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“Even though we have regarded Christ according to FLESH, yet now we regard Him thus NO LONGER. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION. The Old Things have passed away; behold, the New has COME into being.” 2 Corinthians 5:16-17.
In previous studies we have explored the fact that there is No Life that is to be gained through the Law, and we established what it means to be made the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. So in this study, we hope to build on the exhortation which Paul gives saying, “Let us Go on to Perfection.” Hebrews 6:1. The main point which we hope to address is that, the need the Church of God has to be awakened to the PRESENT Covenant of the Grace, and Righteousness of God, which is the Ministry of the Spirit. [2 Cor. 3:8-9.] That is, we are very well versed, when it comes to the knowledge of what brought an end to the previous Covenant of Sin and Death, but we are sadly lacking in the knowledge of what is expected in the PRESENT.
Here is the issue, we see the forgiveness of sins to be the beginning and the end of ALL things, rather than the truth, it is the means by which the Old was brought to a CLOSE, in order to make way for the New. As Paul says, “He is the mediator of a New COVENANT, so that, DEATH having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the FIRST COVENANT, those having been CALLED MIGHT receive the PROMISE of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:15. The New Covenant is given to those that are made a New Creation in Christ, and this is where we find ourselves. But do we ever explore what is contained within this New Covenant? And if we honestly ask ourselves, do we know anything other than our sins are forgiven? And this where we blur the issue, in the universal application of the forgiveness of sins, whereby we fail to identify why the five foolish virgins were LEFT OUTSIDE to face the tribulations that will come upon the world, even though they are VIRGINS. Or why the wicked and negligent servants were CAST Out, even though they were first HIRED. These are some of the issues we do not want to deal with, and use the blanket provision of the forgiveness of sins under the Old, to obscure the expectation God has for our lives in the New.
And it suits us to think their failings must be because they are not BORN AGAIN, rather than contemplate the possibility there could be other determining factors, disqualification being one of them. This in itself stems from our failure to understand what mankind was created to be. If we believe mankind was created spirit, then we will have a hard time to understand how one born again can be disqualified. But if we can perceive Mankind’s true essence is found in the Soul, which is either saved by being in the SPIRIT or lost by being in the FLESH, then we can perceive the consequences of our free will, even when we are saved from Sin and Death by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The fact is, being born again is based on nothing else than the belief in the truth Jesus Christ had died for the sins of Mankind, and was raised back to life by the Spirit of God, and anyone who confesses Him to be Lord is SAVED from Sin and Death, on which account we have the Breath of the Holy Spirit in us. As Paul quoting Joel 2:32 said, “Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord will be SAVED.” Romans 10:13. However, this is NOT apart from the admonishment to endure to the end in faithfulness, holding fast to the truth of the gospel we have heard, and recognising ourselves as being sojourners and pilgrims in the world. [Colossians 1:23, 1 Peter 1:17-18; 2:11.]
The point is, we must LEARN to look beyond the forgiveness of sins, and be exhorted to the PURSUIT of Righteousness. That is, just as Sin animated us to do what is evil by enticing us to do things that are seemingly indistinguishable from ourselves. Righteousness should also animate us to do what is right, by the Spirit of God. Righteousness is right doing through right believing, and is not INERT. That is why John says, “Little children, let no one lead you astray; the one PRACTISING RIGHTEOUSNESS is righteous, just as He is righteous.” 1 John 3:7, [1 John 2:29.] Pastor Joseph Prince teaches how the Law demanded from us what we were not able to give, but in the Covenant of Grace and Righteousness, God Himself supplies what is required by His Spirit. That is, from the peace we have, to the desire for a life of godliness it is not something we conjured of ourselves, but it is the life of the Lord Jesus Christ being manifested in our mortal body. [2 Corinthians 4:11.] As Paul says, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy IN the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17. The Covenant of, the Grace and Righteousness of God, is the expression of the Divine Nature, being manifested in our lives as the Fruits of the Spirit, on the account we are forgiven of our sins.
