How Does God Sanctify You? Book of Hebrews 2:11-17 Explained:

(11) “FOR BOTH HE THAT SANCTIFIETH AND THEY WHO ARE SANCTIFIED ARE
ALL OF ONE: FOR WHICH CAUSE HE IS NOT ASHAMED TO CALL THEM
BRETHREN,”
1. Christ is the Sanctifier.
2. Everyone who is sanctified is sanctified by Christ, or else they aren’t sanctified.
3. All, the Sanctifier and the Sanctified, are all out of one Source, God the Father.
Consequently, He is not ashamed to call us Brethren.

CHRIST THE SANCTIFIER

The phrase, “For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified,” refers to Christ
Who puts the Believer on the path to glory, and then through the Ministry of the Holy
Spirit leads him on that road through the process of progressive Sanctification and finally
through Glorification into the eternal conditions where all through the eternal ages
will grow more and more like the Lord Jesus and approach toward His likeness; however,
will not in the infinite years of eternity, ever become in an absolute sense just like Him,
for finiteness (that which is limited) can only approach toward infinity (that which is unlimited, Who and Which is Christ), never equal it (Wuest).

SANCTIFICATION

The words “sanctify,” or “Sanctification,” or “holy,” or “holiness,” all come from the
same Greek root “hagiazo,” or “hagios.” It means “to purify or consecrate, to set apart
solely for God.”

The moment the believing sinner comes to Christ, at that moment he is instantly and
totally sanctified (I Cor. 6:11). In fact, the believing sinner must be sanctified (made
clean) before he can be justified (declared clean). All of this is a legal work which actually
takes place in Heaven upon the believing sinner exhibiting Faith in Christ, and what
Christ did at the Cross on his behalf. This is what we refer to as “Positional Sanctification,”
meaning that this is one’s position in Christ, and is gained totally by Faith.

However, there is also that which we refer to as “Progressive Sanctification.” Paul said,
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and
soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess.

5:23).

The idea is, at the time of conversion, the actual, spiritual “condition” of the new convert,
is not up to his actual, spiritual “position,” which is all in Christ. Consequently,
the Holy Spirit sets about, to bring the “condition” up to the “position.” Actually, it is a
lifelong work, and that is the reason it is referred to as “Progressive Sanctification.”

The actual position is that of total Christlikeness, which can only come by Faith
in Christ. In Truth, Progressive Sanctification functions in the same manner — by
Faith, which we will explain more fully momentarily. While it is impossible for the Believer
to become 100 percent Christlike, and for all the obvious reasons, to be sure, the
Holy Spirit definitely brings us as close as He can to this exalted position, which is His
chief work in the heart and life of the Believer — to make one Christlike! In fact, the
type of Sanctification of which Paul here speaks, is “Progressive Sanctification.” It
speaks of a process, which is actually carried forth as stated, all the days of our lives.

HOW DOES CHRIST CARRY FORTH THE SANCTIFICATION PROCESS?

This question is extremely important, and if it’s not answered properly, which means it
is understood improperly, the Believer can accrue to himself great spiritual difficulties,
which will have a negative fallout in every other aspect of life as well.

In point of fact, it is the Holy Spirit Who actually performs the work in the heart and
life of the Believer. So, the meaning is that Christ sanctifies the Believer through the
Office and Person of the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit is able to carry forth this
excellent work solely on the basis of whatChrist did at the Cross on our behalf, hence
it being said that it is Christ Who sanctifieth!Two things must be carried forth in order
for the Holy Spirit to perfect this work withinour lives. They are as follows:

1. The Holy Spirit must have the cooperation of the Saint of God. To be sure, none of
this is automatic, despite the fact that many Christians erroneously think it is. Self-will
is the greatest hindrance. The Spirit of God cannot work and function in a climate of self-
will, which always leads to works of the flesh, i.e., “sin.” So, the will of the Believer must
“hunger and thirst for Righteousness.”
We must understand that the work of Sanctification can never be carried out by our
own abilities or religiosity. All of the things which we do, which we think bring us merit
with God, in fact, have no place at all. So, the Believer must understand that Sanctification
is beyond his grasp, and can only be done by the Holy Spirit. Actually one might
say, that Sanctification is not an activity but rather a position.

Understanding this, we come to the second point:

2. Realizing that we cannot sanctify ourselves, and that it can only be done by the Holy Spirit, we must come to understanding as to how the Holy Spirit works (Rom. 8:12, 11, 13). The Holy Spirit only asks that we exhibit Faith in the Cross of Christ, understanding
that it was there that all victory was won. That’s why Paul here said that Christ is the
Sanctifier. He is the One Who made all of this possible through His Death and Resurrection on the Cross. We are to understand that, believe that, and place our Faith in that.

With the Cross ever as our object of Faith, the Holy Spirit, Who works strictly within the
parameters of the Finished Work of Christ, can then do mighty things in our hearts and
lives. As stated, He only demands that we exhibit Faith in the Cross of Christ, and continue to do so, in fact, all the days of our lives. So, the criteria is Faith, but it must ever be understood, that it’s always Faith in “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” (I Cor. 2:2).

THE CHRISTIAN AND THE CROSS

Most Christians have an understanding of the Cross as it pertains to the initial Salvation
experience. In other words, in order to be saved, they place their Faith in Christ, understanding that He died for them on the Cross. But regrettably, most Christians park
the Cross after the initial Salvation experience, attempting to go elsewhere with their
Faith. Please let the following be clearly understood:

The Cross of Christ, i.e., “the Finished Work of Christ,” has just as much to do with
your everyday walk before the Lord, with your everyday victory, with your everyday progress in the Lord, as it did your initial Salvation experience. Regrettably, most Christians don’t know that!

And that’s the reason we have Christians running all over the world chasing one fad
after the other, attempting to find victory. They don’t know anything about the application of the Cross within their lives on a daily basis; therefore, they walk in defeat.

One of my associates sometime back was in a particular meeting where God was moving.
The Evangelist specialized in laying hands on people, with them being “slain in
the Spirit,” etc. They asked my associate to help catch the people when they fell, etc.

He told me that many of them upon coming up to be prayed for, whispered in his ear,
“Please pray that the Lord will move mightily upon me, for I’m hooked on pornography,”
or whatever!

Not knowing the great Word of the Cross, which incidentally is the only source of victory,
these individuals, whomever they may have been, were hoping that the Lord would
use this particular Evangelist to lay hands on them, and they would be delivered.

While the “laying on of hands,” is certainly Scriptural, and definitely beneficial if
it’s carried forth Biblically, used in this manner, however, it is wrong, which means, that
the individual will not find the victory for which he seeks. In fact, at that particular time they might be mightily moved on by God. They may in fact be “slain in the Spirit,” or some such thing, but they still will not receive deliverance. But yet, that’s where most Believers presently are. They’re trying to get the Preacher to deliver them by the laying on of hands, or something of that nature.

DELIVERANCE

Jesus never really said anything about Preachers delivering people, at least in this
manner. He did say that we are to “preach deliverance to the captives” (Lk. 4:18). What
did He mean by that?

He meant that Preachers should do exactly what I’m doing right here, tell you the
way of deliverance, which is the Cross of Christ, and that only I might quickly add!

When Jesus died on the Cross, He atoned for all sin by the giving of His life. He as well
satisfied the curse of the broken Law, which in effect, hung over every human being. In
the doing of this, He handled the claims of the Law against us (the Law of God, Ex., Chpt.
20). The Scripture plainly says, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was
against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross”
(Col. 2:14).

However, when He did that, He also destroyed Satan’s legal claim on humanity,
which is sin. Having atoned for all sin, Satan now has no more claim, at least as it regards
those who place their Faith in Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross.

In doing that, He “spoiled principalities and powers (all fallen angels and demon spirits),
and made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:15).

This means that every single demon spirit and Satan himself for that matter, were totally
defeated at the Cross. This also means that every individual in the world, at least if
they will only believe, is already delivered. In fact, “deliverance” is the great Message of
the Cross. It’s the great hallmark of Christianity. Jesus sets men free (Jn. 8:32). However,
for deliverance to be carried out in the heart and life of any individual, such comes,
and in fact can only come, by one having Faith in what Christ did at the Cross. The
moment we attempt to deliver people by laying hands on them, or something else of this
nature, whether we realize it or not, we are trying to add to the Finished Work of Christ,
which God can never honor, and in which the Holy Spirit can never function. In fact,
such is an insult to Christ of the highest order, as should be obvious.

Due to its great significance, please allow me to say it again:

Every single person in this world has already been delivered, which was carried out
at the Cross, which is effected within their hearts and lives by simple Faith in what
Christ did there. When Faith is exhibited accordingly, the Holy Spirit then works
mightily, guaranteeing to us all that Christ did there (Rom. 8:1-2).

Now it’s not wrong to lay hands on Believers respecting deliverance, if the Believer
and the Preacher understands what is taking place. In other words, I’m to understand
that my performing this act will never set anyone free, that having already been done
at the Cross; however, the laying on of hands can definitely be a blessing as it is intended
to be, and can even help one’s Faith, doing so as a point of contact. But if I believe that
this particular action will set people free, then I’ve just made something else other than the
Cross of Christ, the true object of my Faith, which God can never honor.

FAITH

In every single thing as it pertains to the Child of God, it is Faith! It really doesn’t
matter what we need from the Lord, it is all gained by Faith, and never by works. Now
what do we mean by that?

Whether it’s Salvation for the sinner, or the Baptism with the Holy Spirit for the
Saint, whether it’s healing for the Believer, prosperity, or Blessing, etc., it is all generated
by Faith and exclusively by Faith. However, if we leave it there, we’ve really not said
enough, which will leave the Believer hanging so to speak.

For Faith to be Faith, at least that which God will recognize, which is anchored solely
and squarely in the Word of God, it must always be Faith in the Cross. Whenever Faith
is mentioned, it is always in that capacity. It always has as its object, the Cross of Christ,
for it is there that every victory was won by Christ.

So, just saying that we have Faith in God, or Faith in Christ, or Faith in the Word, is
really not quite enough. We must understand what all of that means, and to make it brief, it
means that we are having Faith in what Christ did at the Cross of Calvary on our behalf.

The Cross made possible every single thing that we possess from the Lord. Absolutely
nothing has ever come to the Believer except it came through the great Sacrifice of Christ.
In fact, the entirety of the Bible and in every capacity, points toward the Cross of Christ.
The Cross is the centrality of the Gospel.

WILLPOWER

While the will of the Believer is definitely a factor (Rev. 22:17), it within itself cannot
bring about the desired results. Unfortunately, that’s where most Christians are.

I had a man say to me the other day, “Now that I’m a Christian, I have the willpower to
say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to sin,” etc.

The dear Brother is totally wrong!

The will of the Believer can only flow successfully in one channel, and what is that?

You as a Believer are to use your willpower in the sense of placing your Faith and Trust
in Christ and what He did at the Cross on your behalf. That is where the will of man is
to be. If you bring your will outside of the great Sacrifice of Christ, thereby attempting
to bring about desired results outside of those parameters, which actually refers to your
own strength, you will quickly find that your willpower is not able to bring about the desired
results. In fact, in that capacity, which is the capacity outside of the Cross which God
can never honor, Satan can literally override one’s will. Now I realize that comes as a
shock to most Christians, but it just happens to be true.

Paul said “For to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not”

(Rom. 7:18).

Please understand, that this is not Paul’s experience before conversion as some claim,
but rather after he was saved and Baptized with the Holy Spirit. At that particular time,
the time of Romans, Chapter 7, he did not know or understand the Message of the
Cross; therefore, he attempted to bring about victory in his life by his own strength and

willpower,
which are impossible. But yet, that’s where most modern Christians presently
find themselves.

Thankfully, the Lord gave Paul the great answer to this dilemma, which is actually the
meaning of the New Covenant. We find it in Romans, Chapters 6 and 8, which gives us the
meaning of the Cross, and how the Holy Spirit functions according to our Faith in the Cross.
So, Paul plainly says that “willpower” within itself is not enough! And as stated,
the Holy Spirit aids and abets our wills, and Satan respects our wills, only as that will is
anchored firmly and totally in the Cross of Christ, understanding that the Cross is the
means by which all Blessings come from God to the Believer.

YIELD

Paul said, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your
members as instruments of Righteousness unto God.”

He then said, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the
Law, but under Grace” (Rom. 6:13-14).

There are millions of Christians right now who read these words in the Bible, and
try with all their might and strength to do what the Holy Spirit through the Apostle
demands to be done, but are unable to do so. So, in their hearts the great question is,
“How do I yield the members of my body to Righteousness?”

They try to do it with willpower, their own strength, their own ability, by making up
rules, laws, and regulations, and find that not only do all of these things fail, but despite
all the efforts, the situation is gradually getting worse. So, how does one yield
one’s members to Righteousness instead of unrighteousness?

Once again, we go back to the “will” of the individual.

Notice that Paul said, “we are not under the Law but under Grace.” What did he mean
by that? Before we address ourselves again to the “will,” let’s look at this “Law/Grace”

issue!

When he said “ye are not under the Law,” he was speaking of the Law of Moses, or any
type of law that we might make up, or that our Church might make up, or our Denomination,
etc. In other words, as it regards the problem of sin, the Believer is not going to
get out of this dilemma, and I speak of failing over and over again in some way, by

subscribing
to a set of rules and regulations, hoping that by keeping them, that victory will
be his. It just doesn’t work that way. That is law, and law never has any power.

Whenever the Believer attempts to find victory in this manner, the Holy Spirit will
not help him, and he is left on his own. To be sure, his own strength and ability are not
able to overcome sin. I don’t care if you’re saved, Baptized with the Holy Spirit, speak
in Tongues everyday of your life, and have all nine Gifts of the Spirit. There is no way
that you within your own ability, even though having all of these great things, can overcome
sin. You have got to have the Power of the Holy Spirit to help you, and how does this
come about?

When Paul said that you are “under Grace,” he is meaning that Christ has already
done all of these things for us, and I speak of victory in every capacity. As stated over and
over again, it was all done at the Cross.
When we place our Faith in that great Sacrifice of Christ, understanding that it is
from this Source that all Blessings come, and we speak of victory in every capacity, then
the goodness of God is extended to us, which is actually the Grace of God, and all guaranteed
by the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit strictly on the merits of the Grace
of God, brings about victory within our lives, making it possible for us to properly “yield”
our members to Righteousness, instead of unrighteousness.

Grace means that it’s not done by our works or abilities or efforts, but that it has already
been done in Christ, and we receive it by simply believing in what He has already done.

In fact, if we attempt to add our own efforts to the Finished Work of Christ, we frustrate
the Grace of God, which guarantees thatwe’re going to fail (Gal. 2:20-21).

“Yield” in the Greek is “paristemi,” and means “to stand beside, to exhibit, to
present.” It does not appear as a struggle orbattle. So, if the Believer is struggling and
battling in this capacity, and I speak of trying to yield the members of his body to

Righteousness,
that shows that he’s not doing it by the Grace of God, but rather by Law, which
will guarantee his failure. He might succeed for awhile, but down the road, and without
exception, he is going to fail. I’ve said it many, many times:
“If one is fighting and winning, after awhile one is going to fight and lose.”

THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH

The only fight that we are called upon in which to engage ourselves, is “the good fight
of Faith” (I Tim. 6:12). This is always the center of the struggle, whether we realize it or

not.

And let us quickly state, that the Faith he mentions here is Faith exclusively in the
Cross of Christ. The fight centers up on Satan trying to move our Faith from the Cross
of Christ to some other object. In fact, he really doesn’t too much care what the other
object might be, just so it’s not the Cross of Christ.

