Book 23

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 2 * PART 3 * BOOK 23

ROMANS 8:14-17

We’re going back to pick up again in Romans Chapter 8 verse 18. Paul has talked about something now that you and I as believers are looking forward to, and expecting it anytime, and that, of course, is the Rapture of the Church, the believers.

Romans 8:18

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

When Paul says the sufferings of this time, he knew what it was to suffer. He tells us in II Corinthians some of what he had to suffer.

II Corinthians 11:24-27

“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice (three times) was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice (three times) I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep (sea); In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”

He suffered all of those things for the sake of the Gospel. He suffered. You and I here in America know very little of suffering. Now, we may yet someday suffer, we hope not, but it could happen. But even with all the sufferings and hardships that this man went through, he said it’s nothing compared with what’s waiting for us, the glory that’s going to be revealed. Now, verse 19:

Romans 8:19

“For the earnest expectation (now that word earnest means just what it says. It is just all enveloping) of the creature (creation) waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God,”

What’s he saying? Everything in nature, the mountains, the rivers, the rocks, the birds, the animals, everything is waiting for the day when the children of God will be manifested, which, of course, means to be raptured. We all know according to Paul’s writings that this is what the believer calls, “The Blessed Hope.” And not because it’s a cop-out, but because we are suddenly going to be translated from this life to the eternal with our new bodies to be with The Lord forever in an instant. It may take place today, or tomorrow, and it may be a while yet, we don’t know because we don’t set dates, but it is going to happen, and we feel soon. As we see the things of the world taking place, and the appearance now of globalism, and all of its forms and shapes, with global religion, and global economies, and global government. We know this is the sure sign that we’re getting very close to the appearance of the Anti-christ who will be the world ruler under that global environment. But before that happens we’re going to be snatched away. Paul says in I Thessalonians, we’re going to be caught up and we will meet The Lord in the air.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep (have died), that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (go ahead of) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

Now, all of creation is looking for that day because all of creation knows that will trigger the final days of the curse. Because the seven years of that tribulation is going to be God’s way of paying off Satan’s mortgage which we studied in the Book of Revelation Chapter 5. But the tribulation will pay off the curse. The world will be delivered from it, and all of nature seemingly, according to Scripture. Again, this takes some faith, and I know it does, but all of nature is looking forward to it. Reading on in Romans 8:

Romans 8:20

“For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same (creation) in hope,”

Now, what’s Paul talking about here? Well, the moment Adam sinned, what fell? The curse. Who came under the curse? Everything came under the awful effect of the curse. It’s the curse that causes the great areas of desert, such as the Sahara. That’s not the way God created it, and all the other things that have made the planet what it is today is the result of Adam’s rebellion. So as soon as the curse fell God came back with a remedy. Let’s go back to Genesis Chapter 3 and verse 15. Genesis 3 is where Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, then so did Adam. This is the event that all of Scripture points back to as the vortex of the human problem, “The Fall of Adam.” But just as soon as it all happened God came right back and makes a promise in Chapter 3. And here He is speaking to Satan who, of course, precipitated all of this, and He says to Satan:

Genesis 3:15

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed;…”

In the Book of Galatians it tells us that the Seed of the woman is Jesus Christ. And so what we really have here is a promise then of a running battle between Satan and Jesus Christ, and you see it from this moment on. Just as soon as Satan understands God’s particular program, he comes in and tries to disrupt it. Just as soon as God made the Covenant with Abraham, Satan began a process that has been running now for over 4000 years, and that was what? To destroy the Jew, the Nation of Israel, because God promised that everything would be fulfilled through that little nation. And if Satan could destroy the Jew then he thwarts God’s plan for the ages, and so everything begins right here, this running battle. Skip on over to verse 17 where God speaks to Adam:

Genesis 3:17-19

“And unto Adam he said, `Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it; cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground;…'”

Now, what is that? That’s the curse, and it didn’t just fall on Adam, and the ground per se, it fell on all of creation, everything came under the curse. Now, just as soon as the curse fell, all of the present day ecology was set up, and that is that one species of an animal or bird feeds and makes it substances on some other species. If you’ve ever watched wild life on public television, we almost cringe when we see how the leopard stalks the deer for example. That isn’t the way God created it, that’s the result of the curse. Consequently, all of creation somehow or other is aware that they were subjected to the curse, but also they are aware that the day is coming when the curse will be lifted. That’s what The Book says, I didn’t dream that up. Paul writes it by inspiration here in Romans 8. Verse 20 again.

Romans 8:20

“For the creature (creation) was made subject to vanity, not willingly, (it wasn’t creation that sinned, but rather Adam, but they came under the results of it) but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.”

In Genesis 3:15, as soon as the curse fell, God came back and said, “I have a remedy,” and that would be through the Redeemer, through the Son, through the Seed of the woman. Now, verse 21.

Romans 8:21

“Because the creature (creation) itself (all of creation) also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption (the curse, and creation is going to be restored as it was before Adam fell. In other words, wildlife will not fear anymore. Remember. before the curse nothing ate meat, everything ate of that which grew naturally. So the creation is going to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, and who is going to gain control of it as we see in the last part of this verse? The children of God) into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

And remember when you become a believer you become a child of God. So what is all creation waiting for? The day when Christ will rule as King of Kings and we’ll be reigning and ruling with Him, and we’ll be in dominion over this glorious new creation that will be brought out from under the curse. Now, verse 21.

Romans 8:22

“For we know that the whole creation (everything) groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.”

When I say that all of creation is aware of His coming, and of His restoring everything, as it was in the beginning, people will say, “Now, wait a minute, you’re getting out in left field. You mean to tell me that the rocks and the mountains are aware of God’s coming and reigning?” Yes they are, and the verses I always like to refer to are in Luke Chapter 19. Let’s go back there for a moment because I want you to see it with your own eyes, or otherwise you might think that I pulled it out of the woodwork. Let’s start at verse 39, and this is at the triumphant entry in the last week of Jesus’ ministry. The people have been shouting “Hosanna,” and laying the palm branches in His way, and the religious leaders of Israel got all shook up:

Luke 19:39,40

“And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, `Master, rebuke thy disciples.’ And he answered and said unto them, `I tell you that, if these (the multitude who are shouting “Hosanna”) should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.'”

Jesus said that, and He’s the Creator – He knows what the stones are capable of doing. Let’s go to Psalms Chapter 148. And if this doesn’t say it plain enough to open your eyes, then I’m helpless, because this says it all. When all of creation sees the Rapture of the believers, they know it’s only a little while until the curse is lifted, and they will enter into that glorious dominion under Christ’s rule and reign, and with Whom we, the believers, will be joint heirs.

Psalms 148:1-13

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. (now watch it) Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light (the whole creation). Praise ye him, ye heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them forever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth (now do you see they’re all put into the same basket? Everything is thrown into this same account of responding to the Creator. It’s unreal isn’t it? I couldn’t believe it if it was any place but here in God’s Word, but that’s what it says and I believe it. They are all subject to the power of their Creator God): Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children (all of these we have read about since verse one are included in): Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.”

