”This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me.“
Matthew 15:8 KJV
”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.“
John 4:23-24 KJV
As established in the first part of this study, the Spirit in man must be influenced by the Spirit of God. Inconsistencies that affect our communing with the Holy Spirit must be done away with. If we are able to come to this level of submission, then we can live from the spirit. Today our study continues on submitting the human spirit.
Based on our first scripture of study, additions to God’s laws by man in one way or other always lead men to disobey God. The Bible cannot be improved by any human addition, either in doctrine or practice. Jesus spoke of their traditions as inventions of their own. Where we have not set our hearts to obey the precepts of God, we only set up ourselves to walk in error. Each one coming to God must do away with the traditions of men. That is why Jesus emphasized the essence of being born again.
”Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.“
John 3:5-6 KJV
Jesus spoke of the importance and nature of regeneration or the new birth, and directs to the source of holiness of the heart. Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again, is to begin to live anew, as people who have lived much amiss, to little purpose. We must have a new nature, new principles, new affections, new aims. No stronger expression could have been chosen to signify a great and most remarkable change of state and character. We must be entirely different from what we were before, as that which begins to be at any time, is not, and cannot be the same with that which was before. This new birth Christ speaks of is from heaven, and its tendency is to heaven. It is a great change made in the heart of a sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves.
Understanding this hence brings us to the second scripture of study . Carnal hearts look no higher than carnal ends. The carnal mind is very ingenious in shifting off convictions, and keeping them from fastening. The power of his word in searching the heart, and convincing the conscience of secret things, is a proof of Divine authority. Deep calleth unto deep the Psalmist said, showcasing the depths of communion the Lord beckons to have with his people. The submitted human spirit digs into the innermost courts where the will of the Father is no more a mystery. If we aim to commune with our carnality we can never find the mind of God. As Paul said the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7 KJV)
Being aware of this Beloved, know that your regeneration was to the end that your true nature which is after the likeness of Christ must be awakened to commune with His creator, to understand the way of life according to His original intent. God seeks to show us the riches of his glory and the hope of our calling through a nature He can familiarize with. Therefore submit unto God that He may reason with you. Good morning.
References: Mathew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible