Lesson 027 The Law of the Spirit of Life

The Law of the Spirit of Life

(Romans 8:1-17)

God’s Eternal Covenant involves two men from two creations with sons born to each creation; God’s design of the two creations encompasses personal beings, souls of spirit life, and bodies.  

The first man Adam was made a living soul, a soul of spirit life − Life eternal.  God breathed a soul of spirit life into a body of flesh (Genesis 2:7).  Mankind has its family ties to one father - the first man Adam.  The first creation of sons is born of his seed of the earth, earthy.  The seed for the body of flesh is placed in the womb; that which is born of the flesh is flesh (flesh reproduces flesh – bodies, not beings).  The body of flesh − of the earth earthy houses the personal being of spirit life of an earthly creation.  The body of flesh is a natural body.  The collective whole of sons of humanity is sons in the flesh – the first creation.  “In the flesh” means to be in a dead body.  A dead body is unclean and unholy.  A dead body has no Seed of the spirit of Life eternal.  The first creation is under the condemnation of death and the wrath of God. 

“… as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12). 

The second creation of sons comes from the Seed of the second man, the Lord from heaven − the last Adam.  The second man is a Life-giving spirit.  

John 3:16 (ESV):  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only [begotten] Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” 

The Lord from heaven is Life eternal, a soul of spirit being of Deity, Life eternal clothed in the likeness of man – a body of flesh.  The body prepared for the Lord from heaven was a body conceived in the womb of a virgin − the seed of a woman (Psalm 22:9).  The creation of sons of God is born of the second man from His Seed.  

John 1:12:  “But as many as received Him to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”

The second creation of sons is alive unto God in the spirit.  In the spirit is not in the flesh.  A son of God cannot be other than he is; likewise, a son of humanity cannot be other than he is.  Each of the two separate creations is born of the seed of its father.  A son of God is a son of God and a son of humanity is a son of humanity.  The second creation has been made safe from the condemnation of death, made secure from the wrath to come and is sanctified together alive unto God. 

Sons of God are not an earthy creation; they have received the eternal Life – the incorruptible Seed − the Word of God planted in the heart.  Faith germinates the Seed.  Sons of God are a heavenly spiritual creation.  They are other than that which they once were – natural − in the flesh in Adam.  

The transfer of ownership of the dead body out of the creation of Adam to Life eternal is Paul’s “therefore” conclusion in Romans 12.  Death causes a complete severance – the body of flesh was crucified that the body of sin might be done away with.  The phrase “done away with” means “rendered inoperative or powerless.”  The body of flesh is not animated apart from the personal being it houses. 

As a new creation, we are completely severed from the creation in Adam; the deliverance from the body of the sin and the lawlessness of the pride of man’s self-will is final.  The idea is a complete termination, not a partial or temporary stay.  A son of God cannot be other than he is; Life overcomes sin in righteousness and overcomes death in Life.  “Therefore” is the sensible, rational and practical end of a new beginning for the son of God in Christ considering all that God has done through the Son of His covenant. 

Therefore, Paul exhorts the new creation concerning the transformation of the personal being by the renewing of the mind to God.  The appeal of Paul is not that the son of God should present his body (requiring action on his part), but rather he exhorts the son of God to remember the presentation of the body as already accomplished.  

A son of God is a living sacrifice; the apostle and high priest of his confession has made it so.  The son of God is holy; he is perfect – complete without spot or blemish.  As a living sacrifice, he is acceptable in the eyes of God – fit for service.  Considering all that God has done, performed, accomplished and finished − be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).

Now alive unto God, sons born of the Seed of the begotten Son are identified with the family of God and subject to the creation of which they now are.  Old things have passed away.  He who is has done it; it is finished; it is done!  Both the being in the body and the body are a creation of God.  In God’s eyes not a stain of guilt, not a spot of contamination remains. 

The Son of His Love has secured for God a sanctified people suited to Himself − His sons are set apart in the will of God and according to His pleasure from everything that they were naturally; such is the effectiveness and such is the result of the death of the Son of His Love. 

Romans chapter 8 explains the experience of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus for sons of God.  It is not a checklist of things to do – it is not minding this or not minding that.   The spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is personal freedom.  The priesthood of sons of God recognizes that the words of Jesus are spirit and life.  Spiritual realities are understood in the spirit life of their “being.”  The words of Jesus are spirit and life to see God as He really is and not as we see him according to the flesh through our own reasoning of the facts – likening Him to be as we are.  He is other.  Sons of God are now other. 

Romans 8:1:  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

The King James Version has added these words to the text “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” The oldest manuscripts do not have these words at the end of the verse.  It is unlikely that that those words belong at the end of the verse because that would make our salvation dependent upon our walk (conduct or behavior) rather than our birth as a son of God − His Seed. 

Because death caused a complete severance from the first creation in Adam, Paul’s point is that now there is no condemnation because these sons are in Christ.  We are completely severed from the creation in Adam; the deliverance from the body of the sin and the lawlessness of the pride of man’s self-will is final.  We are alive unto God. 

Romans 8:2:  “For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.”

The spirit Paul is referring to is not the Holy Spirit, but the spirit of Life eternal germinated.  Sons of God by faith having believed into Jesus have germinated the incorruptible Word of the Seed planted in the heart; thus, God’s creation of sons is man in His image and after His likeness. 

