It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a
bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. —Galatians 4:22
“Paul was not dealing with sin in this chapter of Galatians,
but with the relation of the natural to the spiritual. The natural can be
turned into the spiritual only through sacrifice. Without this a person will
lead a divided life. Why did God demand that the natural must be sacrificed?
God did not demand it. It is not God’s perfect will, but His permissive will.
God’s perfect will was for the natural to be changed into the spiritual through
obedience. Sin is what made it necessary for the natural to be sacrificed. Abraham
had to offer up Ishmael before he offered up Isaac (see Genesis 21:8-14). Some
of us are trying to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God before we have
sacrificed the natural. The only way we can offer a spiritual sacrifice to God
is to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1). Sanctification
means more than being freed from sin. It means the deliberate commitment of
myself to the God of my salvation, and being willing to pay whatever it may
cost. If we do not sacrifice the natural to the spiritual, the natural life
will resist and defy the life of the Son of God in us and will produce
continual turmoil.” CHAMBERS
The Bible is a lesson book. It teaches us about God’s nature and about
our nature. It teaches us about the
natural life and the spiritual life. It’s
filled with logical “if-then” statements.
If you do this then this will happen.
If you don’t do this, then that will happen. If you offer yourself to God as a living sacrifice, don't conform to this world, but transform you mind, then you will show the world the good and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1,2) If
Jesus is lifted up, then He will
draw all men to himself. (John 12:32)
If you wait on the Lord then He will renew you strength. (Isaiah 4:31) If God is for us, then
who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
If we confess our sins then He is faithful to forgive us. (1 John 1:9) If you meditate on the Word, and obey what is says, then you will be prosperous and
successful. (Joshua 1:8) If you confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved. (Romans 10:9) If you want to have eternal life, then you must be born again by the Spirit.(John 3:3-8) If my people
who are called by My name will pray and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive
their sins, and heal their land. (2 Chronicles
7:14) If Christ is in you, then
even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life
because of righteousness. (Romans 8:10)
Those are called conditional
statements. They all require obedience
on our part to realize the spiritual truth and blessing behind them. It requires surrendering the natural to enjoy
the supernatural. So, if you agree, then
I hope you will obey His voice and enjoy the blessing. ELGIN
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