In other words, Satan is perfectly willing for you to spout Scripture all day long, providing
that you have no understanding that all Scripture in one way or the other, points
to the Cross of Christ (Jn. 3:16). So, one can say the following:

Whether the attack comes in the physical sense, material, financial, domestical,
mental, or spiritual, it is all for but one purpose, and that is to destroy your Faith in
Christ and His Finished Work, or at least, to seriously weaken your Faith in that capacity.
That is the center and core of all the struggle!

In fact, Satan has been very successful in steering the Church away from Faith in the
Cross of Christ to something else. In the last 50 or more years, the Church has had so little
teaching on the Cross of Christ, that it little more knows its true foundation. In other
words, in most Church circles, Satan has won this battle.

Actually, the Message of Paul is identical in all his Epistles, even though he approaches
the subject in different ways. We actually have the Apostle saying the same thing over
and over again, and I speak of the great Finished Work of Christ, but saying it in different
ways in order that individuals may understand.

Likewise, I realize that I’m being very repetitive in my statements regarding the Cross;
however, I have found out that Satan fights this more than anything else; consequently,
we are forced as well to say the same thing over and over again although in different
ways, praying that this great Truth will ultimately get into your spirit.

The Message of the Cross of Christ, which in effect is the Gospel, is the simplest Message
there is. Man is lost and Jesus Christ is the solution; however, due to the fact that
the human being is a very complex creature, this Message is at the same time complex as
well. The problem is, to understand the Message of the Cross we have to think spiritual,
when our first nature is to think carnal.

If the Believer will understand, that he has to look to the Cross for everything, at least
he will then have the foundation in order.
Our problem is, oftentimes we think our Faith is in the Cross of Christ, and in reality,
it’s in something else. The flesh is so subtle, so tricky, so deceitful, that’s where we have
our problem.

OF ONE

The phrase, “Are all of one,” definitely has earing in the fact that it is all of one Father;
however, it as well means that Christ and the many sons are all a unity in human nature.
In fact, this is the great argument of the entire Passage.

Most commentators, supporting themselves upon John 20:17, understand the
words “are all of one” as meaning only that “are all of one Father.” But did it mean this
only? Christ could not possibly have been ashamed to call us Brethren. In fact, He
could not do otherwise. But guided by the argument of the Chapter it appears more reasonable to believe that the greater focus of the unity intended is His association with humanity.

Such an association might well cause Him shame, for “the many sons” with whom He
became One were by nature sinful — He Himself being sinless — and had been redeemed
from the lowest depths of vice and shame. But still, He calls us “Brethren,” and
because of His Cross, which addressed all the negative factors, and our Faith in that Finished Work.

The thought of all this is that Jesus is qualified to be our Priest and Saviour because
He shares our nature, which means He is not some remote being, but is truly “one of us.”
Since the entire universe, Angels, as well as men have their origin in God, it is merely a
truism to say that we all come from Him. However, that gives no reason for Christ being
qualified to save. The fact that He shares with us a descent from Adam does, one might
say, enable Him to call us “Brothers.”

BRETHREN

The phrase, “For which cause He is not ashamed to call them Brethren,” refers to
the fact that He became one of us. However, He does not call every man His Brother, He
is such only to the sanctified. He and we appear before God in the nature and position
of men. He sanctifies us, and this means we are sanctified, and on this account He is
not ashamed to call us Brothers.

However, this proclamation of union is brought about, due to the change effected in
the hearts and lives of Believers — a change incidentally, which could only come about
through Faith in what Christ did on the Cross, and the great price there paid. This
exalted position did not come easily or cheaply. Consequently, the worth of something
is derived from the price paid regarding the item in question.

Jesus has paid for us with His Own Blood, which refers to the Sacrifice of His Life. Our
Faith in that has brought about the great change, making it possible for us to literally
be a “Child of God,” i.e., “Heir of God, and joint-heir with Christ” (Rom. 8:17).

There is no shame on the part of the Son of God in referring to Believers coming into
this exalted position; however, such is done only through His merits and not at all
through the merits of man.

(12) “SAYING, I WILL DECLARE THY NAME UNTO MY BRETHREN, IN THE
MIDST OF THE CHURCH WILL I SING PRAISE UNTO THEE.”
The exposition is as follows:

1. Christ declares that this great work on the Cross will make it possible to address all
Believers as “Brethren.”
2. This statement is taken from Psalms 22:22, and due to the fact that this is the great
Passion Psalm of Christ on the Cross, we are here told, that it is the great Sacrifice of
Christ which made all of this possible.
3. Due to what Christ has done on the Cross, the Church is to praise Him forever.
 
THE DECLARATION OF
PERSONAL SALVATION

The phrase, “Saying, I will declare Thy Name unto My Brethren,” presents this Passage,
as stated, as being found in Psalms 22:22. These words, “I will declare Thy
Name unto My Brethren,” were actually uttered on the Cross by the Lord Himself.
While the Psalm has its background in David’s own experience, yet the final and full
application of its Truth is to the Son of God. In Verses 19 through 21, He prays to be
raised out from among the dead. In Verses 21 through 31, He gives thanks for answered
prayer even before His prayer is actually answered.
In view of the fact that God will raise Him from the dead, He will declare His name
to His Brethren (Wuest).

In Psalm 22 we see Him hanging on the Cross, the forsaken One, drinking the wormwood
and the gall, bearing the judgment due to our sins. In Verses 1 through 21 of that
Psalm He is seen alone, suffering at the hands of God, what, in fact, our guilt deserved.
Then from Verse 22 on He is no longer alone, but as the Risen One is surrounded by

multitudes
who owe their Salvation to His sufferings on the tree, and it is in Resurrection
He exclaims:

“I will declare Thy Name unto My Brethren (meaning that Christ will declare the
Name of God to all the Brethren, in effect owning them); in the midst of the congregation
will I praise Thee (meaning that Christ will praise God because of this great
victory which has brought many sons into the Kingdom).” This is the Passage that is
quoted in the Verse of our study; but for “congregation” we have the word “Church,”
a translation, as we know, of the Greek word “ekklesia,” which was the Septuagint

rendering
(Old Testament translated into Greek) for the Hebrew term translated “congregation.”
It is the assembly of the redeemed, and in the midst of that assembly the Risen
Christ takes His place as the Chief Chorister leading the praises of His people’s hearts

(Ironside).

THE CHURCH AND PRAISE TO GOD

The phrase, “In the midst of the Church will I sing praise unto Thee,” refers to Christ
in the midst of this congregation of redeemed Saints, singing praise to God, as it regards
the great victory won at the Cross.

The idea is, we are “Brethren,” which means “Brothers of our Lord,” only because
of what was done at the Cross. This is borne out by the Holy Spirit having Paul use this
particular quotation from Psalm 22, which is the great Crucifixion Psalm.

If Christ can praise God for this great thing, how can we, who have actually been
the recipients of this Blessing of all Blessings, not do the same!

In the mind of God, every single Blood-washed Believer stands supreme with Christ
in our midst, praising God for this great victory won, and if He does this, and He definitely
does, then how can we as His Brethren, do less!

This Passage, among many others of similar nature, places the seal of approval by the
Holy Spirit upon the worship of the Lord as it regards singing and music. In fact, the
Book of Psalms, which is Earth’s first songbook, is the largest Book in the Bible.
This should tell us the priority which the Holy Spirit places on worship and praise.

In fact, let me hear the music of a Church, and I can pretty well tell what kind of Church
it actually is. If it’s stilted and formal, as it is with most Churches which have denied the
Holy Spirit, this portrays the fact that He is not present.

If it’s the contemporary flavor, which characterizes many modern Churches, this tells
me that “another spirit” is actually being engaged, instead of the Holy Spirit (II Cor. 11:4).

If it’s the true worship of God, it will be obviously evident in the music and the singing.
It will glorify Christ and not man. It will be generated by the Holy Spirit and not
“another spirit.” In fact, Churches, Radio Programs, and Television Programs, which claim

to be
Christian, which promote so-called Contemporary Christian Music are pure and simple
operating in the realm of the powers of darkness.
As stated, all of this is by “another spirit.” Most Churches have no true worship
at all, and because the Holy Spirit is not present. With many others, and I speak of
those who function in the genre mentioned, they have a form of worship, but it’s definitely

not of God.

The idea that this style of music draws in young people to Christ is so facetious as to
be absurd. In the first place, it is only the Holy Spirit Who can draw anyone to Christ.
And to be sure, He does not use the ways of the world, and the word “contemporary,” at
least in this capacity, speaks of music which is similar to or identical with that in the
world. Music either glorifies God, or it glorifies self. And if it glorifies self, it is actually
glorifying Satan! So, let me say it again:

One can gauge the spiritual barometer of a Church by the style of music it promotes.
If that in fact is the case, and it definitely is, then “the Church” is in sad shape spiritually.

(13) “AND AGAIN, I WILL PUT MY TRUST IN HIM. AND AGAIN, BEHOLD I
AND THE CHILDREN WHICH GOD HATH GIVEN ME.”
The exegesis is:

1. The key to all life and victory is trust in the Lord.
2. More particularly, it is trust in what Christ did at the Cross, all on our behalf.
3. Because of what Jesus did at the Cross, there will be many brethren, i.e., “Children of

God.”

TRUST

The phrase, “And again, I will put my trust in Him,” is derived from II Samuel 22:3.
This particular Chapter is the same as Psalm 18, with but little change in the wording.

“Trust” is the very theme of Psalms, actually being mentioned some 50 times in Earth’s
first songbook. The entirety of this Book is a portrayal of Christ in one way or the other,
in His Mediatorial and Intercessory roles. The idea is His Incarnation, i.e., “Humanity.”

Christ puts His trust totally in God, providing an example for us to follow, and of course,
the greatest example of all! So human is He that, conscious of other weakness, He leans
on God, as the feeblest of His Brethren. This fulfills Isaiah, Chapter 53 perfectly, “A Man of
sorrows, acquainted with grief. . . .” Proper trust in the Lord requires proper
relationship. The Holy Spirit, Who abides within us, will lead us perfectly according to
the Will of God, if we will only strive after that perfect Will. To have the type of relationship
which can generate such trust, is the most wonderful life and living there could
ever be. As stated, Christ was the greatest example of all concerning this.

Frances and I began in Evangelistic Work in 1956. Donnie was only two years old at the
time. To be sure, it was not at all easy. Finances were in very short supply, along with
what seemed to be about everything else as well.

It was 1958 if I remember correctly. My cousin Jerry Lee Lewis was vying with Elvis
Presley for the number one spot in the nation regarding the new craze of rock-‘n’-roll.

At this particular time, I was preaching a Meeting at my home Church in Ferriday,
Louisiana. It was a Sunday, and we were having a dinner on the ground, which was quite
common in those days, and which took place immediately after the morning Service.

The table was spread in the open space in back of the little Church. The Church was
small, with the attendance that day probably being 25 or 30.

We were in the midst of this particular meal, when I looked up and saw my Uncle,
Jerry Lee’s dad driving up, in his brand-new Cadillac. He got out of the car, greeting

everyone,
and then came over to me, and with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Jimmy I have great
news for you!”

He then continued, saying, “Sam Phillips has sent for you. Sun Records is starting
a Gospel line, and you will be the very first artist.”

Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Records, had started Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash,
Charlie Rich, Carl Perkins, along with Jerry Lee and a host of others. At that particular
time, Sun Records, jumping on the rock-‘n’roll bandwagon, was fastly becoming one of
the biggest record labels in the world.

I remember my Uncle looking around and finally spotting my car. I can still hear his voice.

“Jimmy in 30 days you can buy a new car. And to be sure,” he continued, “you sure need

one!”
He was certainly right about that!

I opened my mouth to say, “I’ll be ready to go immediately,” when deep down inside
me, the Spirit of God spoke to my heart, saying, “You cannot do this!”

I’m sure I must have looked somewhat startled, because my Uncle looked at me very
closely, and said, “Jimmy, did you hear what I just said?”

“Yes,” I answered, “and I appreciate the offer so very, very much. I’m sorry,” I continued,
“but I cannot accept.”

My Uncle looked at me very puzzled for a few moments and then said, “But Jimmy, it’s

Gospel music!”

“I know it,” I answered, “but I can’t do it.”

My eyes filled with tears, because I didn’t really understand myself. My Uncle looked at
me for a few moments, and then put his arms around me and said, “Jimmy I think you’re
making a mistake, but I’ll accept your answer.”

My Uncle was a very tall, angular man, always friendly, always personable, a man whom
everybody liked. He always had a smile, and he was still smiling as I saw him walk away,
get in that new Cadillac and drive off.

I remember hearing one lady standing nearby, who obviously had overheard the short
conversation, saying to another lady standing nearby, “Did you hear what he just did?”
She continued, “He turned down that offer!”

There were a hundred questions in my mind, of which the Lord had provided no
answers. As stated, our financial picture was very near desperate. We badly needed a new
car, plus about everything else as well.

I wanted to be alone for a few moments, so I walked away from the crowd, going into
the little Church. There was a small broom and mop closet in one corner, and I walked
in it, shutting the door.

I stood there for a few moments and then through tears asked the Lord, “Why couldn’t
I accept this offer? It’s Gospel music. What’s wrong with that?”

The Spirit of the Lord came upon me, with the Lord saying one thing to me. He simply
said, “Trust Me!”

That was all, no more, no less! “Trust Me!”

However, it was enough to ease my mind, and to know that I was in His direct Will, which
was the only thing that really mattered. To be sure, that story has not ended yet.
Not long after that, I made my very first Recording. And from that time until now, and
without the help of Record companies and such like, the Holy Spirit serving as my company,
my distributor, and everything else for that matter, has helped me to sell some 15
million Albums. Had I taken the lure offered by Satan, I know in my heart that the Blessings
that the Lord gave me, would not have been given.

As it regards Satan’s lure, I do not in any way mean to implicate my Uncle in that. He
was trying to help, for which I was very grateful. However, that particular direction, even
though seemingly right to the natural eye, was not right, and would have turned out to
great loss.

To be led by the Lord is the greatest thing there could ever be. And to be led by Him,
one must learn to trust Him. Again I state, Jesus was the perfect example!

THAT WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN ME

The phrase, “And again, behold I and the children which God hath given Me,” is derived
from Isaiah 8:18.

The idea of this statement from Isaiah is that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and that He
is such in order to go to the Cross where Redemption will be effected for all of mankind.
As a result, many will be born into the Kingdom of God; consequently, the idea is:

Paul is addressing this to Jews who had accepted Christ as their Saviour, but now
through discouragement, or for whatever reason, were contemplating going back into
Temple worship, which would necessitate a denial of Christ as the Son of God. No doubt,
some had already done this, with many others thinking of following suit.

He is in effect telling them, that the only way that one can be a Child of God is to accept
Christ. And if He is rejected, God in totality is as well rejected. In other words, Israel
could not have God if they rejected Jesus Christ. Rejecting Him, they in effect would
be rejecting all things, even their history. Regrettably, that is exactly what happened.

(14) “FORASMUCH THEN AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND
BLOOD, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISETOOK PART OF THE SAME; THAT
THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH,
THAT IS, THE DEVIL;”

1. This speaks of the Incarnation, God becoming man.
2. The Incarnation was necessary in order to redeem humanity. The great Plan of
Redemption demanded death, and God cannot die; consequently, He would have to become
man, thereby becoming the Last Adam, to carry out this great work.
3. His death on the Cross would destroy Satan and his powers.
 
