Physical vs Spiritual

Deceptions rarely stand alone in a religious environment. A deception usually breeds more deceptions in order to build a structure of interwoven deceptions that appear to all be supporting one another as truths.

One of the tell-tale indicators is how the language is used, with deceptions often being referred to as “obviously true” despite a lack of biblical evidence to support them.

The concept of “moral” law is a good example. Nowhere in Scripture does it state that any law constitutes being “moral” law, let alone the entire Decalogue. Yet the concept is accepted as true despite this, and the requirement stated in Scripture is to prove all things, not to accept all things should they appear to be “obviously” or “apparently” true.”

(Proverbs 3:5) Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Ask those who believe in “moral” law to define it. And ask how it contrasts to “ceremonial” law and how that is defined. It’s like watching a deer illuminated in the headlights, because the organization they belong to that proffers the concept has not defined the terms outside of circular reasoning. Most members are reluctant to answer, knowing that any answer they proffer may well not meet the criteria of any ‘official position’ of the organization. They are satisfied to simply parrot the belief/claim and leave it at that.

I proffer the concept that if there truly were such a thing as “moral” law, they would be laws where there is NEVER an excuse or justification for violating them. Murder is always wrong when properly defining ‘murder.’ Same with adultery, bearing false witness, and idolatry, to mention a few.

The concept of ‘moral’ law also raises another, associated issue. Are we discussing “moral” law in the context of a person being justified and declared morally upright because they keep or comply with “moral” law? And if so, then what of those who, say, never commit a murder, yet have a deep seated hatred of another, which Scripture identifies as the “spirit of murder”?

This would also be hard to embrace, given the statements by Paul that no one will be justified by the works of the law. What ties this all together is Jesus’ declaration about the Pharisees, who we could argue at least kept the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) yet Jesus referred to them as children of the devil and that they hated Him without a just cause.

(John 15:25) But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

No matter what Jesus did before them, in their sight, even raising the dead, was rejected in favor of the law. To them, the Messiah to come would be validating both them and the law they administered, so that, they charged even the followers of Christ Jesus for being ignorant of the law and thus cursed as a result.

(John 7:48-49) Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him? But this people who knoweth not the law are cursed.

Dare I point it out? The law was more important than God Incarnate. And if you put something, anything, above and greater than God, then what is that ‘thing’ to you? It is the ‘god’ you serve and obey. It is your idol; whether made of stone, or the product of your imagination, or both.

(John 4:23-24) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Can we agree then that the Pharisees, whose focus was about the law and the works of the law that were physically oriented, were not worshiping God in spirit and in truth? They were rejecting truth by rejecting He who was the personification of Truth, and where spirit is about things non-corporeal; outside the realm of physical things and outside the realm of the heart, mind, and soul, where their focus was in relation to the physical body and outward appearances.

A believing Christian then sees themselves in relation to Christ in association with the heart, mind, and soul. False Christians, unbelievers, not being led by the Holy Spirit, will focus then on the physical things, such as the works of the law that have no bearing, no impact, on the heart, mind, and soul, even as was the case with those Pharisees.

The works of the law, and most everything in the law, pointed forwards to the Messiah to come; the Christ we know to be the Son of God, who is also God. It is a concept impossible for those focused on the physical to fully grasp, being a spiritual concept. For God exists in a spiritual realm and not a physical one where physically-, carnally-minded people try to understand the nature of God through a physical filter.

The physical sacrifices were typology of Him. Circumcision was typology of conversion, performed by the Holy Spirit, where under the law, a Jew was not complete unless and until he was circumcised. And in this spiritual reality, a “man” becomes complete in Christ through this spiritual “circumcision” “performed without hands”.

(Colossians 2:11) In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

As an aside, note carefully the wording and reference to sin, being sins of the flesh… not sins of the law. For the Gentiles were never required to come under the law, through a physical circumcision according to the law. This spiritual circumcision of the heart brings one into the New Covenant “law” of the Spirit and not the old covenant law of the physical letter… that kills.

Where Sabbatarianism, such as Armstrongism and Adventism, expose themselves as non-spiritual is their embrace of the old covenant Sabbath rest for the physical body that followed six days of physical work; ignoring the typology which they vaguely comprehend in regards to the sacrifices and circumcision. There is a spiritual “rest” found in Christ; a rest for the non-physical component of mankind associated with the heart, mind, and soul. The author of Hebrews points out this spiritual rest as a cessation of a former work, even as God ceased from the work of the physical universe where that typology meets its completion in the spiritual creation of a new man; a new creature / creation where all things have become new; different than the old.

(2 Corinthians 5:17) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

What were the “old things” that passed away? Everything associated with the old man, including his previous works of the flesh and sins of the flesh. A man in Christ enters into God’s rest. The rest God entered into millennia ago and still resides in is a permanent rest or “cessation” from the act of physical creation. This is a typology of our rest/cessation of our former works of the physical flesh, leading to eventual death, and in contrast our conversion/transformation places us within God’s rest, that is life ETERNAL. We now reside in this condition for the rest of eternity; having entered into God’s rest with Him that will never end. Death has been swallowed up by life.

This is all spiritually discerned, and as such, rejected by those still held by the flesh; still under the bonds and chains of sin. All they know and understand are physical things, along with physical rites and rituals that were typology of what was to come. People reject the concept due to having evil hearts of unbelief; held captive to sin by their very nature; their hearts, minds, and souls that have not undergone any spiritual awakening through conversion via the Holy Spirit, to the end that they end up actively resisting the Holy Spirit in favor of their own efforts under a physical law that condemns physical, carnal people led by the flesh.

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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )

Acts 17:11

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