sin broken.  IF we do this, "How shall WE (now with new natures), THAT ARE DEAD TO SIN, live any longer therein?" Ro.6:2.  "Knowing this, that our OLD MAN is CRUCIFIED (to impale in company with - Strong's 4957) with Him, that THE BODY OF SIN might be destroyed (future tense), that henceforth we should not serve sin. For HE THAT IS DEAD (TO SIN as long as he is mortifying the deeds of the sinful body) is freed from sin." Ro.:6:6,7. Hence, "it is a faithful saying: for if WE BE DEAD WITH HIM, we shall also live with Him." 2Tim.2:11.

 

When we RECKON the old man (first Adam nature) to be dead, does that mean it is literally dead, buried and no longer there as some would have us believe?  Again we ask, is the Bible telling us to reckon that we no longer have a sin nature?  If it were, then the only logical conclusion to follow would be that we also have no sin! However, "IF WE SAY WE HAVE NO SIN (that which constitutes a sin nature), WE DECEIVE OURSELVES and the truth is not in us." (1Jn.1:8) and "we make Him a liar and His word is not in us." 1Jn.1:10.

 

 

CHRISTIANS NOT SINNERS?

 

In a converse manner, some men believe and proclaim that Christian's are not "sinners."  But the truth is, Christians who believe they "HAVE NO SIN" or "HAVE NOT SINNED" (1Jn,1:10), are denying the very nature that make them sinners and proves them deceived. Either Paul was revealing a fundamental truth or he was totally deceived when he boldly proclaimed himself to be the chiefest of sinners.  He didn't say he formerly WAS a sinner, he emphatically said to his brethren, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS; of whom I AM chief." 1Tim.1:15; Ro.3:7.  James, addressing some double minded and proud and contentious Christian brethren (Jas.3:1,10; 4:11), rebuked them saying, "Cleanse your hands ye SINNERS; and purify your hearts ye double minded." Jas.4:8.

 

 

CRUCIFIED...DEAD OR ALIVE?

 

Now let's look at the word "CRUCIFIED." To be "crucified" does not mean to be "DEAD" physically. It is very important to understand this or the whole doctrine and the implications involved in its spiritual application will be in error.  Those who were hung up and impaled on a tree by the Romans were said to be crucified there while they were yet alive. Some were crucified for days before they died. While Jesus was yet alive it was shouted, "Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were CRUCIFIED (Strong's 4957 - impaled) with him reviled him." Mrk.15:32. The thieves also, which were crucified (4957 - impaled) with him, cast the same in his teeth. Matt.27:44. These men obviously were already crucified but still very much alive.

 

It is unscriptural to conclude that "CRUCIFIED" means to be dead in ones own nature in the sense that the "old man" is no longer alive nor operative. Neither does it mean that the "old man" has ceased to exist. Neither does it mean that Christian's no longer have an "old man" nature. Although obviously rising up every day in real life, this old man is said by some to be dead and buried. It is reasoned by some then, that whatever rises up that is not of the "first man Adam", nor of the nature of "the last Adam" has to be something other than these two natures.

 

What ever is reasoned by the carnal mind is certainly not scriptural. Nor is it even reasonable, as there is only the fleshly carnal mind wherein dwells all forms of sin, death and evil...along with the mind of Christ wherein dwells nothing evil.  There are only two men, two minds in our earth.

 

 

CRUCIFIXION IS A PROCESS

 

Crucifixion is not death in the natural realm, nor does being "crucified" ever signify one is already completely dead with Christ. It is something that takes place before the finality of death in whatever form it comes. "CRUCIFIXTION" is A PROCESS OF DYING to the operation of self, the Adam nature, the old man, the man of sin, the carnal mind, flesh, sin etc.  That is the process Paul was referring to when he said..."I DIE DAILY." 1Cor.15:31. 

 

It is THE DAILY PROCESS OF PUTTING SOMETHING TO DEATH or of SOMETHING BEING PUT TO DEATH by bringing it under subjection to LIFE.  He saw it as his "body of sin" that was being put to death that it "MIGHT" finally be "DESTROYED - Ro.6:6.  "In another place Paul said, "I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, AND BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." 1Cor.9:27.