FLESH AND BLOOD

The phrase, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,” refers
to the fact that this creation has a human and not an Angelic nature. Since we
are men, He became a man. There was a fitness and propriety that He should partake
of our nature, which He did!

“Partakers” in the Greek is “koinoneo,” and means, “to have a share in common
with someone else.” Thus, all of the human race have in common with one another, flesh
and blood.

There is evidence in the coming Resurrection of Life, that the glorified bodies of all
Saints, will be made up of flesh and bone, but no mention is made of blood (Lk. 24:39).
The idea is this:

Whereas at the present time, the life of the flesh is in the blood, in the Resurrection,
the life of the flesh will be the “Spirit,” i.e., “the Holy Spirit!”

THE INCARNATION

The phrase, “He also Himself likewise took part of the same,” speaks of the Incarnation
of Christ, God becoming man.

“Likewise” would have been better translated “in like manner.” It means that the
Lord Jesus, in His Incarnation, took His place alongside and nearby the human race.

The words “took part of” are the translation of a different Greek word from that translated
“partakers.” It is “metecho,” and means, “to hold with.” Thus, our Lord took
hold of human nature without its sin in the Incarnation, and held it to Himself as an
additional nature, thus associating Himself with the human race in its possession of flesh
and blood. He took to Himself, something with which by nature He had nothing in common.
Human beings possess human nature in common with one another. The Son of
God united with Himself, something that was not natural to Him.

God, as to His nature, is Spirit, that is, incorporeal Being (Jn. 4:24) (Wuest).

Westcott says that the word “partakers” marks the characteristic sharing of the common
fleshly nature as it pertains to the human race at large, whereas the words “took
part of” speak of the unique fact of the Incarnation as a voluntary acceptance of humanity.
This throws great light on the dual nature of our Lord as “Very (True) God and
Very (True) Man.”

DEATH

The phrase, “That through death He might destroy him that had the power of
death,” refers to the Cross and what it did.
As the “Last Adam” (I Cor. 15:45), Christ had to come into this world similar to the
first Adam, which refers to being without sin. Consequently, He was born of the Virgin
Mary, thereby, not incurring original sin brought on by Adam’s Fall.

As the “Last Adam” He also had to keep the law of God (Law of Moses) perfectly,
thereby rendering a perfect obedience, which the first Adam did not do.

However, for all His perfection, and all His miracles and healings, even to the raising of
the dead, not one soul was truly saved until He went to the Cross. While in fact there
definitely were people saved before the Cross, still, they were saved by looking forward to
that coming Redemption. There has never been but one Salvation, and it has always
come by Faith, which pertains to Faith in the Cross (Gen., Chpt. 4).

THE POWER OF DEATH

Satan held the power of death over humanity by reason of man’s failure, i.e., “sin.”
The legal claim upon humanity by the Evil One is sin and transgression. Inasmuch as
the wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23), this constituted Satan’s power.

HOW DID THE DEATH OF CHRIST
DESTROY THE DEVIL?

When Verse 14 says that Satan is destroyed, it doesn’t mean that he is dead, but
rather that his power is broken. In fact, Satan is an angel, albeit fallen, and cannot die.

When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, which they did by disobedience to God
and His Word (Gen. 2:15-17), at that time, they spiritually died, exactly as God said they
would. Spiritual death means “separation from God.” Man’s life-support system was
intended to be his Creator, and with man dead to God through disobedience, the life-support
system was severed. Consequently, spiritual death ultimately led to physical death,
and in fact, the death of all things. God had decreed that the “wages of sin would be
death,” once again meaning separation from God, and so it was and so it is (Rom. 6:23).

When Adam and Eve did this, they in effect changed Lords. Where God had been
their Lord, now Satan is their lord, which he is regarding all of mankind who doesn’t know
Christ Jesus (Jn. 8:44). As a result, the total God-consciousness which man had before
the Fall was now lost, with man sinking down to the far lower level of self-consciousness,
and beside that, being literally possessed by the evil nature, or as some call it, the “sinful
nature.” This means that man’s every passion and attitude, instead of being turned
toward God, is rather turned toward that which is evil, which is the cause of all the
problems and difficulties in the world today.
Satan’s legal claim upon mankind is sin and transgression. As a result of sin and in
fact, all being born in sin, which is referred to as “original sin,” which actually stems
from the first Adam, Satan literally holds man in captivity.

Concerning this captivity, that’s what Jesus was speaking about when He said, “How can
one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the
strongman? And then he will spoil his house” (Mat. 12:29).

And that’s exactly what Jesus did at the Cross! By being made a curse for sin (Gal.
3:13-14), which He did by dying, the terrible sin debt owed to God by man was then paid.
Consequently, Satan then lost his legal hold upon humanity, at least for those who will
believe (Jn. 3:16). Satan’s power of death is sin, because the wages of sin is death, and so
decreed by God (Rom. 6:23). With sin removed, which it was at the Cross, as stated,
Satan’s legal claim upon humanity is lost, which means that the power of death is broken
as well.

This power of death before the Cross, extended even to Hell itself. In other words,
when the righteous died before the Cross, due to the blood of bulls and goats not being able
to take away sin, even though these individuals were saved, and we speak of Old Testament
Times, that sin debt was still hanging over their heads. Hence, Satan still had a
claim upon them; consequently, when they died, and I speak also of the greats such as
David, Abraham, Moses, etc., they were taken captive by Satan down into Paradise.

To be sure, this was not the burning side of the Pit, that being separated from them
by a great gulf (Lk. 16:19-31); however, due to the sin problem not being yet settled, and
because the Cross was yet in the future, they were still captives of Satan.

In fact, after Jesus died on the Cross, thereby settling the terrible sin debt, which
destroyed the power of death held by Satan, He liberated these righteous souls from

Paradise,
which Paul addressed in Ephesians 4:8
10. Due to the sin debt being settled at the Cross, when a Saint of God now dies, their
soul and spirit immediately go to Heaven to be with Christ (Phil. 1:23), which means the
power of death is broken.

HOW WERE PEOPLE SAVED BEFORE THE CROSS?
They were saved in the same manner then as we are now, by Faith. Their Faith was centered
in the Cross which was coming, and our Faith is centered in the Cross which has
now been accomplished. They were saved by looking forward to a prophetic Jesus, while
we are saved by looking backward to a historic Jesus. Both ways, however, centered
up at the Cross.

As stated, the sacrificial system of Old Testament Times, which consisted of the deaths
of certain types of animals such as lambs,
goats, rams, etc., was only a stopgap measure, until “the Sacrifice” could be offered,
which would be God becoming man, and then offering up Himself (Isa. 7:14; Chpt. 53).

Even though the Old Testament Saints were definitely saved, and by Faith exactly as
we are now, still, their system at that time was woefully inferior to the New Covenant,
in that “the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins” (Heb. 10:4). That’s the
reason that Paul in Hebrews, keeps stressing the fact that we now have a “Better Covenant
. . . established upon Better Promises” (Heb. 8:6).

JESUS CHRIST AND HIS CROSS, THE SOURCE OF ALL VICTORY!

When Jesus died on the Cross, He atoned for all sin and for all time (I Jn. 1:7). So that
means that theoretically, every single person who has been alive since the Cross, has been
set free from all sin; however, to reap such benefits, God requires that the sinner place
his Faith and confidence in Christ and what He did at the Cross on his behalf, which
means to accept Christ as one’s Lord and Saviour (Jn. 3:16). If Faith in Christ, and
Christ only, is not enjoined, the individual retains his sins, and is thereby eternally lost
(Jn. 16:8-9).

As we’ve said previously, God does not hold man nearly as accountable for his condition,
a condition incidentally over which he had no control, as He does man’s rejection of Christ,
Who is God’s Solution to man’s dilemma.

Going back to before the Cross, even though the death of Christ atoned for all sin
during that period of some 4,000 years, still, it could only apply to those who had placed
their trust in Christ, or in other words, the One Who was to come. God honored their
Faith in that coming Finished Work, even as He now honors our Faith in that completed
Finished Work.

Death then (before the Cross) ended the opportunity to be saved, even as death now
(after the Cross) ends all opportunity to be saved. In fact, all opportunities for Salvation
are on this side of the grave, with there being no more opportunity after death. This means
there is no such thing as purgatory, reincarnation, etc. The Scripture plainly says:

“It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment” (Heb. 9:27).

CAN THE BELIEVER LIVE FREE FROM SIN?
The Bible doesn’t teach sinless perfection, and for all the obvious reasons, but it definitely
does teach victory over sin, in that “sin shall not have dominion over you” (Rom.
6:14). So, that means that no Believer should ever be bound by sin in any capacity, should
ever be overcome by sin, should ever practice sin, but should live victorious, overcoming,
Christian lives, which Jesus paid for at the Cross.

Now the great question should be asked, if such victory is actually the case?

To be sure, it definitely is with some few, but not many. The Truth is, most Christians
are bound by sin in one way or the other.

Considering what Jesus did at the Cross on our behalf, why is this the case?

It is the case, because the Church for all practical purposes, has abandoned the Cross.
Most of the Church world no longer even believes that what Jesus did at the Cross addressed
the sin problem, so they recommend humanistic psychology, which is actually
of Satan. Even the most elementary Sunday School child ought to know that if the
terrible sin problem, with all of its perversions and aberrations, can in fact, be solved
by the prattle of pitiful man, then Jesus needlessly came down here and died on a
cruel Cross.

The great problem in the modern Church is unbelief and Scriptural ignorance. Let’s
deal with unbelief first.

UNBELIEF

We either believe that Jesus at the Cross addressed every sin, every perversion, every
aberration, every nuance of which one could think, and in every manner, or else we don’t
believe. One cannot have it both ways.

If we claim to believe that He in fact did address all sin at the Cross, then we know
instinctively that man has no solution to this problem. As stated, that’s actually elementary!
So, for Preachers to recommend humanistic psychology, must mean they have
weighed the evidence, and they have come to a conclusion of unbelief in their own
minds, that Calvary did not answer it all. As stated, one cannot have it both ways. Either
He did, or He didn’t!

I happen to believe that He did, and I have proven in my own life that He did, and so
have untold millions of others. In other
words, the evidence is so overwhelming as to be undeniable. Every single heart and
life that’s been set free, has its freedom today, simply because of what Jesus did at the

Cross.

On the other hand, the world of humanistic psychology, cannot show me one single
individual anywhere, at any time, that they have set free. So, for Preachers to believe
this “wisdom of the world” which is “earthly, sensual, and devilish” (James 3:15), simply
says, that they do not believe the “wisdom of God” which is the Cross of Christ (I Cor. 1:21).

“Unbelief” is the most dangerous place and position of all, in that the bottom line is,
that men simply do not believe that “Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sins: and
not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (I Jn. 2:2).

IGNORANCE

However, Scriptural ignorance is probably almost as big as unbelief. In fact, that’s why
Paul said over and over again, and to Believers, “I would not have you to be ignorant”
(Rom. 1:13; 11:25; I Cor. 10:1; 12:1; II Cor. 1:8; I Thess. 4:13).

As we’ve also said over and over again, even to the point of being overly repetitive,
the Church, at least for the most part, has had so little teaching on the Cross in the last
50 or more years, that this great foundational Truth has all but been lost. Let the Reader
understand, that the Cross of Christ is not a Doctrine. It is in fact, the foundation on
which all Doctrine is built. And if doctrine is not built on that foundation, then in some
way it is spurious. And that’s where the Church is presently!

While the foundational Truth of the Cross is possibly buried in its constitution and bylaws,
as far as living out its practical applications, that regarding the Church has long
since ceased to be. So, the Christian stumbles along in failure, not nearly living up to his
or her potential in Christ.

SIN

Even though most in the Church, I think, are so lifted up with spiritual pride that they
are loathe to admit it, the problem of the Church is sin, as the problem of the Church
has always been sin! And when we say “the Church,” we’re speaking of its individual
members, namely you and me. The Truth is, the Church treats sin, at least for the most
part, in one or two ways:

1. The part of the Church world which doesn’t believe in the Baptism with the Holy
Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other Tongues, mostly claim that we as Believers
are merely “sinners saved by Grace.” In other words, we were sinners before we
got saved, and we continue to be sinners after we are saved, and are saved only because
of our trust in Christ. In fact, they place very little confidence in victory over sin, claiming
that Christians have to sin a little bit or a whole lot each day, etc.
Paul addressed this error by asking the question, “Shall we continue in sin, that
Grace may abound?”

His answer was instant, “God forbid. How shall we (Believers), who are dead to sin, live
any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:1-2).

2. The part of the Church world which claims to believe in the Baptism with the
Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking with other Tongues, for the most part, claims
that sin is no problem. Claiming to be Spirit-filled, and, therefore, mighty men and women
of Faith, the idea that they could be overcome by sin, or that sin is a problem, is for
all practical purposes denied. In other words, they address the problem by claiming that it
doesn’t exist.
The Truth is, that’s about like trying to ignore a 2,000 pound elephant that’s sitting
in one’s living room. Due to having almost no knowledge of the Cross, most Pentecostals
and Charismatics are living lives of spiritual failure, the same as their non-Pentecostal
and non-Charismatic Brethren.

In fact, in much of the Charismatic world, they claim that Preachers should not even
address the problem of sin. In other words, it should not even be mentioned, because to
do so, only creates a “sin-consciousness,” they say! That in effect is “a spirit of denial,”
which of course is spurious. Denying reality doesn’t change things.

This doctrine of the denial of sin is strange, especially considering that the Holy
Spirit through Paul as well as the other writers, addressed this thing in every way and in
every capacity. In fact, victory over sin in the heart and life of the Believer is the main
topic of Paul’s Epistles. The same would go for Peter and John as well!

But again, much of the Charismatic world completely denies the Cross of Christ, claiming
that it was the worst defeat in human history; consequently, they say, the Cross, or the
Blood, or the Crucifixion of Christ, or anything of that nature, should never be mentioned.
Pure and simple, this is “another gospel, fostered by another spirit, presenting another
Jesus” (II Cor. 11:4). Regrettably, this part of the Spirit-filled Church world, but not
Spirit-led, must be placed in the ranks of unbelief, and not Scriptural ignorance.

Scriptural ignorance regarding the Cross, on the other hand, does not register unbelief,
but rather a lack of knowledge on the subject. And that’s where much of the
Church world stands presently. It simply doesn’t know what the Holy Spirit gave to
Paul, as it regards the victory of the Cross. And let it be clearly understood:

A proper understanding of the Cross, and Faith in that Finished Work of Christ, are the
only means of overcoming sin. There is no other sacrifice for sin! So, if the Believer
doesn’t know or understand, this all-important Truth, then irrespective as to how sincere
the Believer might be, how dedicated the Believer might be, in one way or the other,
that Believer is going to live a life of spiritual failure. While they definitely are saved, at the
same time, they definitely aren’t victorious.

TYPES OF SIN

There are sins of passion and there are sins of pride. Sins of passion, which are works of
the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21), are very obvious, while sins of pride are not so very obvious.
Sins of passion include all the vices, and of course, are very evil.
Sins of pride function in another category altogether. When Stephen addressed the religious
leaders of Israel, just before they stoned him to death, he said to them, “Ye stiffnecked
and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).

Many of these men would not have dreamed of associating themselves with any of the
vices; nevertheless, their evil hearts were filled with murder, in that they did crucify
the Lord and stoned to death His servant.

Even though all sin is deadly and horrible, the sin of “resisting the Holy Spirit,” which
many religious people, and especially religious leaders fall into, is the worst sin of all. It

presents
a face of piousness to the world, and most of the time has an excellent reputation;
however, its character, which God Alone knows, is grossly evil.

