LIVING THE LIFE
David E. Knoch

THE MORTIFYING MOAT that insidiously separates most sincere saints from the illuminating life that they would like to lead, is, surprisingly enough, largely a part of their own imaginations. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate this fact, and banish this burdensome barrier between the believer and his beloved God.

There is no satisfaction in soulish sensations, for the spirit which is in touch with God. We know this to be true from our own experiences. One finds no joy in his heart when he wallows with the world, attempting to be "one of the gang." And yet the honest person must confess that he finds himself constantly drifting back into these things in which God does not delight, grieving the holy spirit all the while. What a paradox is the soulish saint!

A saint is a "holy-one," one who has been placed in close communion with his holy God. God's spirit makes its home within him, not just occasionally, but continuously. It "settles down" and makes a real "home for itself in each member of Christ's body, vivifying that mortal body, as if alive from among the dead; constantly vitalizing it for willing service. Whether we have realized it or not, this has happened to each one of us. Perhaps, on several occasions, we have perceived its presence within us, quickening our spirits, and encouraging us to walk worthily of the calling with which we were called (Eph.4:1).

Yet our bodies, still dying, still sinning, have become our chief concerns, whereas actually our interests should center on the vitalizing spirit which has chosen to home in us. We are always looking in our rear-view mirrors, so to speak, majoring in our ancient history of sinning, rather than concentrating on contemporary consecration. Paul said that he made it a practice to forget those things which are behind. If you seem gifted with a good memory do not waste this talent on remembering every past failure of your flesh. A much better use would be storing up God's vitalizing Word there, where it may be constantly called to service as the sword of the spirit.

Let's take off the rear-view mirrors, and in their place put on blinders that will channel our eyes straight ahead, towards what lies before us, out front, "toward the goal...the prize of God's calling above in Christ Jesus" (Phil.3:14). Paul says that all mature believers should be disposed to this course of action. He says that we should imitate him, and follow his example, rather than those who are to the terrestrial disposed. Our realm is inherent in the heavens. Our eyes should be upward, seeking the coming Christ, Who will transfigure the body of our humiliation [what an apt description of this failing physical frame]! to conform to the body of His glory. We can't expect a transfigured body now; that comes when He comes. But we can have a transformed life.

Our present bodies are soulish and soilish, and depend on the earth for their sustenance. No wonder they are disposed to the terrestrial! But, now that we are believers, we have God's spirit in us so that even though we must continue to inhabit this decaying body, yet, in our spirits, we have been freed from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

So that, consequently there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus! How this should generate within us praise! No condemnation at all! Justified! Free of the law of sin and death which operated in our members previously. It no longer has any jurisdiction over us. If we are still its subjects, we are just ignorant that our hand-cuffs have been released by the blood of our blessed Lord and Saviour. Those who continue to suffer under its harsh dictatorship are like a person who moves from California to Nevada and continues to place himself under the laws of California. In California it is against the law to drive over 55 miles per hour. Yet in Nevada one may go faster with no penalty. If this person continues to obey the laws he was under before, the only person he is penalizing is himself. It seldom pays to be ignorant.

Ignorance of our participation in Christ's death and resurrection life has already been dealt with in a previous article called, "Dead Reckoning." Yet ignorance of our freedom from the law of sin and death is just as damaging. We are to walk in spirit, in accord which the spirit's law of life. The disposition of the spirit is life (because it is the spirit which imparts life and is the source of all life) and peace (because the disposition of the flesh is enmity to God for it is not able to please God). It is only as we walk in spirit and yield the fruits of the spirit that we may have peace with God. Let us examine our walk. Is it spiritual?

"But how can I have a spiritual walk?" you may ask. "I don't feel spiritual." Ah, here is a common mistake! Spirituality is not a matter of the feelings, the senses, the soul. Those who are ruled by their feelings are not able to know spiritual things.

If you must do something, here is the prime essential: Believe God in the description of love found in First Corinthians thirteen it says that love believes all things. And the first fruit of the spirit is love. Therefore, to walk in spirit, believe! Believe God. Believe God's Word. (And this will require you to read it, to study it, to meditate on it, and to ask of God for understanding and wisdom). Believe God's Word as He wrote it. (And this will require a knowledge of the original, such as can be obtained from certain good concordances and the Concordant Greek Text).

And God has promised to give you the faith to believe. Don't worry about your feelings. Don't think so much about yourself. Don't be self-centered; be Christ-centered. "Now I am saying, Walk in spirit, and you should under no circumstances be consummating the lust of the flesh" (Gal.5:16). Let us repeat with Paul: "With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me" (Gal.2:20). Note that this faith is not of ourselves, but of the Son of God, Who loves us! Nothing depends on us. Everything depends on Christ. And the empty tomb is our guarantee that He has met every requirement.