 

Paul brought out this truth again when he revealed a DAILY DYING to trouble and persecution...in the process of "ALWAYS bearing about in the body the DYING of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.  For we which live ARE ALWAYS (not were) DELIVERED UNTO DEATH for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh." 2Cor.4:10,11. That is the truth of crucifixion! 

 

So then, DEATH worketh in us and LIFE in us too - 2Cor.4:12.  "We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us (justification) from so great a death, and doth deliver(crucifixion, sanctification) : in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us (glorification)." 2Cor.1:9,10. Crucifixion is a process of death and not the finality of death.

 

The process of dying daily is the process of sanctification.  This involves a progressive cleansing and "perfecting" by the Spirit of God in which we have a role to play as well.  "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, LET US CLEANSE OURSELVES from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING holiness in the fear of God." 2Cor.7:1. 

 

Many biblical terms are used of this purifying process of death wherein life is ordained to come forth. This takes place in the PURGING of (Heb.9:14; 2Tim.2:21), DENYING of (Matt.16:24), PUTTING OFF of (Col.2:11), QUICKENING of (Col.2:13; Eph.2:5; Ro.8:11), TRANSFORMING of (Ro.12:2), CHANGING of  (2Cor.3:18), CASTING DOWN of (2Cor.10:5), LOSING of (Matt.16:25), SWALLOWING UP of (1Cor.15:54) CONSUMING of (2Ths.2:8) and DESTROYING of (2Ths.2:8; Heb.2:14) his "first man Adam" nature.  These are just some of the many biblical terms used in describing the process of crucifixion to bring about the destruction and extinction of the nature of death itself. 

 

Simply put, the PROCESS OF DYING involves "PUTTING OFF" the old and "PUTTING ON" something new.  PUT OFF concerning the former conversation (life) the OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT according to the deceitful lusts." Eph.4:22. "Now ye also PUT OFF all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have PUT OFF THE OLD MAN with his deeds." Col.3:9.  Again, that is crucifixion!  To say as some do, that the old man is already put off once and for all is a lie.

 

Crucifixion is not THE COMPLETION OF DEATH OR DESTRUCTION but rather it is the means to this end. In a sense, it is the state of the flesh (carnal mind) being impaled to a cross.  In other words, the flesh is rendered inoperative and ineffective by the restricting and all consuming power of the cross that suspends it and renders it to be powerless.

 

 

I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST...I LIVE; YET NOT I

 

When the apostle Paul said, "I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: nevertheless I LIVE; YET NOT I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Gal.2:20)," he was not at all saying his old sin nature was dead or that it was only a memory or that this dead thing could pop in and out of the grave all the time...for he knew it was very much yet alive and able to work spiritual death in him - Rom. 7:13-25.

 

"I am crucified" meant his old sin nature was allowed to be impaled to the cross and was yet in the process of dying...being put to death, "that mortality might be swallowed up of life - 2Cor.5:4.   Nevertheless, this natural part of him, his fallen sinful nature, continued to survive and exist as long as he had life in his natural body.  Yet, it was also true that it wasn't the old man sin nature (not the old "I" - Ro.7:17) of Paul that had dominion any longer (Ro.6:14) in his mind and life.   But it was the Christ nature that he now was able to yield to (Ro.6:13,16); increasingly allowing this nature to live and reign and have dominion in him...empowering him with faith to press toward the mark of maturity (Phil.3:13-16) in walking and living "in newness of life." Ro.6:4;

 

The new creation life (2Cor.5:17) in us which has begun its good work (Phil.1:6; 2Cor.4:14) of CHANGING AND RENEWING (2Cor.3:18; 2Cor.4:16) our old creation, the outward man, the carnal mind, is DEAD to the power of sin. It could never partake in it nor be overtaken by it.  "Greater is He (the new creation man hid with God in Christ) that is in you, than he (the old creation first Adam man) that is (still remains in sin) in this world." 1Jn.4:14.  In other words, where the dominating power of sin once abounded, now also the much greater power of grace is in effect in you as well - Ro.5:20.