The New has come, and this MEANS there is a New way of Doing things. Paul said, “Old Things have passed away; behold, the New has COME into being.” The Old things is in reference to the things of the FLESH, which have passed away in the death and burial of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, now, the New things of the Spirit have come to effect on the account of the resurrection of the Lord. The Lord said, “An hour is coming and now is, when the TRUE worshipers will WORSHIP the Father in SPIRIT and TRUTH; for the Father also seeks such who worship Him. God is Spirit, and it behooves those worshiping Him to worship in SPIRIT and TRUTH.” John 4:23-24. The essence of which is that, we are fundamentally changed from what we were before, that is from a flesh-being, to that of a spirit-being through the Lord Jesus Christ. This means, we must LEARN how this life in the Spirit is to be lived, which is the CONDITION of the New Covenant that brings us into the kingdom of God. As Isaiah says, “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16. The WALK in the Spirit was UNKNOWN to any of us, because it was alien to our makeup, which was of the flesh. But now we are made spirits in Christ, we are expected to walk in the New Way by the Spirit of God. And this is what essentially divides Christians, between those that are obedient to walk by the Spirit of God for the purpose of inheriting the kingdom of God, and those that are content with the practice of religion in the flesh. [Colossians 2:8, 16-17.]
When Israel came out of the Bondage of Egypt, they ALL came out with the Promise of inheriting a land flowing with Milk and Honey, yet the hearts of many were exposed, when faced with the ordeals of the wilderness. As a result NOT all attained to the promise, because they were not all willing to adhere to what was expected of them. And we can see how this corresponds to the Parable of the Sower, in respect to those that fell on rocky grounds, and those that fell among the thorns. That is, even though ALL had heard the SAME Good News, in order to escape the bondage that is in the world, they failed to produce expected fruits and were rejected. However, we think it is trickery, when we are presented with the SAME concept of having to endure the wilderness for the purpose of inheriting the kingdom of God, after having been saved from Sin and Death. Paul said, “Through many tribulations it behooves us to enter into the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22. And Again, “ [We are] joint-heirs of Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:17. Having to endure tribulation and suffering is an expected condition for the inheritance of the kingdom of God.
Consider, EVERY Israelite that applied the blood of the lamb was SAVED from the destroyer of the firstborn. And they ALL crossed the Red Sea, which opened itself for them by the Rod of Moses. And God did NOT demand ANYTHING from them, in order for Him to do this for them. Yet, how many of them that stood at the other side of the shores of the Red Sea, and celebrated the destruction of Pharaoh and his chariots, crossed the wilderness and into the Promised inheritance? Likewise, we are also sojourners and pilgrims in the wilderness of the world, having been saved from the bondage of sin, and are “on our way” to the PROMISED eternal inheritance. And EVERYONE of us have come out with the same promise of the Heavenly home, nonetheless, this HOPE is not apart from the expectation which God has for our lives, through the endurance of faith. Now, does this mean not ALL are SAVED? NO! ALL are SAVED, and that from Sin and Death, which is in respect to the DESTROYER of the firstborn. However, Life in the presence of God is by His Holy Spirit, for those that have learned to walk by Him. God did not trick Israel when they came out of Egypt with the PROMISE of an inheritance, neither has He tricked us, but has tested our hearts as He did of Israel, to see if we would LIVE for Him. It is our misunderstanding of the gulf that exists between the forgiveness of sins, and the walk of righteousness that causes many to stumble. We speak of forgiveness of sins, when God is looking at us to walk in His Righteousness by His Spirit.