God’s expressed will – His law is that His creation of sons of humanity might become a creation of sons of God.  Two men within their respective creations have two laws, the law of the spirit of Life and the law of sin and death.  The spirit of Life has freed the one held by the law of sin and death.  The law of the spirit of Life overcomes sin in righteousness and overcomes death in Life. 

Romans 8:3-4:  “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit [of Life].”

The verb “could not do” in the Greek means “without power.”  The law could not set free.  Why?  Because the law is powerless to make alive, Life sets free.  God has accomplished His redemptive work through His own Son coming in the likeness of sinful flesh “for sin.”  This term “for sin” is used in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) to mean a “sin offering.”  On the cross, the life of Jesus was made an offering for sin.  He was the righteous one, perfectly acceptable to God. 

In this righteous one, sin in the flesh was dealt with; in Christ, God delivered His sons from the penalty, the power and even the presence of sin.  At the cross, we are born children of God, justified.  At the resurrection, we are raised a son of God − sanctified and glorified.  With the redemption of the body, sons of God are adopted as heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.  Free from the lawlessness, sons of God can do righteousness, so God can fulfill the righteous demands of the law in them because they are free.  

Sons of God are now other.  The sons of God are identified with the family of God and subject to the creation of which they now are.  Death results in a complete severance – old things have passed away.  The law of the spirit of Life has freed sons of God from the law of sin and death.  Freedom is the deliverance from sin and self.  Freedom is righteousness lived out.  Freedom is genuine love in practice.  We walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit of Life, because we are not in the flesh but in the spirit (Romans 8:9). 

Romans 8:5-8:  “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; … for to be carnally [fleshly] minded is death; … Because the carnal [fleshly] mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. …”

What does it mean to mind the things of the flesh?  What is the flesh, but the creation in Adam.  They that are after the flesh, the creation in Adam mind the things connected with that creation.  What is that creation but dead and perishing.  In the mind of the flesh, one will not admit that he is a creation of God.  In the flesh, one contends to be his own person; that is enmity against God.  In the mind of the flesh, one does not want to look at what God has done.  One wants to think the way he wants to think and wants God to think like he thinks.  In so doing, man chooses to have his will for himself and his own desires rather than the will of God for him. 

Man desires to know – to see in his reasoning mind what is for his good from his perspective.  Faith does not seem reasonable, but it is.  God has a reason – a good reason for everything He does. 

Romans 8:5, 6, 9:  “… but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit; …but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  … But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” 

Born of the Seed of the law of the spirit of Life, His sons mind the things of the spirit – life and peace.  Is that not simple?  So what is the problem?  Sons of God will not reckon on the truth and admit that they are a new creation and that death causes a complete severance.  Sons of God have died out of the creation of flesh.  Sons of God will say they are a new creation, but do they think of God as their Creator? 

Are sons of God dependent upon Him?  Are they responsible to Him for what they do, say and think?  The truth is that sons of God have changed creations and are now other than they once were; a son of God cannot be other than he is; he is a son of God; he has changed creations.  The problem is that sons of God take their thinking with them, they still contend to be their own person; that is enmity against God. 

If sons of God think the way they want to think and want God to think like they think, they are at enmity with God.  Sons of God are a new creation, but they carry their old thinking with them.  There must be a transformation of the person through the renewing of the mind. 

If sons of God would have their desire be for Him and His thinking rather than for themselves to “know,” they would be satisfied – they would experience their freedom − the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – Life and peace.  When one changes his mind about the way he thinks, when one sees “how” God thinks, when one sees that is the way to think, then one “moves” from the earthly to the heavenly, from the fleshly to the spiritual.  With the renewing of the mind, there is the transformation of the person.  Transformation is not a behavior change.  So often one sets out to change the behavior, thinking a change of behavior is a transformation of the person.  Transformation of the person will indeed change the behavior, but a behavior change is not a transformation of the person; it is an attempt to transform without the power or ability to do so. 

God has the power of transforming; God also will do the transformation.  The renewing of the mind is freedom given to the sons of God to mind the things of the Spirit.  The transformation of the person is the result of thinking God’s thoughts after Him, seeing God as He really is and not as one sees him according to the flesh through the reasoning of the facts.  A son of God is free from thinking independently of God.  Sons of God that accept responsibility in submission to Love bring glory to God; faith “works” by love. 

Having been united to the Son of the covenant in His death, sons of God have been freed from the deceit of the heart, which causes them to choose their own will over the will of their Creator and Redeemer.  Having been freed from the deceit of his heart, the son of God is free to ask to have the eyes of his understanding opened to hear the voice of the Spirit of God who enlightens the eyes of the understanding that the son of God might see the will of God and choose to do it (Isaiah 30:21). 

Romans 8:10a:  “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;”

The mortal body is consigned to return to dust.  Why?  The body is dead because of sin.  Why?  “As by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

Romans 8:10b-11:  “but the spirit is life (in Christ Jesus) because of righteousness. But if the spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His spirit that dwelleth in you.”  

The sons of God born of the Seed of the spirit of Life are in a mortal body that is dead because of sin, but having received the Seed of the spirit of life − the righteousness, our mortal bodies will be quickened by His spirit.  Life overcomes sin in righteousness and overcomes death in Life.  Sons of God are in Christ Jesus.  Jesus’ body was raised by the eternal Life He is.  So also having received the eternal Life – the Seed of the spirit of Life, our mortal bodies will be quickened.  The body returns to the dust, but the law of the spirit of Life has made me free from the law of sin and death.  Verse 11 of Romans 8 is the assurance of the redemption of the body.