 

Make no mistake.  This changing and renewing "in the spirit of your mind" (Eph.4:22,23) does not resurrect the old man and his nature nor does it proceed to make him perfect.  Rather, it progressively destroys and replaces the carnal mind, the old nature, with the renewing, life giving Spirit of the mind of Christ - Phil.2:5; 1Cor.2:16. 

 

 

CARNAL FLESH

 

To support the conclusion of some, that that the first man Adam is ABSOLUTELY DEAD, the terms "THE FLESH" and the "SIN NATURE" are believed to be different things.  But is this true?  SIN NATURE is not a biblical phrase, but terms such as "FLESHLY WISDOM" (2Cor.1:12), "FLESHLY LUSTS" (1Ptr.2:11) and "FLESHLY MIND" (Col.2:18) as we have shown through many scriptures, are all a part and parcel of the nature of "the CARNAL MIND" (Ro.8:7) who's nature of spiritual death is at enmity with the life-giving nature of the Spirit of God.

 

The "SIN NATURE" (which not an original Greek or English biblical phrase), is merely an effective phrase describing the word "flesh." The word "flesh" found in Rom.7:18,25; Gal.5:17,19,24 and many, many other similar scriptures, comes from the Greek word "sarx" which generally means "pertaining to flesh." See Strong's Conc. 4559, 60, 61.

 

"FLESH" is of course, synonymous with the nature of "SIN" - Rom.7:25; 8:3 etc.  Now if you look at the biblical words "CARNAL" and "CARNALLY" they are from exactly the SAME original words AS "FLESH" or "fleshly."  Yes, scriptures rendered in English as "carnal" or "carnally" and also as "flesh" are all the same Greek word (Strong's 4561). The Bible uses the exact same original word, not only to describe the sinful, fleshly condition of human nature, but also simply to describe his natural flesh body - Lk.24:39; Jn.3:6 etc.

 

 

MORE THAN TWO NATURES?

 

Some say that "the old nature" (again this not a biblical phrase) is not synonymous with "the mind" of man. This is erroneous.  To say that we are transformed by the renewing of the mind...but that this is not the same as getting rid of the old nature - is very confusing and very contrary to scripture.  Yet some insist that we are not getting rid of the old nature, but something else in our mind is being renewed and transformed?  It can't be the mind of Christ, because that is already transformed.  So if it's not the old nature that leaves us with demons. No need to go any further with that conclusion.

 

What is it then, if it isn't the old nature (the fleshly mind, the carnal mind) that is being renewed and transformed by the mind of Christ?   In other words, do we have a mind that is anything other than the old nature that is being renewed?  If we don't and we are deceived or mistaken in this, then just what is being renewed?  One philosophical stab in the dark would be...it's our memory, but in reality the Bible reveals it is so much more than that. As a matter of fact, it involves our whole spirit, soul and body!

 

Does this mean that the flesh (fleshly mind) is being fixed or perfected if it is being transformed and renewed?  Oh, you believe it cannot be fixed?  In one sense that is correct. I say the fixing comes....not in the manner of MAKING that old sinful man perfect...but in the manner of CHANGING the old by allowing its fleshly nature to be washed, burnt, purged, destroyed etc. by "putting on" the mind of Christ which every true believer has been given to use. The truth is, we are BEING CHANGED from glory to glory, in an on-going process of the power of the cross. That is totally scriptural.

 

 

COMPLETE IN HIM

 

To say that the cross was a stationary one time event, and believe God's entire work of destroying the old man ended there....and consequently it is also now finished in you just by believing it, does away with much scripture. To suggest this was already completed through the one time death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, is to do away with the very needful experientially active power of present tense sanctification.  In effect, it does away the need to be crucified in its true sense of meaning.  And in another sense, it wrongly bypasses the steps of Pentecost, if not Passover and makes Tabernacles the only priority. To say we are "COMPLETE IN HIM" (Col.2:10) is a grand truth. But in reality, the completeness of His glory has yet to be perfected and made manifest in us. Until this hope is brought to completion, Christ is yet IN US as our future HOPE of glory - Col.1:27,28.

