Nevertheless I Live

Psalm 50:16-17 (NKJV)

¹⁶ But to the wicked God says: "What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, ¹⁷ Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?

I was reading Richard Baxter’s book, “The Reformed Pastor” where he speaks of temptation. He begins with a discussion of the unconverted preacher. At length he describes such a preacher as one who, while preaching heaven, is bound for hell. Being the Narcissist that I am, I began to wonder if this isn’t me. I allowed this mental self-abuse to travel to its reasonable end. The unconverted have no sense of the voice of God the Holy Spirit. I am not deaf to the voice of the Spirit, so I am converted or transformed by the power of the Gospel. I heard and I believed. My life was from that point changed. Still, I am daily influenced by sinful impulses.

I have found it odd that ever since my sins were grace-covered I am more keenly aware of my sinfulness. One would think that the life of Grace would make temptation to sin as little more than background noise. Paul calls himself “wretched” and “chief among sinners.” Is Paul then among the “the wicked” God’s word speaks of the Psalm 50? No, because the truly lost “hate instruction” and cast God’s words behind them. I don’t hate instruction; I simply find it impossible to follow perfectly and consistently.

The early (200s) Church Father Origen treats temptation as a struggle between two “minds” – one is spiritual and the other carnal. In the process of being “conformed to the image and likeness of Christ” we are always subjected to a war between our Christ nature and our Adamic (fallen) nature. Calvin calls these two processes as the mortification (killing) of flesh and vivification (making alive) of the spirit. Luther differs from Calvin, Baxter, and Origen in that he does seem to believe the flesh can be defeated or even curtailed. For Luther, not only is the flesh weak it is unconquerable. Luther was so cautious about “works righteousness” that he seems to overstate his case regarding spiritual or moral progress that can be made in this life.

The position held by the Puritan, Richard Baxter, stands utterly opposite of Luther’s. He sees our lack of moral and spiritual progress as a sign that we may not be converted (saved). Origen and Calvin are most gentle in their view of human potential. I think these two are closer to Paul’s teaching, in Holy Scripture, than Baxter or Luther.

 

The pastoral insight I gain from recogning this war within is that I am not surprised when you act like a sinner. Just as I long for forgiveness and understand, I also am willing to extend it to others.

Galatians 5:17 (NKJV)
¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Romans 8:9 (NKJV)
⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Chapter 4 - On Human Temptations by St. Origen

We have accordingly to ascertain what is this very will (intermediate) between flesh and spirit, besides that will which is said to belong to the flesh or the spirit. For it is held as certain, that everything which is said to be a work of the spirit is (a product of) the will of the spirit, and everything that is called a work of the flesh (proceeds from) the will of the flesh.

 
Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.