It’s going to happen when the curse is lifted, and Christ returns. Now, turn with me for a moment to the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 11. I always think of an example that I trust will drive the point home, and that is the animal and bird kingdom under the curse have to live in constant fear of being somebody else’s lunch. So to bring it down to almost every household wherever they may live in this United States, I always like to use the little cottontail rabbit. They’re everywhere, almost everyone has seen one someplace. But the point I always like to make is this: does that little cotton tail ever relax? Never! The neighbor’s dog will have him if he would, an owl or hawk will swoop down and grab it, the foxes and coyotes catch them. All of these kind of creatures would love to eat that little cottontail, and he knows it. This is nature today, this is the ecology that everything is laboring under, it’s the curse. But someday that little cottontail will be able to relax. Let’s look now at when the curse will be lifted, and the Scripture defines it so clearly. This is when the Branch in verse one is going to rule and reign:

Isaiah 11:5-9

“And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins (and now we come into the animal kingdom, and how things will be after the curse has been lifted, and what the animals are looking forward to in Romans Chapter 8). The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid (all these animals will eat of the green things, and berries rather than meat) and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them (Mama’s won’t have to worry about their children in these situations). And the cow and the bear shall feed (together in the same place); their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child (baby) shall play on the hole of the asp (poisonous snake), and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’s den. (another venomous thing to be feared. Look at the next verse) They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain (and a mountain in Scripture is a Kingdom): for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

Now, back to our study in Romans Chapter 8: So this is what everything in creation, as well as we believers, are looking for, and that is for this day when the curse will be lifted Now, verse 22:

Romans 8:22,23

“For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.” As I explained with the little cottontail rabbit, most of creation is under constant duress. Now, verse 23:

“And not only they (the things of nature), but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit,…”

The believer is the only one who is anxiously looking forward to The Lord’s coming. The unbeliever shrinks from it, he’s not ready for it, he’d like to think it all away, but he’s not going to succeed, because our Lord is coming! And oh, I wish people would wake up, and realize how evident it is that He’s coming. The whole world is moving faster, and faster to that final moment when Christ is going to intervene once again in human history, and He’s going to set things straight. The curse is going to be lifted, He’s going to rule King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Now reading verse 23 again:

Romans 8:23

“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

When I was growing up all I heard about was the redemption of the soul, I never heard much about the body, but God has never used the human being as just a soul and spirit, it has to be the complete entity of body, soul, and spirit. In other words, our loved ones, as they’ve gone on to be in glory, are not walking around on the streets of gold, and singing, “Hallelujah.” They can’t because they don’t have their body yet. Remember, when we go from time to eternity it’s a whole different set of circumstances. I honestly believe that since eternity is out of time, and time is not reality, and although Adam has been dead nearly 6000 years he won’t realize that that much time has elapsed. So when I say they’re up there, and they’re not walking the streets of gold, don’t ask me what they have been doing all these years. There hasn’t been that many years, as far as they’re concerned but that’s another whole half hour.

The last part of verse 23 talks about the redemption of our body. The body hasn’t experienced redemption because it’s still under the curse. We all get sick and, if The Lord doesn’t come, we’re all going to die. But the day is coming when we will have a new body, and it’s part of the complete redemption. Go to Ephesians 1:14. The sealing of the Holy Spirit in verse 13 is the down payment.

Ephesians 1:14

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

We know He’s already redeemed our soul, our spirit, but what’s waiting? The redemption of the body. Paul tells us in Romans 8:23 everything is moving to the day when we will have that final redemption of the body; we’ll be complete; ready to enter eternity.

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 2 * PART 2 * BOOK 23

ROMAN ROAD TO SALVATION – PART 2

Now, the question came up several weeks ago in our Tulsa class if I would go through the plan of Salvation using the Scriptures of course, which I did. At the end of that hour so many of them were so appreciative that when we came back the next week several asked me if I would do it again. So we did it again, and then we did the same thing in the Muskogee class. R.L. made real good notes during that class and he came back the next week, with those verses typed out. Iris has made copies of them, so the notes are available if you would like them.

The plan of Salvation. How can you know that you are in Christ as we have been seeing in Romans Chapter 8, and all the other various chapters in Romans? How can you know that you have eternal life? How can you know that you don’t have to worry about missing heaven? How can you know that all these things that Paul is talking about are really yours? Well, all of this is based on `faith.’ You can do nothing in the realm of the Spirit without faith which is Taking God at his Word. So that’s why we’re going to study the Word. How can we come to a place of having, and knowing that we have eternal life? Well, the best place and the first place I always like to start with is Romans Chapter 3, and verse 23.

Romans 3:23

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

All have come short, and they can not meet God’s criteria. They can no way claim to be good enough to enter God’s heaven. In fact, it was the Navigators or the Campus Crusade who, in their little helps for students, witnessing one on one, admonished their students not to just ask someone, “Are you a Christian?” Because invariably people will say, “Yes,” but instead you ask them, “Why should God let you into His heaven?”

I myself have used that question over the years, and I think it is the best way to start. After you ask that question you will hear all the various reasons, and by approaching them that way you sort of put them on the spot, and you let them express themselves, and it’s amazing what you hear. Of all the reasons that people will give, as to why they think God should let them into His heaven, they will invariably overlook Romans 3:23. But this is the very first step of faith on the road to Salvation, and that is to recognize that in ourselves we are lost. We are like sheep without a shepherd. We are separated from God because of the fall of Adam, who was the federal head of the whole human race, and so, consequently, the Scripture says,“That everyone has come short of the glory of God.” Which means we can’t enter God’s heaven unless God does something on our behalf. Now, the next verse I always like to use is Romans Chapter 6 and verse 23.

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Now, as you deal with someone (and that’s the reason we are doing this), hopefully sometime in the future you’ll have an opportunity, maybe with a child, or grandchild, or co-worker, or neighbor, or whomever, to let them see these verses in their Bible. Don’t let them have to take your word for anything. Point out that in Romans 6:23 it says the wages of sin is death, and wages is something that you work for. Wages are never a gift. Wages are something that you get in return for something you have done. Now, what the Scripture is pointing out then is The old Adamic nature, that nature we’re born with has only one direction, and that is death. Eternal death. Everything that lost person does be it good or bad is piling up wages for his eternal doom. That’s what the Scripture says, but the flip side, the last half of 6:23 says:

Romans 6:23

“…but the gift of God is eternal life…”

Now, you see the difference between wages and gift? Wages you work for, and that’s what you deserve, but a gift is something you do not deserve. And that is what Salvation is all about. It’s a gift, and not something that you can do, not one iota of work to earn, it has to be a gift. Now, I would like for you to turn to Romans Chapter 1, and verse 16, and this is a well known verse, where Paul now writes:

Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (the Gospel) is the power of God unto salvation…”

Now, remember when were back in Romans Chapter 1, I spent almost a whole lesson or more on that word `Salvation.’ It’s that all inclusive word that implies everything that God does on behalf of the believer who cries out, “I’m a sinner, I’m in need of Salvation, I believe that Christ died for me.” Then God does everything else. He imputes righteousness, He forgives, He cleanses, He baptizes us into Christ’s Body, He does everything that needs to be done, and how do we know He did it? By faith. You’re not going to feel any of those things, or see any of those things, but you’re going to know that He did it because The Book says so. But what is the Gospel? Now, here we have to leave Romans for a few moments, and go back to that portion that we have used over and over in I Corinthians 15, the first four verses. And here is the Gospel that saves you. Now, I have nothing against John 3:16 so please don’t misunderstand me. But John 3:16 by itself is not the Gospel, it is certainly a part of it once you understand the Gospel. But the Gospel that we had better believe if we want eternal life is found here in this passage. And now let’s look at the Gospel.