 

The truth is, the power of the cross is an on-going reality. The resurrection power of Christ is now in the dispensation of the fullness of times, gathering and raising up mankind who have been planted in the likeness of his death so that they will eventually also come forth formed in the likeness of His resurrection - Ro.6:5. The point of man's initial salvation..is the beginning of this resurrection process whereby the Spirit of Christ (the Mind, the nature of the second man Adam) is being "formed" in us - Gal.4:19.

 

Saying it another way. Most of humanity is still spiritually dead. They have not yet risen with Him. They have not His Spirit - Ro.8:9.  Only those who are given to believe are in various stages of rising out of their graves. They have risen with him and are sitting with Him in different levels of heavenly places; different levels of maturity in their spiritual growth.

 

His Spirit of resurrection coming forth in his newly formed body (spiritually, the church) is how we as the church, His body, are still in the process of salvation and resurrection. The Spirit of Christ is rising as the Daystar in the midst of the darkness of our rising dead souls. Just as the sun shines brighter and brighter destroying the darkness of the night, so He rises now in his sons gradually exposing that man of sin...(our sin-filled carnal mind, fallen soul), soon to destroy him in the radiant brightness of His firstfruit coming.

 

 

IT IS FINISHED....WHAT IS FINISHED?

 

As concerning the finished work of the cross, some take this very much out of context. "IT IS FINISHED" they say. It has all been done for us. Everything.  However, what they say is finished is not what Jesus said was finished! What Jesus said was finished was only an interim, albeit a necessary & important part of the Father's plan of the ages wherein the redemption of all mankind will ultimately be made complete - Heb.2:6-10; 1Cor.15:22-28.

 

It is true, all God's works were prepared and completed before the foundation of the earth (Heb.4:3; 1Ptr.1:20; Rev.13:8; 17:8) in regards to His age spanning plan of creation, redemption and restoration of all things. And now in the processing of the ages, He is divinely implementing these works until they are manifestly complete.  For has He not said, "I WILL WORK and who shall let (hinder) it?" Isa.43:13.

 

What was Jesus specifically talking about when he stated, "IT IS FINISHED?"  The scriptures make that clear.  Jesus said, "I have meat to eat that ye know not of...My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and TO FINISH HIS WORK." Jn.4:32- 34. The work that Christ came to do on earth for us on behalf of the Father was finished when He spoke to His Father saying, "I have glorified Thee ON EARTH, I HAVE FINISHED THE WORK which Thou gavest me to do." Jn.17:4. And now it was His time to be glorified. As He waited on the cross for the fullness of His glorification to come, "Jesus knowing that ALL THINGS WERE ACCOMPLISHED THAT THE SCRIPTURE MIGHT BE FULFILLED...SAID, IT IS FINISHED and he bowed His head and gave up the ghost." Jn.19:28-30.

 

 

FINISHED FOR US, UNFINISHED IN US!

 

Now since He has FINISHED that required work FOR mankind, he has begun carrying on the next stage of His work IN mankind - Phil.1:6. "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God that WORKETH IN YOU both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Phil.2:12,13. The ongoing power of the cross is made manifest to fulfill His work of faith in us (2Ths.1:11) "that He might destroy the works of the devil." 1Jn.3:8.

 

The mystery of iniquity continues to work its powers of darkness in the high and prideful places of the carnal minds of men - Eph.6:12.  The man of sin, the son of perdition (the first Adam) is not dead!  He is spiritually dead in the sense that he has no holy life in him but the carnal power he operates in is still very much in evidence. You can fluff him or buff him, ride him or hide him, fry him or deny him, think him, shrink him, sink him or even delete him in your mind, but until that wicked man be fully revealed he shall continue to hinder until he be fully taken out of the way...consumed with the Spirit of His mouth and destroyed in the brightness of His manifest coming in us - 2Ths.2:1-8.