WHAT DOES RESISTING THE HOLY SPIRIT ACTUALLY MEAN?

Even though much is said on the subject, to make it simple in order that we may fully
understand, “resisting the Holy Spirit” is resistingthe One to Whom the Holy Spirit always
points as the Deliverer from all sin, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is resisting God’s solution
for dying humanity, the Cross of Christ.

Israel wanted Jesus the conqueror of Rome, but they didn’t want Jesus the conqueror of
sin. They were so lifted up in their own self-righteousness, that they couldn’t admit that
they were sinners and desperately needed a Redeemer. Their sin was in rejecting God’s
Solution for their dilemma, a dilemma incidentally which they refused to admit.

So, just because a Christian is not mixed up in one of the vices, doesn’t mean they are living
a life of victory over sin. In fact, there are millions of so-called Christians who the world
thinks of as very moral, but in reality, are trusting in their own self-righteousness, instead
of the Righteousness of Christ, which refers to Faith in what Christ did at the Cross. These
people are obvious by their “works religion,” which they attempt to add to the Finished

Work
of Christ, of which the latter is all but ignored.

VICTORY!

Defeat is “walking after the flesh,” while victory is “walking after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).
To “walk after the Spirit,” simply means to trust in what Christ did at the Cross, in which
parameters the Holy Spirit always works.

Paul said, “For the Law (an unbreakable Law) of the Spirit (the Holy Spirit) of life
(this Law, which is the Law of the Cross, gives life) in Christ Jesus (refers to what Jesus did
at the Cross and the Resurrection, all on our behalf) hath made me free from the law of
sin and death (also a law, and impossible to overcome, other than by the Law of the
Spirit)” (Rom. 8:2).

So, if one wants to have total victory in one’s life, which in fact Jesus paid for at the
Cross, one must abide by “the Law of the Spirit.” And what is that Law? Paul tells us
in the next Verse.

“For what the Law (Law of Moses, not the Law of the Spirit) could not do, in that it
was weak through the flesh (the Law of Moses had no power to give man to help him to
obey), God sending His Own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (the Incarnation), and for
sin, condemned sin in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3).

As an aside, if our Word of Faith friends are right, in that sin should never be mentioned,
Paul is sure speaking of the subject an awful lot.

This Verse means that God became man, in order to die on a Cross that the terrible
sin debt would be paid, and in so doing, overcame sin in the flesh, all on our behalf. In
other words, everything that Jesus did, was done totally and completely for us, and not
at all for Himself.

To be more specific, the Law of the Spirit which is in Christ Jesus means the following:

BAPTIZED INTO THE DEATH OF CHRIST

The Holy Spirit through Paul said, “Know ye not (and regrettably many Christians don’t
know), that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His
death?” (Rom. 6:3).

First of all, understand that Paul is not speaking here of Water Baptism, as many
think. He is speaking of the death of Christ on the Cross. So, that being the case, how
were we baptized into His death, when we were not even there?

Whenever the believing sinner exhibits Faith in Christ, in the Mind of God this legal
work of the sinner being baptized into Christ at His Death, was carried out. Christ, as the
“Last Adam” (I Cor. 15:45), did all of this as our Substitute, which means that we couldn’t
do such for ourselves.

The wages of sin being death, Christ had to die in order to pay this debt. If I had died
upon a Cross, or if you had died upon a Cross, our hearts and lives being polluted by sin, such
would have been a sacrifice which God could not accept. But His Son dying on the Cross,
and doing so by offering to God a Perfect Body and a Perfect Life, was a Sacrifice which
God could accept, and in fact, did accept. As stated, it was all done on our behalf. What
we couldn’t do for ourselves, He did for us.

To acquire the benefits of what He did, all we have to do is to register Faith in this great
Finished Work (Eph. 2:8-9).

BURIED WITH HIM

We were not only crucified with Him, but as Paul also said, “We are buried with Him
by baptism into death” (Rom. 6:4).

This means that our “old man,” as Paul refers to in Verse 6, which pertains to our
old life before conversion, had to die. To be sure, that death was accomplished in the
Crucifixion of Christ, which we gain by Faith.

So, the old Jimmy Swaggart was not only crucified with Christ, but was also buried with
Him. This means all the old transgression, sin, iniquity, old ways, and old life, all and without
exception, were buried with Him, which means, none of this can ever be held against
you or me, anymore. It is dead and buried!

This also means, that the Lord doesn’t attempt to rehabilitate the sinner, or to patch
him up so to speak, but rather does away altogether with the “old man,” and then brings
forth a “new man.”

NEWNESS OF LIFE, THE NEW MAN

Paul said as well, “That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the Glory of the
Father (all on our behalf), even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
In other words, as we were crucified with Him, and buried with Him, we were also
raised with Him in “newness of life,” i.e., “the new man.” That’s the reason that the Apostle
said, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, heis a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new” (II Cor. 5:17).

He said as well, “Having abolished in His flesh (the Crucifixion) the enmity, even the
Law of Commandments contained in ordinances (the Law of Moses which had condemned
us); for to make in Himself (through what He did at the Cross and the Resurrection)
of twain (by His death being our death) one new man (what we are in Christ), so
making peace” (Eph. 2:15; 4:24).

So, every Believer is a “new man” in Christ Jesus, which means that the “old
man” doesn’t live there anymore (Rom. 6:6).

HOW DOES THE CHRISTIAN CONTINUE TO WALK AS THE NEW MAN?

Paul tells us how in Romans, Chapters 6 and 8.

First of all, and as stated, we must understand that when we were saved, in the mind
of God, we were baptized into the death of Christ, we were buried with Him, which means
that our “old man” died with Him and was buried, and that we were raised in newness of
life (Rom. 6:3-4, 6). Understanding this, there are several things we must now continue to
do as it regards Faith. If these things aredone, we can stay free from every bondage of
iniquity, or we can get free, whatever the case might be. These things are as follows:

RESURRECTION LIFE

Paul said, “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall
be also in the likeness of His Resurrection” (Rom. 6:5).

The idea here is, that it is intended by God that we walk and live in Resurrection Life.
Of course, that means victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil. This is that for which
Jesus died, and it is that which we can have, if we will only follow His prescribed order.

However, to have this “Resurrection Life,” we must ever understand the first part of this
Verse, which refers to “being planted together
in the likeness of His Death.” In other words, our Faith must never leave the Cross. We must
understand that we have this Resurrection Life, which gives us all things, because of what
Jesus did at the Cross. Understanding and knowing this, the Cross of Christ must ever
be the object of our Faith, understanding that this is the Source of all Blessings. Now this
is very, very important!

Satan will do everything within his power to move your Faith to something else. He
will probably do so by getting you to direct your attention to other things which are good.
And because they are good, we are deceived. But please understand, Satan doesn’t really
care what you believe, just as long as it’s not Faith in the Cross. So, you must not allow
your Faith to be moved to anything else. And by that I mean the following:

The Church belongs to Christ, but the Church didn’t die on the Cross for you. Consequently,
millions of Christians have their Faith in the Church or some particular Denomination.
That is Faith that God will not honor.

As well, other Christians have their Faith in other types of good works such as, fasting,
praying, the giving of money, witnessing to souls, etc. All these things we have
mentioned, plus many we haven’t mentioned, are wonderful, great, and good, and should
be the staple of all Believers; however, we must never put our Faith in these things,
thinking that such will grant us favor with God, etc. It won’t!

Again I emphasize, these things mentioned, should be practiced daily by every
Child of God, but rather because of what Jesus has already done for us at the Cross,
and not in order to get Him to do things for us. The Faith of the Child of God must ever
be anchored in the Cross of Christ, not allowing it to be moved elsewhere, understanding
that what Jesus did at the Cross provides us all things.

DEAD TO SIN

The Holy Spirit through Paul also said, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be
dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:11).

The word “reckon” means “to account.” In other words, you are to conclude yourself
as being what the Holy Spirit says you are. And what does He say?

He says that you are “dead unto sin, and alive unto God through Jesus Christ your Lord.”
Remember? You died with Christ! So that means you died to all of Satan’s wares,
all sin, and everything held by the Evil One. It has no more hold on you. And please
understand, when a person is dead to something, that means “dead!” Now please consider
the following:

That doesn’t mean that now you have the power to say “no” to sin, but rather that you
have the power to say “yes” to God. While you are dead to sin, at the same time, you
are alive unto God. What am I saying?

I’m saying that you don’t hold conversations with something to which you are dead.
As stated, dead means dead! So, it’s not a question of me saying no to anything the
Devil has, for the simple reason that I’m not even supposed to get that far with such a
thing in my thinking. I’m alive unto God, and not unto Satan or anything he has.

As well, the word “reckon” in the Greek also has as its root, the word “logos,” which
means “Word,” or “Word of God.” In other words, you are to understand, that God says
of you that you are dead to sin and alive unto Him. You are to believe that, understand that,
act upon that, realizing, that God cannot lie.

BUT WHAT IF I HAVE DONE THIS AND FAILED ANYWAY?
When the Believer starts out on the road of victory, which is the road of the Cross
(Lk. 9:23), this doesn’t mean that Satan is going to fold up. To be sure, he will test your
Faith in every way possible, making every attempt to get you to look to other than the
Cross. Regrettably, he usually succeeds in some manner.

If you fail in some way, and irrespective as to what it is, ask the Lord to forgive you, which
He has assured us that He shall (I Jn. 1:9). And then understand, that you have failed
because your Faith failed in some manner. In other words, your Faith is not quite as
strong as it ought to be. To be sure, the Cross cannot fail, and because Jesus cannot fail.

Now that you’ve asked the Lord to forgive you, ask the Lord also to help you as it regards
your Faith being anchored in the Cross. Please understand that the Lord is not trying
to find ways to wash us out, but rather to help us make it through. He has invested
the Precious Blood of Jesus in our hearts and lives, in our very souls, and to be sure, if He
loved us enough to die for us while we were yet sinners, think how much more He loves
us now, in that we are serving Him (Rom. 5:8).

Now don’t let the Devil lie to you, trying to tell you that due to your failure, that the
Cross of Christ simply doesn’t work. To be sure, the Cross works and works perfectly.
But unfortunately, we as poor human beings are very prone to failure. In fact, the very
purpose of the Cross is to address this weakness in our hearts and lives. The more we
understand this, and I speak of our weaknesses, then we will begin to understand the
Cross, and what Jesus did there.
No human being who has ever lived is able to live this life as one ought to live, at least
by his own efforts and machinations. It simply cannot be done. That’s the very reason
that Jesus had to come down here and die on a Cross. He had to do for us what we could
not do for ourselves, in order that in Him we might be able to live the life we ought to live.
And as stated, it can only be done “in Him” (II Cor. 5:17).

So if you stumble, get up, understanding that the Lord will never let you down, zero
your Faith once again in the Cross, understanding that you are now on the road to victory.
So what am I saying?

I’m saying, that no matter your weaknesses, if you’ll keep your Faith in the Cross
of Christ, you are guaranteed of victory. The very word “reckon” which is the “Word of
God,” guarantees this to be so. You will ultimately have victory and I speak of total victory,
over the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

HOW TO YIELD

Paul said, “Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto
sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members
as instruments of Righteousness unto God” (Rom. 6:13).

Even as I dictate these words, there are millions of Christians at this very moment,
who are attempting with all their strength and might to yield themselves to Righteousness,
but are rather yielding themselves otherwise. In other words, in some manner, they are
bound by sin. And please understand, this doesn’t refer only to new converts, but also
to Pastors of some of the largest Churches in the world; also, to Evangelists who are
drawing some of the largest crowds. The Truth is, if the Believer, whomever that Believer
might be, doesn’t understand the Cross of Christ, in some way, in some manner, that
Believer is going to walk in defeat. It cannot be otherwise! Victory is found only in the
Cross, and if the Believer doesn’t understand that, which most don’t, there can be no other
outcome but failure.

Please understand, that for every one failure you hear about, there are probably a hundred
or even a thousand, that you don’t hear about. Irrespective, God knows the situation,
and to be sure, the person involved knows the situation as well.

So, how does a Believer obey this admonition to yield ourselves unto Righteousness?

Even as we’ve explained some pages ago, yielding pertains to willpower. The Scripture
plainly says, “Whosoever will . . .” (Rev. 22:17). However, it must be understood, and
understood clearly, that the will of the Believer is not free to say “no” to sin, even to
which we have just alluded. That is not the position in which the Believer ought to be.

Many Christians erroneously think that now that they belong to Christ, their willpower
has been greatly strengthened, and they are free to say “yes” or “no” to anything
they like. That’s not true!

You as a Believer are free to say “yes” to the Lord. In other words, you are free to put
your Faith in the Cross of Christ, which means to “will” your self in that direction.
Satan cannot stop you from doing that, and God guarantees your freedom in this respect.

However, if you drift outside of the Cross of Christ, attempting to depend on something
else other than the Cross, you as a Believer, despite the fact that you are saved and
even Spirit-filled, will quickly find yourself being overcome by Satan. Let me say it again:

It comes as a shock to many Christians for them to realize, that Satan can actually
override their wills. Think about that for a moment!

But it definitely is true. As long as you will to trust Christ, and by that I mean to
trust in what He did at the Cross, all the powers of Hell cannot stop you, in fact, cannot
even touch you. But if you drift outside the parameters of the Finished Work of
Christ, depending on something else, and irrespective as to how good that something
else might be, you will find Satan overriding your will. In fact, He’s doing it right now to
millions of Christians. They are doing things they don’t want to do, and are trying with all
their strength and might not to do these things, but despite all their efforts, they are
failing anyway. And that’s where some of you holding this Book in your hands are at this
very moment.

But please understand that it doesn’t have to be this way. You are failing, because your
Faith is in something else other than the Cross of Christ, and when this happens, the
Holy Spirit, Whose help you must have, simply will not function. He functions totally
and completely within the parameters of what Christ did at the Cross. He only asks
that we have Faith in the great Sacrifice of Christ, and then He will do His work (Rom.
8:1-2). In other words, He guarantees a free flow of Grace if our Faith is in the Cross.
Otherwise, we frustrate the Grace of God, and we are guaranteed of defeat (Gal. 2:20-21).

When one anchors their Faith in the Cross of Christ, one then is guaranteed the help of
the Holy Spirit, and one can then easily yield oneself unto Righteousness. But it can be
done only in this manner.

DOMINION, LAW, AND GRACE

The Holy Spirit through Paul now says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you:
for ye are not under the Law, but under Grace” (Rom. 6:14).

If it wasn’t possible for “sin” or rather “the sin nature” to have dominion over a Believer,
then Paul wouldn’t have made this statement. The Truth is, the sin nature is dominating
every single Believer in this world in some way, in some manner, who doesn’t understand
their victory in the Cross of Christ. And that’s the shame of it all. Jesus died on the Cross,
which of course speaks of such great price; consequently, it’s a terrible shame for any
Believer not to be able to enjoy the benefits for which He paid such a price. But if the
Christian doesn’t understand the Cross, and precious few actually do, in some way sin will
dominate that individual. What do we mean by that?

I’m speaking of Christians who cannot control their temper. I’m speaking of Christians
who are eaten up with jealousy, or envy! I’m speaking of Christians who are drinking

secretly,
or taking drugs. I’m speaking of Christians who are involved in immorality in some
manner. In fact, the list is very, very long!

The facts are, the far greater majority of these Christians aren’t hypocrites. They love
God. And as previously stated, they are trying with all their power to yield to Righteousness,
but are not successful.