I Corinthians 15:1-4

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel (do you see how plain that is?) which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved (it’s by the Gospel that you’re saved, and you’d better know what you believed), if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received (Paul received our Gospel from the crucified, buried, and Resurrected Lord from Heaven), how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

In other words, this was all pre-planned before anything was ever created. God would create man, and man would sin, and find himself in need of a Saviour, a Redeemer. so God set everything in motion, and brought about Christ in His earthly ministry, brought about His Crucifixion, and raised Him from the dead, brought Him back into heaven from which He has now revealed these things that Paul calls the secrets or the mysteries, and the very core of that is the Gospel. “That Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again.” Now, while we’re out of Romans let’s go on to the Book of Ephesians for a moment, and look at Chapter 1. I’m going to make this as plain as I know how to make it, and I know it works because I’ve seen so many that have come from various backgrounds, and life styles, and they have come to be what the Scripture calls living epistles. They are trophies of God’s Grace, not anything that Les Feldick did, but only that they saw what The Book says.

Ephesians 1:12

“That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.”

Ephesians 1:13

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth (what’s the word of truth?), the gospel of your salvation (that Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead. So after you’ve heard the Gospel, and you’re old enough to consider it, and old enough to understand that not only are you a sinner, but now you can understand that Christ is the remedy. Now, read on): in whom also after that ye believed (now do you see all the things that it doesn’t say? I’m just stressing what Salvation is. I’m not against the local church, but when it comes to Salvation you can’t put church membership, or baptism, or The Lord’s Supper in with believing because they are not in here. Now, those things can follow after you have believed for Salvation. After you believed what did God do?), ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”

Now, I’m still a cow man, and I’ve been working cattle every day lately, and one of the very marks of ranching is what? The brand. And it denotes ownership, and that’s exactly what the indwelling Holy Spirit is for God, it is His mark of ownership. Verse 13 again:

Ephesians 1:13,14

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Back to the Book of Romans Chapter 5, and verse 8. These verses are just loaded if people will stop and examine them.

Romans 5:8

“But God (The Almighty, Creator, Triune God) commendeth (extended) his love toward us (everything is based on His love), in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Why did God create mankind when He knew that he would become such a disappointment, and create such a catastrophe on the planet? Why did God ever create man in the first place? To have someone He could love, and a creature who could respond to that love. Now, that’s the whole idea of the marriage relationship as I have said so often before. That’s why Paul tells us in Ephesians:

Ephesians 5:25

“Husbands, love your wives,…”

Men, extend that love to the female, and God has put within her a responder, and she will respond to that love. And that is what God does in the big picture to the whole human race. He extends His love. That was the whole idea of the Cross – that He loved us and gave Himself for us. And then He has every right in the world, and Heaven, to expect that love to be responded to. People will sometimes say, “How can a God of love and mercy send people to an eternal hell?” Well, that’s why. Because He’s already loved them to the very extent that heaven could offer, and He gave it to every human being who has ever lived. And when a human being spurns that love, then God in His Sovereignty has every right in the world to reject them at the Great White Throne Judgment. This Book was given to the human race for basically the sole purpose of helping people escape this wrath of a righteous God. Romans 5:8 again:

Romans 5:8

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet (still) sinners (God doesn’t expect people to straighten up, and clean up their lives, and then approach Him for Salvation. God saves everybody just exactly where we are, and then He does the work of regeneration. And that’s what He wants, He wants all the credit, and glory. So while we were yet sinners), Christ died for us.” Now, let’s stay in this same chapter, and come over to verse 20. I think this is a verse that isn’t in the list that R.L. has, but it’s a good one just the same.

Romans 5:20

“Moreover the law entered (the human experience), that the offence (man’s sins) might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”

The Law entered 1500 years B.C. with Moses coming down off the mountain, and he introduced the law to the Nation of Israel. Until the written Law appeared man could only go by conscience, but when the written Law came there was no doubt that everything man was doing, even after searing his conscience, was breaking God’s Law and became sin. The last part of that verse deals with Grace. Everyone of us knows of somebody that we think is so ungodly they are so hateful toward God, they live the life of a reprobate, and most people don’t even like to associate with them, but God still loves them. And God is able to reach below the vilest sinner, and lift him up and make him a saint. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:” And that’s why Paul refers to his gospel as the Gospel of the Grace of God. Now, let’s go over to Chapter 10. And let’s read verse 9 through 13. I always like to end up with verse 13 when we lead someone to The Lord.

Romans 10:9

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

In other words, God expects you to communicate this not only to Himself, but to others. God is a commentator, and he expects us to verbalize some of these things. I’m afraid too many people have just had a mental assent, and say, “Yeah, I believe in God.” But that’s not what God is looking for. God is looking for a verbalization of all of these various steps. You tell God that you recognize from Scripture that you’re a sinner. Tell Him out loud, “Lord I’m a sinner, I’m a child of Adam, and I have no reason to expect you to take me into your heaven, because that’s what your Book tells me.” And the same way when we call on Him for Salvation. Don’t just assume that God reads your heart although He certainly can, but He wants us to actually, audibly say it out loud. Just ask God to save you, and tell Him that you believe that what He’s done, He’s done on your behalf. So looking at verse 9 again:

Romans 10:9

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth (verbally) the Lord Jesus, (Now, here we have to go beyond the Jesus of His earthly ministry. During His earthly ministry, He hadn’t died yet, but as soon as He finished the work of the Cross, and the power of the Resurrection, He now becomes Lord of our lives. He becomes not just Jesus, but He becomes Jesus Christ The Lord, or The Lord Jesus Christ. I think that it is only proper to approach Him on those terms. Now, reading on:) and shalt (what?) believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, (and believing is something that you don’t do with your hands and feet, but believing is the attitude of the heart. So if you believe that Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead what’s the promise?) thou shalt be saved.”

Now, that’s a promise! God said, and I know the Apostle Paul wrote it, but God said it through him. And this is where He wants us to come. So just say, “God you said it, and I believe it with all my heart.” Then what does God become? Duty bound. He is duty bound to fulfill His Word, otherwise this Book is a lie. But He will fulfill what He said He would do. Now, reading verse 10:

Romans 10:10

“For with the heart man believeth (now I don’t want to scare people but I think once in a while we need to self examine. Am I just believing a head knowledge, or am I believing with all my inner most being that Christ died for me?) unto righteousness;…”

Now, that’s an imputed thing, and as soon as we believe the Gospel for our Salvation then God imputes His righteousness. Just like back in Genesis when God killed the animal for Adam and Eve, and it says that He clothed them. I pointed out that it wasn’t the covering for their nakedness that was done when it says He gave them coats of skin, but the last part of that verse in Genesis says that He clothed them. With what? Righteousness.

Genesis 3:21

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

And then I took you to the Book of Isaiah Chapter 61, and Isaiah said the same thing.

Isaiah 61:10

“For I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness…”

Then I took you into Romans Chapter 3 where the Apostle Paul says the same thing happens unto all that believe.