Dwelling in the mortal body of a son of God is the Holy Spirit who lives with him.  With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the mortal body, the body is sealed for redemption; the sealing of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the redemption of the body (Ephesians 4:30). 

Romans 8:12-13:  “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh to live after the flesh.  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: ….”  

A debtor is someone who owes someone something.  What is Paul saying?  Do we owe someone something?  NO! No, we do not.  Sons of God are debtors not to live after the flesh; to live after the flesh one will die is Paul’s point.  What does a son of God owe the flesh?  What did the creation in Adam give to the son of God but a seed coat body to receive the Life eternal for a body of glory.  The Sons of God owe the flesh nothing.  

Sons of God are not debtors to God; they are alive unto God, born of His Seed.  All is His doing; all is the work of grace.  The idea of owing God for His gift of grace is enmity.  Sons of God are not debtors.  They owe no man anything except to love.  In Adam they indebted themselves to live after the flesh, but now completely severed from the creation in Adam, we owe the flesh nothing.  

The deliverance from the body of the sin and the lawlessness of the pride of man’s self-will is final.  

Romans 8:13b:  “…but if ye through the spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

Here then is the distinction between the flesh − the creation in Adam and the mortal body of sons of God.  The body is the dwelling place for the sons of God but the mortal body is not the creation of the flesh.  The collective whole of sons of humanity is sons in the flesh – the first creation.  “In the flesh” means to be in a dead body.  A dead body is unclean and unholy.  A dead body has no Seed of the spirit of Life eternal.

The Greek word for body in verse ten and thirteen has the meaning of a corpse not yet buried.  The mortal body is dead but holds within it the Seed of Life Eternal. Paul’s point is who concerns themselves with a corpse?   A son of God lives in the spirit because he is not concerned with the body.  

Thus, the son of God is exhorted to live what he is – live as a son of God in the spirit of Life.  The body is not his own.  It has been bought with a price.  The body is not animated apart from the personal being it houses.  Living in the spirit of Life, the son of God recognizes that the place of his dwelling, his body, is not his own, but God’s.  As a son of God, the body is a temple of God − a sanctuary.  The body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body.  The body is a vessel of honor for the Lord and His purposes.  The body is the meeting place of worship and therefore it is holy.  The body is the meeting place to lead God forth.   

How do sons of God lead God forth?  In order to be led, one must follow.  To be led means to be shown the way.  What is the way, but Love.  How does faith work?  Faith works by Love.  What life have sons of God been given?  Sons of God have been given a “Love” Life. 

The Holy Spirit dwelling with the son of God in his body does the leading − He does the showing; He enlightens the eyes of the understanding that the son of God might see the will of God and choose to do the will of his Lord.  Sons of God have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear.  Sons of God are not in bondage.  What do sons of God have to fear?  Nothing, sons of God have received the spirit of adoption; sons are accepted in the Son of the covenant.  

What is the spirit of fear? – The spirit of fear is death.  God in the Son of His Love took care of death.  The Son of the covenant partook of flesh and blood that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death − the devil (Hebrews 2:14-15).  The Son of His Love delivers them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

Man’s fear of death is the power that the devil has, but sons of God have received the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.  Therefore there is nothing to fear; perfect Love casts out fear (1John 4:18).  There is therefore now no condemnation.  The Father of Jesus is our Father. 

Romans 8:16-17:  “The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:  and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint–heirs with Christ; …”

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the mortal body is the witness of His spirit with the spirit of the sons of God that they are children and as children heirs.  Heirs are the successors, descendants and beneficiaries of their predecessors being born of their seed.  

Children of God inherit everything that belongs to God; sons of God are His heirs - adopted as sons through the Seed of the Son of His Love.  Sons of God are joint-heirs with Christ.  Everything pertaining to Life and godliness belongs to His sons, they are the successors and beneficiaries of all that God has done; it is finished; it is done!  

Romans 8:17:  “…heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [Him], that we may be also glorified together.” 

Harkening [listening and obeying] to the witness of the Spirit, sons of God, His priesthood, will suffer as they stand in the gospel.  There will be opposition; many will not want to admit that they are a creation of God and will want to contend to be their own person.  Many will not want to look at what God has done; rather, they want to remain deceived in the imagination of their heart.  There may be persecution, but the suffering is all for the glory of God – “that we may be also glorified.” 

The priesthood of the Son of the covenant is to set forth a memorial of the spiritual sacrifice − the celebration of the remembrance of the union of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for the purpose of communion – for the purpose of partaking of and entering into His holiness.  

The sons of God are to declare, “You must be born again” to enter into the kingdom of God; for if one lives after the flesh, he shall die.  His sons must share the hope of life eternal and a holy calling; it is imperative; mankind is perishing. 

It is God’s desire that none perish but that all should come to repentance.  How will they hear unless the sons of God go forth with the Word of Life?  

1John 3:1-3:  “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”  

Lesson 026 Sons of God − A Royal Priesthood

Sons of God − A Royal Priesthood

(Romans 6:1-13; 1Corinthians 6:19; Romans 12:1-2)

The presentation of the glorified resurrected body of Life eternal out from the dead is the begotten Son offered for God that He might be all in all and fulfill that which He purposed in eternity – a kingdom of sons of God, a holy priesthood. 

What is the office of a priest? 

A priest is a mediator between God and man, the intercessor or arbitrator for God on man’s behalf.  The priest is a peacemaker that attends or ministers the spiritual sacrifices pertaining to God. 