Many of these Christians have gone to their Pastor, confessing their problem. He
has instructed them to “try harder,” or “pray more,” or “get in the Altars!” Or if he is the
of the modernist type, he has referred them to a Psychologist, stating that they need

“professional help.”

Even though the former certainly pertains to good things, in fact, what every Christian
ought to do; still, those things mentioned will not bring victory. And it is for certain,
that the world of psychology has no answer whatsoever.

This is the reason that untold thousands of Christians are running all over the world,
trying to find a Preacher who they think God is using, who can lay hands on them and solve
their problem. While the “laying on of hands” is definitely Scriptural, and will definitely
help and bless, still, there is no deliverance whatsoever in this method. Despite
all the manifestations, and they definitely will be of help, that is if they are from the Lord,
no victory will be assured whatsoever in this capacity. Think about it a moment:

If these things could give Believers victory over sin, and to be sure it is sin of which
we speak, then Jesus would not have had to come down here and die on a Cross. He could
have rather just trained Christians to confess properly, or Preachers to rebuke demon
spirits, and the problem would be solved. However, we know that these things solve no
problems whatsoever.

To be sure, a good confession is Scriptural and proper and will definitely help. As well,
demon spirits definitely get involved in every failure. But the answer for that Believer,
is not rebuking demons, but rather knowing the Truth.

THE TRUTH

Jesus said, “And ye shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32).

And what is the Truth?

The Truth is, that man is in such a terrible dilemma that he cannot help himself.
To address this terrible problem, God became man, and as the “Last Adam” (I Cor. 15:45),
did for man what man could not do for himself. “He gave Himself for our sins, that He
might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the Will of God and our Father”

(Gal. 1:4).

That is the Truth, and the only Truth! Man only has to believe in what Christ did at the
Cross, and that for which Jesus died will be gloriously his.

This is the Truth which we must tell the entirety of the world. This is the Truth which
we must ever cling to as it regards our own personal lives and victory. As one of my

associates
said, “The Church needs the Truth, a whole lot more than it needs a touch.” It
could not be better said.

As long as the Church believes anything other than the Cross, the Church will continue
to walk in defeat. And to be sure, and I say this sadly, the Church presently, knows little

victory.

When the Lord gave me this Revelation of the Cross, beginning in 1997, to be sure,
it wasn’t something new. In fact, the Cross is the oldest Message known to man. It actually
had its beginning in the Garden of Eden, and has been the only Source of life
and victory from then until now.

In this Revelation given to me, which actually continues to expand unto this hour,
the Holy Spirit has grandly informed me that this Message is not for me only, but for the
entirety of the Church.

Paul said, “But we preach Christ crucified” (I Cor. 1:23).

He also said, “For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).
Actually, “preaching” should here have been translated “Word,” because in the Greek
it is “Logos.” Therefore, it should read, “For the Word of the Cross. . . .”

This gives it a much broader meaning, actually covering every aspect of Christianity.
In fact, the “Word of the Cross” is the Gospel.

The Apostle also said, “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching (the Cross) to
save them that believe” (I Cor. 1:21).

So, the Church must live the Cross, preach the Cross, proclaim the Cross, ever hold up
the Cross as the answer to dying humanity.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is the Holy Spirit Who makes real within our hearts and lives all the benefits of the
Cross. In other words, the Spirit of God delivers to the Believer all the product of the
Finished Work of Christ. To be sure, it is the Holy Spirit Alone Who can do these things.
And as we’ve stated, He works 100 percent within the parameters of the great Sacrifice
of Christ. He will not veer outside of those parameters, and if we go outside of them,
which refers to having Faith in anything other than the Cross, we will find ourselves
without the help of the Spirit, which means that we’re on our own, which spells defeat.

Concerning this, Paul said, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them
which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1).

In this statement, the Holy Spirit through Paul plainly tells us, that it is quite possible
for a Believer to “walk after the flesh,” and not “after the Spirit.”

How can one know after which one he is walking?

If one is failing, then one is “walking after the flesh.” If one is walking victoriously,
one is then “walking after the Spirit.”

“Walking after the flesh” simply refers to trusting in anything and everything, other
than the Cross of Christ. This means that if you are trusting in your Church, you’re walking
after the flesh. It also means, if you’re trusting in your prayer life to give you victory
over sin, you are walking after the flesh.

That may seem strange to Believers, considering that prayer is the highest and holiest
thing in which a Believer can engage; however, it’s all a matter of Faith. Do you have
your Faith in your prayer life, or do you have your Faith in what Christ did at the Cross.

No! We’re not demeaning prayer by any means. In fact, we have two prayer meetings
a day at the Ministry, and have done so since the Fall of 1991. In fact, the Lord told
me to do this, which we have kept up unto this hour, and by the Grace of God will continue
until Jesus comes.

But to be sure, it’s not these prayer meetings that guarantee us victory of any nature.
While they are of definite, immeasurable help, it is not prayer or my prayer life that
defeated the powers of darkness, but rather what Jesus did at the Cross.

So, if I exhibit Faith in the Cross of Christ, and continue there with my Faith, I am then
“walking after the Spirit.” As we’ve said over and over again, the Spirit of God works

exclusively
within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ, which we will see in
the next Verse.

THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT

Paul said, “For the Law (an unbreakable Law) of the Spirit (Holy Spirit) of life (the
only means of victory) in Christ Jesus (what Jesus did at the Cross and the Resurrection
on my behalf) hath made me free (the only manner in which one can be made free) from
the law of sin and death (another Law which is so strong that it cannot be overcome,

without
the power of the Spirit)” (Rom. 8:2).

Notice the two “Laws” mentioned here. The first one is “the Law of the Spirit,” while
the latter is “the law of sin and death.” The only thing that’s going to overcome the latter,
is the former.

Now understand, these things are “laws,” which means that first of all, they were designed
that way by God, which means they cannot be broken. They are set in concrete,
so to speak!

As a Believer, I want this great “Law of the Spirit” working within my heart and life.
Especially considering, that I cannot have victory without this which the Holy Spirit
Alone can do, it is imperative that I know here what is being said.

What is this “Law of the Spirit”?Please notice, it is “the Law of the Spirit
of life in Christ Jesus.” This means, that this “Law” is wrapped up totally and completely
in Christ Jesus, and more particularly, what He did at the Cross, and in His Resurrection,
all on my behalf. In other words, what Jesus did there, makes it possible for the Holy Spirit
to do great and mighty things with us and for us.

Paul plainly said, that “Christ was made a curse for us . . . that the Blessing of
Abraham (Justification by Faith) might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.” And
then he said:

“That we might receive the Promise of the Spirit through Faith” (Gal. 3:13-14).

In other words, it took what Christ did on the Cross to settle the terrible sin debt. When
this was done, with the believing sinner exhibiting Faith in Christ and what He did for
us at the Cross, the Holy Spirit could then come into our hearts and lives to abide forever

(Jn. 14:16-17).

To say it a better way, before the Cross, the Holy Spirit could not come into the
hearts and lives of Believers to abide. The terrible sin debt had not yet been settled,
because the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin. But due to what Jesus did
at the Cross, all sin was removed, thereby making it possible for the Holy Spirit to come
in and to abide forever.

Consequently, all that He does for us and with us are done exclusively according to
what Jesus did at the Cross. As we have stated repeatedly, all He requires of us, is that we
exhibit Faith in the Cross, and continue to do so, and then He will do great and mighty
things for us and with us. This “Law of the Spirit,” is all in Christ Jesus, meaning that it
functions totally according to what Christ did at the Cross, and our Faith in that.

Now let’s see what this “Law of the Spirit” does!

MAKING ALIVE OUR MORTAL BODIES

The Apostle said, “But if the Spirit of Him (God the Father) that raised up Jesus from
the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken our
mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8:11).
 

In this Verse, we are given a most amazing Truth. We’re told, that the same Holy
Spirit Who raised Jesus from the dead, which proclaims a power that is beyond our

comprehension,
also dwells within us. And also, we are told, that this same power that raised
Jesus from the dead, can be used, and in fact, will be used, to “quicken our mortal bodies,”
which means, to make our mortal bodies alive unto God.

The reason that the Holy Spirit quoted this in this manner is because the physical body is
the weak link in the makeup of the Believer. We are created, “spirit, soul, and body” (I
Thess. 5:23). Also, even though our souls and spirits have been redeemed, our physical body
has not yet been redeemed (Rom. 8:23). That awaits the coming Resurrection of life, “when
we shall be changed” (I Cor. 15:50-54). In
other words, at that time, the physical body will be “glorified,” whereas now, it is only

sanctified
(I Cor. 6:11). In fact, the Sanctification process, as a continued progressive work, is carried
on constantly by the Holy Spirit, as it concerns the entire man, which speaks of “spirit,
soul, and body.” Hence, Paul would pray that “the very God of Peace sanctify you wholly;
and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thess. 5:23).

Actually, the word “Redemption” in Romans 8:23, doesn’t refer to the fact that the
physical body isn’t saved, for it definitely is. It is merely speaking there of the coming
Glorification. Salvation always includes the whole man, hence Paul’s statement in I
Thessalonians 5:23.

This means that there is no such thing as a part Salvation. We are saved “spirit, soul,
and body.” And as well, if a Believer sins, he also sins “spirit, soul, and body.” One cannot
be divorced from the other. In fact, the spirit and the soul cannot be separated from
the body, until death. Even then, the separation will only last for a time, awaiting the
Resurrection, when a glorified body will then be reunited with the soul and the spirit. As
stated, the physical body is merely the weak link, through which Satan carries out his

perfidious designs.

Even though temptation includes spirit, soul, and body, and even though sin begins in
the heart, and this refers to the seat of one’s passions, and not the physical organ, that sin
is carried out, as we know and understand, through the physical body, as it regards the
five senses.

That’s the reason that in the Middle Ages, many Monks, and others, tried to conquer
sin, by torturing their physical bodies. This of course, was a fruitless task.

In fact, the physical body is actually neutral. That means it’s not inherently evil, or
inherently good. Paul used the word “instruments,” referring to the fact that our body
members can be used for sin or Righteousness (Rom. 6:13).

The physical body is somewhat like for example, a gun. The gun can be used to kill
poisonous serpents, or used in crimes against society. It’s not really the gun that does the
doing, but actually the man or woman holding the gun and willing that it do certain
things. As the gun is an instrument, the physical body is also an instrument, hence
Paul telling us that we should “yield our members (body members) as instruments of
Righteousness.” It is the spirit and the soul which puts the body into operation. And it
is the Holy Spirit, Who will give us the power and strength to use the members of our bodies
as “instruments of Righteousness.” He has the power to do it, and He will readily
expend that power on our behalf, and do so constantly, providing we place our Faith in
the Cross of Christ, and do so totally and completely.

WHY MUST WE PLACE OUR FAITH IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST?

The facts are, all of the things which we need to do in order to be what we ought to be,
we can not do. By that, I do not mean that it’s difficult to do, or even impossible for some to
do, but rather, that which God requires, is impossible for any human being to do, due to the

Fall.

It’s somewhat like a car that’s supposed to run a race. It can little do such with three flat
tires and only about three cylinders hitting.

And it must be quickly added, that what God demands, is the least which He can demand.
A thrice holy God cannot tolerate imperfection or sin in any manner. Consequently,
He would totally and completely do for us, what we could not do for ourselves. And I
might quickly add, He did it at a frightful price.

Consequently, one can hardly fault God for demanding what He did, considering that
He paid the price. So, in all of this, all that God demands of us, is that we exhibit Faith
in what He did in order to assuage this terrible situation. That’s why we have to exhibit
Faith in the Cross, and Faith in the Cross alone.

So, why wouldn’t man want to do this, considering that God is asking so little?

The world hates the Cross, because it portrays in glaring detail the Love of God, and
at the same time, the terrible depravity of man. For if man was so bad, that God would
have to become man and die on a Cross in order to redeem fallen humanity, then man
was bad indeed!

As stated, the world doesn’t agree with that. While they admit that there is a problem,
they claim that it is only slight, and can be adjusted with proper education or psychological
therapy. Never mind that they never succeed! They keep trying!

There is only one answer for man’s dilemma, and that is the Sacrifice of Christ.

When it comes to the Church not believing the Cross, that’s another story entirely.
In fact, Satan does his best work inside the Church.

Even though the problem of the Church is totally different than the world, and for that
reason much worse; still, in many ways the problem is very similar.

As the problem is unbelief as it regards the world, it is unbelief, at least for the most
part, as it regards the Church; however, with the world it is unbelief in the realm of

darkness,
while in the Church it is unbelief in the realm of light, which as stated, makes it
much worse. It is one thing to not know and thereby, not believe. It is something else

altogether,
to be shown the light, which means that one knows, and then to reject that light
with purpose and intent. That is unbelief of which Paul will address in Chapters 6 and 8
of this Epistle. Concerning the unbelief of the Church, the Holy Spirit through him
said, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God” (Heb. 10:31).

THROUGH THE SPIRIT

The Apostle said, “For if you live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit
do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Rom. 8:13).

Paul plainly says here, that it’s possible for a Christian to “live after the flesh.” If
this happens, and regrettably, it is happening in the far greater majority of Christians,
the end result and without fail, is defeat. This happens because of looking elsewhere other
than the Cross.

As well, and as we’ve been saying, the text here plainly tells us, that we can “mortify
the deeds of the body,” which refers to evil deeds, only “through the Spirit.” It cannot
be done any other way.

This means that the powers of darkness are so strong, meaning that sin is so strong, that
only the Spirit of God can bring that monster to bay. And again let us reiterate, that
the Spirit of God functions in our hearts and lives only on the basis of what Christ did at
the Cross, and our Faith in that Finished Work. The problem is, many Christians think
just because they are saved, and even Spirit-filled, that they can do whatever needs to be
done. The Truth is, despite these things we’ve mentioned, the Christian cannot do
anything within himself. He must have the leading, guidance, direction, anointing, and
power of the Holy Spirit. He must understand that, and do so without fail!

And as well, in order for the Holy Spirit to work within our lives, we must understand,
even as we have repeated over and over again, that the object of our Faith must ever
be the Cross (Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14).

THE DEVIL

The phrase, “That is, the Devil,” portrays this archenemy of God, this despot of darkness,
this fallen angel, as being the head of the kingdom of darkness.

Most of the world denies the existence of the Devil, and regrettably, so does much of
the Church. Nevertheless, Satan is a real person, an angel as stated, who in fact, was
originally created by God.

However, let it be understood, that God did not create Lucifer originally in this manner,
for that is his name (Isa. 14:12).
 

Sometime in eternity past, Lucifer led a revolution against God, which drew away a
third of the angels with him (Rev. 12:4). Exactly why he did this we are not told, and
exactly why a third of the angels followed him, of that we have no knowledge either.

Some may ask the question as to how Satan, being a mere creature while God is the
Creator, turned evil and thought he might have a chance to succeed as it regards his

revolution.

While not being all-knowing as God, still, Satan knew that God would work and function
within a prescribed set of Laws — Laws incidentally, which God had Himself made.
As well, sin, which incidentally Satan himself invented one might say, has a terrible
power of deception connected with its precepts; consequently, Satan is very much deceived,
even as are all his dupes.

Knowing that Satan can read the Bible, and knowing that the Word of God foretells
his doom (Rev. 20:10-15), and considering that we’re coming down to the very end, what
must his thoughts be presently?

That question is easy to answer. Satan doesn’t believe the Bible, the same as most
of the world doesn’t believe the Bible. He still thinks he will pull it off, with in fact, his
greatest effort yet to come.

