Lesson for May 19, 2019
The Integrity of God
First Imputation: Soul Life
God’s integrity is made up of His justice, righteousness and love. Our point of contact with God, because we are imperfect, is His justice, even though He loves us. Because God loves all of us, He has imputed to us certain blessings. First, God imputes soul life to biological life at birth which becomes human life. Second, God imputes Adam’s original sin to man’s sin nature (the nature he is born with genetically). Third, God imputed mankind’s sin to Christ on the Cross. Fourth, God imputes His own divine righteousness to people when they believe in Christ as Savior. Fifth, God imputes eternal life to a believer at salvation. Sixth, God imputes blessings to believers on earth. Seventh, God imputes rewards to believers in eternity. There is a pattern here called grace and God’s dealings with mankind are always based on His grace.
The Greek word for impute is “logizomai” and it means “to reckon” or “to take into account.” “Credit to one’s account” is another good rendering of the word from Greek. Divine imputations are motivated by God’s love but function as His justice. This means that God’s love can never override His justice, or it would compromise God’s essence, which is impossible.
Divine imputations are the framework of the spiritual building we are building as believers. They are the structure upon which all other doctrines are built in the Christian life. If God in His infinite wisdom had not credited to us human life at birth, Adam’s original sin, our personal sins to Christ, divine righteousness to us at salvation and eternal life we would have no foundation and no framework upon which to build the other doctrines for the construction of the Edification Complex of the Soul. All of God’s blessings revolve around the doctrine of divine imputations.
Genesis 2:7 says, “Then the Lord God formed (Hebrew: yatsar, to make something out of existing material) man of dust from the ground (biological life) and breathed (Hebrew: naphach) into his nostrils the breath of life (Hebrew: neshamah hayyah, soul life); and man became a living being (Hebrew: nephesh hayyah, human life).” Biological life and soul life were imparted to Adam and Eve simultaneously. God is still the One Who breathes soul life into biological life creating human life, but not simultaneously.
After Adam and Eve sinned, biological life began to be passed down genetically from the father. The fact that all members of the human race are represented in Adam means that we were all present (figuratively) with Adam when he sinned. The result of his sin is that the entire human race is born with a corrupted (sin) nature. (Romans 5:12, 18,19; 6:6,12, 8:3-5; I Corinthians 15:22) When the fetus emerges from the womb and God breathes soul life into biological life, human life is created. Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 57:16; Job 1:21, 33:4, and Ecclesiastes 12:7 all confirm that God is still the One Who creates human life and that biological life returns to dust and the soul (spirit) returns to God from where it originated.
In the Book of Job there are several passages that refer to birth. (Job 1:21, 3:11, 10:19) In all these verses, the preposition “from” (“min” in Hebrew) is used with the noun “womb” (“beten” in Hebrew). The phrase “from the womb” is “mibeten” in Hebrew, a combination of our two words. This is important to note because the primary meaning of “min” is separation. Therefore, “mibeten” literally means separated from or away from the womb. In Isaiah 44:2, 24 we have “Thus says the Lord who made you and created (yatsar) you from the womb (mibeten)…..” “Yatsar” means to create life from existing material (biological life) away from the womb. (Isaiah 49:1, 5)
The angels rejoiced at the birth of Christ, not at His conception, which should be enough to convince us that human life begins at birth outside the womb. (Luke 2:7-14) However, we will examine other passages to show that human life begins at birth, not at conception and not during pregnancy.
If these scriptures are not enough to convince us, certainly Jesus fully understood when human life begins. In John 3 we have a story about Nicodemus, a Pharisee that came to Jesus at night to inquire about salvation. In the process of explaining salvation using the “birth” analogy to Nicodemus, Jesus teaches that human life begins after birth (outside of the womb). Notice that Jesus did not say, “you must be conceived again.” Just as physical birth is the beginning of human life, spiritual birth is the beginning of spiritual life. God’s Word always teaches that birth, not conception, is the beginning of life. Conception can only produce biological life but only God can create human life. He does this by imputing soul life to biological life at physical birth. At the second birth (salvation) God imputes His righteousness to human life producing spiritual life.
When the Scriptures were translated from Hebrew into Greek, the translators used “ek koilia” and “ek gastros” for “out from the womb” and “separated from the womb” in Isaiah 44:2,24; 49:1,5. The Greek word “ek” is used to represent the Hebrew word “min” and these are both prepositions denoting separation. What we have is either “ek koilia” or “ek gastros” that mean the same as “mibeten” – separated from the womb.
