The Spirit led life confirmed by the Word

Pre Script: I remember discussing my experience with the church with fellow Christians when I first started going again. I said I felt like someone leaning up against a bubble, making my impression in it but not actually penetrating. Then there was a time where I was in the bubble and I functioned inside of it and found it difficult not to get caught up in the administration and causes of the church. Now I like to think that I have pulled back to where the perimeter of the bubble splits me in two, half myself immersed in the bubble and half outside of it. I like to think that is a good balance. As to our conversations not being influential I can’t deny that your scepticism of the church has not weighed in on my current position in the bubble.

I’m pretty sure I’ve said this but if not let me say now that Brittany was engaged when we talked. She wanted my opinion and listened carefully to everything I said. Nuff said.

All sins can be forgiven through the cross. No matter what Britt or anyone does through out their life they can find redemption. In that case, theologically speaking, I can condemn no person to hell; there is always redemption. I’m well aware that judgment of soul is not mine but the word and the spirit convicts me of sinful behaviour and allows me to profess judgment of action. By the Lamb of God sinful actions are washed and separated from our soul. A common saying heard in the church is hate the sin not the sinner. This statement comes from Romans 7 verse 20, “Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is the sin living in me that does it. Therefore I feel I can condemn action and not the soul. I see how Satan uses this and makes it, “hate with a mask” but just because it is abused does not mean it is wrong to judge others actions. I love Brittany, I do not hate her. I told her my understanding out of love.

I have not read Nygren’s analysis of Romans 7 but from what you’ve said I don’t believe it would resonate only because scripture has already resonated in what I believe to be the correct meaning. The bible is God’s word meant to be read and understood. I understood Romans 7 to be a description of every man’s battle with their sinful nature the moment I read it. I laughed with joy that Paul suffered that same daily struggles as I do. Why does one obscure rendition of the verse bear more weight than the multitude of confirming renditions? I write this thinking of the Pharisees and how they had every word of the Old Testament memorized and yet did not know our Father. I know majority is not always right but it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Paul is not describing a Christian who is living by the law. He is describing himself hence the word “I” throughout the passage. It does not mean that he was not living a life according to the spirit it just means that the sinful nature, the curse on the earth and the body, was always something he had to contend with. The body is magnetized to sin, the law of sin is written in it. The law of God illuminates that our cursed bodies, our urges to do evil, are utterly evil. We would be animals without the law.

You say that the voice that tells me I am doing evil is the Law not the Spirit. It is both, they work in tandem. There are universal laws that we all know and the spirit confirms the law. When someone is getting cheated or abused humans know someone is suffering (there is the exception of psychopaths where there mind is so far twisted into the enemies camp that they are looking through multiple lenses of distortion), but even if we justify evil actions we know it is still wrong. I think we have always known it was wrong since the beginning, before the commandments. When God asked Cain where his brother was Cain responded, “am I my brothers keeper?” If he didn’t know murder was wrong why didn’t he respond without flinching, “I killed him, so what.” The spirit does not disqualify the law but further expands and makes it personal to the vices and calamities of our life (the law is like chapter titles and the spirit is the chapter). When I realize I’m doing evil the law may convict me but the spirit does so as well. I think freedom from the law simply means that because of the atonement our breaking of the law will no longer be held against us.

When I first read your post my overall impression was that you denied that those who accept Christ and the Holy Spirit have a sinful nature any longer. Do you think that with the Holy Spirit our sinful nature no longer has any influence over us? I believe it has lost its power over us in that we will not be sent to Hell because of it but it still tempts us daily. Another thing that I have difficulty with is the subjectivity of the spirit without the word and essentially the law. I am blessed when I receive something from the word commanding a certain way of acting or thinking that I had previously never read before but at the same time realizing that I had been following this law all along. I see the spirit working in me, convicting of righteousness and it is confirmed in the word and the law. I think when people claim everything they do is lead by the spirit you run into the cult leaders. They have no confirmation. Yes, no external criteria. I think that’s why we have the bible. It is an external criteria so we don’t fall into some schizophrenic understanding of who God is.

While service for God is not something we should seek it is something that naturally comes out on one who wishes to glorify God. Getting wrapped up in church life definitely can lead one to believe that you will be saved by works or that it is at least a sign of your devotion. Maybe some have used my statement, God likes to include us in his plans as a back door but again, just because it has been abused doesn’t make it untrue. God does use us in his plans. That’s what the stories of the bible are about. When Jesus says it is finished he is saying a number of things are finished but he is not saying our work for the Lord is finished or else the bible would end with the gospels. Those who have the spirit burning in them can’t help them self be used as an extension of the body of Christ they are one with his will.

Lastly I should comment on what marriage is. Let me ask what does it mean to Brittany? What does it mean to me? What does it mean to everyone who celebrates it? What does it mean to you when you use the word for the most part? We all know it as a ceremony, a day, a moment; whether it’s a kiss, a signed signature, a payment of money or breaking of glass. There is a moment where two commit to be one before a witness or winesses and traditionally before God. Scripture makes analogies of the church being made ready as a bride; adorned in beauty. That stirs thoughts of preparation for a ceremony not casual intercourse. Is. 61:10 says as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adhorns herself with her jewels. This is dressing up not dressing down. There are also numerous accounts of marriage banquets. This is the understanding that the Jewish writers had. Marriage incorporates intercourse but doesn’t strictly denote to that singularity. I believe that's how God sees it as well.