We have to understand the expectation on the side of Egypt when Israel was under bondage of slavery, is different to that of the other side of the Red Sea and the wilderness, where Israel is set FREE. Which God Himself specified within three days of crossing the Red Sea, after making the waters of Marah sweet, saying, “There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He TESTED them, and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:25-26. Please Note, prior to the Red Sea there was No Condition, No Expectation, because they were slaves under bondage. However they are now set free, God expected them to walk in His ways. This is the same principle which Paul described saying, “So also you, consider yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but living to God in Christ Jesus. THEREFORE do not let sin reign in your mortal body, in order to obey its desires.” And again, “And having been set free from sin, you have become slaves to righteousness.” Romans 6:11-12. Simply meaning, since we have crossed the Red Sea having been set free from the dominion of the slave master, we are no longer expected to walk as if we are slaves, but in the ways of the One who liberated us. A life befitting repentance is not an optional extra, it is an expected outcome for every child of God. [Acts 26:20.]
The crossing of the Red Sea, and that of the Jordan River represent two fundamentally different concepts. The Red Sea is in respect to Sin and the world, which is represented in the name “Red,” as a means to illustrate the requirement of the sacrifice of Blood in order to escape from it. The Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ has effectively brought an end to Sin, it is FINISHED! Consider, even on the day of Judgement, God will NOT judge anyone for sins, Not one! In Revelation 20:11-15, the great white throne of the Lord is described, where the dead, be it great or small, are judged. And the content of that judgement is described in Matthew 25:31-46, in respect to the sheep and goat nations. Where NOT a single accusation in respect to sin was brought up against ANYONE. And it could NOT be, because in Christ Jesus the ENTIRE world is FORGIVEN of sins in the sight of God. As John says, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and NOT only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2. However, in the judgement of the great throne, there is an expectation for Righteousness, which is made freely available in Christ Jesus.
We are no longer judged for the sins that came on the account of Adam, because the judgement that relates to sin was annulled in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, we are now judged for Christ, which is in respect to Righteousness. Not only us, who know Christ, but the entire world. As Paul says, “[God has] set a day in which He is about to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He appointed, having provided a guarantee to all, having RAISED Him out from the DEAD.” Acts 17:31. The resurrection of the Lord, is the evidence that the Judgement of Sin is utterly put aside for the entire world, on which account the judgement of the right to life by the Spirit of God has come to effect. It is NOT Sin that sends people to HELL, but the rejection of righteousness that came on the account of the life of the Son of God.
The Cross of Christ has established a New Covenant, and with that comes New expectations, and a New Judgment. However, we are focused on what closed the previous Covenant, that is the DEATH of the Lord, and do not pay attention to the LIFE of the Lord that is given for the purpose of the present. [Romans 5:9-10.] And this is what the unruly servants, and the five foolish virgins failed to grasp, being solely occupied with the forgiveness of Sins, they have neglected the requirements of the New Covenant of a life of Righteousness by the Spirit of God. Christians are meant to be exhorted to be in PURSUIT of, Righteousness, Godliness, Faith, Love, Patience and Gentleness by the Spirit of God, and not to be negligent or indifferent. [1 Timothy 6:11.] The prophet Amos, says, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Amos 3:3. This statement has significant value to us, who are expected to walk by the Spirit of God. [Galatians 5:25.] The Holy Spirit is called, “Para-kletos,” which is mainly translated as “Helper,” or “Advocate,” which is from the combination of the words, “as One called to come alongside.” [John 14:26.] The idea being we are to walk this life alongside the Holy Spirit, in order for Him to bring us into the kingdom of God. But this is NOT apart from our willingness in coming in agreement with Him. The Holy Spirit is called the HELPER, meaning He is there to Help, not force us.
And this is what is represented in the crossing of the Jordan River, which is in respect to the Righteousness of God, which no one is able to cross except by the Spirit of God. God said to Joshua, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:3-4. That is, the Baptism in water according to Christ Crucified, which is in respect to the Red Sea, is different from the walk of Righteousness led by the Spirit of God, represented in the Ark of Covenant, which is covered with Gold, as it relates to the crossing of the Jordan River. In which regard the Lord said, you have not passed this way, that is the New Way of the Spirit, the same as Isaiah!
