The Spirit And The Spiritual

Their Relation To The Law And Things

Article aR 1989

God's most basic law includes His Word, will, and ways. This foundational law of God was in affect when He first created the angels and mankind as well as now. This foundational law, although carrying a severe penalty upon such that reject it, yet is a good and perfect law which desires good and Holiness for all that God has created in heaven and earth. The Mosaic law and Christ's teachings are subsequent laws built upon God's foundational law. The Mosaic law was given within the Old Testament era and was established for that era while Christ's teachings are God's law for the New Testament era. God instituted the law of Moses and law of Christ with the intent that man by following them could find and experience His goodness and Holiness. God established these laws desiring that men would follow them by the spirit of the law. When one follows God's laws by the spirit of them, he will follow them in the way that best obeys, honors, and respects the intention or purpose of God's laws. God told Moses after he had given him the law, "... Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel" (Exodus 34:27). "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading" (Nehemiah 8:8). Yet the spirit of God's law contains no permissive element whatsoever. God knowing the heart, knows when men honestly abide by the purpose of the law. aR-1

As it is likely that no law could contain a perfect written solution for every circumstance of which men will encounter, it is of utmost importance that the spirit of the law be the focal point. Such was true for the Old Testament era as well as the new. Christ came to earth at a time when Israel had largely lost the spirit of the law and were living much by the letter of the Mosaic law. After the Pharisees accused Jesus for plucking ears of corn on the Sabbath, Jesus reminded them of how King David ate shewbread that according to the letter of the Mosaic law was totally unlawful for him to eat, yet sanctioning this deed for it was in place according to the spirit of God's law (Matt 12:3-4). All the law in both the Old and New Testament hinge on a few focal commandments. Jesus spoke concerning this in Matt 22:36-40 which reads "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? {37} Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. {38} This is the first and great commandment. {39} And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. {40} On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." When endeavoring to know what God's law or will is, in any particular situation, it is of utmost importance to consider these two commandments of which Christ said "hang all the law and the prophets"! aR-2

The Bible speaks much about how God's New Testament people are to relate to things. Their are only a few things which are against God's law which can never be permitted under any circumstance, such as sins unto death. But most things that the spirit of God's Law normally prohibits could be proper under particular circumstances, even as King David eating the Priest's shewbread. It is likely with some respect to this principle that Paul wrote, "Unto the pure all things are pure: But unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled" (Titus 1:15). Such things that can be proper in particular circumstances are not wrong in themselves, while those things which God has totally forbidden are wrong in themselves. It is possible that one can relate to all things quite consistently and yet have an impure spirit. Things dare not be the focal point but rather that one possess a pure and humble heart and spirit which as used here are much one, and constitute one's innermost being. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor (humble) in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt 5:3&8). Such an one as Jesus calls blessed because of him possessing a pure heart, will no matter how ignorant he is, relate to all things the best he knows how, and will to the best of his knowledge, respecting the merits of each circumstance, relate to all things according to the spirit of God's law. When one relates to things as such, even though because of a lack of perfect knowledge and choosing, he may improperly relate to some things which in themselves are not wrong, he yet is eligible for the Scripture which reads "unto the pure all things are pure". Yet when one has a pure Spirit and attitude, he by the convicting power of God's Spirit will not be able to esteem sins unto death as proper but by the inner law which God writes on the hearts of men he will esteem sins unto death as unclean. Another somewhat differing aspect of the Scripture "unto the pure all things are pure" is that if man where heavenly pure, such as having no inherit depraved nature, many things that now are impure to him would then be pure to him. Such is true because the reason many things are now impure to man is because man will tend to set his first love and trust upon them and if one were heavenly pure he would than not tend to set his first love upon them. As the Christian is not heavenly pure it is vitally important that he abstain from many things that in themselves are not wrong, because as they affect where one places his first love and trust, they effect the condition of one's faith, heart, and spirit. Moses in instructing the Children of Israel concerning if they would set a king over then said, "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold" (Deuteronomy 17:17). Yet king Solomon who began his reign as the wisest man that ever lived, failed in Moses' teaching and was thereby lead to Spiritual shipwreck, and if no repentance was found, eternal damnation. aR-3

