Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

The No Good Thing In Our Flesh Controversy?

Rom. 7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good. [/b]

How offensive would it be for us to look at someone and say there is nothing good that dwells in your flesh? Who could imagine saying something like that? Who would be so bold to judge another human being that way?

Luke 6:37 Don't judge, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn, and you won't be condemned. Set free, and you will be set free.

It truly is unthinkable, there must be good in a person, some good maybe a great deal of good, so it is vital that we get the context, the fundamental truth, a first stone of elementary teaching of Christ laid properly before we move on regarding this topic!

Heb. 6:1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God,
6:2 of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
6:3 This will we do, if God permits.

[b][u]From The Beginning[/u][/b]

Literally from the creation of man on earth we must go back to, for us to understand how nothing good dwell in our flesh. God did not create Adam sinful flesh. Adam chose not to believe his Father YHWH was love. Adam went along with his wife because he imputed evil to God instead of love.

James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed.

1Cor.13:4 Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, 13:5 doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;

At that point, nothing within Adams flesh could please God enough to let him live forever in paradise with God. The sin was in Adam, and it separated him from a sinless incorruptible God. Nothing in Adam's flesh was self-sustaining as an independent god. His life was wholly, and totally dependent upon his communion with God's life. Adam was created by God, for God to maintain his eternal life by feeding off of God's everlasting life sustaining Adam by Spirit, which was God's life. That is essentially Paul's point. Paul is dealing with the truth of sin in his flesh, like Adam had to deal with after sinning, the catch for so many that confuses us, is Paul introduce the law, a new factor long after the first sin of Adam.

Romans 5:13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law.

Romans 5:20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly;

Romans 5:21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the Jews and us to understand what is needed for salvation God gave them his perfect and righteous law. The problem was, and is, when applying perfect laws to imperfect people it points out our sins, how far we fall short of God's glory of the only true God, the creator of us, we are not gods, or a religion, and/or even the perfect laws of God.

Rom.7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were through the law, worked in our members to bring forth fruit to death.

Rom. 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? May it never be! However, I wouldn't have known sin, except through the law. For I wouldn't have known coveting, unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."{Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21}
7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.

[b][u]The Lying Flesh![/u][/b]

Another controversy that offends all human is being called a liar, it is rude, and it anger us, so we don't tell people they are liars, but as God had Paul write that nothing good dwells in sinful flesh that can save him, or be used or be useful to God, so he tells us our flesh is a lie, and lies.

Jer.17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?

Rom.3:4 May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment."{Psalm 51:4}

Rom.3:10 As it is written, "There is no one righteous; no, not one.
3:11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.
3:12 They have all turned aside. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not, so much as one."{Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20}
3:13 "Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit."{Psalm 5:9} "The poison of vipers is under their lips;"{Psalm 140:3}
3:14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."{Psalm 10:7}
3:15 "Their feet are swift to shed blood.
3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.
3:17 The way of peace, they haven't known."{Isaiah 59:7-8}

What is the context? Once Adam was in his flesh, now understand that means in himself, making his own choices, he was, and could no longer be "in" a sinless God. He could no longer know the truth of the Spirit, that is. What was in God's mind. He could only try to figure out God's mind by his fleshly mind, of his own making and choices, which would not be Spirit and truth, it would be lies about God's love. It the sinful mind was corrupted which can not know accurately the mind of God it could never please God or be in subjection to God or his laws. It was, and is, in a state of rebellion against God and his Spirit.

Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.

1 Corinthians 15:50 Now I say this, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} that flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

2 Peter 2:19 promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.

The fleshly mind is a lie, it cannot know God, it is a fact that it was created from the father of the lie. And because it is corrupted God has nothing to do with it, nor does he reform it.

[b][u]False Teachings of The lying Mind[/u][/b]

The fleshly mind is a liar because it cannot teach or know truth, which is God. The fleshly mind does not know its lying, it thinks it can put good righteous bible in it, and it will be renewed into a clean righteous mind speaking the truth without a corrupt mind of flesh!

Haggai 2:12 'If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment, and with his fold touches bread, stew, wine, oil, or any food, will it become holy?'" The priests answered, "No."

Romans 8:7 because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God's law, neither indeed can it be.