What is the significance that the begotten and not the birthed Son is priest? 

The Levitical priesthood was ordained in the tribe of Levi and the Levitical sacrifices could not permanently take away sin; they were temporary in their expiatory power.  The Son of the covenant as priest could not obtain the priesthood while on earth as the birthed son because Jesus was from the tribe of Judah (the kings’ line).  

Are all sons of God part of the royal priesthood? 

No, the priesthood of the Son of the covenant comes out of His death as the begotten Son; the priesthood is collective – it is an assembly of sons of God that has been born again of the incorruptible Seed of the Word of God, the Spirit of Life.  This assembly or body of sons is a priesthood that will become a bride.  

What makes the priesthood holy? 

Consecration for the priesthood is different from sanctification of the priesthood; Aaron and his sons were consecrated as holy, the priesthood of the Son of the covenant born of His Seed is holy (1John 3:9).  This week we will consider what it means to be part of a royal, holy priesthood and answer the five questions we left unanswered last week.  

What does it mean to be a part of the priesthood? 

1Corinthians 12:12-14:  “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:  so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.  For the body is not one member, but many.”  

By using the title Christ, Paul emphasizes the office, the work of Christ – the anointed Son of the covenant.  The work of the Anointed One was the establishment of a kingdom of sons of God and a royal priesthood. 

Anointed for ministry by the Spirit, the priesthood represents the Son of the covenant before God and enlightens the eyes of men to their redemption in the offering of the spiritual sacrifice of the Son of the covenant.  The Son of the covenant is our propitiation, justification, sanctification and redemption – the hope of life everlasting. 

Now let’s consider the five questions we left unanswered last week. 

(1)  What does it mean to be given a body to present as a living sacrifice? 

(2)  What is a living sacrifice? 

(3)  How is it possible for a sacrifice to be living? 

(4)  How does one do that? 

(5)  Does the living sacrifice relate to the spiritual sacrifices?  

We will answer our questions in two sections; in part one, we will discuss God’s design of two creations involving two men; and in part two we will discuss the body given, the living sacrifice. 

Part One – The Two Creations

First, what does it mean to be given a body to present a living sacrifice? 

In God’s Eternal Covenant, God’s design involves two men from two creations with sons born to each creation.  God loves the individual personal beings but relates to mankind in terms of a collective whole, in terms of creations.  The birth of the son – from the seed of his father identifies the family − the creation to which the son is subject.  

The First Creation

Mankind has its family ties to one father.  The first creation of sons comes from the first man – Adam.  The first man is of the earth, earthy.  The first man Adam was made a living soul; a soul of spirit life − life eternal.  A soul of spirit life breathed into a body of flesh (Genesis 2:7). 

This first creation, the collective whole of sons of humanity is an assembly of personal beings – souls of spirit life, who take their residence in a natural body of flesh; this creation of sons of humanity is sons in the flesh.  The flesh body that mankind dwells in was not given to him.  Where did the body come from?  The body of flesh is the seed of his father placed in the womb of his mother; that which is born of the flesh is flesh (the flesh reproduces flesh).  The body of flesh − of the earth earthy is the habitat of the personal being of spirit life of an earthly creation.  The body of flesh is a natural body.  The body of flesh is dead because of sin and the personal being (the soul of spirit life) is a transgressor of trespasses and sins.  The creation is dead and perishing. 

The Second Creation

Before the foundation of the world, the Servant of Jehovah (God) offered Himself the lamb slain.  The incorruptible Seed, the Word of God came in the likeness of man that He might take the first creation into death with Him.  In the one offering and sacrifice of the body prepared for Him of the seed of the woman in the likeness of man, God reconciled man to Himself; His body was a living sacrifice unto God. 

On his body, the Son of the covenant in the crucifixion put to death the body of sin and “burnt out” the lawlessness of mankind once for all time and for all eternity. 

The body of the sin – the flesh body of humanity was put to death, and the lawlessness, the pride of man’s self-will, was put away (“burnt out”); the Son of Man offered Himself without spot to God through the Eternal Spirit that He might purge [His sons] from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). 

The second creation of sons comes from the second man, the Lord from heaven − the last Adam.  The second man is a Life-giving spirit.  A soul of spirit Life clothed in the likeness of man – a body of flesh.  The Lord from heaven is Life eternal.  The creation of the sons of the second man comes from His Seed; the second creation comes from the Lord of heaven. 

This second creation is sons of God – personal beings alive unto God in the Spirit; this creation of sons of God is not in the flesh, but [sons] in the spirit (1Corinthians 15, Romans 8). 

John 3:16:  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son [first born Son of God out from the dead], that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

For as many as received (believed) Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God, to them that believe on His name (John 1:12).  Sons of God have by faith germinated the incorruptible word of the Seed planted in the heart; thus, God’s creation of sons is man in His image and after His likeness. 

His priesthood of sons of God is complete as God purposed.  Alive unto God from the dead (the creation of Adam) having received the Life Eternal offered, each member of the priesthood of the Son of the covenant has been clothed with “coats of skin” − given a body – that the body presented might be a living sacrifice.  

The body of a son of God has purpose for God.  The body is a living sacrifice that God uses as a channel to reconcile men unto Himself. 

What body has God given the members of the priesthood?  The body of sons of God is a flesh and bone body of the Life Eternal of the Spirit.  The body comes from the Seed of his Father and identifies the man with the family of the creation in which the son is born.  