 

 

THE SON OF PERDITION

 

This sly sinful son of perdition presently sits in the temple (ye are the temple) of God deceitfully showing himself to men's minds that He is God. One of the many deceitful ways he does this, is in proclaiming there is no longer a man of sin...that there is no need to die to self daily, no need to deny yourself daily nor mortify the deeds of the flesh because there is no old self and there is no flesh man,...it was all taken care of on the cross at Calvary.

 

Can't you see that it's all finished? I died and only Christ lives, proclaims this imposter!  My work is finished!  And so, this false god proudly says, there is only a divine nature, for in essence, the former nature, the Adamic consciousness is merely a memory, a phantom, a mistaken identity that need not ever be related to, much less dealt with. That's the only thing that keeps us in fear and death...this believing that we still have the nature of the first man Adam.   Receive this and believe this that Adam is dead. As a result, the law of sin and death can no longer have power over you. Hummm.  Please forgive me if I can't find a hot air brush to brush off the old man nature, and excuse me also while I’m scratching away that strange itch and tickle in my ears.

 

 

TWO IN ONE

 

In summary, here are a couple of simple illustrations that can help one understand how it is that two entirely different natures, together can occupy one human body.  Take the example of a fluorescent light tube.. It has no light (life, power) in it before it is activated.  It is said to be dead if the power is not there. So is our spirit-soul body before the Holy Spirit comes to abide within. This tube has a rheostat. As the rheostat is activated, light begins to appear in ever increasing intensity from within the tube until it reaches its maximum brightness. It increases "from glory to glory" (2Cor.3:18) as the measure of intensity increases, finally reaching its maximum brightness.."Unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." Eph.4:18.  

 

We can compare the glass that the tube was made of to be the shell of our natural material body of flesh.   The invisible, inert gas that was encased in the darkness of the tube is the soul.  The confined space or area that this gas occupies is the spirit of man.  Now when the rheostat is touched by the hand of God, the power of electricity was activated from without the tube - and a light slowly began to fill the relative darkness within this tube. This natural phenomenon can be related to the life (light) giving Spirit of God coming into the spirit-soul of the first man Adam to begin making an evident change.  Even a change that can be outwardly observed.   In the natural, the molecules and atoms intermingle and unite together inside the glass as the light begins to overpower the darkness.  The same principle takes place in the spiritual body of man.

 

Picture if you will, the next illustration of a pot filled with water.  Water is a symbol of the spirit.  The pot is our flesh. The water, which is composed of hydrogen and oxygen, is a type of our soul and spirit filling the pot.  The water is stale and impure in this glass just as it is in the unregenerate man.  When fresh purified water is poured into our pot, it begins to mix with the molecules and atoms of the stagnant water.  So it is when the first man Adam is joined with the second man Adam in the inner man.  As the new water of the Potter is continually added, the old water continues to be replaced, taken away in the overflow of the pot.  Eventually, when enough new water goes in, the whole pot is left filled with the purified water.  

 

 

ONE TAKEN AND ONE LEFT

 

There are only two kinds of spiritual men in our earth.  One is impure and unholy.  The other is holy and pure.  In type, the first nature is being taken away and destroyed and only the last nature which is eternal shall be left - Lk.17:36.  Likewise, both the good seed and the tares are ordained to grow together in the kingdom of God which is within us (Lk.17:21).  They shall remain together until the time of the harvest (every man in his own order) when the tares will be bound, burned and destroyed - Matt.13:24-30.  There are two trees again planted within the garden of regenerate men's hearts and minds.  One is the tree (spirit) of life that shall live forever.  The other is the tree (soul) of the knowledge of good and evil whose poisonous fruit shall one day be no more as it is divinely grafted into the tree of life. 

 

Brethren of the kingdom, this is all taking place within the maturing sons of God.  We will always have leaven (sour dough, yeast) mixed in with the wheat nature of our body, soul and spirit.  And there it shall remain until the work of the leaven has completed its purpose - Matt.13:33.  God has ordained that all things both good and evil, pure and impure, holy and profane, work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose - Ro.8:28.

 

K.R. Mckay