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

But its a lie because it is created from a lie, and it cannot produce good fruit, it is a corrupt tree, and its fruit can never be life giving fruits of God, which comes from God's mind, by Spirit and truth. It can read the bible, love the bible, and in Paul's case, he was reading and applying the righteous laws of God that he so loved with zeal, but it did not stop his sin flesh or his fleshly mind, the corruption he was born into him from Adam.

Rom.7:15 For I don't know what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. 7:16 But if what I don't desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good.
7:17 So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me.
7:18 For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don't find it doing that which is good.

He found as Adam found nothing good in flesh, and his fleshly mind could not redeem him or save him out of that fleshly corrupt condition no matter how much he kept the law and/or read it, he was a sinner. Moreover, God did not condone sin in him or anyone, thus, proving the whole point of the law. That is, it condemned all sinners, all humans as evil corrupted by sin - Death with no way out, by mankind own efforts!

Rom.7:24 What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death?
7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God's law, but with the flesh, the sin's law.

However, the fleshly mind believes and teaches it can be changed by the power of its own corruption from sin, into a new mind, by applying God's words found in the bible, but that is a lie!

Matt.7:17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
7:18 A good tree can't produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.

[b][u]Anointed By God's Spirit To Know The Truth
[/u][/b]
Another fierce controversy that just will not let up is the flesh does not die to it corrupt lying ways by feeding it good righteous food from God's bible or His laws. We cannot make what is corrupt into something that is acceptable to God, which is, incorruption, so we can be reconnected to God holy righteous mind. We can read words about God's mind written to us, but it will not stop the lying fleshly mind from working against us to deceive us yet further.

James. 3:8 But nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
3:9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the image of God.
3:10 Out of the same mouth comes forth blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
3:11 Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water? 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, yield olives, or a vine figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh water.

Those anointed with God's Spirit become acutely aware of the power of their corrupt flesh, as Paul was expressing when saying nothing good dwells in his flesh. Why do they become acutely aware of corruption in the flesh past down from Adam?

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God?

Because they have been given a new mind, not of the old fleshly mind they were born into, but Christ mind that they have born new again into Christ body. Yes, a new body, a new mind, in a righteous person, not of themselves, but of Christ.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Now they are faced with suffering constantly in their flesh which lust, and is warring against the righteous life of Christ indwelling their mortal body they are left in, until God says its enough.

Rom.5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

[b][u]The Lie of The Flesh of Being Dead in Christ
[/u][/b]
The flesh, and it lying nature that cannot stop teaching falsehoods causes us confusion and to be mislead as to what it actually means to be dead in Christ.

James.1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."}, when you fall into various temptations,
1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
1:4 Let endurance have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach; and it will be given to him.
1:6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
1:7 For let that man not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
1:8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Does the power of our lusting flesh stop, die, when we are dead in Christ? No! It does not! What dies is God's judgment of our flesh once for all times. It never comes up again, it not optional that sometime we are judged again by God in our flesh, and then not when we have a good day in our flesh.

Micah 7:19 He will again have compassion on us. He will tread our iniquities under foot; and you will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

1 John 3:5 You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin.

Rom.8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.{NU omits "who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"}

That is the lie of our flesh, and this is why we were told by God out of love nothing good dwells in our fallen flesh, and it cannot know God so our flesh is a lie against the truth of God.

2 Corinthians 5:16 Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

1 Corinthians 1:29 that no flesh should boast before God.

The flesh cannot stop its lust, it tells us we can stop the lust that is against God, by punishment of it so it won't do certain things. That is a half truth, which is a whole lie, based upon the fleshly mind judgment of what is good and evil, but its not God's judgment that tells us nothing good is in our flesh, and because of that its death, and lives and thinks in death and is dying because it was kicked out of God's holy paradise.

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, for its lusts.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Because we are dead in Christ does not mean the flesh stops lying, or becomes good all of sudden. It simply, means we are going to suffer in our flesh with many judgments against ourselves and others, it a court room God is not even in. The thinking of the fleshly mind is by using God's word it stop the flesh, it kills the flesh, which is a lie. The flesh is the judgment, and has already been judged and finished for us in Christ if we have faith not in us, but what Christ did for us.

Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

Colossians 2:23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

God did not say, ever we could put away the filth of our flesh, or he was stopping it from sinning because we use strong discipline found in his word the bible. God put it away, an elementary teaching of being in Christ. God killed our flesh, from his judgment under his righteous laws because it could not be resurrect, reformed and made into something without sin.

Many of God's anointed think because of false religion that they can, and should reform their flesh by harsh discipline. They think that being put to death in their flesh makes them perfect in flesh without sin, or at least working towards that goal and when arriving they are finish and perfected in the flesh, so they can stand before God saying: “I have conquered the evils of may flesh, now give me the reward given to Christ because I am like him, and did what he did on earth!”

1Cor. 4:1 So let a man think of us as Christ's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries.
4:2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.
4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self.
4:4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.
4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

That is a lie, of self-righteous gotten by works of law, it has nothing to do with Christ God's finished works for us.

[u]It is Completed![/u]

Luke 18:31 He took the twelve aside, and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed.

We can never say to God it is completed, as Christ could lawful, and rightly say upon the torture sake! We are not conquering our flesh, to make it perfect or making it not a sinner, or a better sinner.

John 19:28 After this, Jesus, seeing{NU, TR read "knowing" instead of "seeing"} that all things were now finished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I am thirsty."

Christ completed that for us, he ran the race as the head of his body, the body receives the gifts of the body, it does not run the race and complete itself, or its not of Christ body. We are suffering in our flesh to perfect our love (faith) for God, which God is allowing, However, its finished because we are not being judge in our flesh, and that is why we can be called righteous, because of Christ righteousness which is a gift too us, undeserved, from God's love us in his Son allowing us to be born into a righteous body of Christ.

Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.

Colossians 2:10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power;

Revelation 3:8 "I know your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't deny my name.

Rev. 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, "Don't be afraid. I am the first and the last,
1:18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades{or, Hell}.

The suffering of our flesh is not a ladder of getting better, it is what must go on because the flesh is against the Spirit, that is, the life of Christ indwelling us in our mortal bodies.

Philippians 1:29 Because it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer on his behalf.

2 Thessalonians 1:5 This is an obvious sign of the righteous judgment of God, to the end that you may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.

We will never glorify our flesh one earth, we will never glorify how we look in other fleshly eyes, for those perfecting the flesh in false religion. No! We will look humiliated and a failure to the eyes of false religion that is trying with all its power to created a perfect flesh upon earth to present it to God upon its death.

1Cor.1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1:26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble;
1:27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;

Christ looked as if God was punishing him, he was in humiliation while on earth his judgment taken away, because the glory residing in him was God's judges those looking at Christ flesh as evil, having no good dwelling in it. Yes, that's right they turn their eyes away from Christ as if he was plagued of God, because he suffered with our sins in his own flesh to save us.

Acts 8:33 In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away. Who will declare His generation? For his life is taken from the earth."{Isaiah 53:7,8}

Isa.53:3 He was despised, and rejected by men; a man of suffering, and acquainted with disease. He was despised as one from whom men hide their face; and we didn't respect him.
53:4 Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted.
53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray. Everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

We have been forgiven our sins because we are in Christ a completed judgment if we have faith! If we don't have faith as so few do, we are in judgment in a court room God walked out of 2000—years ago still trying to prove we are righteous by our good works. We could never be righteous, without Christ finishing the race of life for us, defeating the judgment of our flesh, stripping all power away from death and Hades which is in all sinful flesh.

Satan system of works of law, for self-salvation was defeated in Christ that is why Christ could say it is completed. We can't do that, we do not complete ourselves, it is Christ that completes us as his body members not because we were good, or better. But because he is and given us his love (his life) freely.

[b][u]The Flesh False Teaching of Knowledge[/u][/b]

What if you have the same amount of knowledge as Christ does? Would that grand and beautiful knowledge save you, that is, letting us not need the blood of Christ?

1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing.

1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

However, this is one of the lies of the fleshly mind believe. That getting, and lusting for knowledge proves we are good and in favor with God. But it is a lie, knowledge does not save us. No! Christ saves us, by his ransom sacrifice, his life, not by having more knowledge then God, Christ, or Solomon saves us. Knowledge appeals to the pride of our fleshly mind. The fleshly lying mind never stops trying to prove itself righteous, it will not kill itself it can only trick us and others that if we do something by the power of the flesh it will be acceptable and better in pleasing God that is gaining salvation by works.

