Gospel of John [Joh 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 50. Eph 4:30; Col 3:5-11; 1Th 4:7-8; 1Jo 1:5-2:2.

Title: Gospel of John [JOH 16:12-15]. The Doctrine of the HS, part 50. EPH 4:30; COL 3:5-11; 1TH 4:7-8; 1JO 1:5-2:2.

 

The remedy for sin was Calvary. The solution to the effects of sin in our lives is simply confession or acknowledgment of it before the Father as we lay it aside and pursue the divine will.

 

We noted the many passages that clearly state that we are forgiven and cleansed.

 

After the work of Christ was completed, all sin is forgiven and every believer is fully cleansed.

 

Forgiveness is not a condition and cannot be. I cannot be forgiven in position and then not forgiven in experience. Forgiveness was accomplished by Christ on the cross as He was judged for the sins of the whole world. I cannot do something that is not forgiven since Christ redeemed me from every sin. However, cleanliness is a condition. Though I am clean forever in the eyes of God I can allow unclean thoughts to control my soul at a given moment which may or may not result in unclean words or actions and further unclean thoughts. The one who is bathed is fully clean but only has to wash his feet.

 

Since the perversion of doctrines in the early church this cleansing has taken on many false notions from man involving rituals, public confessions, forms of penance, etc. Yet, since the work is complete, we acknowledge the unclean thing, agreeing with God that it is unclean, and we lay it aside and think in terms of God's will, that which is clean, and so we walk in the light, in a manner worthy of our calling, by means of the Holy Spirit, and in fellowship or communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

We never find the words unforgiven or not forgiven associated with the believer, however, we do find unclean or impure.

 

2CO 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

We are currently documenting the use of the word impure or unclean in the NT. It is clear that the believer can think like an unbeliever and so think unclean things. We therefore have phrases like "lay aside," "consider as dead," "no longer present your members," "no longer walk," "not called for the purpose of," and "put your foot on the neck of, or disarm."

 

COL 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.

 

COL 3:6 For it is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come [in judgment of the unbeliever and the world],

 

COL 3:7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.

 

COL 3:8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.

 

COL 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside [aorist participle] the old self with its evil practices,

 

"laid aside" - avpekdu,omai[apekduomai] = to wholly put off from oneself, to despoil, to disarm.

 

This is not the same word that is used in EPH 4:22.

 

EPH 4:22

that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside [apotithemi] the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit

 

Yet it is used in COL 2:15.

 

COL 2:15 When He had disarmed [apekduomai] the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.

 

"Do not lie to one another, since you disarmed [aorist participle] the old self with its evil practices."

 

In order to further enhance our understanding of this wonderful word let's look at COL 2:15 a bit closer. Verse 14, having nailed it to the cross, reveals that this disarming occurred there, as we would fully conclude that this was His victory over them.

 

There is no doubt that Satan and his hosts gathered together to attack the soul of Christ, while He was enduring, in propitiatory sacrifice, the judgment due to our sins, and fulfilling the great work of redemption. They used their pawns that stood around the cross to hurl insults at Him, sneered at Him, mocked Him, the criminal on His left hurled abuse at Him, they cast lots for His inner garment, they said, "Let Him come down from the Cross and we will believe in Him," "He saved others, yet He cannot save Himself," "You said you could destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself."

 

There is an intimation of this in:

 

PSA 22:21

Save me from the lion's mouth;

And from the horns of the wild oxen Thou dost answer me.

 

Doubtless the powers of darkness gathered against the Lord at that time, fiercely assaulting Him to the utmost of their power.

 

He Himself had said:

 

LUK 22:52-53

And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as against a robber? "While I was with you daily in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of darkness are yours."

 

This as well as other passages reveal that satan and the KOD wanted Him to die on the cross and thought they were done with Him and defeated Him there. God uses the stupidity of His enemies and shames the wisdom of the so-called wise of this world.

 

Certainly, the powers that He disarmed were not so pressed against Him as a garment would be.

 

COL 2:15 seems to stand simply as a vivid description of His repulsion of their attack and of the power by which He completely overthrew them and in COL 3:9, through Him, we have completely disarmed the old man as well.

 

COL 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside [aorist participle] the old self with its evil practices,

 

So we conclude from the use of this word that the old self has been disarmed or wholly put off from ourselves. The question begs every believer; is he trying to resurrect the old self in his life or has he reckoned it to be dead, crucified, and buried in a tomb?

 

COL 3:10 and have put on [aorist participle - same word used in EPH 4:24] the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him

 

COL 3:11 — a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all.

 

Our backgrounds, our genetic and environmental handicaps that we developed in life are no longer an issue since we are brand new creatures. When they rear their ugly heads in temptation to the habits of the dead old man, we realize that we are no longer that creature, though he is in us, yet he will not be long with us.

 

Continuing in the references to impurity in the NT:

 

1TH 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

 

1TH 4:8 Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

 

Hence, we see clearly that recovery from grieving the Spirit is a change of mind after a confession or acknowledgment before or to the Father since forgiveness was accomplished by Him through the person of Christ.

 

EPH 4:32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

"forgiven" - cari,zomai[charizomai; aorist middle indicative] = to bestow a favor unconditionally, to forgive graciously.

 

And so we gain further understanding of fellowship or partnership with God.

 

Fellowship, partnership, communion with God = same mind, same love, united in spiritSpirit, same purpose.

 

Fellowship doesn't mean social life, for social life can be rife with lack of fellowship, but it means just what God through Paul says it does.

 

Php 2:1 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

 

Php 2:2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

 

We were called for this to exist with the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and with one another.

 

1CO 1:9

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

2CO 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

 

1JO 1:3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

 

1JO 1:7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 

"fellowship" - koinwni,a[koinonia] = association, community, joint-participation, intercourse, the share which one has in anything, participation. [J. Thayer]