Romans 3:22

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:” Now, Paul is saying the same thing here in Romans 10:10

Romans 10:10

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness (that God can actually clothe him with the righteousness of Christ); and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Now, it isn’t that you have to tell somebody before you’re saved, but whenever you have experienced something good it should be hard not to tell someone about it. And it’s the same way with our Salvation, I mean we should be ready to talk about it at the drop of a hat. It should be just as easy as talking about the weather. We should be able to talk about these spiritual things that God has done on our behalf. I know I’m going to Heaven when I die, and that’s not a braggadocio statement because I’m deserving of it. I’m going to heaven becauseI know that Christ did everything on my behalf. I’ve done nothing and am not deserving. None of us are deserving of God’s Heaven, but we know we’re going there because of God’s promises. Now, we need to drop down to verse 13: And here is the culmination of this whole act of becoming a believer. You now recognize that Christ died for our sins, we recognize that we’re hopeless in ourselves, and now we call upon Him.

Romans 10:13

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Now, that’s a promise. I’ve used it before, and I’ll use it again: you take a swimming pool on a hot summer day, and all those kids yelling and screaming, but it’s the kid that’s in trouble in spite of all the other racket that the lifeguard hears. Now, I think God is the same way. His ear is tuned to the very second that sinner cries out and says, “God, I’m a sinner, but I believe that You died for me.”

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 2 * PART 1 * BOOK 23

ROMAN ROAD TO SALVATION

Studying The Bible is what this program is all about. I’ve always said that I’m not a preacher or evangelist, but I feel The Lord has given me the ability to teach the Word in a way that ordinary people can understand it. In fact, a lady in our class was just expressing to me that a relative she had heard from out on the west coast was enjoying this teaching in Romans, and how it had totally opened her eyes to a lot of things she had never heard before. So I realize that we are teaching things not normally taught. We’re getting a little deeper in The Book, and we just feel that the Christian community needs this today. We have to get into the doctrines of what God has revealed, and what He’s revealed the Scripture says, “He expects us to hang on to it, to believe it, and to trust in it.”

At the end of our last lesson we were in the area of Romans 1:10, but to pick up the flow, let’s start reading in verse 5:

Romans 8:5

“For they that are after the flesh…”

Paul always writes to the believer, and the reason all these things are being written is so that we have a real reason for living as believers. Paul writes to the believer to enhance our belief, or faith, and give us roots, so we will not be tossed about with every wind of doctrine, and oh, they’re coming at us from every direction. When the disciples asked The Lord what were the signs of His coming at the end of the age, the first thing He said was:

Matthew 24:4

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, `Take heed that no man deceive you.'”

And so we know that the deception, the false teaching that is flooding our country is part and parcel of the end time scenario. So these things are written to us who believe, but it is also going to have an impact on those who do not as yet believe. I’m getting more and more a burden for lost people than I have ever had before, because I’m realizing how many, even church people, have never had a real Salvation experience. Now, verse 5 continuing:

Romans 8:5-7

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh (the word here for `flesh’ is another word for the old Adamic nature); but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” A person that is a child of God is going to mind the things of the Spirit.

“For to be carnally (another word for fleshly) minded is death (spiritual death, eternal doom); but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” And of course that life is eternal life.

“Because the carnal mind (the mind we’re born with, that mind that we’ve inherited from Adam) is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

I’ve pointed out that most people don’t realize they’re an enemy of God. Recently, I was reading a footnote in some Bible teacher’s old book. He referred to a great revival that had taken place on the campus of Yale University. This goes back quite a ways. A lot of the students were experiencing Salvation but there was one young lady who was so benevolent that she would help anybody under any circumstance. She was everybody’s friend, but as yet she had shown no interest in this revival. So some of the girls that had found Salvation in the revival were talking to her one day, and inviting her to come to the meeting, but she just wouldn’t respond. Finally in desperation, one of the girls said, “Please come because God loves you, and wants to save you.” The girl’s temper flared, and she stamped her foot, and said, “I hate God!”

Well, you see that’s just exactly what I’ve been talking about. People can keep old Adam under control, but when he’s prodded, out it comes, and I thought that was the perfect example of what we’re up against. People can put on a good veneer, but when they’re really confronted with the demands of a loving God then they show their true colors. And they do hate God, because the Scripture says they’re enemies of God. This is exactly what verse 7 is talking about. The lost person is an enemy of God. Now, verse 8:

Romans 8:8,9

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (you’re a whole new person who has been born into the very family of God, as we’ll see when we get to verse 14 and 15. And here’s the criteria, here’s the proof), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (if He doesn’t, then you’re on thin ice). Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

I think sometimes people have to be scared a little bit. They have to be shook up, and realize that you can’t just take these things in one ear and out the other, and dress it up a little bit on Sunday morning for an hour, and then hope to spend eternity in the presence of our Creator. It’s just not going to happen. Paul makes several warnings that have scared me over the years, not for myself, but for the sake of people who are living an illusion. In fact, a verse just comes to mind that’s found in the Book of Galatians. So turn to Galatians Chapter 5 and this verse will shake people up, or at least should. First, Paul tells us in Romans 2:

Romans 2:16

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”

Everybody is going to either stand as lost or saved by what they have done with Paul’s Gospel, and that Gospel is believing for Salvation that Christ died, was buried. and rose again. The admonition to the Galatian believers is not to fall victim to the legalizers who were making in-roads into the congregations that Paul had established in Asia Minor. So now Paul writes again to believers:

Galatians 5:1

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Law, legalism, Judaism.

And now verse 2. My when I first saw this about 20 years ago it just shook me up, because I could understand that there are millions of people that this verse is talking to. And what does Paul say?

Galatians 5:2

“Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”

Paul is talking about circumcision for Salvation. If they’re going to depend on something that they can do themselves in the flesh for their Salvation then Christ shall profit them nothing. The first time I saw that it just scared me to death. How many millions of good people, church members who wouldn’t dream of missing a Sunday morning service, and yet they’re depending on something of the flesh that they have done rather than just relying totally on the finished work of the Cross. And if you add any one thing plus the Cross, then you cancel the work of the Cross. We’ve got to warn people about this. I’m not a preacher and I’m not here to scare people, but on the other hand I think we have to realize what the Word says. And it says, “If you do anything in the energy of the flesh, Christ shall profit you nothing.” Paul goes on in verse 3:

Galatians 5:3

“For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.”

Now, remember circumcision was the big deal back then, because it was the Jewish people who were bringing this in among the Gentile churches. But I’ve always pointed out that this can be anything that you can do in the energy of the flesh. Joining the church, being baptized, taking The Lord’s Supper, good works. As long as you tie it to Salvation you’re canceling the work of the Cross because God is adamant that He finished it! He did everything that needed to be done, and if we’re not satisfied, then He’s not accepting us. And that is why Paul is repeating it in verse 3. Now, there has only been one Person Who has walked this planet that was able to keep the whole law and that was Christ Himself. So it’s an utter impossibility to keep the whole law. Then Paul puts the cap on it in verse 4.

Galatians 5:4

“Christ is become of no effect unto you (Christ can’t touch us as long as we try to do something in the energy of the flesh), whosoever of you are justified by the law (or doing something in the energy of the flesh. Then Paul says); ye are fallen from grace.”

Now, that doesn’t mean they have been saved and then fell out, but rather they have turned their back on that which God has provided. Now, let’s come back Romans Chapter 8, and verse 10:

Romans 8:10

“And if Christ be in you,…”

I make a lot of Paul, and I make no apology for it because Paul claims to be the apostle of the Gentiles. It’s within Paul’s writings that most of Christendom gets its basic doctrine. Yet it seems that Christendom never gives him the credit. I’ve had people come up to me who had a Sunday School teacher or preacher who just detested Paul’s writing, and they can’t even see why his writings are in our Bible. Recently, a lady told me that she could never quite believe me when I would tell that there are people who didn’t think Paul should be in our Bible. But she said, “Today I heard it with my own ears.” She had used Paul as a reference to a lady, and the lady told her that she couldn’t see how anyone could believe anything Paul writes, and that Paul shouldn’t even be in our Bible. That’s probably putting it a little stronger than most, but that is the sub-conscience feeling of a lot of people. They think Paul is so far out that they don’t pay any attention to him. But it is foundational to our Salvation, and to our Christian experience that we realize what this apostle is saying. This whole idea of Christ indwelling Gentile believers is a Pauline doctrine. In fact let’s look at another one that speaks of Christ being in you. In the Book of Colossians, Chapter 1, and drop down to verse 27. And like I said, you won’t find statements like this in the Four Gospels, or in the Old Testament, or any of the rest of The Bible except in Paul’s writings. Look what he says:

Colossians 1:27

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery (secret) among the Gentiles (now the fact that God has been dealing with Israel for over 2000 years before Christ came on the scene was one thing, but now that He’s dealing with Gentiles? This had never been heard of before. This particular mystery is); which is Christ in you (and then that gives us), the hope of glory:” Now, back to Romans 8. Reading on in verse 10.

Romans 8:10,11

“And if Christ be in you, the body (the old Adam again) is dead because of sin (in other words Adam and the flesh was all under the curse, and this body is going to die if The Lord doesn’t come to translate it. That’s all part of the fall of man that death came in, and so all men has to die); but the (Holy) Spirit is life because of righteousness.” I think Paul is referring to eternal life, that life which will never end because of righteousness.

“But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead (here we have the implication again of the Trinity. God the Father used the power of the Holy Spirit to raise the Son. See how clear that is? So if He) dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”

Look at another Cross reference because that’s how we learn to study the Scriptures by using more than one verse at a time. In Ephesians Chapter 2, Paul has almost the same identical language.

Ephesians 2:1

“And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were (past tense) dead (something that’s dead is of no use, and that’s where the human race lies so far as God is concerned) in trespasses and sins.” We believers, too, were once dead in trespasses and sins.

Ephesians 2:2

“Wherein time past ye walked according to the course of this world (we were like everybody else, and now as a believer, hopefully now we’re different. Last Christmas, the city of McAlester was having a parade, and it was crowded downtown. We were on our way to Bible study and the gentlemen who was walking with me to our class room, said, `you know a few years ago I would have been with the crowd. I’d never dream of going to a Bible study. But now it’s exactly the opposite. I wouldn’t dream of being out there with them, I’d rather be here studying The Word.’ Well, we’ve heard that over and over, and this is exactly the way it has to work. But remember in time past we all walked) according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:” And then verse 5:

Ephesians 2:5

“Even when we were dead in sins (`sins’ is plural. The word sin deals with that old Adamic nature. But when it’s plural it’s the results of that Adamic nature. I like to use the old whisky still as an example. The still is one thing, but what it produces is what bends peoples minds. The still itself doesn’t cause people to get drunk, but it’s what the still produces. And it’s the same way with old Adam. Adam is like that old still, producing sins, plural. So Paul says that when we were dead in the activity that was prompted by old Adam He), hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” And not by works. Now, Romans again.

Romans 8:12,13

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die (that’s what God told Adam and Eve in the Garden, and it hasn’t changed); but if ye through the Spirit do mortify (or put to death) the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

The Christian life does involve discipline, but you’re not going to give things up that you just love to do because the things you once loved you now hate and vice versa. So it’s not a matter of giving it up, it’s just a matter of having a change of appetites.

Romans 8:14

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they (hope to be? No, they) are the sons of God.”

Most of Christendom today feels that if you do everything right, if you can hang on, if this, and if that, you might make it. But this Book never says that. This Book says that today you are in one of two categories. You are either lost, and hell bound, or you’re saved and heaven bound. It’s that simple, and I’m no more narrow than The Book is. This is what The Book declares There are only two classes of people in the world, you’re either in Christ or you’re not, there is no half way in-between. Now, verse 15.

Romans 8:15

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, `Abba, Father.'”

The word `adoption’ as Paul uses it does not mean the same as in our culture, such as taking a child that was born to someone else and then legally adopting them into our family. But the word `adoption’ goes back to a Greek and Roman practice. They would take the eldest son and put him under the control of tutors until he reached the age where he was fully educated, and trained, and he could step right in side by side with the father in business. Now, when the son had reached that age and he was ready for that position then they went through the rites of what? Adoption.

What the word really means, as Paul uses it, is that we’re placed as a full son. Not just as one who has been taken legally from another family, but a son who has gone through the training years, and now he is placed as a full partner with the father. The glory of all this is, “The moment we’re saved, yes, we’re born into the family of God, but immediately God places us as the full heir with Jesus Christ.” You don’t have to work for 20 years like poor old Jacob had to for his wives. We don’t have to strive, hoping that we can obtain this position, but it all happens the moment we believe, and that’s why we can say, “Abba, Father” as it is here in verse 15. So get these basic doctrinal truths straight, that, yes, at Salvation we are born into the family of God by the work of the Holy Spirit, but there comes another act of God that places us then as full heir. Now, reading on.

Romans 8:16,17

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs of God (and not just an heir down the line some place who’s going to hope for maybe a little bit of the inheritance, but we’re what?); and joint-heirs with Christ;…”

Even in our own culture a joint-heir implies equality. What’s his is hers and vice versa. So as we come in by being born in the family of God, placed as an equal full-grown son and placed in that position by adoption, we become joint-heirs, with Jesus Christ.

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 1 * PART 4 * BOOK 23

ROMANS 8:1-14 – PART 2

I have been stressing during the five years we have been on television, Paul is the designated apostle of the Gentiles. Consequently, I feel that it’s in the Pauline letters that we have to garner basically the fundamental truths for Salvation, for the Christian walk, for the operation of the local Church. It all has to come from these letters of Paul. Now, that never implies that the rest of The Bible is inappropriate. God forbid! Paul himself writes:

II Timothy 3:16

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

But here in this Book of Romans, especially, we have so much that is fundamental for us as Gentiles. I don’t do this for any kind of monetary gain, nor we do certainly hope to be famous. That would be the last thing I’d want. We want to reach a multitude of people with the truth of God’s Word. And He is blessing it. I wish I could let especially our class people who have been so instrumental in helping us financially, listen in on our phone calls, and read our letters. It would just thrill your heart, because God is touching a lot of hearts. Now, back to Romans Chapter 8 verse 8.

Romans 8:8

“So then they that are in the flesh (that are under the control of old Adam) cannot please God.”

I don’t care how good they are, or how much they dress up old Adam (and we can make him look real nice on the outside). But when the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God, the Law of God finally hits old Adam where it hurts, the veneer flies off, and we see him as he really is. That’s what has to happen if we’re going to come out of darkness, and come into the light of the Gospel. Now, verse 9:

Romans 8:9

“But ye are not in the flesh,…”

Paul always writes only to believers. He doesn’t write to the unsaved world. Now, that doesn’t mean that it’s not appropriate for them, but he’s not writing it to them. So all these things we said in the last lesson concerning those who are under the control of old Adam still comes from the pen of the Apostle Paul, but he’s writing it to us. Why does Paul get into all of these ramifications of how we died with Christ, and how we’ve been raised from the dead with Him, when we’re already saved? Do we have to know all these things for Salvation? No. I don’t expect a new person that has just been totally untaught in the Scriptures to know about these things. Although they are normally the easiest ones to work with. But they don’t have to know all about these deep doctrinal things to be saved. Oh, heaven forbid, but once we’ve become a child of God, now what does God expect? That we learn, and that we grow, and we get a graphic understanding of all that God has done on our behalf. And then that’s what makes us what we are.