We have to remember, the forgiveness of sins is meant to be the beginning, through which we are made a New Creation in Christ in having His Spirit in us. As such, we are expected to TRUST the Spirit that is given to us to teach us to walk in the way of righteousness. Nevertheless, this is NOT apart from our willingness, God will NEVER force Himself on us. So, there is a difference between Christ Crucified, and a life lived by the Spirit in order to inherit the kingdom of God. That is, there is nothing anyone can do to escape the bondage of Sin that is in the world except to apply the Blood of the Lamb. However, having escaped the pollution that is in the world, in the knowledge of our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, we are now expected to walk by Faith in the Spirit of God to the death of the deeds of the body. So Paul says, “For if you live according to flesh, you are about to die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will LIVE. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:13-14.
We CANNOT use the same measurement, by which the truth was proclaimed while we were in the flesh, to be the SAME as when we are in the SPIRIT. We act as if NOTHING has changed! What was told to us when we are in the world, and in the flesh is NOT the same as when we are in CHRIST and in the Spirit. We have become a New CREATION, and with that comes the knowledge of the New COVENANT to which we are expected to adhere. Paul said, “Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, that we may KNOW the things having been GRANTED to us by God.” 1 Corinthians 2:12. The New Covenant is NOT apart from expectation, the only condition being, it is according to what is FREELY GIVEN to us by God.
The flesh is without knowledge, it is without understanding, it is foolishness, but in the Spirit we are changed to have the mind of Christ so that we may know His will and walk in His ways. So, the general admonishment of Paul in the majority of his letters can be summed up as, “You are NO LONGER to walk as also the Gentiles are walking, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in the understanding, being alienated from the LIFE of God because of the ignorance being in them on account of the hardness of their heart.” Ephesians 4:17-18. After giving us a description of what we were before, now he specifies what is expected of us, as ones that have been given the life of God, saying, “You are to have put off, concerning the former way of life, the old man, which is being corrupted according to its desires of deceit, and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to have put on the new man, having been created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth.” Ephesians 4:22-24.
While in the world we were under sin, blinded in heart and mind, and lived to the dictates of our flesh, we by nature were all slaves to the spirit of the world. [Ephesians 2:1-3.] But now, we are set free from what we were held by, through the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is Now an expectation for us to live Holy Lives, for which God Himself has made provision by giving us His Holy Spirit, and His great promises. Peter said, “His divine power has GIVEN us all things toward life and godliness, through the knowledge of the One having called us by His own glory and excellence, through which He has GIVEN to us the precious and magnificent promises, so that through these you might become partakers of the DIVINE nature, having escaped the decay in the world in desire.” 2 Peter 1:3-4. What God expects from us, when we were in the world and what He expects from us, as ones that are raised with Christ to a new life in the Spirit is different, because we are essentially different people. What governed the flesh is no longer expected to rule over us, but what governs the Spirit. We are meant to awake to a life in the Spirit, and put to death the deeds of the body. This expectation cannot be made to one who is in the world and is without knowledge, but to one who is made a New Creation in Christ. The Covenant of Sin and Death is annulled, and the Covenant, of the Grace and Righteousness of God has come to effect, and it is wise for us to learn what that entails.
God overlooks the failure in the flesh, for the one learning to walk by His Spirit in Righteousness. No one is saying we don’t stumble, but one who walks in the flesh, to the dictates and desires of the flesh will fall in the flesh, and the end is to be rejected, even though they are forgiven, just as the world is forgiven. Paul quoting the Psalm of David said, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are FORGIVEN, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will NEVER RECKON Sin.” Romans 4:7-8. And we have generally taken this verse to apply to Christians only. Some even have used this verse to be an excuse to live life to the desires of their heart and flesh. But Paul applies the same courtesy in Christ to the ENTIRE world saying, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, NOT RECKONING their trespasses to them, and having put into us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19. The point is, God IS NOT imputing sin to the believer, nor to the one who is in the world, because in Christ Jesus, God has forgiven the whole world in putting away sin once and for all. And this ought to be a SOBERING thought to a believer, in the realisation of the GREATER expectation, which God has beyond that of the forgiveness of sins, that is the walk of Righteousness by the Spirit of God. Paul the apostle of GRACE, is one of the STERNEST admonisher when it comes to exhorting believers not to walk to the dictates of the flesh! And there are MANY examples, such as, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 2 Corinthians 12-13, Galatians 4:21-23, Ephesians 5:3-7, Philippians 3:18-19, Colossians 3:5-7, 1 Thess. 4:4-7, to mention a few.
