Saints?

Life on the Highest Plane Pt.4, Ruth Paxson explains how believers have been set apart, called saints. 1 Corinthians 1:2; “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints.” Now that doesn’t mean believers act weird and holier than everyone else. What it does mean is that we are no longer our own, we have been bought with a price. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20,  “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were brought at a price.”

Ruth Paxson wants us to be very aware of our separateness. Are you aware of being different? Or are you like the world? Maybe you want to blend in.

How many of us have seen the bumper sticker that says, Jesus is my Co-pilot? Does that mean we are the boss and the Lord Jesus Christ is only our assistant? Galatians 2:20 says, “It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.” We could say, It is no longer I that pilots my life, but Christ that pilots my life for me. He is at the controls and He is the power.

This is a whole new perspective. Because of our death with Christ, we are dead to sin, dead to the law, dead to self, and dead to the world.  Think of a person in a coffin. Are they affected by religious requirements, personal desires, temptations to sin, or all the world has to offer? No. They are dead to all that. Are we that free?

New birth after death       

In our new life, the life we received in our new birth, we have a choice whether or not to be controlled by those old things. It is no longer in our new nature to be controlled by those things. Our new nature is free to choose right.

We are no longer captive to any besetting sin, addiction, or weakness. Isn’t that good news? It is Christ living in us. When Satan comes with his temptation to get angry, consume that alcoholic drink, or look at that which we shouldn’t look, we can hide in Christ. It is He living in us. It is sufficient for Monday morning. We don’t have to face anything by ourselves. He faces everything for us. We can and should stay hidden in Christ, remaining still and allowing Him to live through us. Constantly yielding ourselves as a people, He can use us for His purposes and plans. We are now Christ’s means to express Himself to the world.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 about the spiritual armor that we can wear. It will protect us from the attacks of the enemy. The weapon we have been given is the Word of God. The more we know the Word the more it will protect us like an invisible shield.

Characteristics of life on the highest plane    

What does God want this life to be like? It is a life saved from sin to be conformed to the image of His Son empowered by His Spirit and marked by His presence.  

Ruth says that the one who lives life on the highest plane has taken three steps.

• accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior,
• submitted his life to Jesus Christ as their Lord,
• has appropriated Jesus Christ as their very life

Christ is the Life of that person’s life, the breath he breathes, his motivation and his abilities. All the fruits of the Spirit are just that, the fruit of His Spirit. Not our fruit as we attempt to make our flesh better. Cast of the flesh like an old rag. Even at its best, flesh is still flesh and at enmity with God and totally unfruitful in the realm of the Spirit. The new order of people relies not on their own ability for anything but totally relies on the life of Christ in them.

Are you carnal or spiritual?

• Carnal – struggle, defeat, immaturity, disloyalty maybe even hypocrisy

• Spiritual – triumphant life, loyal, peace, supernatural power

Flesh? Natural abilities

So, what is ‘flesh’? It is who we are apart from God whether it be good or bad. It is our ways of living by our own power and desires. We need to make a decision about the flesh – it is bad. Paul stated the untrustworthiness of the flesh and admonished the believer to not make excuses for the flesh or make room for it. It is contrary to God. It is natural. It is self-sufficient.

Are you living life on the highest plane? Born again, set apart, and drawing from His life?

Words to light your path

John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

Romans 8:6-8 “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Heavenly Father, give us the courage to turn our backs on our old self and embrace the new creation that You have provided through the death, burial, and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. You have promised us an abundant life. But it is found only in denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus. Wow! What an adventure.

Still to come in the next two weeks: Two more parts – What is our part in this new life? What does it mean to be Spirit-filled? How do we maintain such a life of triumph and maturity?

Missed Parts 1-3? See part 1 here.