This is what’s the problem with so-called mainstream Christianity. They’ve got maybe the elementary things, but they’ve never gone into the deeper things, and, consequently, they have no understanding of these deep doctrines that Paul is now privileged by the work of the Holy Spirit to give to us in his letters.

Romans 8:9

“But ye are not in the flesh (not under the control of old Adam), but in the Spirit (you’re in Christ, your position has changed, you’re no longer in the flesh and here’s the condition), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you….”

Now, isn’t that plain? The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the proof that you have eternal life. Let’s go to the Book of Ephesians and look at a verse we’ve used several times on the program. Here is one of the verses I like to use in association with Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it (the Gospel) is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;” I also like to use it with Romans 10:9-10, and Romans 10:13.

Romans 10:9,10

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Romans 10:13

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I also like to use it with Romans 5:8.

Romans 5:8

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And there are others I like to use for Salvation verses, and I like to use this one in Ephesians as well.

Ephesians 1:13

“In whom (Christ) ye also trusted (believed), after that ye heard the word of truth (now there’s the sequence. We have to hear the word of truth first. And the word of truth is the Gospel, the good news of your Salvation, that Jesus died for your sins, was buried, and rose again), the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed (and look at all the things that aren’t in there. It’s just the word `believed.’ All the things that are attached to Salvation have been added by so many people, and they are refusing to look at how Paul puts it, and Paul puts it faith plus nothing), ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”

I could have used this verse when we were in Romans 8:1. Why are we sealed? Because there is no condemnation on us. Why is there no condemnation on us? Because we’re sealed. It goes both ways. Do you see why I came from Romans 8 to Ephesians 1? It’s the same thing. Let’s come back to Romans 8. And remember, you’re not in the flesh, and under the control of old Adam if the indwelling Holy Spirit is evident. Because if you have believed the Gospel, if you have believed the truth of it, then the Holy Spirit is in you, and if the Holy Spirit is in you then you’re a believer. You can flip back and forth, and they both come to the same conclusion: You’re in Christ. There is now no condemnation, you’ve been forgiven all your trespasses, Paul says, in the Book of Colossians.

Colossians 2:13

“And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having (past tense) forgiven you all trespasses;”

We are also a new creation, and we can find that one in II Corinthians, because the Scripture has to speak for itself. Don’t go by what I say, but rather what The Book says. And let’s start reading in verse 14. These verses are just too good to pass over.

II Corinthians 5:14,15

“For the love of Christ constraineth us (it drives us); because we thus judge (or conclude), that if one died for all (for every human being), then were all (every human being was) dead(spiritually): And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Now, what is that? The Gospel. There’s the Gospel, it just keeps popping up all the time. Now, verse 16:

II Corinthians 5:16

“Wherefore (Because of the work of the Cross, His death, burial, and Resurrection) henceforth know we no man after the flesh:…”

What’s he talking about? Christ in His earthly ministry. And isn’t that exactly where so much of our preaching is today? Sunday after Sunday they preach about Jesus, and all His miracles, and His signs, and His wonders. But what does Paul say about that? Hey, we’re not following any man in the flesh, we are to now take Christ after the work of the Cross, after His death, burial, and Resurrection. He’s ascended into glory, now that’s the Christ that we’re attached to. Oh, I grant you it’s the same man, the same God, but nevertheless the Christ before the Cross was not the object of our Salvation that He is after the Cross. That stands to reason, because it’s the work of the Cross that makes possible our Salvation experience. So Paul says that he doesn’t know anyone after the flesh. We’re not preaching Jesus in His earthly ministry. Now, continuing on:

II Corinthians 5:16

“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh (that’s why I know he’s talking about Jesus and His earthly ministry) yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh (Paul lived at the same time that Christ did), yet now henceforth know we him no more.”

So Paul says that since His death, burial, and Resurrection we do not look back and know Him in His earthly ministry as such. There is nothing wrong with studying His earthly ministry, so don’t misunderstand me, but that’s not the basis of our Salvation today. Our Salvation is not based on the earthly ministry of Jesus. That was His ministry to the Nation of Israel. The Name of Jesus was His Name of humiliation, He was going to the Cross, the sin-Bearer, and once He rises from the dead in power and glory, then it’s no longer appropriate to refer to Him as Jesus. But now He is the Lord Jesus, He’s Jesus Christ, He’s the Lord Jesus Christ. All of these things are now more appropriate. The verse I wanted to show you is verse 17.

II Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore (he is speaking of that which he has just given us. The Christ of the work of the the Cross, the Christ in Resurrection power, the Christ Who is now seated in the Heavenlies at the right hand of the Father) if any man be in Christ,…”

It doesn’t say that if any man is good, or has joined the church, or has done everything that some denomination demands, but if any man be in Christ, that’s the secret. And if he’s in Christ, as we saw in the Book of Ephesians, then he’s been sealed by the Spirit. And as we saw in an earlier lesson, if we’re in Christ, then He’s in us. Oh, this is mind boggling. We’re in Him, and He’s in us. Remember I used the analogy of marriage that as husband and wife become one so you and I in Christ are one. Continuing the verse:

II Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation…”

You can’t just fix up the old. When we were back in Genesis I gave the illustration that when Adam sinned, immediately his nature, his soul, became a sin nature, and the spirit part of him died, and because it was now dead he lost fellowship with his Creator. I made the analogy that that dead spirit in Adam was like a dead battery in your car. I think it was a good illustration. It would be like you had a dead battery in your car, and instead of just asking someone to bring a jumper cable and give you some energy from an outside source you decided to get a pan of water with some soap and a rag. You start cleaning up that old battery, and you get it shinning like a new dime. You get in your car and turn the key on and what? Nothing. Why? It’s still dead, but when when you bring in some outside energy either from a jump or you generate your battery, what happens? You’ve got power. It’s the same way spiritually. We’ve been dead as a result of Adam’s sin, and it takes an outside source of power. It takes the power of God to energize our spirit, and when He energizes the spirit He makes us a new person. We’re a new creation. It’s that simple. Now, reading verse 17 again:

II Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The evidence of Salvation is a total change in lifestyles, and old things absolutely fall away. We knew a young couple when we were still in Iowa. The man was an insurance executive up in the Twin Cities, and we had a Bible study in the home of his parents. They would drive about 150 miles every Saturday to the study. After about six or seven, during a coffee break, he said, “You know Les, since my wife and I have come to know The Lord a lot of things have changed. We used to keep the refrigerator full of beer, we had the wet bar well-stocked, and then one day my wife Patty said, Listen, this just doesn’t fit.” And so I said, “Well, let’s pitch it away. Then they poured it all down the stool and flushed it away.” And he said, “The amazing thing was as time progressed all of our previous drinking friends disappeared, and we had a new circle of friends that came in.” That’s exactly how it works. When you become a believer the whole circle of your friendships will probably change.