Second Imputation: Adam’s Sin
At the moment a person is born, Adam’s original sin is imputed to its target – the sin nature of man. So, a person enters this world with a corrupted nature (sin nature) passed down to them genetically at birth and with Adam’s original sin imputed directly from the justice of God to that sin nature which produces spiritual death. Spiritual death means that a person is totally separated from God without a relationship with the One Who created them. Personal sin is the result of succumbing to the temptation of the corrupt sin nature. Our personal sins were imputed to Jesus Christ on the Cross and are not the source of condemnation of the human race, they are the result of the condemnation which occurred at birth with the imputation of Adam’s original sin to the sin nature. (Romans 5:12-21; I Corinthians 15:22)
Because the human race is born spiritually dead, they immediately become candidates for the grace of God. Condemnation must precede salvation, which is the genius plan of God. This is why anyone who is unable to exercise their volition for whatever reason goes directly to Heaven upon death. This includes babies and those with mental deficiencies who cannot make a decision for or against God. Since we are condemned at birth, our personal sins have nothing whatsoever to do with being condemned. When the Bible says that the wages of sin is death, it is referring to Adam’s original sin (spiritual death) not our personal sins. This in no way excuses a believer for committing personal sin. We are all responsible to God for our disobedience and if that disobedience goes unchecked, we will incur the discipline of God. (Proverbs 6:16-19; Hebrews 12:3-15)
Since Adam was the head of the human race and deliberately chose to sin, we “inherit” the sin nature from our “father,” Adam. If this seems unfair or unjust on the part of God, think about what would happen if you were not condemned at birth by the imputation of Adam’s original sin. There would be no opportunity for you to be saved. You would simply live out your life and then go straight to Hell to pay the penalty for your own personal sins. (Romans 5:12-14; I Corinthians 15:21-22; I Timothy 2:13-14)
But God, in His magnificent grace, provided a way for us to be condemned, so that we could ultimately have the opportunity to be saved. His plan called for the imputation of Adam’s original sin to the sin nature of every human being. He also provided the plan of salvation for the entire human race. (Romans 5:18-19; 6:23) If a person had to commit a personal sin before being condemned, no child would go to
Heaven that died before committing their first sin. Since God is always fair, He has provided for these children to go to Heaven, as well as anyone who is unable to make a responsible decision. Because they are already condemned at birth, (our personal sins contribute nothing to our spiritual death), they qualify for God’s saving grace. We do not earn the wages of sin by committing sin – Adam did. Giving these people eternal life is a matter of God’s grace and is still non-meritorious, totally apart from human works.
When Adam’s sin is united with the sin nature, the result is spiritual death. Spiritual death means that we are separated from God without the ability to have a relationship with Him. We must be extremely clear here in pointing out that God is not the author of sin. God condemns sin wherever He finds it, therefore, not only is He not the author of sin, He does not tempt anyone to sin and He does not sponsor or condone sin. (Romans 5:14, 6:23) Since we are born spiritually dead (before we have the opportunity to commit personal sin), it is not our personal sins that condemn us. As a matter of fact, the entire human race was condemned when Adam was condemned, at the Fall. It is, therefore, Adam’s sin that condemns us. We sin personally as a result of being spiritually dead. Hence the phrase, “we sin because we are sinners, we are not sinners because we sin.” (Romans 5:13; II Corinthians 5:19)
Though our personal sins do not condemn us, as believers in Christ they do take us out of fellowship with God and remove the filling of the Holy Spirit. You never get away with sin! Continuing in a lifestyle of sinning (making a practice of certain sins) stifles your spiritual growth and carries you into a state of reversionism (reversing your spiritual momentum). Often called “backsliding,” the slide into reversionism eventuates in scar tissue on the soul and blackout of the soul (the believer becomes indistinguishable from the unbeliever). Once a believer has reached the final stage of reversionism, it is a long road back to spirituality. However, it is possible with God’s help, through the study and application of His Word under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. To avoid this pitfall, you must always utilize God’s power system: the filling of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance, as a believer in Christ, that you understand and use the Rebound Technique (acknowledging known sins in accordance with I John 1:9) on a consistent basis. (I Corinthians 11:31-32; Hebrews 12:5-11)
When Adam sinned in the Garden, he gave up the rulership of the world and introduced the sin nature into the human race. Because of Adam’s original sin, Satan and his demon army and our own individual sin natures influence our souls in a negative way. All temptation to commit personal sin comes from our sin nature which is being bombarded daily with the influences of Satan. When a person believes in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, becomes indwelt by God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, a conflict is automatically set up. This conflict begins because of the two opposing influences of your soul, God and Satan. So, the question becomes, “Who will we allow to control our soul?” (John 14:30, 12:31-33, 16:11)
