Reversing the Fall of Man
Reversing the Sin Problem
Reversing the Disobedience and Rebellion Problem
Reversing the Inner Problems of NOT Hearing His Voice, etc.
April 20, 2015
Heart disease has become a big problem today.
We can improve a heart condition by open heart surgery or even by putting in stints, by taking drugs or by exercise but NONE of these things reverse the damage done by heart disease.
This “reversal” is the critical nature of the fall of man that is largely ignored by the Christian Ministries.
The focus has been upon the forgiveness of these failures, sins and rebellion.
The forgiveness is on God’s side and reflects His grace and mercy, extended to us by the sacrifice of the man Christ Jesus! However, forgiveness of sins stops short of reversing the effects of the fall of mankind.
The practice of many Christians is to continually seek forgiveness for these failures rather than overcoming their failures.
God calls us all to the “Overcoming life.” However, we are assured that if we sincerely ask God for forgiveness He is quick to forgive.
However, that is not God’s highest calling nor the full reason that Jesus died.
Neither is “forgiveness” the total benefit and provision of Calvary for those who repent and believe.
Why? That is because the effects of the fall can still be present and manifest long after we receive the forgiveness of sins! Being saved while IN OUR SIN is much less than “BEING SAVED FROM OUR SIN.”
Mat 1:21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He Who will save His people from their sins."
Heb_9:22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,
Rom 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
It required the multitude of sacrifices in the Old Covenant to depict and explain the total sacrifice of Calvary. Why?
That is because MUCH more than forgiveness of sins was provided and MUCH more than forgiveness was and is necessary for each one of us if we are going to inherit the Kingdom.
That is the subject of this paper and focuses upon the provision of Calvary for reversing the effect of the fall rather than just for the forgiveness of sins.
Thank God for the forgiveness of sins because we ALL need that just to begin the process of full redemption.
Last week, during our Discipleship Skype meeting with Venezuela, I was asked for the various details of the fall that must be overcome by the “sacrifice and grace of Calvary.”
I will include “some” of these deficiencies, failures, and inabilities included in the Scriptures that must be overcome “to inherent the Kingdom.”
Gal 5:19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
When the Kingdom requirements are ignored, then “salvation” is taught as just forgiveness of sins.
Dealing with the flesh, bad attitudes, carnality, lying, cheating, stealing and corrupt living is dealt with as an option because “NOW WE ARE ALREADY SAVED” and we cannot get “more than saved.”
When we examine the full measure and depth of the fall of man and the downward spiral that resulted, reversing the fall will be seen as critical to our functioning within the Kingdom Government of God.
Since the Sacrifice of Calvary is one of the main provisions for reversing the effects fall, it is ridiculous to limit Calvary to just the forgiveness of sins.
Since it was Calvary and the ascension of Jesus to the right hand of God that produced the release of the Holy Spirit, and the provision of Pentecost, this began the Holy Spirit’s specific work in reversing the fall in those who fully submit to His work. Why?
That is because it is the Spirit that wars against the flesh.
Since we CANNOT overcome the flesh by human will power and carnal effort, we require the subjective work of the Holy Spirit to overcome these areas of our failures.
Without Calvary this work would not have been possible! Why?
The Holy Spirit could not be released.
Act 2:32 "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
Therefore, let us review some of the areas of failure that accrued to us by the fall of man.
The standard doctrine of the Evangelical church is this; since Jesus overcame all these things we do not have to worry about these things.
In other words there is no need to reverse the effects of the fall because Jesus provide forgiveness for all these things.
If that was true we might wonder why Paul even mentioned the problem with the flesh to these who were already believers.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, that their bodies might be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and, although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
1Cor 6:8 On the contrary, you yourselves wrong and defraud, and that your brethren.
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.
We should read these verses carefully to determine what Paul was saying; was he saying that “you still practice these things but thank God He has forgiven you so don’t worry about it.”