He has refused to admit the supremacy of Christ, at least in the overall picture. But
the Second Coming, will handle this situation, and without a doubt. Jesus will come
back as “King of kings, and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16). At His Coming, He will “lay
hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and will bind him a
thousand years, casting him into the bottomless pit, shutting him up, and then setting a
seal upon him” (Rev. 20:2-3). There will be no doubt then as to Whom the Master actually is.

While Satan does recognize the Cross, he only does so if forced.

CHRIST

Incidentally, Verse 14, the Scripture of our study, overthrows the Gnostic and Christian
Science doctrine that Christ had no physical human body, and that He never died in that

body.
Concerning Christ Himself taking part of flesh and blood, we must understand, that
even though He did this, the humanity of fallen men, was not His. Here there must be
strict limitation. We must add, as the Apostle does afterwards with regard to His temptation,
“sin apart.” In other words, sin, and the consequences of sin, He could not take and
did not take. Consequently, death could have no power over Him, except as He might submit
Himself voluntarily to it, and this He did; but it was obedience to His Father’s Will, and
no necessity of His condition, as it is of ours.
And if it be remembered that sin is not inherent in human nature as such, but that
it is a foreign thing brought in through the Fall, it can be readily understood how it
could be said that our blessed Lord “took part of the same” without involving full

participation
in all that had come in through man’s failure.

It must be ever understood, that He had to be the Unblemished One if He would make
satisfaction for sins.
Having thus become Man, though sinless, our Lord became man’s Champion and went
forth as our David to destroy or annul the great Goliath who had terrorized the world
ever since the Fall, “him that had the power of death, that is, the Devil.”

The Cross was for Christ a Valley of Elah where He met our cruel foe and put an end
to his authority over the souls of all who believe the Gospel, thus delivering us even now,
who in times past through fear of death were held in bitter bondage all our lives.

Satan is a conquered foe and no Believer need now fear him, that is, if we maintain
our Faith in the Cross of Christ which was brought about, in order that this great victory
might be carried out.

(15) “AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT

TO BONDAGE.”

1. Christ had to deliver mankind, for all of humanity due to the Fall was held captive by

Satan.
2. As is here clearly portrayed, death is an aberration. In other words, it was never originally
intended by God. Inasmuch as it is an aberration, there is a terrible fear as it regards
this monster, and rightly so. However,that fear was taken away, by what Christ did
at the Cross. He conquered death!

3. The fear of death was and is a bondage, and perhaps, the greatest bondage of all, and
a bondage incidentally, from which Christ Alone can deliver.

DELIVERANCE

The phrase, “And deliver them,” speaks of mankind held in captivity, and by Satan at that!

The word “deliver” proclaims the fact that these souls were taken captive by force, held
by force, and then delivered by force, with the latter being of greater power. Once again
we go back to what Jesus said about Him being stronger than the strong man (Satan),
so much stronger in fact, that He would bind Satan, enter into his house, spoil his goods,
and in fact, the entirety of this evil house, which Jesus did at the Cross (Mat. 12:29).

However, that which was done had to be done in a legal manner, which legality satisfied
the Laws of God, which the Master did at the Cross. If we’re speaking merely of
strength, then we have no contest. God is almighty, and only has to speak the word and
it is done. Satan being a creature, in fact, is at the Mercy of God. So, we’re not speaking
here of strength as one normally defines such. We’re speaking of strength which
comes about as a result of the Law of God being carried out in totality.

Jesus didn’t go to the Cross because of Satan, but rather because of God. The Righteousness
of God had been grossly insulted; consequently, the righteous demands of God
had to be satisfied. By Jesus offering up Himself as a Perfect Sacrifice on behalf of lost
humanity, which incidentally, mankind could not do, this Offering satisfied the demands
of Heavenly Justice. In the giving of Himself, all sin was atoned, i.e., “paid in full.” In
the doing of this, Satan, even as we’ve already stated, lost his legal claim on humanity, and
was, therefore, defeated. This is what Jesus meant by binding him, entering into his
house, and destroying his goods.

As well, this deliverance is of such capacity, so final, so complete, that one of the
Greek words used to define Redemption (lotroo), carries forth the meaning that such
a price was paid, that no created being in eternity future will ever be able to say that the
price was insufficient. In other words, we definitely have a “great Salvation.”

FEAR OF DEATH

The phrase, “Who through fear of death,” concerned itself with much more than the
fact of dying. Is there life beyond the grave? What is there awaiting the departed soul on
the other side? In fact, of what does the other side consist?

In the First Century this fear was very real. The Philosophers urged people to be calm
in the face of death, and some of them managed to do so. But to most people this brought
no relief. Fear was widespread, as the hopeless tone of the inscriptions on tombs clearly

illustrates.

If this fear has been alleviated somewhat in modern times, and it definitely has, it is
because of the power of the Gospel which has addressed this terrible question, and in fact,
it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ alone which addresses this question.

It has been well said that the two terrors from which none but Christ can deliver men
are guilt of sin and fear of death. The latter is the offspring of the former. When the
conscience of sin is no more, meaning that Jesus has taken its penalty and washed away
its stain, the dread of death yields to peace and joy.

BONDAGE

The phrase, “Were all their lifetime subject to bondage,” presents slaves of fear; and
it must be remembered, that all slaves have a master. In this case, it is Satan himself! Such
people have no freedom; no comfort; no peace. From this miserable state Christ comes to
deliver man.

The unredeemed, having no spiritual perception whatsoever, cannot comprehend the
glory and the beauty of Salvation in Christ.
In fact it is impossible for one to know and understand such, until one makes Christ one’s

Saviour.

So, when the Holy Spirit convicts of sin, and of Righteousness and of Judgment, He
never does so on the basis of what one will gain by accepting Christ. It is impossible for
even the Holy Spirit to grant such knowledge to a person who is dead in trespasses and sins.

Men are saved, as the Holy Spirit convicts them of sin, referring to their terrible condition,
with some of course much worse than others, and that Jesus is the only solution, of
Righteousness which none have, and yet which God demands, which at the same time
lays waste their own brand of righteousness (self-righteousness), and of Judgment, referring
to the fact that all will one day answer to God. It is either accept Christ now as Saviour,
or face Him tomorrow as Judge. One way or the other, men will face Christ!

When the Holy Spirit gets through with an individual, they are thoroughly undone.
And if they accept Christ, thereby being Born-Again, then and then only, do they
know and understand the tremendous life force they now have. To explain such beforehand,

is impossible!

Satan is very successful at getting the unredeemed to believe that if they come to
Christ, they will go into bondage. In other words, they’ll never have anymore fun, never
have another good time, and to be sure, in the unredeemed state, there’s nothing in the
world more boring than Church. They don’t realize that after they come to Christ, they
will be so changed, that old things will pass away and all things will become new (II Cor.
5:17). But once the sinner comes to Christ, a glorious new world opens up, a world of
such staggering proportions and dimensions that it literally defies all description. Instead
of the person going into bondage, they actually now are free, and for the first time in
their lives. The “bondage” is always with Satan. In fact, all unredeemed individuals
are slaves more or less; and of course, we speak of slaves of Satan.

“Subject to bondage,” means that one is subject to all that the bondage implies, such
as fear, doubt, unbelief, error of every description, wild fantasies and thoughts, all wrong,
all in error, and all a fabrication of Satan. He is truly a hard taskmaster.

To know Christ, is to know life; it is to know freedom; it is for the first time, to know
what the future brings, for only the Lord holds the future in His hands.
“All their lifetime,” concerns the entirety of their existence. In fact, almost all the
world, at least all who do not know Christ, live a life of fear, privation, and want, and we
speak of these things in the spiritual. That’s the reason that money and power can never
satisfy the hunger and the thirst of the soul. Only God can do that, and He does it totally
and completely, through Christ.

(16) “FOR VERILY HE TOOK NOT ON HIM THE NATURE OF ANGELS; BUT HE
TOOK ON HIM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM.”
The exegesis is:

1. Jesus Christ is God; consequently, anything else He would become, would have to
be less than what He is.
2. He did not take upon Himself the nature of Angels, because it was not Angels that
He was redeeming.
3. He took upon Himself the Seed of Abraham, which, of course, refers to humanity.
It was necessary that this be done for many reasons; however, one of the greatest
reasons of all was that He might be a “merciful and faithful High Priest,” Who would
serve as a Mediator between God and Man (Heb. 7:24-28; I Tim. 2:5).
4. This was the only way that Redemption was possible.
5. The phrase “Seed of Abraham,” refers to the fact that in order for men to be saved,
they have to come in under the order of the Abrahamic Covenant, which is “by Faith”
(Gen. 15:6; Gal. 3:6).
6. This speaks of Faith exclusively in the Cross, i.e., “that which Jesus did in the Atonement
in the giving of Himself as a Perfect Sacrifice, in order to pay the terrible sin debt.”

JESUS IS GOD

The phrase, “For verily He,” refers to the fact that Jesus Christ was God, is God, and
ever shall be God. While He definitely laid aside the expression of His Deity in order to
become man, He never for a moment lost possession of His Deity. On this one fact
hinges the argument of the world concerning Christ. Was He merely a good man? a
great healer? a great miracle worker? even a great philosopher? some might muse.

The Jews, His Own people, have denied Him. Some few in the world, and by that I
speak of the unredeemed, will admit that He was and is God, but the far greater majority
deny that fact, or else they meet the question with a shrug of the shoulders.

After Napoleon was banished to the Island of St. Helena, the man incidentally who
came very close to conquering the world, he was asked the following question by a reporter
during a particular interview.

“Do you believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and actually rose from the
dead?” or words to that effect.

After the question was asked, Napoleon stood for a long while looking out over the
waters of the ocean, so long in fact, that the reporter thought he was not going to answer.

But then he finally turned and looked at the questioner and said, “Yes I believe that
Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and that He really rose from the dead.” He then followed
that statement by these remarks:

“You can go to the poorest of the poor anywhere in the world, and if they have heard
that Name ‘Jesus,’ when it is mentioned, their eyes will light up. You can go to the
crowned heads of Europe, and at the mention of that Name, it is instantly recognizable
and they bow to Him.” He paused for a moment, and then being the soldier he was, said:

“At His Name mighty armies march. For His Name millions have died.”

And then with another pause, finally concluding, he said, “Sir, no dead man could
command that type of respect. I will soon be dead and mostly forgotten, and if He
were dead, He would have long since been forgotten. And because He lives, He has not
been forgotten, but is more revered today than ever.”

The word “verily” means “truly” or “doubtless.” So we might say, “Doubtless” He was
and is God, and became man, and did so for a specific purpose, that purpose being the

Redemption
of lost humanity, which He carried out by His atoning work at the Cross.

NOT OF ANGELS

The phrase, “Took not on Him the nature of Angels,” would have probably been better
translated, and using the entirety of the phrase from the beginning of the Verse, “For
truly He taketh not hold of Angels, but of the Seed of Abraham He took hold.”

That is, Christ did not come to be the Saviour of fallen angels. They are of another creation.

While it is true that one third of the angels threw in their lot with Lucifer at his revolution
against God, carried out sometime in eternity past, but of any effort to redeem
them, of that we aren’t aware.

The general idea is that of seizing upon, or laying hold of anyone or anything — no
matter what the object is — whether to aid, or to drag to punishment, or simply to conduct.
Here it means to lay hold with the reference to “aid” or “help”; and the meaning is,
that He did not seize the nature of Angels, or take it to Himself, with reference to rendering
them aid, but He assumed the nature of man in order to aid “him.” He undertook
the work of human Redemption, and consequently it was necessary for Him to be a man.

The words in the Authorized Version “Him the nature of,” are in italics indicating that
they are not in the original Greek Text, but are supplied by the translators in an effort to
translate the Passage. They probably would have been better left off, for they in essence
say too much.

The idea here is that the Lord Jesus, in His work on Calvary’s Cross, did not provide
for the Salvation of fallen angels but for the Salvation of fallen human beings. In Perfect
Righteousness He passed by fallen angels, and in infinite mercy and condescension,
stooped to provide Salvation for man. In man’s fallen condition, now inferior to the
angels, He passed by those superior beings in order to save inferior beings. Consequently,
He gets more glory in taking an inferior being and raising him to an exalted
position in Himself, i.e., “in Christ Jesus,” than in saving a superior being and raising
him to those heights of blessedness, although “glory” was not at all His purpose.

As stated, there is no Biblical proof that attempts were made to redeem fallen angels.
That is not to say that no attempt was made, but is meant to say that we have no

information
regarding such. However, there is the hint of the following in Paul’s reference to angels.

THE SPIRIT WORLD

In the Fall, man dropped from such exalted heights, heights which included the
image of God, even the very nature of God, in fact able to bring sons and daughters of
God into the world, down to the far, far lower level of the very nature of Satan himself, so
far lower in fact, that quite possibly it was wondered in the spirit world, if man was actually
worth saving. Concerning the righteous Angels and man’s Redemption, we are
told, “which things the Angels desire to look into” (I Pet. 1:12). The idea is, Satan had so
wrecked man, so destroyed him, had made him so worthless, so useless, even beyond that,
so destructive even to himself and to all that which are righteous and holy, that the question
may well be asked, as to why God would even desire to bother as it regarded his

Redemption?
However, as we have previously said, love created man, and love must redeem
man. As well, in Satan’s fallen condition, he can no longer understand such love.

Moved by a profound love for man, and by that motive alone, the Son of God — became
the Son of Man — humbled Himself to all the circumstances of man in order to deliver
him, and was fully equipped to redeem and bring to glory His Brothers, the many sons;
and, as a Priest, having made propitiation, He presents them before God in all the beauty
and perfection of His Own Person and Work (Williams).

THE SEED OF ABRAHAM

The phrase, “But He took on Him the Seed of Abraham,” refers to His humanity, which
He became, and to the manner in which Redemption would be brought about.

Why is the name of Abraham used? What did he have to do with all of this?

The Salvation of all humanity comes in under the Abrahamic Covenant.

God promised a Redeemer immediately after the Fall, with the Promise being given
to Satan through the serpent more so in the form of a threat than anything else. It spoke
of the Seed of the woman bruising the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15).

God immediately gave the sacrificial system to the first family, with Abel obeying in
the offering up of the proper sacrifice (Gen., Chpt. 4). Unfortunately, due to the anger of
his brother Cain, who would not offer up the correct sacrifice, Abel lost his life; however,
he didn’t lose his soul.

The sacrificial system continued for the next 1,600 years, despite the terrible evil of
mankind. We know this from the sacrifices offered by Noah immediately after the Flood
(Gen. 8:20-21). It is certain that it was only a few who offered up these sacrifices during
the intervening 1,600 years. And they were saved by having Faith in the Seed of the
woman Who was to come, of which the Sacrifices were a symbol.

Abraham lived about 400 years after Noah, about 2,000 years after the Fall in the Garden
of Eden. How God revealed Himself to Abraham, we aren’t told; however, the entirety
of this Revelation would necessitate him leaving his home country and his family,
going to Canaan, the appointed place directed by God. The account of this Revelation
began in Genesis, Chapter 12, and continued through Genesis 25:11. However, the
core of what God gave him can be found in Genesis 15:6, “And he believed in the Lord;
and He (God) counted it to him for Righteousness.” It is what we refer to as the “Blessing
of Abraham” (Gal. 3:14), or “Justification by Faith” (Rom. 5:1).

All of this simply meant, that Abraham believed that God was going to send a Redeemer
into this world, and Faith in Him, and I might quickly add, Faith without works
of any kind, would guarantee Salvation, and to anyone (Rom. 3:27).