Alive unto God from the Seed of the begotten Son, the son of God is identified with the family of God and subject to the creation of which he now is.  Old things have passed away.  The priesthood of the Son of the covenant is born of His Seed (1John 3:9).  Sons of God are not an earthy creation; they are heavenly, a spiritual creation.  They are other than that which they once were − natural.  The body God gives His sons is a body of flesh and bone, a body of Life Eternal, spirit Life, a body of glory. 

The person (spirit being) who has united himself in death with Christ is a new creation of God.  He has received the spirit of Life Eternal (the Seed).  He is now alive unto God, a son of God.  Dwelling in the mortal body or habitat is the Holy Spirit who lives with him (soul of spirit being).  With the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the mortal body, the body is sealed for redemption; the sealing of the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of the redemption of the body (Ephesians 4:30). 

He who is, has done, it is finished; it is done!  Both the being in the body and the body are a creation of God.  In God’s eyes not a stain of guilt, not a spot of contamination remains. 

The Son of His Love has secured for God a sanctified people suited to Himself − His sons are set apart in the will of God and according to His pleasure from everything that they were naturally; such is the effectiveness and such is the result of the death of the Son of His Love.  

Dead in Adam, alive unto God – this is God’s perspective on His accomplished work.  What shall we say then?  

Romans 6:1-2:  “What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” 

God forbid, God forbid, God forbid!!! 

At the heart of the letter to the Romans is the heart of God and the freedom that is in the Son of the covenant. 

In the letter Paul declares that God made Himself known in the luminaries and that no difference exists between the Jews and Gentiles – all have sinned and come short of the glory of God – all are born sons of humanity (Romans 3:23). 

Made safe from the condemnation of death, made secure from the wrath to come and sanctified alive unto God, “how shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:2). 

Romans 6:3-5:  “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” 

This newness of life is the true testimony of a new creation, the true testimony of a son of God. 

Romans 6:6-7:  “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  For he that is dead is freed from sin.” 

“Our old man” literally in the Greek reads “the old man of us” and refers to the first creation, and it is crucified.  There is only one old man of all of us.  There is not your old man and my old man; the old man of the first creation is the old man of all of us.  Likewise, there is not my new man and your new man, but the new man of a new creation – the Son of the covenant – Christ Jesus.  Those who believe in Jesus are of his Seed.  

The body of flesh was crucified that the body of sin might be done away with.  The phrase “done away with” means “rendered inoperative or powerless.”  The idea is of a complete termination, end, not a partial or temporary stay. 

Death causes a complete severance – as a new creation, we are completely severed from the creation in Adam; the deliverance from the body of the sin and the lawlessness of the pride of man’s self-will is final.  A son of God cannot be other than he is; likewise, a son of humanity cannot be other than he is.  They are two separate creations.  A son of God is a son of God and a son of humanity a son of humanity.  

For a son of God to conduct his manner of living as though he were a son of humanity is contrary to his being; that manner of behavior, living as a son of humanity, is antagonistic, self-willed, selfish, and self-serving; it is enmity against God. 

Part Two – The Body Given − the Living Sacrifice

The question “What does it mean to present the body a living sacrifice” also involves the questions, “What is a living sacrifice, how is it possible for a sacrifice to be living and how is it done?” 

Before we answer those questions, consider what there is to present to God as living before receiving the spirit of Life eternal for the body. 

Nothing − because the creation of Adam is dead.  Receiving the Life eternal – at the cross is the presentation of the body given as a living sacrifice.  The Spirit of the Life eternal in the body is the new creation that is alive unto God.  

The body given and the presentation of that body as a living sacrifice is the work of God through the Son of the covenant, the apostle and high priest of our faith.  That is how it is possible for a sacrifice to be living and that is “how” one does it; they don’t; God does it all. 

That is Paul’s point in Romans 12:  God has done it all; He has performed, accomplished and finished that which He has purposed − therefore!  All things considered, what is more reasonable than the presentation of the body given by the mercies of God as the ransom or payment of his redemption − a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God. 

Paul begins his beseeching exhortation with the word “therefore.” “Therefore” is the logical conclusion connecting these verses to the entire framework of the previous verses in the letter.  “Therefore” is the sensible, rational and practical end of a new beginning for the son of God in Christ considering all that God has done based on the Son of His covenant. 

Romans 12:1-2:  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”  

The language of the Greek word “present” is used in the Septuagint when a priest places an offering upon an altar and speaks of a onetime presentation.  “Sacrifice” ordinarily refers to an animal whose blood has been shed in death as the offering. 

“Holy” in this context indicates that the offering is consecrated – dedicated to God and implies that the offering is perfect and without blemish.  “Acceptable” indicates that the offering is right in the eyes of God − that He recognizes and receives it.  Finally, “service” specifically means “divine service,” referring to an act of worship. 

As a son of God, he is a living sacrifice; the apostle and high priest of his confession has made it so.  The son of God is holy; he is perfect – complete without spot or blemish.  As a living sacrifice, he is acceptable in the eyes of God – fit for service. 

In Romans 12:1, 2 the appeal of Paul is not that the son of God should present (requiring action on our part), but rather the exhortation is to remember the presentation (already accomplished).  

The son of God is exhorted to live what he is – live as a son of God.  He is to recognize that the place of his dwelling, his body, is not his own, but God’s.  As a son of God, the body is a temple of God − a sanctuary.  The body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body.  The body is the meeting place to lead God forth.  It is a vessel of honor for the Lord and His purposes. 