Was he saying, “You were totally cleansed of these things at Calvary so everything is OK?” “If would be good if you stopped practicing these things but overcoming these things is optional because Jesus died for your sins and EVERYTHING is forgiven.”
I hope everyone can see the distinction between being “saved from the wrath of God with qualifying to inherent the Kingdom.”
Overcoming these negative things is directly related to entering into the New Jerusalem.
Why? It is exclusively the “overcomers” that shall inherent these things.
Rev 21:5 And He Who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He *said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." 6 And He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
7 "He who overcomes shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
The contrast between the overcomers and this “other group” that never overcame their immorality, other abominations and lying is quite shocking.
It seems reasonable that we should totally avoid this other group and not to get involved in their activities.
But, brother, if this “other group” has forgiveness of sins will that not overrule their lack of overcoming? The scriptures are not specifically clear on that issue so we warn against taking that chance with eternity.
Death bed repentance is quite dangerous, especially for those who knew the truth!
We should note that Paul is NOT writing to the unbelievers but to the saints when he is giving these warnings.
That is also true of the warnings in the Book of Hebrews.
Eph 5:3 But do not let immorality or any impurity or greed even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
011 And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
Eph 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
When we hear how shallow, casual and unconvincing the gospel is being preached, we wonder why ministers don’t just read the Bible and see what it says.
After all this thing might be very serious because the consequences last for eternity.
Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.
These LAWS OF THE KINGDOM are always working everywhere, both in the visible and in the invisible realms.
Whatever we sow we WILL reap, whether we believe it or not.
These “LAWS” do not require faith to work.
They are “universal” like the Law of Gravity and they work EVERY WHERE on earth and among every people.
These Laws cannot be defeated or escaped by experience or by doctrine and remain constant in all time periods.
If we sow evil we will reap evil, if we sow to the flesh, from the flesh we will reap corruption.
The problem is this; These Kingdom Laws work whether we are “saved” or not!
That is why those who practice these things shall not inherit the Kingdom. Why?
That is because they disqualify us from the Kingdom.
Rom 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written, "THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; 11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; 12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." 13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE, WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING," "THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS"; 14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";
15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD, 16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS, 17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE HAVE THEY NOT KNOWN." 18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be closed, and all the world may become accountable to God;
20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
Of course all these things can and must be forgiven through the redemption that is ONLY in Christ Jesus but can we then continue doing these things?
According to the popular Evangelical Doctrine, basic forgiveness ends and closes this issue for eternity.
For the Kingdom Ministries to overcome this gospel of the half-price sale and the Gospel of the Give-a-ways and the Gospel of the Bargains is a continuous battle simply because most people are happy to believe that “everything” is free because of God’s Grace.
Not just forgiveness of sins is free but also all the requirements of the Kingdom are nullified because of God’s Grace.
It is amazing how many scriptures are interpreted as “false doctrine” if we include those verses dealing with the Kingdom Requirements.
Even effectively dealing with the flesh, as a requirement to enter the Kingdom of God, is ridiculed as just more legalism.
Rev 22:11 "Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and let the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and let the one who is holy, still keep himself holy." 12 "Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.
13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.
15 Outside are the dogs and the sorcerers and the immoral persons and the murderers and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.
It is obviously something “beyond basic forgiveness of sins” that is involved in “WASHING OUR ROBES” so we might participate in the Tree of Life that is in the New Jerusalem.
These “robes” are exclusively for the New Inner Man and do not apply to the outer man who is assigned to and limited to the earth realm.
While it is certainly true that when Jesus sacrificed His life on Calvary that EVERY provision was made so that we might fully receive EVERYTHING we need to reverse the fall, complete the purpose of God and to bring joy to God’s heart, there are many foundations, experiences, additions and eliminations necessary to make that happen personally and experientially in our life.
These are the issues that we have attempted to address in this document.
This “process” of “growing up in everything into Christ” is what is referred to as “GOING ON TO PERFECTION.”