A NATIONAL OR GENERATIONAL SALVATION?
Unfortunately, the Jews by the time of Christ had come to believe that by simply
being a Jew, which referred to their natural descent from Abraham, that this meant they
were saved. In response to that, John the Baptist said to them, “And think not to say
within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able
of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham” (Mat. 3:9).

This means that Salvation does not come by descent, by generation, by heritage, by
nationality, by race, or by works of any nature but rather by Faith, and more particularly,
Faith in what Jesus did at the Cross and in His Resurrection, all on our behalf (Jn. 3:16).

So, the Holy Spirit here through Paul, speaks of Abraham for the following reasons:

1. It was to Abraham that the great word of Justification by Faith was given. In fact,
Jesus said of this situation, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad”

(Jn. 8:56).
2. This makes Abraham the father of us all, both Jews and Gentiles, at least all who
will believe (Gal. 3:6-9).
3. Salvation is entirely by Faith, and not at all by works (Eph. 2:8-9).
4. More particularly, it is Faith in what Christ did at the Cross and in His Resurrection.
This was graphically portrayed to Abraham in the offering of Isaac (Gen. 22:1-14).
5. The “Seed of Abraham,” actually refers to Christ (Gal. 3:16). As well, it refers to
all Believers, due to the fact of being “in Christ” (Rom. 8:1).

(17) “WHEREFORE IN ALL THINGS IT BEHOVED HIM TO BE MADE LIKE UNTO
HIS BRETHREN, THAT HE MIGHT BE A MERCIFUL AND FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST
IN THINGS PERTAINING TO GOD, TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR THE SINS
OF THE PEOPLE.”
The exposition is:

1. God would have to become man, that is if man was to be saved. And this means fully
man, in other words, “very man,” while at the same time, never ceasing to be “very God.”
2. He was to be, and was a “High Priest,” Who would serve as a Mediator between God
and the people. A Priest must always partake of the nature of the one for whom He
officiates. Thus, the Incarnation was a necessity in the nature of this case.
3. He was to be a “merciful” High Priest, which speaks of the feeling of sympathy with
the misery of another that leads one to act in his behalf to relieve that misery.
4. The word “Faithful” proclaims the fact that He would do whatever it was that
was necessary, to carry forth Redemption. The word is linked to the phrase “in things
pertaining to God,” which in effect refers to the satisfying of the Justice and Righteousness
of God, which He Alone could do.

5. “Reconciliation” in the Greek is “hilaskomai,” and is translated in Romans
3:25, “propitiation.” It refers to the act of our Lord offering Himself on the Cross to
satisfy the righteous demands of God’s justice so that His Government might be maintained,
and that mercy might be shown on the basis of justice satisfied.

THE INCARNATION

The phrase, “Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His Brethren,”
refers to the fact of our Lord laying hold of the human race for the purpose of saving
those in it who would accept Salvation by Faith (Wuest).

“It behoved” or “it behooved,” are in the Greek Text “opheilo.” It speaks of an obligation
imposed upon one by reason of a certain consideration. Here the consideration is that
of the position of our Lord assumed as the One Who would come to the aid of lost sinners.
The obligation arising out of this position was that in order to provide a Salvation
for the human race, He had to become like the human race, namely, Man, for a Priest
must always, as stated, partake of the nature of the one for whom he officiates (Wuest).
Thus, the Incarnation was a necessity.

He became “like unto His Brethren.”

Vincent says regarding this connection: “Likeness is asserted without qualification.
There was a complete and real likeness to humanity, a likeness which was closest just
where the traces of the curse of sin were most apparent — in poverty, temptation, and violent and unmerited death.”

In respect to His Body; His Soul; His rank and Character, there was a propriety that He
should be like man, and should partake of man’s nature. However, by that statement,
we do not refer to the sinful nature, but rather human nature. The meaning is, that
nothing should be wanting in Him in reference to the innocent propensities and sympathies of human nature.

Going back to the words “it behooved Him,” presents the sense of moral obligation.
It actually could mean, “He owed it.” The nature of the work Jesus came to accomplish
demanded the Incarnation.

So, how can we say that He owed such a thing to the human race?

The question asked in that manner is not actually proper. In fact, God owed or owes
nothing to the human race, or anyone or anything else for that matter. The idea is
that if He was going to redeem lost humanity, He would have to become man. The fact
of Redemption, and the satisfying of the righteous demands of God’s justice, demanded
the Incarnation, that is if it was to be done right. Consequently, in that light, Christ
“owed” to the human race, the best that Heaven could give. And naturally, God does
things in no other way but the very right way. By the use of the word “Brethren,” several
things are said:

First of all, even though the seed of Abraham included the entirety of the human
race, it especially pertained to the Jews, of whom Jesus would come, and of which Jesus
would be.

Also, if He refers to them (the Jews) and us (the Gentiles) as Brethren, and He definitely
does, then it was proper that He should show that He regarded them and us as such
by assuming our nature.

HIGH PRIEST

The phrase, “That He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining
to God,” presents the term “High Priest” as being unique to this Epistle. In fact, it is
used 15 times in Hebrews (2:17; 3:1; 4:1415; 5:1-10; 6:20; 7:1, 26-27; 8:1, 3; 9:11, 25;
10:21; 13:11).

With the Law of Moses, God had set up the Jewish Priesthood, headed up by the High
Priest, who would serve as go-betweens or Mediators between God and the people.
Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the very first High Priest of Israel, when actually the people were in the wilderness, instituted almost immediately after being delivered from Egyptian bondage. Consequently, all Jewish High Priests were the successors of Aaron, and stood at the head of the Levitical ceremonies.

When he came into this position, he was set apart with solemn ceremonies — clad in
his sacred vestments — and anointed with oil (Ex. 29:5-9; Lev. 8:2). He was by his office
the general judge of all that pertained to the great Mosaic institution, and even, of the
Judicial affairs of the Jewish nation (Deut. 17:8-12; 19:17; 21:5; 33:9-10).

He had the privilege of entering the Most Holy Place once a year, on the great Day of
Atonement, to make Atonement for the sins of the whole people (Lev. 16:2).

He was as well the oracle of Truth — so that, when clothed in his proper vestments,
which was the Ephod, which contained the Urim and Thummim, he made known the
Will of God in regard to future events.

Somewhat in this capacity the Lord Jesus became, in the Christian dispensation, what
the Jewish High Priest was in the old; and an important object of this Epistle is to show
that He far surpassed the Jewish High Priest, and in what respects the Jewish High Priest
was designed to typify the Redeemer. Paul, therefore, early introduces the subject, and
shows that the Lord Jesus came to perform the functions of that sacred office, and that
He was eminently endowed for it (Barnes).

IN THINGS PERTAINING TO GOD

Man was helpless to perform these tasks, so God would have to become man and do
such for Him.

For Mercy and Grace to be properly shown to mankind, it could only be done on the basis
of justice satisfied. There was no way, however, that man could satisfy this justice.

In Old Testament times, a picture of this was the offering up of sacrifice in order to
make intercession for the people. In fact, of all the many duties of the Priesthood, this
was the great purpose. But the difference in this High Priest and those under the Aaronic
institution was, they offered up clean animals in sacrifice to God, but He would offer up
Himself. In fact, all the old Jewish sacrifices, and down through the centuries they numbered into the untold millions, all and without exception, pointed to this one great Sacrifice which was coming. In fact, God based all Mercy and Grace, all forgiveness and
cleansing from sin, at least as far as it could be done under the old economy, not on those
animal sacrifices, but rather on what and more particularly, Who they represented. In
fact, for those in Israel, which numbered the vast majority, who failed to see this, but trusted rather in the ceremony itself, they lost their way and couldn’t be saved. Salvation has always been on what this great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, would do on our behalf in the offering up of Himself in Sacrifice.

Actually, this staggers the imagination! It is of such moment, such consequence, of
such power, such Grace, such glory, that the mind of man literally beggars its implications.
That God would become man, in effect the Creator becoming a creature, and
then even above that, taking upon Himself the punishment for our sins, punishment
that we should have taken, literally boggles the mind. We dare not make less of this than
it actually is, and it is impossible to make more of it than it is. In fact, this Sacrifice of
Christ, this momentous work, this staggering implication, this greatest display of love
and Grace that the world has ever known, is of such magnitude, that the Holy Spirit
through Paul refers to it as “The Everlasting Covenant” (Heb. 13:20). It is so perfect,
so fashioned, so without exception, so entire, so total, that it will never need an amendment, but will rather serve forever.

When the Lord began to open up to me this great Revelation of the Cross, I soon realized
that I had only scratched the surface. In fact at the very beginning, I knew what
was being given to me, incidentally in answer to over five years of seeking the Face of
God, and quite possibly a lifetime, was far larger than I could even begin to know.

THAT WHICH THE LORD SHOWED ME

As someone has well said, desperation usually precedes Revelation. Perhaps all of
us, at least in one way or the other, have to come to the end of ourselves before we can
properly look to Christ as we should.

In the Fall of 1991, at a desperate, even crisis time in my life and in this Ministry, I
began to cry to the Lord as I had never cried to Him before, as it regards the ways and
means of living a victorious, overcoming, Christian life. In fact, the Lord instructed
me to begin two prayer meetings a day, which we immediately set out to do, and continue
unto this hour. In this, the Lord told me, that I was not to seek Him so much for what He could do, but rather for Who He is. As stated, that began in the Fall of 1991.

Through the nearly next six years, the Lord would give me promise after promise,
which of course, were of tremendous encouragement. But yet, I knew that the answer
had not yet come. And then in 1996, it began to come, and I will never forget the beginning of that most momentous time.

The Lord took me to Romans, Chapter 6, with the Holy Spirit actually explaining it to
me. However, it was really in 1997 that the full brunt of this Revelation began to take
place, at least to the extent that I felt it was complete at least as far as the foundation was
concerned. Of course, the Lord has built on that foundation from then until now.

The following three statements, although very brief, are what the Lord told me, and
which I have built upon. They are as follows:
1. The answer to every question which I had sought, the solution to every problem
for which I had asked, the Lord informed me, are all in the Cross (Rom. 6:3-6, 11, 14).
2. Understanding that, my Faith must ever be in the Cross of Christ. In other words,
the Cross must ever be the object of my Faith, and not something else (Jn. 3:16).
3. With my Faith properly placed, the Holy Spirit is then able to do His great Office work
within my heart and life, which He has beautifully done since, and continues to do (Rom. 8:1-2, 11).
Now that which I have just given is very brief, and requires much explanation, which
we are attempting to give in these Commentaries. But this I know, if you the Reader
will heed the Message of the Cross, which is the Message of the Bible, which in reality is
Christ, you will find that which He has promised, which is glorious indeed (Rom. 6:3-5, 11, 14; 8:1-2, 11, 13).

MERCIFUL

The High priest was meant to be the representative of men to God; without such likeness
He could be no true High Priest for man. The order of the Greek words throws an
emphasis on “compassionate” which is in full harmony with what we have seen to be
the pervading tone of the Chapter.
 

One who has not so understood the infirmities of his Brethren as to be “compassionate,”
cannot be their “faithful” representative before God. The nature of the work Jesus came
to accomplish demanded the Incarnation. This meant that this great thing was not aimless; it was for the specific purpose of Jesus’ becoming a High Priest, another way of saying that it was to save men. “Merciful” receives emphasis from its position as being first.

By the time of Christ, the Jewish Priesthood had become cold and calloused, and in
the words of Philo, a Jewish historian, “men without pity.”

Not so our great High Priest. He is One Who is first and foremost merciful. He is
this that He might know how to pity us in our infirmities and trials, by having a nature
like our own.

FAITHFUL

The way the word “faithful” is used, it can refer to the Faith that relies on someone or
something or that which on one can rely.
Jesus is, of course, both. But here the emphasis is on His relationship to God the Father,
and so the first meaning is more probable (Rev. 1:5; 3:14; 19:11).

Only in Hebrews, as we have stated, is the term “High Priest” applied to Jesus in the
New Testament. In fact, this is the first example of its use, and Paul does not explain
it. He may want us to see Jesus as superior to all other Priests. Or he may be using the
term because He sees Jesus’ saving work as fulfilling all that is signified by the ceremonies
of the Day of Atonement, for which the High Priest’s Ministry was indispensable.
Sometimes in this Epistle Paul calls Jesus simply a “Priest,” but there seems to be no
great difference in meaning.

By the time of Christ, the Office of the High Priest in Israel was bought and sold like
so much merchandise. Consequently, there was not a shred of faithfulness left to the
Word of God in this capacity. The people were poorly served to say the least, and God was not served at all!

So, Christ was faithful in totality, in the way that it was always meant to be, but of
course to an even greater degree, because of Who He was.

RECONCILIATION

The phrase, “To make reconciliation for the sins of the people,” would have probably
been better translated “propitiation.” The word means, “to make an Atoning Sacrifice
in order to regain the favor and goodwill of God.” In effect, “reconciliation” is what
“propitiation” actually does. With the Sacrifice offered and accepted, then God and man
can be reconciled. Propitiation relates to putting away the Divine Wrath. When people
sin, they arouse the Wrath of God (Rom. 1:18); they actually become and are, enemies
of God (Rom. 5:10).

One aspect of Salvation deals with this wrath, and it is to this that Paul is directing
attention at this point. Christ saves us in a way that takes account of the Divine Wrath
against every evil thing, in effect removing the evil thing which is sin.

In order to do all of this, it was necessary that Christ should be made like unto His
Brethren, as we have already seen, that thus having passed sinlessly through all human
experiences, He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God,
to make — not “reconciliation,” as in the Authorized Version text, but — Expiation or
Atonement for the sins of the people, which would then reconcile believing mankind.

In this we see the fulfillment of the type of the Great Day of Atonement when the High
Priest first offered the Sacrifice at the Altar and then presented the Blood in the Holy of
Holies. So our Lord, at the close of His pilgrim path, on our behalf offered up Himself
upon the Cross to make Expiation (to pay the penalty), Atonement (a satisfaction), or
Propitiation (offer sacrifice), for our sins. The original Greek Word is that used in the Greek Version of the Old Testament to translate the Hebrew word for Atonement. As we have stated, reconciliation is the result of all of this, but it is we who are reconciled to God, not He Who has to be reconciled to us. We are the ones who have sinned, and not Him.

SIN IS THE PROBLEM

The reason for the Cross is the problem of sin. It could only be handled in this way.
So that should tells us just how powerful and destructive that sin actually is.

The Church bounces from one extreme to the other as it regards sin. For the most
part, the non-Pentecostal side of the Church, functions in the realm of a “sinning Salvation,” so to speak. In other words, they little teach that Salvation actually changes one’s life. In the thinking of many of these teachers in this realm, the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is, that the saved trust Christ, while the unsaved don’t! As far as lifestyle is concerned, there is no difference, they say!

Of course, this is ridiculous, inasmuch as the very foundation of the Gospel of Christ
is that it changes our lives, and dramatically so. In fact, if the life of the proposed Christian is not changed, that simply says the person isn’t saved.

No, that doesn’t speak of sinless perfection, because the Bible doesn’t teach such.
But it definitely does teach victory over sin (Rom. 6:14).

The Truth is, many of these people aren’t actually saved, and the few who actually are,
are saddled with an erroneous doctrine that gives them little chance or opportunity for
Spiritual Growth.

Regarding the Pentecostal and Charismatic worlds, the problem is the very opposite.
Many in this realm deny sin, in fact claiming it is no problem, and if it is, it’s only
a problem with a minute few, and only now and then.

