Job 36: Kings in Fetters (Part 5)
We continue from where we last stopped, in Part 4.
Romans 7:14-15 "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I."
As long as we are in the carnal flesh, we will struggle with sin, just like David. Even after a person is born again, he will continue to do the things which he hates, but that which is good, he does not. Paul continues to explain:
Romans 7:16-18 "If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."
The law is good and it is like a mirror which shows us how sinful we are before the thrice holy God. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50). When a person is born again, old things are passed away, and his soul is now freed from the law which binds her to the old man. We’ve covered that previously. The soul is that invisible part of us.
Ezekiel 18:4 "Behold, all souls are mine... the soul that sinneth, it shall die."
In Genesis 2:7, God breathed life (spirit) into the physical body of man, and he became a living soul, and the body is now alive. It has a will of its own, it can think, it can talk, it can move, it can feel, it resides in the flesh and blood body, and it can sin. That’s why Paul said in verse 17 “... it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me”. Present with the soul of a born again believer is a new man. The new man is the opposite of the old man, and this is where Paul draws a contrast between “I” and “sin” in:
Romans 17:17 “... it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me”
The “I” in this verse is the new man, and “sin” being the opposite, is the old man. While the soul will sin according to the lies that she has been fed with, and will continue to sin even after a person was born again, but the new man cannot sin.
1 John 5:18 "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."
He that is begotten of God is a son of God, and that’s the new man in every born again believer. Therefore, the soul is in a conflict between the new man and the old man in the same body.
Romans 7:22-23 "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."
The inward man is the new man. The conflict is between the law of God after the new man in the mind of a born again believer, and the law of sin after the old man in the flesh and blood body of the same believer.
Romans 7:24-25 "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin."
It is with the mind that the soul will serve the law of God, and with the flesh she serves the law of sin. The old man will sin, but the new man cannot sin.
1 Samuel 25:37-38 "But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. 38 And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died."
The context of this verse is about Abigail (a picture of the soul), whom after she encountered David (a picture of Jesus Christ), and she came back to Nabal (a picture of the flesh) and told him what happened. It was then when Nabal’s heart died within him, and he became as a stone. Nabal’s heart is the old man.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
When a person is born again, the old things in his life are passed away. Notice it is “are passed away”, meaning that the old things are presently passed away. This goes along with:
Romans 6:6 "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."
The old man in every born again believer is crucified and continues to be crucified, just as Nabal did not die immediately when his heart died within him. Abigail continued to be married to him until ten days later, when he finally died. During this period of ten days, Abigail was still bound by the law to her husband. Why ten days? What did the Bible tell us about the number 10?
Daniel 1:14-15 "So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat."
In this passage, Daniel and his three friends were “proved” for ten days. There is also a second witness in:
Revelation 2:10 "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
Think also about the Ten Commandments which God use to prove the children of Israel. Therefore, the soul continues to be married to the old man, and she is bound by the law to the flesh as long as he liveth. But we will all die one day, and that is when the soul will be loosed from the law that binds her to her husband so that she is now free to marry the new man. God will use this period of “ten days” to prove our faith, just as he used the Ten Commandments to prove the children of Israel. Do you get the picture? It is during this period that our faith will be tried. If you are truly a born again child of God, you will have tribulation in this life.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 "Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
1 Peter 4:12-13 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
As born again believers, we are expected to go through many fiery trials in our lives, and we ought not to count it strange thing. Again, I am probably getting ahead of myself, but these passages go to show us that God will use the fire of tribulation to try the works of every born again believer. There will be some that will produce more fruits, and there will be some that will produce less. A born again believer is rewarded when his works abide, and if his works be burned, he shall suffer a loss but he cannot lose his salvation. This goes along with:
Job 36:10-12 "He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge."
God will chastise a born again believer, even as a father to a son. If they obey and serve him, God will reward them for their faith. But if they obey not the words of the LORD, they shall perish by the sword. Paul continues to explain in:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
The soul of a born again believer is the part of him which is holy by the washing of the word. The body of a born again believer is the temple of God wherein the Spirit of God dwelleth. If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy. This goes along with:
Job 36:12 "But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge."
If a man, after he has been born again, continues to live a sinful life, him shall God destroy yet his soul shall God save.
2 Samuel 7:12-15 "¶ And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. 14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: 15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee."
This was God’s promise to king David concerning Solomon, his son, who shall inherit Israel after him. God said in this passage that his mercy shall not depart from Solomon even though he shall commit iniquity, and the fact is that Solomon did. Solomon probably committed more sins than any other saints in the 66 books of the Holy Bible, yet he did not lose his salvation. He sinned, and God chastised him for his iniquity, even as a father to a son. This is a contrast to king Saul whom God said in the same passage that he took his mercy from, and it goes to show that it is not by what we do that we earn merits with God, but that God knows what is in our hearts when he saved us. There is a reason why God choose to save certain sinners, and it has to do with what is in their hearts.
To continue in Part 6. Have a great weekend!