1. Review
  1. If any man is in Christ, they are a new creation
    1. Man is made of three parts (1 Thessalonians 5: 23)
      1. Spirit
      2. Soul
      3. Body
    2. The Spirit is dead until Jesus made us alive it  (See Ephesians 2: 5)
  2. We are now hidden with Christ.
    1. We are one with Christ (1 Corinthians 6: 17)
    2. We will be changed and appear as we really are (Colossians 3: 3, 4)

2. Question about backsliding

  1. IMPORTANT (We are saved by faith not by works (SEE Ephesians 2: 8,9) we do not stay saved by works but by grace)
    1. We do not become unsaved by works
    2. We do not “Lose” our salvation.
  2. Importance of the type of ground we are (See Mark 4)
    1. Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might (strength) Deuteronomy 6: 4,5
      1. Hard path = heart or mind.
        1. Dead Spirit that cannot understand the words of Jesus (Mark 13: 19)
        2. Prayer is so important over those who are not in relationship with Jesus.
          1. Pray that people would be released from the blinding effects of the god of this age. (2 Corinthians 4: 4)
          2. Speak promise that the word of God will not return void Isaiah 55: 11
      2. Rocky soil = soul
        1. Person’s vitality, identity, and reputation
        2. Persecution stops them from pursuing
      3. Thorns = Wealth
        1. Cares of world choke out what God wants to do in our lives.
    2. When we deal with.
      1. Hard heart
      2. Reputation
      3. Works
      4. We then become good soil that can produce a mighty harvest.

3. Old Things Passed Away

  1. Old things passed away
    1. We were under condemnation before God.
    2. We were powerless before sin (at the heart level).
      1. Able to do what we feel are good works, but heart is evil
    3. We were under darkness, lacking the ability to understand the Word,
    4. We were unable to receive divine direction for our life.
    5. We were destitute, without hope of a good future in God.
  2. All things have become new:
    1. Our former condemnation has passed and now we are accepted and enjoyed by God.
    2. Our former powerlessness and darkness have passed and now we have the authority of Jesus’ name and the indwelling Spirit which enable us to resist sin, sickness, and Satan, walk in victory over sin, and to receive new understanding of God, His Word, and His will.
    3. Our former destitution has past. Now we have a divine destiny in God.

4.  The gospel is the good news of salvation.

  1. This Is shown in three tenses
    1. Justification.  – our.  Legal position past tense as sins are forgiven
    2. Sanctification: our living condition—present tense focused on my soul (I am being saved)
    3. Glorification: our eternal exaltation—future tense focused on my body (I will be saved).
  2. We experience the fullness of our salvation in three time frames.
    1. One third of our salvation is complete, the salvation of our spirit. Our spirit was created anew in holiness (past tense).

5. A New Orientation: Living According to the Spirit.

  1. Our primary orientation is determined by the information that we rely on most
    1. We shift from living from our primary focus of our five sense
      1. Physical appetites
    2. We also shift from living according to our soul (Emotions, Will mind)
  2. This shift is called walking according to the spirit. (Romans 8: 1, 4, 5),
  3. We do this by living with confidence that we are enjoyed by God, as we dialogue with the indwelling Spirit, confess the Word, and choose godliness.
    1. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (Rom. 8:5)
  4. We are transformed by changing the way we think. We must live in agreement with God’s Word. Only as our mind breaks its agreement with our flesh (five senses and emotions) are we freed.
    1. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (Jn. 8:32)
    2. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Rom. 12:2)
  5. The “spirit of our mind” speaks of the whole atmosphere and perspective of our inner life. This involves saturating our mind with the truth, which in turn orients our life more to our spirit man.
  6. Put off…your former conduct…23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. (Eph. 4:22-23)
  7. The renewing of our mind always includes the confession of the Word back to God.
    1. The word is near you, in your mouth…that is, the word of faith…9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart…you will be saved [delivered from the penalty and power of sin]. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation [complete deliverance]. (Rom. 10:8-10)