The body is the meeting place of worship and therefore it is holy.  The presentation of the body in sacrifice is acknowledged consequently as a one-time presentation.  Thus as a living sacrifice to God his reasonable worship is to be not conformed to the world because there has been the transfer of ownership of the dead body out of the creation of Adam to Life Eternal – God, Spirit Being of Deity. 

For he that is dead is freed from sin.  He is alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11). 

The man of God is to live what he is – a son of God, and as such, he is not to be conformed to the world; he is not to live as a son of humanity, he is other!  As a son of humanity, he was lawless in his manner of being, living for self, minding self, being selfish. 

Now as a son of God, having become the righteousness of God in Christ he is exhorted to be transformed by the renewing of the mind in order to prove what the good and pleasing will of God is.  God has done it all; He accomplished the propitiation, justification, sanctification, redemption and glorification − even the transformation, but the one thing God cannot do is the renewing of the mind for the son of God.  

Transformation is not a behavior change.  So often one sets out to change the behavior, thinking a change of behavior is a transformation of the person.  Transformation of the person will indeed change the behavior, but a behavior change is not a transformation of the person; it is an attempt to transform without the power or ability to do so. 

God has the power of transforming; God also will do the transformation.  The renewing of the mind is a freedom given to the sons of God to mind the things of the Spirit.  The transformation of the person is the result of thinking God’s thoughts after Him. 

By minding God, thinking His thoughts after him, we may “prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).  A son of God is free from thinking independently of God.  Accepting this responsibility in submission to Love brings glory to God as His sons; faith “works” by love.  A son of God knows his freedom and joy is in walking with God depending on God (Isaiah 30:21). 

As a priesthood of sons of God – the words of Jesus are spirit and life – life to the very being of our soul (John 6:63).  The words of Jesus are life of spiritual realities understood in the very spirit life of our “being.”  They are spirit and life to see God as He really is; to worship Him in spirit and in truth and not as we see him according to the flesh through our own reasoning of the facts – likening Him to be such a One as we are (John 4:24).  He is other.  We, are now other (1Peter 1:16). 

God has done it; it is finished; it is done and the son of God reckons on that truth! 

Next week we will consider the living sacrifice as it relates to the spiritual sacrifice seen in Romans 8, the law of the Spirit of Life.  

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No Glossary for Sons of God − A Royal Priesthood

Lesson 025 Priesthood of the Son of the Covenant

Priesthood of the Son of the Covenant

(Hebrews 2:17; 3:1; 4:14,15; 5:1,5,6,10; 6:20,7; 8:1,3,4; 9:7,11,25; 10:11,21; 13:11; 1Peter 2:5, 9; 1Corinthians 6:19, 20)

The two stellar signs of Taurus and Aries portray animal pictorials in the star chart drawings that relate to the Levitical brunt offering and the sin and trespass offerings. 

The figurative teaching of the Eternal Covenant in the luminaires and the figurative teaching of the Eternal Covenant in the ceremonial law of the offerings is first and foremost the expression of love and devotion from God to man. 

Had not the Son of the covenant in Himself fulfilled what the burnt offering and the meal offering typify (a sinless victim - without spot or blemish, pure and undefiled), a voluntary offering, He could not have been offered in the sinner’s stead.  He could not have become sin as the Lamb slain.  He could not have been the substitutionary ram offered to make peace with God. 

The forgiveness of God’s offended justice and the putting away of the sin is proclaimed because of He who is – Spirit Being of Deity and it is through the worthiness and glory of His Person in the Son of the covenant. 

We are slow to apprehend the blessed truth that God is acting from Himself and in accordance with the merit of the Son of His Love.  The sin and its forgiveness have nothing whatsoever to do with or are in any way conditional on our repentance or faith.  God approaches man in all the fullness of His grace and declares Himself to be Savior God. 

By the one offering of the body of the Son of the covenant, God is glorified in the execution of a righteous sentence.  The Son of the covenant endured death as the only acceptable substitute.  His death meets the wages of the sin.  The sin is judged.  In God’s eyes not a stain of guilt, not a spot of contamination remains. 

His sons are set apart in the will of God and according to His pleasure from everything that they were naturally; such is the effectiveness and such is the result of the death of the Son of His Love − God’s perspective.  The Son of His Love has secured for Him a sanctified people suited to Himself. 

The prophet of God as the Son of Man, the minister of reconciliation offered Himself without spot to God through the eternal Spirit, pouring out His soul – in His body a living sacrifice unto God that He might purge [His sons] from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9:14). 

Consumed in the fire of His holiness, the lawlessness of all mankind, once for all time and for all eternity, was “burnt out” on the Son of the covenant.  The lawlessness has been put away.  It (the sin) is completely done away with; but there is a “much more” to that so great a love. 

The sin consumed by the Love of God’s holiness is God’s provision of Love that His sons of God might also be consumed with the holiness of His Love – free to mind God, free to be occupied with God because all enemies have been conquered and delivered into our hands. 

The enemies are conquered by God – as sons of humanity we cannot conquer them.  God delivers those enemies into the hands of His sons.  God’s sons are responsible to cooperate with Him in dealing with those enemies as conquered. 