Christ is the love of God for us sinners, if we don't have love, then knowledge will not and cannot save us!

1 John 4:16 We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

1 John 4:9 By this God's love was revealed in us, that God has sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.

If we have love and stay in God's love we have salvation, we are not earning it, we have it because we our in salvation the life of Christ Jesus and he resides in us. We are staying in faith, because we know God as love, and we are helped by the Spirit indwelling us to endure in our corrupt dead flesh, to calls us back to the mind of Christ renewing us in Spirit, not in flesh, so we can know the love of God.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.

[b][u]The Teaching of The Spirit.[/u][/b]

The teachings of the Spirit indwelling us does not glorify the flesh! It does the exact opposite. The Spirit strips the power of the flesh it conquering its every lie. So we have no confidence in the flesh, we know nothing of God dwells in our sinful flesh, but the flesh does not believe that, so it wars with the Spirit in us, deceiving us until it kills the Spirit of God in us. God then proves that love cannot fail us, but the flesh always does, and God's power through the Spirit resurrects us, (not physically but in Spirit) not by our goodness, not by our efforts because the lesson is no confidence in the flesh.

Rom. 8:31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
8:32 He who didn't spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
8:33 Who could bring a charge against God's chosen ones? It is God who justifies.
8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Could oppression, or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
8:36 Even as it is written, "For your sake we are killed all day long. We were accounted as sheep for the slaughter."{Psalm 44:22}
8:37 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are then raised into Christ his elevated spirit mind and we live in God's love, giving us a sound and reasonable mind of peace. That process the flesh would like to lie to us about telling us we have proven and completed the test and it won't happen again that to is a lie of the flesh.

James.3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James. 5:7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain.
5:8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
5:9 Don't grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won't be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.
5:10 Take, brothers, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
5:11 Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

That process is what our anointing is about, it will not finish until the flesh is finished, gone, and we are translated into the new heavens without the the evils of flesh. We must have the mind of Christ, but we cannot have the mind of Christ if we keep thinking we are getting better and better in our flesh. We will give out, if we don't understand nothing good is in our flesh, it will not stop, it cannot stop warring with Christ spirit indwelling us we will suffer all the day's of this life because the flesh is against the Spirit. We cannot find peace in knowledge, in some prophecy, or religion, or any flesh on earth. Because it done, its complete if we are in Christ, and being in Christ although we under go tribulation all the days of our flesh, we must brace up our minds with the whole truth.

Hebrews 5:7 He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear.

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;

[b][u]The Flesh Will Always Fails in Test of Spirit[/u][/b]

The Spirit cannot fail when tested by the flesh, but the flesh always fails and condemns us because we are thinking in perfecting the flesh which is a lie. The flesh cannot please God, so why would we think it going to pass a test in Spirit?

Romans 8:8 Those who are in the flesh can't please God.

Yes, its painful and a humiliation to fail in our flesh. Yes, it is a terrible feeling, we look like fools, but we have forgotten that judgment of our flesh has been finished, it is our pride of flesh and the constant none stop works of law in flesh that is painfully humiliated. But not the Spirit it comes in and comforts us, and we just can't understand why because we have judged ourselves totally unworthy in the flesh, not even our judgment works it to is unrighteous coming from our flesh, because God has purchased and stop our judgment at our anointing into Christ body that cannot and does not have judgment because it can't sin or did it sin, we belong not to ourselves, but Christ, his life, his body, but our flesh will not disown us, it can't and never will!

1 John 3:20 because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

We are still thinking we can be worthy in our flesh, no we can't we are not listening. We think the two are connected, but they are not. None of our flesh is in God or Christ nor are they connected to each other that is one more lie of our flesh.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from him and announce to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

The reason we suffer is because there is no good thing in our flesh, and we cannot kill it, stop it, or make it sinless, not even God has done that! We live in it and it lust against the Spirit of God so we suffer. We endure in faith, not laws, not commandments, but in faith, faith in what? God's love that despite us, God always comes and saves us under going this death found in our flesh. He shows us, it not by our works, it not by our efforts, it is by his love, a kindness the flesh can't even understand and will abuse.