Although God's people of the New Testament era are freed from many requirements of the Mosaic Law. it is clear that within the new era God requires a greater abstaining from things which in themselves are not wrong than was required in the old era. Properly abstaining from things, even if not wrong in themselves, has the effect of drawing one away from the attachments of this world and causing one to become more heaven connected and God conscious. This principle goes hand in hand with fasting of which Jesus said his followers would do after His ascension (Mat 9:15). Jesus speaking of an effectual yet mustard seed faith said such cometh not but by prayer and fasting (Matt 17:20-21). Refraining from things which in themselves are not wrong is only for life and in heaven such things will be appreciated and enjoyed, and the Christian's days of fasting will be forever past. The object of all efforts to relate to things properly must be to nurture a spirit inspired faith, for faith is the element that saves and justifies. Christian writers in times past repeatedly tell how the workings of faith are that it effectually assures and changes the affections of one's heart making them glad to suffer for Christ and to count all such sufferings as brief and light. Jesus said, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive...)" (John 7:38). aR-4

The Apostles largely concerning the need to refrain from things which in themselves are not wrong said the following. Paul said, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." (1 Tim 2:9). Peter concerning women said, "While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Peter 3:2-4). Material wealth also is something that is not wrong in itself, rather the wrong is determined more by our wanting than possessing. Yet how unlikely it is for one to have abundant possessions without having their affections therein. Concerning material possessions and affairs, especially regarding the New Testament era, the scriptures teach; "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" (Matt 6:19-20). "...Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3:1-2). "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (James 2:10). "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (2 John 2:15). "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2 Tim 2:4). Revelations 11 speaks of the two witnesses of God clothed in sackcloth and prophesying to the world, this vividly portrays a corresponding picture of how the people of God are to in fear and with a vivid show of not being of this present world warn the wicked world of the eternal rewards to come. This being clothed in sackcloth also aligns with how the Christian abstains from many things which in themselves are not wrong. aR-5

As abstaining from things which in themselves are not wrong is only for life, in heaven God's children will be rewarded with wealth and mansions. Likely also jewelry, musical instruments, and much laughter will be appreciated and enjoyed. This principle of refraining from many things in life and after the marriage of the Lamb enjoying them corresponds much with how that one before marriage must refrain from his natural affections but afterwards they can be enjoyed. Yet how many will never be permitted into the heavenly marriage because of being fornicators with the things of this world by not properly denying their natural affections of things which in themselves were not wrong and thus were drawn away from a proper first love, trust, and faith? Paul was speaking of such individuals when he said, "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them" (2 Cor 4:3-4). It appears apostle James calls some adulterers and adulteresses because of their friendship with the present world, he says "Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). aR-6

Much in the same way as medicine is important because of physical health and physical health is not important because of medicine, so also things are important because of Spiritual health and not Spiritual health because of things. Things are of infinitely greater importance than temporal medicine because things affect spiritual health and eternal life while medicine affects only physical health and temporal life. Yet if things are not properly focused on the nurturing of faith and Spirit and such is not attained things alone are dead. God's Spirit seals the salvation of the Spiritual individual (Eph 1:13, 4:30). Spirit has power and is what motivated the church at Pentecost with power and vehement desire in the saving of souls. God's Word repeatedly speaks of the Gospel. being not in word only, but in power. True Christianity is not a culture nor is it just a religion but it is an eternal power with which all men have an encounter. Many do not relate this encounter to Christianity although it is the Spirit of God and Christ which is calling them. All men will vividly throughout eternity relate to power of true Christianity, for according to their rejecting or accepting the Spirit's call they will either be given an eternal home of unspeakable bliss or be found a subject of the wrath of God almighty and be cast into eternal hell. Oh may faith and the power of the Gospel be revived as at Pentecost! aR-7

The above scriptural guidelines, concerning relating to things which in themselves are not wrong, are guidelines that will nurture Spiritual health in anyone, thus God's people must unitedly conform to these ways of relating to things. Their are many ways of relating to things which obviously nurture and encourage a living faith in anyone, thus all of God's people must unitedly walk in those ways. Yet many ways in which individuals should relate to things, to thereby nurture and encourage their personal Spiritual health, will vary depending on their culture, training, and personal convictions or consciences. That all relate to things in the exact same way or by a particular standard dare not be the goal of God's church since because of the above differences in individuals, the things that nurture faith in one member may not nurture the faith of another. Yet God's people must guard lest they drift into an area where those things that obviously nurture spirituality in everyone lose their importance and became counted as those things that can vary with individuals. God's children should relate to all things in the way that nurtures and encourages a proper first love and faith and a proper disconnection from earthly attachments so they can thus with full devotion and desire give themselves to effectual service to God. God's children should relate to all things in a way that encourages one's affections to be on things above and that has the affect of increasing one's faith as does fasting and prayer. If it is not remembered that the goal of properly relating to things is to be filled with the Spirit and faith, and such is not earnestly striven for and attained, many proper ways of relating to things can became merely a culture, which error is Satan's ultimate goal. Paul warned of such occurring in the last days saying, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof..." (2 Tim 3:5). aR-8