The world and its enticement are no longer bait to a son of God.  The flesh with its affections and lusts has been crucified with Christ along with the enmity of one’s own thinking.  A son of God is free from thinking independent of God.  Accepting this responsibility in submission to God brings glory to God as His sons; for a son of God knows his freedom and joy is in walking through life depending on Him.  He knows what God has done; it is finished; it is done and the son of God reckons on that truth! 

The one offering and sacrifice offered is not for man but for God.  Jesus offered His body, the body prepared for Him of the seed of the woman, as His offering.  In the laying down of that body in death, God reconciled man to Himself.  By the one offering, He has perfected forever those who are set apart unto Him in God.  It is done!  He who is, the Eternal – God, has done this (Psalm 22); it is finished; it is done. 

Glorified as the begotten Son, the presentation of the glorified body of life eternal out from the dead gave proof that the blood was shed − gave proof the life was given in death, gave proof of the victory of God (Matthew 27:50)! 

Consequently, the gift of life eternal is the offering of the begotten Son for God that He might be all in all and fulfill that which He purposed in eternity – a kingdom of sons of God, a holy priesthood.  In the presentation of the glorified body - the Son of the covenant was glorified as the one and only king priest after the “order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 5:6, Psalm 2:7).  Thus, we have understanding of the work of reconciliation the Son of the covenant finished as the birthed son of God (his death and burial) and the redemption achieved (his resurrection) as the begotten Son of God. 

However, one rarely apprehends the significance of the Son of the covenant as priest.  What is the office of a priest?  What is the consequence of the begotten − not the birthed Son − as priest?  Why is it important that the sons of God are priests?  What makes the priesthood holy?  What does it mean to be a part of the priesthood? 

In the letter to the Hebrews, we find a priestly family.  Hebrews is considered the Leviticus of the second Pentateuch, the law and offerings of the better covenant – a new and living way.  Established in Hebrews is the outshining of God’s glory. 

As the apostle, (the sent one from heaven) the Son of the covenant lived, loved, suffered and died, rose again and has gone back to heaven in the power of His sacrifice.  As the high priest of our faith, those in whose behalf the sacrifice has been offered find “a new and living way” into the presence of God. 

Thus, the epistle to the Hebrews is devoted to the message of the priesthood of the Son of the covenant – Christ Jesus.  Anonymously written, the authorship of the letter is disputed.  Nevertheless, the writer’s exhortation is of utmost importance.  The exhortation to the royal priesthood of the Son of the covenant is not to neglect their great salvation or come short of victory but to hold fast their confidence and go on to perfection; they are the sons of God, a royal priesthood, a holy priesthood (Hebrews 2:3, 3;6, 4:1, 14; 6:1, 7:14, 10:23). 

The letter divides naturally into five sections:

Section one (Chapters 1 - 2:4) shows the Son of the covenant as the first born in uniqueness and supremacy as the apostle of our confession, enthroned and having laid the foundation of peace. 

Section two (Chapters 2:5 - 4:13) shows the Son of the covenant in His humiliation to death, who is the originator of salvation. 

Section three (Chapters 4:14 - 10) shows the Son of the covenant as the priest who enters into the heavenly sanctuary; the Son of the covenant provides the way into the heavenly sanctuary by His accomplished work; He is contrasted to both the priests and sacrifices of the law. 

Section four (Chapters 11) gives instruction to the walk, trial and experience of faith. 

Section five (Chapters 12 and 13) closes with an admonition to the sons of God as it pertains to their faith and priesthood. 

Answers to five questions concerning the priesthood of the Son of the covenant follow: 

What is the office of a priest? 

A priest is a mediator between God and man, the intercessor or arbitrator for God on man’s behalf.  The priest as the peacemaker is the attendant or minister of spiritual sacrifices pertaining to God. 

What is the significance that the begotten and not the birthed Son is priest? 

The Levitical priesthood was ordained in the tribe of Levi and the Levitical sacrifices could not permanently take away sin; they were temporary in their expiatory power.  Making amends is not the same as putting away.  

The Son of the covenant as priest could not obtain the priesthood while on earth as the birthed son because Jesus was from the tribe of Judah (the kings’ line).  Moses said nothing about the tribe of Judah that concerned the priesthood. 

The priesthood of the Son of the covenant comes out of His death as the begotten Son.  Jesus was divinely declared to be of the “order of Melchisedek.”  Of what significance is this?  Who is Melchisedek and what does the phrase “order of Melchisedek” mean? 

“Order” denotes inheritance or succession; such as is the case with the Levitical priesthood of Aaron.  Aaron’s priesthood was taken among men, meaning it was carried through Aaron’s line – his sons.  Melchisedek’s priesthood preceded the priesthood of Aaron by approximately five hundred years. 

The “order of Melchisedek” denotes character of being and office.  It is the character of being − the honor, integrity and strength of the priesthood of the begotten Son and His office which is likened to that of Melchisedek. 

The Jews regarded Melchisedek in type as having virtues associated with that of the Messiah; he was considered a great man, but that is all that he was, a man.  By interpretation Melchisedek was King of righteousness and after that King of peace; …as to the pertaining of his priesthood, he was made like unto the Son of God, meaning a priest continually (Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 7:1-3). 

In his priesthood, Melchisedek did not offer sacrifices for sins.  Melchisedek’s ministry as “king of Salem” and “priest of the most high God”… were the “bread and wine,” the spiritual sacrifices of the memorial of the Son of the covenant (Genesis 14:18, 19). 