Your whole desire begins to change, and that is as it should be because it’s two totally different worlds. That doesn’t mean that we get so heavenly minded we’re no earthly good. We still function, we still work, we still plan, there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact I always tell people, especially if they have accumulated some wealth, that there is nothing wrong with that. Paul tells us that:

II Corinthians 12:14

“….Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”

Children shouldn’t have to lay up for the parent. There is nothing wrong with accumulating some wealth, or accumulating an estate. There is nothing wrong with that as long as it’s in God’s timetable and His plan for your life. Absolutely. Now, let’s turn back to Romans Chapter 8, and read verse 9 again.

Romans 8:9

“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (you’re under His control instead of old Adam), if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man (anyone) have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

That person does not belong to Christ, it’s that simple. Here is the criteria; if you have the indwelling Holy Spirit, you’re in Christ, and how do you get the Holy Spirit? By believing the Gospel (Ref. I Corinthians 15:1-4) And when you believe the Gospel for your Salvation then God does it all. He puts Himself in us, He put us in Him, and we have this assurance. Let’s go to the little Book of I John Chapter 3, starting with verse 1: How beautifully this fits with what Paul is writing in Romans and Ephesians. This is written sometime after Paul’s letters so this is why it fits so beautifully.

I John 3:1

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us (believers), that we (believers) should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”

Have you experienced it? I know you have. I`ve had so many of my class people tell me, even their own church people will begin to sense that you’re different. You’ve somehow gained the knowledge of the Word that they don’t have and so consequently they feel you’re kind of odd. Well, the truth of the matter is, they’re the ones that are a little odd because they don’t know what The Book says. But here it is, the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not, that is The Lord Jesus. Now, verse 2:

I John 3:2

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, (It doesn’t say we hope to be, we think we might be. It says now we are the sons, or the children, of God) and it doth not appear what we shall be(we can’t comprehend that eternal future but this much we know): but we know that, when he (The Lord Jesus Christ) shall appear (what does that mean? He’s coming! The world may think that they’re going to keep going forever, and the United Nations is going to solve all the world’s problems. No, it’s not. There’ll be no peace on this earth until the Prince of Peace comes. I’ve said for years, the Psalms say pray for the peace of Jerusalem. That means you pray for The Lord’s coming! Because Jerusalem will have no peace until the Prince of Peace is back in Jerusalem. So when you pray for the peace of Jerusalem, you’re praying, Lord come quickly, as John does in Revelation ), we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

Someone asked me the question again about our eternal state concerning our body. And they said, “Now, wait a minute. Are we going to have a body in eternity?” Absolutely! Never in all of Scripture does the human being operate without a body. The soul and spirit by itself does not operate as an entity. It has to have a body. Let’s turn to Philippians, Chapter 3. You see how one Scripture leads you to another? When John says that we’re going to see Him as He is, how are we going to see Him? What’s He going to be like?

Philippians 3:20,21

“For our conversation (our citizenship) is in heaven (as a believer we’re already citizens up there); from whence (that same heaven) also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working, whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

 

Through the Bible with Les Feldick

LESSON 1 * PART 3 * BOOK 23

ROMANS 8:1-14

Romans 8:3

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin (in other words to take the place of that old Adam so that we could be crucified with Him), condemned (old Adam) sin in the flesh:”

I’m using the words “old Adam” in place of the singular word `sin’ throughout the Book of Romans, because that’s what it’s really talking about. Don’t forget what we have learned in the earlier chapters. When Paul speaks of `sin’ the singular, then it’s the old Adam, and he is the fountainhead of all our problems. It’s that Adamic sinful nature, and then the fruits of old Adam are the things that he causes us to do, and that’s `sins’ plural.

Romans 8:4

“That the righteousness of the law…”

The law was righteous. I said in the last lesson that it was weak, and I had you turn to Hebrews, but the main verses for that reference is in Galatians. Let’s follow that up in Galatians Chapter 4. And all of this is exactly what Paul is constantly referring to, and that was what the law could not do. It couldn’t because it was weak from the fleshly side, from mans point of view. From God’s point of view it was absolutely perfect, and always will be.

Galatians 4:8a,9

“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God,… (they were idolaters) But now, after that ye have know God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”

What’s he talking about? The Law. The whole thrust of this little Book of Galatians is to prove to these Gentile believers up in Galatia that they weren’t under the Mosaic Law, but under Grace. The Law was weak and beggarly, and yet they thought they wanted to go back under the Law. Paul told them he could raise his voice against them because why would a believer want to go back under the Law once he has tasted of Grace? Back to Romans Chapter 8 again.

Romans 8:4

“That the righteousness of the law (as God first gave the law it was perfect, it was holy, it was righteous) might be fulfilled in us (who are believers, who now enjoy that position in Christ; and now as a result of that position in Christ which we have gained by believing the Gospel, now comes that appropriate place for that little statement in verse 1 that I said didn’t belong up there), who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” So the Spirit becomes our guideline for living. Turn over to Romans Chapter 13 for a moment, and let’s look at verse 8.

Romans 13:8

“Owe no man any thing (or defraud no one), but to love one another: for he that loveth another (in other words the love of God is operating in that believer) hath fulfilled the law.” And then you come on down to verse 10 and we find:

Romans 13:10

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love (the God-given love) is the fulfilling of the law.”

Nothing we could do would do it, but when the love of God that is imparted now through the power of the Holy Spirit works in our life then, yes, we fulfill the whole law. Back again to Romans Chapter 8.

Romans 8:4

“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

One of the marks of true Salvation is a change in lifestyle. It’s a change in appetite, it’s a change in our whole thought process. Because whereas we were once under the control of the world and the flesh, and the Devil, now we’re under the control of the Spirit of God. The things Paul says I once hated now I love, and the things I once loved I now hate, and that’s exactly as it should be. That’s what I always look for if I’ve had the opportunity of bringing someone to a knowledge of Salvation. I like to see that complete change in lifestyle. That change in desire, because that’s the whole point. Now, he comes into verse 5, and he makes this comparison again between the lost and saved individual, the true Christian.

Romans 8:5

“For they that are after the flesh (now I believe that this word `flesh’ is the same as sin. It’s old Adam) do mind the things of the flesh (or old Adam. That makes sense doesn’t it? When a person is still out in the world, he’s in spiritual darkness, he is blinded by the god of this world so that he can’t believe. Then, naturally, all he has any concern for are the things of this world. He has fleshly appetites, he has nothing but fleshly visions of materialism and so forth, so he has no concept of the Spirit. And so they mind the things of the flesh, or the old Adamic nature); but (the flip side) they that are (living) after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”

Over and over I’ve seen some of the most ungodly people who never had any spiritual appetite whatsoever. And yet when they came to believe the Gospel and were genuinely saved, they can’t exhaust what’s in this Book. They just can’t get enough of it. Well, that’s as it should be. That’s exactly the way Scripture wants it to be.

Romans 8:6a

“For to be carnally…”

What does it mean to be carnal? Sometimes Paul will speak of a carnal Christian, a carnal believer, one who is not Spirit-filled, and one who is not Spirit-directed. He’s a believer, he’s in the Body of Christ, but his priorities are mixed up, and he’s still more in the flesh than he is in the Spirit. Paul refers to that kind of person as a carnal believer, but normally when we see this word `carnal’ we think of the lost individual, the individual who is still under control of old Adam. He is still in the flesh, he has nothing of eternal life in him whatsoever, he is carnal. Now, read on:

Romans 8:6a

“For to be carnally minded is death;…” Remember what Jesus said about this?