Since Satan controls the world system in which we live, he has great influence on people, institutions, governments, media, entertainment, education and much, much more. The only legitimate defense against his influence is the filling of God the Holy Spirit and the consistent study and application of accurate Bible doctrine. God has given us a power system so that we can execute His plan, purpose and will while living in Satan’s cosmic system. It is an encapsulated environment in which we can choose to live, and it affords believers all the necessary tools for a successful Christian life. Jesus Christ tested and proved this encapsulated life for us and now sits at the right hand of God the Father as a testimony to its effectiveness. As believers, we have been given the same power system that was given to Christ, which enabled Him to live a sinless life. Though we cannot live a sinless life, we can live a life pleasing to God when we reside in God’s encapsulated environment and utilize His power system. (Ephesians 2:1-3, 6:12)
Only by residing in God’s system can the believer overcome the craftiness and deceit of the devil. Satan is the great counterfeiter and will do everything in his power to stop unbelievers from trusting Christ as Savior and to stop believers from executing God’s plan. Satan uses his power and genius to present himself and his followers as “ministers of righteousness,” while leading the unsuspecting and duped believer into a life of self-righteous arrogance or lascivious lawlessness. However, no one has an excuse when it comes to Satan’s ploys. We all possess volition and we make the choice to reside in either God’s system or Satan’s system. (Colossians 1:13; I Peter 5:8-9)
Even when we do fail and fall into Satan’s trap, we can be delivered from Satan’s power. God in His matchless grace has provided a way back into His system. A believer does not have to spend time in Satan’s cosmic system. The way back into God’s system is the Rebound Technique, which is naming or acknowledging your personal sins directly to God. A believer is then restored to fellowship with God and to the filling of God the Holy Spirit (God’s power system). This is why it is so important to keep “short accounts” with God. When you realize that you have sinned, immediately name it to God. This way you will sustain any momentum that you have and will stay in fellowship with God for longer periods of time. No believer, regardless of geographic location, upbringing, I.Q. or any other factor has an excuse for not living within God’s power system. (I John 1:9)
Divine Viewpoint Thinking is the key to overcoming the power of the sin nature. When we begin to think the way God thinks, we will be able to recognize overt and mental attitude sins in our lives. Once these sins are recognized, we can acknowledge, isolate and forget them. This, of course, can eventually break the power that certain sins have over us. However, we must constantly be on guard. (Hebrews 2:14; I John 5:18)
Divine Viewpoint Thinking can be developed only through the consistent study and application of Bible doctrine. Just knowing Bible doctrine is not enough. Victory over certain sins comes as we use (apply) the doctrine that we have learned. Therefore, it is imperative that a believer has more than mere academic knowledge of God’s Word. Academic knowledge (gnosis) must be converted to spiritual knowledge (epignosis) by accurate application (wisdom).
As Divine Viewpoint Thinking permeates your thinking, Bible doctrine becomes your scale of values, your norms and standards begin to align with God’s, and even your conscience is influenced in a positive way. Thinking divine viewpoint sets up “a standard” by which you can evaluate everything that enters your mind, including temptation to commit personal sin. You have only two choices as a believer when it comes to thinking: Divine Viewpoint or Human Viewpoint. (Romans 12:1-3; II Corinthians 10:5-6; Philippians 2:5)
Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for our sin and He now provides the supernatural power to be delivered from it. This power is the filling of the Holy Spirit. God has completely blotted out our sins and does not remember them any longer. Therefore, we have no right to relive them, to think about them, to cry about them, to worry about them or to regret them.
God says that we need to “forget” them. Forgetting means that we are to lose them out of our mind, to neglect them, don’t consider them, don’t dwell on or ponder them. In other words, don’t give them an audience in your thinking. If and when they sneak back into our memory, we can simply use gratitude and thank God that they have already been forgiven and dealt with…. BLOTTED OUT. God will never use them against you, and in fact, He doesn’t even remember them!! Therefore, don’t insult God by using them against yourself! (Isaiah 44:22)
The Christian Way of Life is a life of thinking the thoughts of Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5, says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” The mind of Christ is the doctrine found in the Word of God, the only source of absolute truth. In order to have the proper thinking, the believer must be consistently learning, believing and applying the Word of God to every circumstance in life.
God has given all believers a command to grow spiritually, and He never gives us a command without giving us the means necessary to obey it. God, therefore, has provided His written instruction book (the Bible) and the filling (control) of the Holy Spirit. Both are grace functions for every believer in this age, regardless of education or I.Q. Any believer with a positive attitude towards Bible doctrine can learn, believe and apply it accurately.
At salvation all believers are placed into union with Jesus Christ and become complete in Him (positionally). (Colossians 2:10) However, experientially we are not complete because we still have a sin nature. For this reason, all believers are commanded to grow spiritually and to advance toward spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity and a stabilized mind should be the goal of every person who has trusted Christ as Savior. (Ephesians 4:14-15; II Peter 3:18)