Paul gives much direction concerning those ways of relating to things which do not obviously nurture faith in everyone yet do so for others. Paul clearly reveals that for an individual to properly relate to things, he must be willing to submit to what his personal conscience feels sanctified with, and thus must live within the walls of his conscience. He reveals such saying, "...but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean" (Romans 14:14). "Hast thou faith, have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemeth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:22-23). Apostle Paul in Romans 14 speaks much about the differing ways of which individuals felt they could best serve and please God and tells how brethren should relate to one another considering these differences. The differences Paul here spoke of, especially concerned the eating of different foods and the esteeming of particular days above other days. Paul in this chapter says, "Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him". "He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it, He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks" (Romans 14:3 & 6). Paul also spoke of these differences in Col 2:4 wherein he says, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:". Also in considering Paul's teaching of Romans 14:14 which reads, "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean", it must be considered that it was written after Paul spoke of the regarding of days and eating of different foods as above. aR-9

In the Old Testament God's people were under the Mosaic Law which required relating to things in many detailed and different ways. This vast law required a great diligence and effort to learn of it's many ordinances and to properly maintain them. Much of this law had the purpose of nurturing and encouraging a proper faith and spirit although much of it also consisted of laws which helped make God's people of the old era a greatly superior Kingdom (nation) of this present world. Paul considering the New Testament release from the Mosaic Law said, "For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13). God's children of the new era are at liberty to relate to things in any way as to further the gospel and salvation within themselves and to others. God' s children knowing that most things in themselves are not wrong dare not use this liberty as occasion to the flesh. They dare not relate to things in any self pleasing way which would in any way hinder the furtherance of the Gospel in themselves and toward others. Paul likely with consideration how that many things in themselves are not wrong and how that he yet would not let any such things undermine and hinder his first love and effectual service to God wrote, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any" (1 Cor 6:12, 1 Cor 10:23). When one permits things to hinder his love for God and the salvation of others he has been brought under the power of things, of which Paul did not permit to happen. Paul said that we in this new era liberty should in love serve one another. He teaches how that in this liberty and love we should not do anything which would be a stumbling block to our brother or cause him to follow us and his conscience being weak would become defiled in doing that thing which we had done with no defilement of our conscience. Paul in his zeal for the Gospel said, "wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend" (1 Cor 8:13). Yet with the exception of being a stumbling block to our brother Paul reveals that one should not feel compelled to live within the walls of the conscience of his brother in that he said, .... for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience" (1 Cor 10:29). "When the walls of one's conscience have been established to relate to things in a particular way it is not easy to change them nor is it an absolute necessity to change them unless they conflict with those things which God has ordained necessary to Holiness. Through better knowledge and understanding the walls of one's conscience can be more properly placed. Yet possibly many will never attain to sufficient clarity of knowledge and understanding as to entirely properly place them. aR-10

When one desires to be an effectual Christian laborer toward those about him, it should be considered that his relation to things should as much as possible be such as the consciences of onlookers would relate to Godliness and Holiness. It was for this purpose that Paul said he to the Jews became a Jew, and to the weak became as weak, and was made all things to all men, that he might by all means save some. True Christianity in not a particular way of life nor is it a social standard but a power of unspeakable eternal consequences. The heart beat of true Christianity is an inner and living faith in God, His severity, and in the vast gulf that exists between God's exalted standard of Holiness and goodness and man's depravity, through which faith one fears and trembles before God and His Word and grasps God's mercy in Christ with thankfulness. Many things are meaningless in regards to true Christianity with the vital exception of relating to all things in a way that will nurture and strengthen this love and faith. The faithful child of God will likely relate to things differently after a effectual cleansing among God's people than before for then what becometh the Gospel likely would be different than what would have earlier. Yet one must be careful to not use this liberty as an occasion to the flesh and must be willing to stand out and be different. In conclusion may all with an honest heart and spiritual mind, considering the merits of each circumstance, relate to things in a way that promotes the furtherance of Holiness and the gospel in their lives and others. aR-11

(Count 3824 2/17/01)