John 3:36

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Well, this verse 6 here in Romans is the same thing. These lost people are headed in only one direction, and that is spiritual death – eternal death, and absolutely there’s an eternal doom for those who reject the Gospel. And sad to say, all through human history that’s always been the biggest majority. Remember the analogy that Jesus used of the broad way and narrow way?

Matthew 7:13,14

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

God has always had to be satisfied with just that small remnant. You can go all the way back to Elijah there on Mount Carmel, and the account of how he put to death all the prophets of Baal. Then Queen Jezebel heard about it and sent a messenger right back to tell Elijah that “by tomorrow at this time he’ll be just as dead as my prophets,” Then instead of standing up, and realizing that his God had just defeated all the powers of Baal, what did Elijah do? He ran, and ran, and ran. He must of been in pretty good shape. But he ran a long ways, and when he finally pooped out what did he do? He sat down under a little old Juniper tree out there in the desert and said, “God take my life, this is the last of Israel, I’m the only one left.”But what was God’s answer? “Elijah there aren’t many, but I do still have 7000.” That was a remnant. And it was that way all the way up through human history. And even now through the Church Age it’s always been just a small percentage, a small remnant, and I feel that as we’re rushing to the end times it’s getting smaller and smaller.

I appreciated the message our own pastor brought last Sunday night. He was preaching on the 144,000 in Revelation 7, and I agreed with him 110%. He said, “I foresee no great world-wide revival,” and neither do I. But he did say that there could be pockets here and there which means that we’re not to just give up and say, “Well, it’s never going to happen.” Maybe you and I can cause a revival in our little corner of the world. But there is certainly nothing in Scripture that indicates that there is going to be a vast revival in the Church Age. The Tribulation will be a different story. When those 144,000 Jewish preachers go to work there is going to be a great multitude saved. The Scripture says that. But we have to be aware, for the most part, the world today is totally unconcerned about things of the Spirit. They’re more concerned with how much salary they can make, how big their home is, and how many cars they can drive. There is nothing wrong with those things in their rightful place, but when they become first priority, blinding them to spiritual truths, they’re going to be awfully sorry someday. They are going to wish they would have had their priorities straight.

Romans 8:6

“For to be carnally minded is death (spiritual death, and eternal doom without end); but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.”

And what kind of life? The eternal life of God Himself has now become part and parcel of every one of us who believes, and it’s going to carry throughout all eternity. We can’t comprehend that, at least I can’t, anymore than I can comprehend the outer edges of space; it is beyond us. When I read some of these things it just boggles my mind. I was reading an article that someone gave me the other night. To show the eternalness and the infiniteness of God, our sun in the solar system is so huge that it would take a million and three hundred thousand of our planet earth just to equal the size of it. Now, that’s beyond my understanding, and then the star Centaurus out there is so much bigger again than our sun that it would take several hundred thousand of our sun to equal the size of it. That’s the infinite God! That’s eternity! And that’s where we’re headed. So we’re dealing with eternal things that are without dimensions, that are beyond human comprehension. And what little we do comprehend, we appropriate how? By faith!

I’ve stressed over the years this is not some far out kooky stuff that some Jew sat by his camp fire and dreamed up. No, No. Because there is so much of prophecy in this Book that foretold events hundreds, and thousands of years in advance, and it’s all come true. Everything that hasn’t come true yet – we can already see the handwriting on the wall, that it’s about to. If that much is true, then why can’t it all be true? Well, it is. So when we contemplate these things, we just rest on The Word of God as absolute, it’s true, and as sure as anything can be, and we can rest on it. This next verse throws a curve at most people. And this is another thing that would be hard to comprehend if The Book didn’t say it.

Romans 8:7

“Because the carnal mind (anyone who is still under the control of old Adam. Someone who has never had the power of the Gospel operate in their life, he is still the carnal mind, and that mind) is enmity against God;…”

You talk to good people here in Oklahoma or anywhere else you can think of, and they’ll say, “Well, no, I don’t hate God. I love God, I believe in Him, I’m not His enemy.” Oh, no, The Book says they are, and The Book doesn’t lie. Now, how can The Book say that when people say the opposite. Because you see their old Adamic nature is still a rebel, and that’s what people have to be convinced of. Their old Adamic nature is a natural born rebel against the things of God. And if you’re a rebel, then you’re an enemy! There are many of us that use the expression, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?” Well, it’s the same way with God. A lot of these people who claim to be His friend, hey, He can’t call them His friends. They’re His enemy. Why? Because they’re in that state of mind that is rebellious. They’re not going to do what God says to do. They’re not going to admit that they’re a sinner. They’re not going to admit that they have a spiritual lacking. Well, what is that? That’s rebellion. And when you’re a rebel, then you’re an enemy, and it’s that simple. Now, reading on:

Romans 8:7

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God (now the next part of that verse is shocking): for it (the Adamic mind) is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

That’s scary isn’t it? Do you know what I always think of when I read that? I think it’s amazing that man is as civilized as he is. I really do. Because the unsaved person is not subject to the law of God. God doesn’t expect the unbeliever to keep His law. God doesn’t expect the unbeliever to be a good person, because God sees down in his nature that he’s anything but good. Let’s go back to where we were several months ago in Romans Chapter 3, and let’s start at verse 10.

Romans 3:10-12

“As it is written, `There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth (that is in that old Adamic nature), there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.'”

And you see people won’t agree to that, and will say, “Now wait a minute that’s not me. I do a lot of good. I’m a good citizen, I contribute to a lot of charity.” But you see that’s not what God is looking at. He’s looking at the heart. He’s looking at their old Adamic carnal mind.

Romans 3:13-18

“Their throat is an open sepulchre (that’s an open grave, there’s nothing pretty about that); with their tongues they have used deceit (we see this in our government and everything else); the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood (I don’t even listen to the news much anymore, because of all the murders, and why? Because that’s the Adamic nature see? And he’s being turned loose more and more); Destruction and misery are in their ways (you don’t believe that? You haven’t see the news in Bosnia lately): And the way of peace have they not know: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Why not? Because they have no comprehension of Who God is. They have no real comprehension of the power that He can employ, they ignore Him, and push Him out of their thinking. That’s exactly what Paul is talking about in Romans 8:7. Let’s look at it again.

Romans 8:7

“Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

Now, that’s hard to swallow isn’t it? That mankind is not subject to the law of God, and can’t be? That’s what it says, and it means exactly what it says. And here’s the problem with the Christian community even in our present time now. We would like to think that maybe we could legislate some decent morality, and cause people to stop all of these murders, and stop the teenage pregnancy, to stop drug additions, but you can’t. We’ve seen that in the drug war, they can’t stop the drugs, and they’ll never stop the drugs until people stop wanting to use them. See? When people stop using drugs then the whole business will fall apart. Even back in the days of prohibition we had the same thing. They could pass a law prohibiting the sale of whisky, but did it stop? No. Because people still wanted it, and as long as someone wants it someone will produce it. That’s human nature. And even though the laws of God are clear, and precise, mankind totally rejects them. Verse 8, and here’s a conclusive thought: if this is the state of mankind which is lost; if this is the way people are when they are outside of the Gospel, outside of being positionally “in Christ,” then:

Romans 8:8

“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

One of the absolutes of Scripture is in Hebrews Chapter 11, the great faith chapter:

Hebrews 11:6

“But without faith it is impossible to please him;…” (God)

And so the unbeliever who is an enemy of God is an enemy simply because he has does not have faith.