The Flesh is dead, Sin is put aside, and the Law is not applicable to the one under the Spirit. However, this requires us to walk by the Spirit, through the knowledge of the provision, which God has freely made available to us in Christ. [Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 4:12-14.] The walk in Righteousness, is according to the Righteousness of God Himself, which can only be attained by faith. [Philippians 3:9.] The only requirement being for us to willingly walk with Him, in the discovery of what He has made available to us. He is the one who strengthens, enables, and upholds us, according to the knowledge of the truth by His Spirit. It is not so much as what God demands, but what He has freely GIVEN, which is our responsibility to discover. That is why in the Parables of Minas and Talents, and other examples are ALL about what He has FIRST given, from which He expects a return. What Christ is and has, we are to know and proclaim. His life is in us, and we have become partakers of His nature, as such we are expected to appropriate what is given to us, through faith in the confession of the truth. Which requires us to be actively engaged in reading the Word, Prayer and Worship.
The Covenant, of the Grace and Righteousness of God is not about the struggle of our flesh, but what we allow God to do for us by His Spirit in the knowledge of the truth. Pastor Joseph Prince, teaches the walk in Righteousness is all about believing the truth and the confession of the mouth. Paul writes, “The righteousness of faith speaks thus:” then he says, “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart.” That is, the word of faith which we proclaim.” Romans 10:6,8. This principle is meant to be applied not only when we come into faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but in every aspect of the New Covenant in which we are expected to walk. This concept is best illustrated in the teaching of Pastor Joseph Prince, contrasting the two moments when water flowed from the Rock in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first instance, God commanded Moses to strike the Rock, on the account of which water flowed from the Rock for the congregation to drink. [Exodus 17:5-6.] Which is meant to be a reference for Christ Crucified, on the account of which the Holy Spirit was given. [John 7:37-39.] But this is contrasted against the second moment, when the congregation of Israel were complaining about water as they did the first time, but only this time God commanded Moses saying, “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. SPEAK to the ROCK before their eyes, and it will yield its WATER; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” Numbers 20:8.
Now, what Moses and Aaron did in contradiction to the command of God is not part of the premise of this study. But the important factor for us in this analogy, is to perceive by what means the SUPPLY of water was meant to be made available to the congregation. That is, SPEAKING is an essential factor for obtaining the Promises of God. And there is a corresponding event we find in the letter to the Hebrews, which states, “Therefore we should come with boldness to the THRONE of GRACE, so that we may receive MERCY and may find GRACE for HELP in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16. Mercy is the Forgiveness of Sins which is in respect to Christ Jesus Crucified, for which reason Moses was commanded to take the Rod with him. And GRACE is meant to represent the supply of the power of the Holy Spirit to HELP in time of need, which is meant to be obtained by making our request known at the throne of Grace, that is by SPEAKING. The point is the Spirit of God is supplied according to need, as Paul says, “the One supplying to you the Spirit and working miracles among you.” Galatians 3:5.
