The Bible is about two Adams: The first Adam, who, through an act of disobedience, brought about the fall from grace that unregenerated man now finds himself in, are identified as those being In Adam. Those who are In Adam have not believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and are therefore ruled by a mind that has been conditioned by this world’s system to think and believe and speak a certain way. Walking according to the desires of their selfish nature, they live a life fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, by nature, the children of wrath. They are known as the ‘walking dead.’ Alive, but dead in trespasses and sins.(Eph. 2:1,2)
Those who are In Christ, the Last Adam, have been quickened, made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and they’ve been redeemed from this world’s system.. The satanic nature they once had, no longer exists. They have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The blood of Christ has purged their conscience from dead works to serve the living God. There is no more consciousness of sin. No more condemnation, no guilt, no shame. They now have the nature of God. (Eph. 2:5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:14)
In Adam, the works of the flesh are evidence of a mindset that is fleshly, of a heart that has not been changed. Romans 8:5 says that they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. In fact, it says in verse 7 and 8, that the carnal mind is an enemy of God, and is not subject to the law of God, and neither indeed can be. Galatians 5:19, 20 names the works of the flesh. Flesh is revealed by behavior.
In Christ, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Fruit is not worked, but produced in the lives of those who abide in the Vine. I remember, years ago, when Holy Spirit began to show me that what was supposed to be evident in our lives, was evident in God’s, too. When I read
1 Corinthians 13, I saw that God does not think evil of us. He believes the best about us, is not touchy or fretful with us, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and Love never fails. Finding that out definitely changed the way I thought about Him. (Gal. 5:22, 23)
However, far too many people in churches who call themselves Christians are living in Lodebar, a pastureless place where there is no nourishment of the Word of God. They don’t get into the Word. They don’t find out what God has really done and how they are supposed to relate to Him. They only know they have been “saved” from their sins and are going to heaven, and now they must try to live up to the standards set up by the Old Covenant, the Law. When they fail, then they beg God to forgive them of their sins. (2 Sam. 9:4, 5)
Of course, we can’t throw all the blame on the Church. The word of God says we are to examine ourselves, to see if we be in the faith. We are to study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth. I like what Jim Hockaday says, “The way you do life is the way you do faith.” He says to those who claim they didn’t know, “You could have known. You could have found out. You could have asked someone; seek the truth for yourself.” (2 Cor. 13:5; 2 Tim. 2:15)
Still, even as born again Christians, we can find ourselves living from a mindset of the First Adam in different areas of our life because we haven’t taken the time to renew our minds in those areas. When we, as Christians, live within the confines of the First Adam mindset, we rob ourselves of the blessings that come to us through the finished work of the Cross.
When we take the time to get into the Word, and ask, seek, and find the truth, God is only too happy to give it. I found a scripture the other day I love. It’s from Jeremiah 15:16, Thy words were found and I did eat them: and thy words were to me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
Those who are In Christ, the Last Adam, have been quickened, made alive by the power of the Holy Spirit, and they’ve been redeemed from this world’s system.. The satanic nature they once had, no longer exists. They have become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The blood of Christ has purged their conscience from dead works to serve the living God. There is no more consciousness of sin. No more condemnation, no guilt, no shame. They now have the nature of God. (Eph. 2:5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:14)
In Adam, the works of the flesh are evidence of a mindset that is fleshly, of a heart that has not been changed. Romans 8:5 says that they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. In fact, it says in verse 7 and 8, that the carnal mind is an enemy of God, and is not subject to the law of God, and neither indeed can be. Galatians 5:19, 20 names the works of the flesh. Flesh is revealed by behavior.
In Christ, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Fruit is not worked, but produced in the lives of those who abide in the Vine. I remember, years ago, when Holy Spirit began to show me that what was supposed to be evident in our lives, was evident in God’s, too. When I read
1 Corinthians 13, I saw that God does not think evil of us. He believes the best about us, is not touchy or fretful with us, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and Love never fails. Finding that out definitely changed the way I thought about Him. (Gal. 5:22, 23)
However, far too many people in churches who call themselves Christians are living in Lodebar, a pastureless place where there is no nourishment of the Word of God. They don’t get into the Word. They don’t find out what God has really done and how they are supposed to relate to Him. They only know they have been “saved” from their sins and are going to heaven, and now they must try to live up to the standards set up by the Old Covenant, the Law. When they fail, then they beg God to forgive them of their sins. (2 Sam. 9:4, 5)
Of course, we can’t throw all the blame on the Church. The word of God says we are to examine ourselves, to see if we be in the faith. We are to study to show ourselves approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth. I like what Jim Hockaday says, “The way you do life is the way you do faith.” He says to those who claim they didn’t know, “You could have known. You could have found out. You could have asked someone; seek the truth for yourself.” (2 Cor. 13:5; 2 Tim. 2:15)
Still, even as born again Christians, we can find ourselves living from a mindset of the First Adam in different areas of our life because we haven’t taken the time to renew our minds in those areas. When we, as Christians, live within the confines of the First Adam mindset, we rob ourselves of the blessings that come to us through the finished work of the Cross.
When we take the time to get into the Word, and ask, seek, and find the truth, God is only too happy to give it. I found a scripture the other day I love. It’s from Jeremiah 15:16, Thy words were found and I did eat them: and thy words were to me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
