A QUESTION:
Interesting that caught my eyes of what you said the great tribulation is spiritual test! I have a few question for you. If one does good and tries their best is serving Jehovah God but fails in the flesh does that mean they have failed spiritually? Like the mind is fighting over the heart, hope I'm making sense of this question.
MY REPLY:
Thank you for your fine question. To answer it directly, I would need more information. For now, I will do my best to cover your question in a more general way.
Please explain what you mean by "fails in the flesh" (2Cor.7:1; Rom.8:6; 7:5).
Interesting that caught my eyes of what you said the great tribulation is spiritual test! I have a few question for you. If one does good and tries their best is serving Jehovah God but fails in the flesh does that mean they have failed spiritually? Like the mind is fighting over the heart, hope I'm making sense of this question.
MY REPLY:
Thank you for your fine question. To answer it directly, I would need more information. For now, I will do my best to cover your question in a more general way.
Please explain what you mean by "fails in the flesh" (2Cor.7:1; Rom.8:6; 7:5).
Please also explain how someone can fail in the flesh, and yet "does good and tries their best",
in light of Eze.33:17,18,19,20; Gal.6:8; 1Cor.3:1; 9:27; Gen.4:7; Phil.4:13 and 1John5:3.
When the mind of Christ (1Cor.2:16) gains mastery over the heart and flesh (1John1:6; John3:21)
(which it must -Prov.4:23; Rom.8:4; 1John3:3);
(which it must -Prov.4:23; Rom.8:4; 1John3:3);
we no longer walk according to the desires of our flesh (Gal.5:16,17,24).
This is not to say that this accomplishment is easy, nor instantaneous. But you seem to feel it is impossible to achieve, and that the dichotomy is an acceptable condition. This is not so (James 4:8; Job 17:9; Ps.119:10,113; Isa.1:16; Prov.28:13).
For those who are still slaves of their flesh, the following article contains many of God's comforting words that may help to motivate and encourage you... to ask God for what you need to gain your victory, if this is what you truly desire.
FOLLOW UP QUESTION:
Thank you for answering so quickly. Let me give you details of what I'm thinking, Romans 7:14-25. Please explain of what Paul might be going through in his case. Cause it looks as it seems he is battling within himself. And as if he answers his battle by another verse at Romans 8:5-8. It's interesting to what Paul might be going through as regards to Romans 7:23. Please, I await for your thought which are found from the scriptures.
Rom.7:14-25:
" For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 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."
Paul was not speaking of continuing to serve the law of sin with his flesh. He was simply clarifying that if the flesh is served, the law of sin is obeyed. He directs us to use our mind, that we might serve the law of God instead. This interpretation is proven, if we see what Paul also said, at Rom.6:14,12,13...
"For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law ("of sin with the flesh" -Rom7:25), but under grace. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."
Paul acknowledges that we all have a battle against sin within ourselves. But can a battle exist if there is no fight? The reason we do not give up, is because victory is possible.
Otherwise, why fight?
This is exactly the mentality of those who at heart, do not want to fight against the flesh with it's lusts. They would twist Paul's instructions as an excuse for loose conduct (Gal.5:13; Jude 1:4).
Regarding Rom.7:23...
"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."
The "members" Paul refers to is his flesh. The flesh (since Adam) is enslaved to sin. This is precisely why we can not allow that flesh to direct our steps. If we do, we remain in captivity to sin and death. If we wish to be set free from sin and death (and the law of our flesh), we must no longer walk according to it, letting it direct what we do. We must walk by spirit, letting IT direct our steps. If we do, we abandon the path of sin and death, for the path of righteousness and life. This choice is the whole purpose of Christ's teachings and ministry (John5:14; 8:11,12).
Paul knew that a fight against the sinful flesh, made the difference between life and death (Rom.8:13). How did Paul try to save those whose flesh was their master? (Rom.6:12,16)
"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." (1Cor.9:22)
I believe that 1Cor.9:22, is the reason why we find Paul's words, at Rom.7:14-25. In his efforts to save those enslaved to sin, he conveys his understanding of that position.
Regarding Rom.8:5-8, please read Rom. 8:1,4,9,13. These clarify once again, that although Paul (like all of us) was born in sin, we seek a new birth in which we set our minds on the spirit, walk according to it, and continue to live by means of it.
The scriptures I already gave you have already answered your follow up question. If you read them again along with these new ones (and meditate on them); Paul's intentions and assertions should be clarified.
MY REPLY:
" For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 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."
Paul was not speaking of continuing to serve the law of sin with his flesh. He was simply clarifying that if the flesh is served, the law of sin is obeyed. He directs us to use our mind, that we might serve the law of God instead. This interpretation is proven, if we see what Paul also said, at Rom.6:14,12,13...
"For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law ("of sin with the flesh" -Rom7:25), but under grace. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God."
Paul acknowledges that we all have a battle against sin within ourselves. But can a battle exist if there is no fight? The reason we do not give up, is because victory is possible.
Otherwise, why fight?
This is exactly the mentality of those who at heart, do not want to fight against the flesh with it's lusts. They would twist Paul's instructions as an excuse for loose conduct (Gal.5:13; Jude 1:4).
Regarding Rom.7:23...
"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."
The "members" Paul refers to is his flesh. The flesh (since Adam) is enslaved to sin. This is precisely why we can not allow that flesh to direct our steps. If we do, we remain in captivity to sin and death. If we wish to be set free from sin and death (and the law of our flesh), we must no longer walk according to it, letting it direct what we do. We must walk by spirit, letting IT direct our steps. If we do, we abandon the path of sin and death, for the path of righteousness and life. This choice is the whole purpose of Christ's teachings and ministry (John5:14; 8:11,12).
Paul knew that a fight against the sinful flesh, made the difference between life and death (Rom.8:13). How did Paul try to save those whose flesh was their master? (Rom.6:12,16)
"To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some." (1Cor.9:22)
I believe that 1Cor.9:22, is the reason why we find Paul's words, at Rom.7:14-25. In his efforts to save those enslaved to sin, he conveys his understanding of that position.
Regarding Rom.8:5-8, please read Rom. 8:1,4,9,13. These clarify once again, that although Paul (like all of us) was born in sin, we seek a new birth in which we set our minds on the spirit, walk according to it, and continue to live by means of it.
The scriptures I already gave you have already answered your follow up question. If you read them again along with these new ones (and meditate on them); Paul's intentions and assertions should be clarified.
Love in Christ,
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