The so-called Faith Ministry has been more instrumental in this erroneous direction
than probably any other group. The climate is such, that if anyone admits to any
type of problem, they’re automatically hailed as a person without Faith. Faith giants don’t
have problems with sin, etc., they say! So, the Truth is, untold millions lie about their
situation, and for two reasons:

1. To admit sin or failure of any type, in this element, is admitting weakness, and to
admit that is not to be in the privileged class, etc. So they lie!
2. To admit to any type of sin or failure, is a display of a lack of Faith, they say, and considering that the “Faith level” is the barometer of one’s experience with God, to admit to any type of problem, automatically puts one in the position of being inferior. So they claim victory over a problem they also claim doesn’t exist. Cannot one see the ugliness of flesh in all of this? Self is supreme here, not Christ!

The Truth is, despite this segment of the Christian population claiming to be Spirit-
filled, there is as much failure in these ranks as in the non-Pentecostal ranks. However,
to be sure, the fault is not in the Holy Spirit, but rather in erroneous doctrine.

While problems abound on every side as it regards all of this of which we’ve mentioned,
the core problem, in other words the worst and biggest problem of all is, that there
is precious little understanding of the Cross of Christ.

A great part of the Church claims that the problem is a lack of Faith, with others
claiming something else, but the real problem is “sin!”

WHAT IS SIN?

Whenever we think of sin, we almost always think of acts of sin. While of course
those things definitely constitute sin, they are more the result of sin than the cause.

The cause of sin is the trusting in self instead of Christ. Man’s only hope, is a total
and complete trust in Christ, and what He did at the Cross on our behalf. If we venture
away from that in any capacity, such an act constitutes rebellion against God and His
Way, which is the highest form of sin there is. In other words, that’s what sin is all about.

When this takes place, then acts of sin in every capacity are going to follow. But too
often, the Church looks at the symptom instead of the cause itself. The cause is not
trusting in what Christ has done at the Cross, but rather trusting in self. We may not understand it in that fashion, but that’s what is happening.

However, it’s very difficult for individuals to trust in the Cross, when they know very
little about the Cross and because it’s seldom preached and taught behind most modern
pulpits. Consequently, the people perish for a lack of knowledge.

Everything hinges upon Christ, with Satan doing everything within his power to
pull us away from that Source, to efforts or machinations of our own making. To be
sure, Satan doesn’t really care what direction we take, just as long as he can pull us
from the Cross. And the tragedy is, most Christians have been away from the Cross
almost from the moment they got saved, so the task of the Evil One is not too difficult.
Unfortunately, most Christians have been led to believe that the Cross of Christ pertains
to their initial Salvation experience, and has no further significance. Such thinking could
not be more wrong, and, therefore, more destructive to our spiritual experience.

The Christian cannot live a victorious, overcoming life, unless he understands that his
victory is totally and completely in the Cross of Christ. It is literally impossible to have
victory otherwise. And considering that most Christians don’t know this, and in fact look
to other things, lets us know what state that the modern Church has actually come to.

So what are we doing?

The Church has mostly succumbed to the world of humanistic psychology. In other
words, we treat symptoms instead of the real cause.

Having the erroneous idea that Christians fail simply because they make a decision to
do so, we then summarize that this being the case, the Christian must be punished.

While some few Christians might want to do something wrong, the far greater majority
don’t. They fail not because they want to fail, but because they’re trusting in something
other than the Cross. Consequently, they do not have the help of the Holy Spirit,
even though He resides within their hearts and lives. Considering that He will not function
outside of the Finished Work of Christ, which demands that we have Faith in that
Finished Work, the Christian in such a state, is left on his own, which automatically
spells defeat.

No, most of Christendom is not failing because they want to fail, in fact, most are
fighting with all their strength not to fail, but failing anyway, reliving Romans, Chapter
7 all over again. In fact, that’s where most Christians actually are, Romans, Chapter 7!

Punishing such Christians is not the answer. And this goes for preachers who fail as
well. Christ doesn’t have two solutions, one for the Laity and one for Preachers. Such
thinking is silly!

People fail God, because they have left the secret place of the Most High, which is the
Cross of Christ. It doesn’t matter that most left it in ignorance, the results are the same.
But something else is taking place at this present time, which is probably the most
dangerous of all.

ENEMIES OF THE CROSS

Paul said, “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ:

“Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame,
who mind earthly things” (Phil. 3:18-19).

First of all, of whom was Paul speaking, and second, what did he mean by “enemies
of the Cross”?

As to whom these false teachers were, it would have included anyone who attempted
to present any other type of Salvation other than that afforded by Christ and what He did
at the Cross. More particularly, the Apostle was speaking of the Judaizers. These were
individuals, who claimed to accept Christ as the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel, but
who claimed that the Law of Moses had to be added to Faith in Christ, in order for one to
be saved. Consequently, the Cross entered into their thinking not at all (Acts 15:1).

However, let it be understood, that irrespective as to the so-called Gospel being promoted, if the Cross is lessened or ignored, one can only conclude such teachers as being “enemies of the Cross.” In other words, the Salvation they promote, is not of Faith
in the Finished Work of Christ, i.e., “the Sacrifice of Christ,” but something else entirely.
And again, it doesn’t matter what else it might be, or even how much Truth it might contain in some ways, if it’s not Salvation according to Faith in Christ and what He did for a lost world on the Cross, then it’s not Salvation. And let it be quickly understood, when we speak of “Salvation,” we are not speaking only of the initial Salvation experience, but the entirety of the Work of God as it relates to the individual Believer, which takes in the entirety of our walk before God. Now where does that leave the modern Church?

The Gospel that Paul preached, which was the Gospel of the New Covenant, which is
actually the meaning of the Cross, and which God gave to the Apostle (Gal. 1:11-12), is
preached but little in the modern Church. In virtually all of the major religious Denominations, both Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal, humanistic psychology is held up as the answer to the sins and aberrations of mankind. The big word in the modern Church
is, and has been for several decades, “you need professional help!” And let it be quickly
understood, it is not possible to espouse the wisdom of this world, which is “earthly, sensual, and Devilish,” which is humanistic psychology, and at the same time, espouse the
Cross. Psychology is actually the religion of Satan, and claims to hold the answer to the
ills of mankind, while the Cross which is diametrically opposed to humanistic psychology,
also claims to hold the only answer; therefore, it is impossible to hold up both as
the solution to man’s dilemma. So, that which espouses the wisdom of this world can
be none other than an enemy of the Cross of Christ (James 3:13-15).

Many in the modern Faith Movement openly demean the Cross, claiming that it is
“past miseries.” Their followers, which number into the hundreds of thousands, if not
millions, are told to leave the Cross, as it was the greatest defeat in human history.

Money being the driving force behind this popular teaching, Paul’s description, “whose
end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind
earthly things,” fits them exactly! These are open, blatant, avowed enemies of the Cross
of Christ. What they preach and teach are pure and simple “another Jesus,” promoted
by “another spirit,” which is “another gospel” (II Cor. 11:4).

Consequently, at least as it concerns those Preachers and Teachers who are full-bore
into this error, no one is saved, no one is Baptized with the Holy Spirit, no one is
healed, and no one is delivered. The reasons should be obvious, the Holy Spirit cannot
bless or condone the gross error of a blatant denial of the Cross, which is the only means
whereby man is saved and whereby he receives from God.

There are untold numbers of Preachers, however, who do not preach the Cross as they
should, but are not enemies of the Cross. They just simply don’t have the proper light on the subject. However, let it be known that to what degree such light is lacking, to that degree they will suffer loss in some way. God is merciful and patient; however, if a road is going east, and we are on that road, when in reality we want to go north, even though we might sincerely think we’re going right, our sincerity will not make up for the wrong direction. In other words, despite our sincerity, we will not come out at the right destination.

That’s one of the reasons I plead with you the Reader to obtain some of these Commentaries for Preachers of your acquaintance. If they understand the light of the Cross, then they will be able to enlighten those who sit under their ministries.

HOW DEFICIENT IS THE CHURCH AS IT REGARDS THE SUBJECT OF THE CROSS?

Regrettably, the deficiency is so widespread and so deep, that it is almost total. As I’ve
said any number of times, in the last halfcentury or more, the Church has had so little
teaching on the Cross of Christ, that anymore it little knows its true foundation.

While all true Christians know and understand that the Cross played an extremely
important part in their initial Salvation experience, beyond that, with some few exceptions, they know almost nothing. Consequently, the Church walks in defeat.

It’s a tragedy for a person to love God supremely, and even to be used of God which
many are, and not know and understand God’s prescribed order of victory, which is
the Cross; consequently, despite the fact of that man or woman being used of God, and
despite the fact that these particular individuals love God, not knowing God’s Way, they
will be deficient in their own everyday lives and living. In fact, it’s impossible for it to be
any other way.

I personally know what the Word of the Cross (I Cor. 1:18) can do in one’s life. I know
what it is to love God with all of one’s heart, and to work for Him diligently, and
be consecrated totally and completely, at least as far as is possible for one to do so without
the light of the Cross, and because of that, not be able to walk victoriously. And regrettably, almost all of Christendom is in that particular situation at present. Naturally,
there are exceptions, but not many!

God’s prescribed order for a victorious, overcoming, Christian life, is the Cross of
Christ. And what do we mean by that? We mean that when Jesus died on the Cross, He died not only to save man from sin, but as well, to keep man from sin. This is found in Romans, Chapters 6 and 8, and in fact, in all of Paul’s writings, for the simple reason, that it was to Paul that the answer to this great question was given. In fact, the New Covenant is pure and simple the meaning of the Cross, in other words what the Cross afforded.

Most Christians understand the initial Salvation part, but they do not understand
the Cross as it regards keeping one from sin, in effect, in victory, and doing so on a perpetual basis. Not understanding that, Christians cast about for other means of help and support, and never really find it, simply because there is no help other than the Cross.

Once the Believer understands that all that he receives from God, and in every capacity,
comes entirely through the Cross of Christ, which of course includes His Resurrection
as well, they are then to make the Cross the object of their Faith. And this is the secret!
Everything hinges on Faith, but it’s always Faith in the Cross of Christ. If it’s any other
type of Faith, God simply will not honor the particular effort, and the Christian is left
holding the bag, proverbially speaking.

FAITH

As we’ve already stated, everything hinges on Faith, but it has to be Faith in the proper
object, and that object must ever be the Cross of Christ.

The Believer must understand and without fail, that the Cross is the Source of all
blessings from God, and we mean “all blessings!” If the Believer doesn’t understand
that, then his Faith is deficient, and he will suffer negative consequences. Let me say it another way: If the Believer is divided in his Faith, which means that he somewhat believes what we are saying here, but as well tries to add something else, he is then double-minded, and as the Holy Spirit through James said, “Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord” (James 1:7-8).

Such Faith is called “wavering Faith” (James 1:6). And that’s where the problem
is with many Christians.

Since the Lord began to open up to me the Revelation of the Cross, which incidentally is
not something new, but is rather the foundation of all that God gives us, I have had, and
continue to have, a number of people who say, “I’ve tried it, and it doesn’t work,” or
words to that effect. That’s “wavering Faith.”
In the first place, one doesn’t “try the Cross!” One must understand, that the Cross
is the only way, the only road, there being no other. If the Believer is in doubt about that,
then the admonition is plain and simple, he’s not going to get anything from the Lord.

One doesn’t try the Cross! One rather anchors his Faith there, understanding that what
he seeks comes from no other source. While we may fail in our Faith, and that’s always
where the failure is, the Cross does not fail. So if we want to blame the Cross, instead of placing the blame where it rightly belongs, which is on ourselves, then we’re in deep trouble.

When the Lord first began to open up to me this great Revelation, after a period of
time, I asked him as to why there was apparent failure in hearts and lives, from those who claim to be placing their trust in the Finished Work of Christ?

This was early one morning, and if I remember correctly, sometime in early 1999.
I was sitting behind my desk, writing Commentary on Ephesians. I was pondering this
question, and had been actually seeking the Lord about the situation for some time.

Very distinctly the Lord spoke to my heart that morning, saying, “It’s the individual’s
Faith. Anytime there is failure, it’s always a failure of Faith.”

And then He said, “Your Faith is never as strong as you think it is.”

It was just that simple! But I knew the Lord had spoken to my heart, and of course,
I knew this was right. First of all, if the Believer’s Faith is anchored in the right source, which is the Cross, and it’s not a wavering Faith, meaning that it’s divided with other things, even if there is failure of some sort, that particular Believer will not quit, but will get up, start back out, with his eye ever toward the goal of perpetual victory. In other words, true Faith won’t quit!

The Believer is to then ask the Lord to show him as to where his Faith is deficient,
and to be sure that prayer will be answered.

While the Lord definitely gives to every Believer “a measure of Faith” (Rom. 12:3),
the development of that Faith is always a process. That’s why the Holy Spirit through
Peter said, “But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”

(II Pet. 3:18).

This I can guarantee:

If the Believer will understand and believe that every Blessing comes through the Cross
of Christ, and that his Faith must at all times be anchored in the Cross, which will then
guarantee the help of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:1-2, 11, 13), and not allow his Faith to be
moved from that source, total and complete victory over the world, the flesh, and the
Devil, will be realized in one’s life. It might take awhile for total victory to be brought
about, but it is guaranteed that it will come.

THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT

If one is to notice, over and over again, the word “promise” is connected in some way
to the Holy Spirit. In fact, Paul said, “That the Blessing of Abraham (Justification by
Faith) might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ (through what Jesus did at the
Cross and in His Resurrection); that we might receive the Promise of the Spirit
through Faith (meaning that it cannot be earned, but can only be received as a Gift from
God)” (Gal. 3:14). Now what does that phrase mean, “the Promise of the Spirit”?

“Promise” in the Greek is “epaggelia,” and means “an announcement or pledge, to
engage to do something, to assert.” Consequently, the meaning is twofold:

Before the Cross, the Promise was given by God, that all of this was coming (Gen. 15:6;
Isa. 28:9-11; Joel 2:28-29; Mat. 3:11; Jn. 1:3134; Acts 1:4-8; 2:33-39; 11:14-18; 15:7-13).

When Jesus died on the Cross, due to the sin debt now being paid, the Holy Spirit could
now come and dwell in the hearts and lives of Believers, in fact to abide forever (Jn.
14:16). However, the word “Promise” has another aspect:

All the things that Jesus did at the Cross, i.e., “the Atonement,” are promised by the
Holy Spirit to the Believer, that is, those things which are now possible to have. Paul
referred to this as a down payment, “the earnest of the Spirit” (II Cor. 1:22; 5:5). The
balance will come at the Resurrection.

However, the Holy Spirit has promised us, that if we will properly place our Faith in the
Cross of Christ, that He will do certain things within our lives. In fact, every single thing
that the Believer receives from the Lord, is all and without exception, brought about, by
the work, operation, and Person of the Holy Spirit. He is the only One Who can do these
things, which means we cannot do them ourselves. Of us, Faith alone is required for Him to do this great work. And I said all of that to say this:

If you will anchor your Faith properly in the Cross of Christ, the Holy Spirit has promised
that He will give you total and complete victory over the “world, the flesh, and the
Devil.” It doesn’t matter who you are, how weak you may think you might be, how many
failures you’ve had in the past, or how much in bondage at present you might be to a particular vice, the Holy Spirit can rid you of all of these problems. It may take a little time, and not because of Him, but because of us, but if we will keep our Faith anchored in the Cross of Christ, not allow it to waver, the Holy Spirit without fail, will perform His great work of victory within us.