What is a spiritual sacrifice?  The word spiritual means things pertaining to the Spirit in contrast to the natural or soulish being.  In his priesthood, Melchisedek did not offer the slaying of animals for sins.  Melchisedek brought forth the memorial of the bread and wine.  What is a memorial?  A memorial is the commemorating – the honoring and celebrating of a remembrance of an event that occurred earlier − past.  

The spiritual sacrifice of the bread and wine brought by Melchisedek represented the good news of the Son of the covenant.  The bread pictured the unleavened “bread” sent down from heaven that if a man eat he will live forever.  The “wine” pictured the joy of the Son of the covenant who was able to give to His Father seed for much fruit – sons of God. 

The bread and wine Melchisedek brought forth as a memorial was the celebration of the remembrance.  The celebration of the remembrance of the union of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for the purpose of communion – for the purpose of partaking of and entering into His holiness. 

In his coming to Abram and offering him the bread and wine, Melchisedek asked Abram to remember the ministry of reconciliation and redemption in the Son of the covenant.  Remember He who is and who was and who is to come has done this; it is finished; it is done.  Remember for the purpose of communion – for the purpose of partaking of and entering into His holiness. 

Melchisedek’s offering of the substance of the Truth in the spiritual sacrifices showed forth the praises of Him who has called men [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light (1Peter 2:9). 

Thus, the priesthood of Melchisedek typified the priesthood of the Son of the covenant, Jesus.  As High Priest, Jesus is not the sacrifice for sin; rather, Jesus – the great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, is the Son of God, the Son Begotten.  He is the one offering for God that has put the sin away forever and has sat down at the right hand of the Father. 

Are all sons of God part of the royal priesthood and why is this question important?  

Not all sons of God are part of the royal priesthood.  The priesthood of the Son of the covenant comes out of His death as the begotten Son; the priesthood is collective – the priesthood is an assembly of sons of God.  From the beginning of time down through the ages, sons of God would be prophets and priests of God (Adam, Seth, Enoch, Noah, etc.).  The priesthood was not formed until the death of the Son of the covenant.  The question is important because it keeps straight the plan and prophecies of the Eternal Covenant as fulfilled in time. 

The household of Israel choosing to forsake her fountain of living water – her Messiah, the Son of the covenant, is set aside as planned and prophesied in the Eternal Covenant that the heavens declare.  Since the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70AD, the Jews have been scattered throughout the world.  Thus, the priesthood established in Aaron is scattered.  There is no collective unity. 

In 1948, God saw to it that the Jews became a nation in preparation for the great tribulation.  The great tribulation will serve as birth pangs for a regenerate Israel to head all nations during the last thousand years of the kingdom reign. 

God never leaves Himself without a witness.  Having ascended back to the Father after His resurrection and seated at the Father’s right hand, the apostle and high priest Jesus Christ has his own house of sons of God, a royal priesthood, a kingdom of priests unto His God and His Father established on earth (John 20:17). 

The priesthood of sons of God was instituted collectively and commissioned together, united in one body with Jesus Himself as its head.  Each son of God in the household regenerate – washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.  Each son baptized into Jesus through faith to believe into Jesus and united in His death to be of His resurrection (Romans 6).  Each son as living stones built up a spiritual house (1Peter 2:5). 

This priesthood of the Son of the covenant in the beginning was primarily a Jewish house; later the rivers of living water flowed out to the ends of the earth and the household became primarily Gentile.  The household is now primarily Gentile; but as far as sons of God, there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11). 

Through baptism into the death of Jesus Christ, a son delights to do the will of His Father God.  The son of God in his union of death with Christ died to the sin of choosing to have his own will over the will of His Father God.  This newness of life is the true testimony of a new creation, the true testimony of a son of God. 

A man’s sons are the strength of his household.  As priests, the sons of God, the sons of the Son of the covenant, are the character of being - the honor, integrity and strength of the household of the begotten Son.  They bear his name – sons of God. 

What makes the priesthood holy? 

Aaron and his sons were consecrated for the Levitical priesthood as holy; the priesthood of the sons of God, however, is sanctified unto God.  Consecration for the priesthood is different from sanctification of the priesthood; Aaron and his sons were consecrated as holy, the priesthood of the Son of the covenant, born of His Seed, are holy (1John 3:9). 

During the church age, the water of life flows freely from the source – the fountain of life, the Son of the covenant.  Whosoever is thirsty may come and drink – freely (Revelation 22:17). 

Each son of humanity must make the choice.  Each one born of the seed of man and bearing the image of the earthy must make a decision to come to the fountain of life and drink – to be free from sin and death to inherit all things or perish.  The two choices are believe and receive the Life Eternal to be born a son of God and have a body of glory or remain dead in trespasses and sins and have part in the lake of fire (Ephesians 2:1). 

Who will speak the wonderful words of life – share the words of Jesus that are spirit and life (John 6:63).  Who will tell the message of the hope of life eternal that whosoever drinks will be freed from the bondage of self-love and the bondage of serving self to become a new creation in Jesus?   Who will do this, the Priesthood of the Son of the Covenant? 

What does it mean to be a part of the priesthood?  

The members of the priesthood of the Son of the covenant have been given a body – that they might present their body a living sacrifice.  What does it mean to be given a body to present?  What is a living sacrifice?  How is it possible for a sacrifice to be living?  How does one do that?  Does the living sacrifice relate to the spiritual sacrifices?  

Next week’s lesson will answer these questions. 

Please read:

Romans 6:1-13; 1Corinthians 6:19; Romans 12:1-2