Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ

1. Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ

2. Putting On the Lord Jesus Christ I. Introduction II. Phase 1/Phase 2 Distinction III. Phase 1 – Salvation Foundation IV. Positional Truth V. Phase 2 – Spirituality VI. Conclusion

3. “Our Father's ultimate purpose in saving us is that we might be conformed to the image of His Son, not simply to keep us out of hell and get us into heaven. We have been born into Christ that He may be our life, not just our Savior” … ‘My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you’ (Galatians 4:19).” Part Four: The Realization of Spiritual Growth, Chapter 44, Service and Reckoning, p 200 “Most Christians settle for far less than the best after wearying but fruitless struggles with the flesh. Because they rely on their own strength, which is a hopeless thing to do, they will never make any significant progress toward true spirituality.” Introduction; pg ix Walter A. Elwell

5. Natural Man, 1 Cor. 2:14 UNBELIEVER BELIEVER HVPT Col 2:8 “Basic principles of the world” HVPT Col 2:8 “Basic principles of the world” DVPT 1 Cor 2:16 “Mind of Christ” “mere men”

6. Carnal Man, 1 Cor. 3:1-4 Spiritual Man, 1 Cor. 2:15 CARNAL BELIEVER SPIRITUAL BELIEVER - + HVPT Col 2:8 “Basic principles of the world” DVPT 1 Cor 2:16 “Mind of Christ” “like mere men”

8. “The believer must learn by two means the fact that the self-life is unimprovable. (1) Specific Scripture: God never intends to improve the old man, because ‘the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God… neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned’ (1 Cor. 2:14). Further, ‘the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other’ (Gal. 5:17). Everything of the first Adam is unalterably opposed to everything of the Last Adam. Self is implacable in its attitude toward God, having the very essence of the Enemy. ‘Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be’ (Rom. 8:7). (2) Personal experience: One’s daily life proves beyond a doubt that the sinful Adamic source within never changes. The awakened and honest believer must admit that self is as capable of sin after fifty years of the Christian life as it was before he was saved—sometimes, it seems, even more so!” Part Two: Foundations of Spiritual Growth, Chapter 23, Sanctification and Consecration, p 104

9. “Each step of faith we take concerning the facts of our position prepares us for the following one, since every succeeding step is established on all that precedes. Our faith grows by feeding on properly related scriptural truth. ‘For precept must be upon precept…line upon line…’ (Isa. 28:10)… “Many hungry-hearted believers are struggling to get into the experience of Romans 8 when they are not yet resting in the facts of Romans 3. They feel guilty because they fall far short of the heights of Ephesians and Colossians, when in fact they do not adequately know the peace with God of Romans 5, to say nothing of identification with Christ in Romans 6. The experience of Romans 7 is well known, however. It is absolutely necessary to allow the Holy Spirit to take us along in God’s sequence of Scripture, as each plane of truth is foundational for the next. Skip over one, and firm footing for the next is lost.” Part Two, Ch 22, “Completeness and Security”; pg 95 “All is held in trust for us in Christ, our new position, and becomes our condition as we are taken forward, step by step, in faith. When we are able to receive and appreciate the benefits of the riches of Romans 1-5, then He is free to take us into the reality of the wealth of Romans 6-8. When we are firmly established in the positional truth of Christ dying for our sins and rising again for our justification (Rom. 4:25), then we are prepared to see our position and enter into the benefits of our having died and risen with Him (Rom. 6:5).” Part Two, Ch 24, “Identification and Growth”; pg 106

10. “‘We often come across Christians who are bright and clever, and strong and righteous; in fact, a little too bright, and a little too clever—there seems so much of self in their strength, and their righteousness is severe and critical. They have everything to make them saints, except … crucifixion, which would mold them into a supernatural tenderness and limitless charity for others.’” Part One, Ch 14, “Process of Discipleship”; pp 57, 58 “Up-to-the-moment confession and consequent cleansing have also constituted a popular method. However, I John 1:9 has to do with sins already committed and not with the source (self) from which they emanate. ‘The Blood can wash away my sins, but it cannot wash away my “old man.” It needs the cross to crucify me … the sinner… Our sins are dealt with by the Blood, but we ourselves are dealt with by the Cross. The Blood procures our pardon; … the Cross procures our deliverance from what we are’ (Watchman Nee).” Part One, Ch 11, “Self-Denial”; pg 44