The Supply of the Spirit of God, in whom are contained all the spiritual blessings to the manifestation of the Divine Nature, can only be appropriated through the knowledge of the Promises of God, and the confession of our mouth. That is, EVERYTHING we do in the New Covenant is by the SPIRIT, through FAITH in the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH. Paul writes, “But having the same spirit of faith according to that having been written: “I believed, therefore I have SPOKEN,” we also believe and therefore speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13. Knowledge is the FOUNDATION for FAITH, without knowledge there is NO FAITH. Paul writes, “Now FAITH is the assurance of things HOPED for, the conviction of things not being seen.” Hebrews 11:1. Faith requires KNOWING something in order to base its HOPE. Without the preaching of Christ Crucified, we would have no Hope of salvation on which to base our FAITH. So, God gives us the word, He explains by examples, He paints a picture, and builds analogies, in order for us to grow and be rooted in the truth, which in turn serves to strengthen our faith. Truth builds upon itself, one upon another, as king Solomon said, “A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12. And in the Law it says, “By the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.” Deuteronomy 19:15.
The New has COME, meaning the New Covenant is NOT about Sin, but the teaching of Righteousness, and of the Spirit of God, which will enable us to live an overcoming life. The emphasis is not so much on the failing of our flesh, but in the recognition of the perfection of Christ. That is, the means that is given to us to overcome the failing of our flesh, is in the simplicity of the truth which we believe and speak, in recognising what we are in Him, and have of Him. We overcome the flesh when we draw near to God, as to walk by His Spirit, which is the logical outcome, as Paul said, “Now I say, walk by the Spirit, and you should not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.” Galatians 5:16-17. The manifestation of the Nature of the Flesh, and that of the Spirit, are represented on the opposite spectrum of a Christian’s life. But it is our choice to whom we submit, to whom we choose to live, to whom we sow, the result of which will determine what we reap. As Paul writes, “Do not be misled: God is not mocked. For whatever a man might sow, that also he will reap. For the one sowing to his own flesh, from the flesh will reap decay. But the one sowing to the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8. That is why abiding in Him is an important factor. The Lord said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one abiding in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit. For apart from Me you are able to do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown out like the branch and is dried up, and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and it is burned.” John 15:5-6.
Now when we speak of the pursuit of righteousness, we automatically think of PERFORMANCE. But that is not true, performance would be if it was done in flesh, as to dress up a dead body. But putting to effect the power of the Spirit through belief in the truth, in the exercise of our faith is not performance, it is an utter change in nature, and it is WELL PLEASING to God. Paul said, “And without faith, it is impossible to please Him. For it behooves the one drawing near to God to believe that He exists and that He becomes a rewarder to those earnestly seeking Him Out.” Hebrews 11:6. The point being if God CANNOT be pleased apart from faith, then our walk of righteousness cannot be according to the flesh, but by His Holy Spirit in the knowledge of truth, as Paul said, “God has chosen you from the beginning unto salvation in the sanctification of the Spirit, and by faith of the truth.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13. By the Spirit means it is by faith, and this directly relates to the knowledge we have of HIM. Paul prayed, “You may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk worthily of the Lord: pleasing in all, bringing forth fruit in every good work, and growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, unto all endurance and patience with joy,” Colossians 1:9-11.
The last point we will make in this study is to draw a parallel between us, and the children of Israel that fell short of their inheritance. Paul said, “Take heed, brothers, lest ever there will be in any of you an evil heart of UNBELIEF, into falling away from the living God. But encourage one another every day, while it is called today, so that NOT one of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” Hebrews 3:12-13. The failing of Israel was that they could not believe God would be with them to HELP them overcome their enemies, so that they may walk in their inheritance. So, they tried to settle, and sought out means to go back to the old life of bondage, and God was not pleased. And it is EXACTLY the same thing we do, when we accommodate the failing of our flesh. It is the expression of our UNBELIEF, because we do not think God will HELP us to overcome. We act as if what is required of us is to be achieved by our own strength, but Paul said, “if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,” which is to say it is by the Power of God, we overcome. The result of which is that, if our walk of righteousness is by the Spirit of God, then the outcome will always be HUMILITY, because we can NEVER boast of ourselves. Paul says, “Now those of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we LIVE by the Spirit, we should also WALK by the Spirit. We should NOT become BOASTFUL, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:24-26.
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