Ephesians 3:12 in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him.

2 Corinthians 3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God;

2 Corinthians 4:10 always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.

The flesh will abuse everything of God if allowed it cannot stop until its dead. We can jail it, we can lead it in some less sins, but it will get away from us, when we are tested because God does not want us to trust in it, or put confidence in it. That is the working of the Spirit, no human can tell how it working in each of us, we may think we got it all together and within minutes God allows wicked spirit force to lead us into the wilderness and we have no power over our lives. Just as Christ was lead, so can God allows us to be tested having no power in our flesh to stop the tribulation until we are shown Christ power giving us his power in the Spirit to be lead by Christ our headship. He is our leader, he is a spirit being so he must lead us by Spirit, not our flesh trying to find out what it means or if we are lead by Spirit through some writing in our bibles.

Salvation is not in us, please get that, salvation is in the life of Christ that is in us. It is finished, but our flesh does not believe it, and when we are in flesh neither will we. This is why Paul said he was a miserable man. He could not build a wall to protect himself by good common sense, or even wisdom from the bible. The test don't stop by knowledge that is another lie of the fleshly mind. They stop by the power of Christ indestructible life so all salvation from death of flesh comes through him alone as God's savior of us. When we are in God's love, the test of our flesh stop, we will not be completely in God's love until we finish this course, this school in our flesh. But we will have moments where God helps us, in his love, Christ Jesus and this gives us hope, faith, but the greatest of these in love, God, in Christ.

He completely saves us, completely, in every aspect of his ministry as our high priest. He divides between every intention of heart, mind, and soul. We rest not in our flesh, it can't rest, it not going to give up, lay down and die, we rest in our faith, a gift given to each one of us by God's measure, we don't give ourselves faith, we don't muster faith from a corrupt flesh, nothing good is in our flesh. We are given the gift of faith because in the body we now belong to is one faith, Christ faith, so it our faith when we stop thinking as the flesh does in independent faith.

Heb. 4:12 For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
4:13 There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
4:14 Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.
4:15 For we don't have a high priest who can't be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
4:16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need.

When we rest in Christ life, not our own, what we think we are doing, how important we think we are, we find comfort, we find help at the right time. The power of Christ is the death of all that is in the flesh, its complete destruction. Christ is faithful even if we are not. He has one mission, and that is to set creation free from what? Corruption, corruption of what? All the sinful flesh thinks, feels, believes is good and righteous.

Heb. 4:1 Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.
4:2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those who heard.
4:3 For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;"{Psalm 95:11} although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4:4 For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, "God rested on the seventh day from all his works;"{Genesis 2:2}
4:5 and in this place again, "They will not enter into my rest."{Psalm 95:11}
4:6 Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,
4:7 he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."{Psalm 95:7-8}
4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.
4:9 There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
4:10 For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.
4:11 Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

Death will not rule in Spirit and truth, please don't be fooled, Christ is at work, he is setting creation free right now in us that will pass on shortly, because we are but a mist in this flesh, and then when the judgment starts upon those not in God's household they cannot stand because they are not in God's household, Christ Jesus, the love of God for us. Christ is at the door always for God's anointed, he is our door into Spirit and truth, he is the judge, only one is the judge, we are under judgment, but not God's wrath, but with salvation in view.

Rom.8:11 But if the Spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
8:12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
8:13 For if you live after the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are children of God.
8:15 For you didn't receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba{Abba is an Aramaic word for father or daddy, often used affectionately and respectfully in prayer to our Father in heaven.}! Father!"
8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;
8:17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.
8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us.
8:19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
8:20 For the creation was subjected to vanity, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
8:21 that the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of decay into the liberty of the glory of the children of God.
8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
8:23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
8:24 For we were saved in hope, but hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for that which he sees?

Let us desist for our works found in our flesh and rest in Christ our Sabbath day, in Spirit and truth, where peace is found.

Galatians 3:7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Test your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don't you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you are disqualified.

2 Corinthians 4:13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, "I believed, and therefore I spoke."{Psalm 116:10} We also believe, and therefore also we speak;

1 Corinthians 2:5 that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.