Setting the Boundaries of the Faith

1 Corinthians 2:9

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Usually, when this verse is taught, it leaves “the things which God has prepared for us” as a mystery. They are made to sound very futuristic. One of the reasons the course ‘Rightly Dividing the Word’ has to be taught, is because we must learn to keep scripture within the context in which it is written. Let us continue reading:

1 Corinthians 2:10-11

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

The deep things of God are infinite. God is without beginning or end. Therefore, we can only process that which He reveals. The things that were once kept a mystery have now been revealed to us, the Church. The Church has received the revelation. It does not matter if the Church is not walking in the revealed mystery, it has received it. The Church has received the knowledge of the things that God has given and done. The things God has given are manifested in the things He has done.

1 Corinthians 2:12

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

The only way we can know what God has given or done is by the Spirit. No man can come unto God unless the Spirit draw him. After we have believed God, He gives us His Spirit: the only way we will know Jesus is Lord is through His Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:5

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Once we are born again, God makes a distinction between the spirit of the world and the Spirit of God. There are things that pertain to the spirit of the world, and there are people who pertain to the spirit of the world. Likewise, there are things that pertain to the Spirit of God, and there are people who pertain to the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:14-15

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The sons of God pertain to the Spirit of God. However, before we became sons of God, we were of the world and had the spirit of bondage. Therefore, the spirit of bondage is associated with, or pertains to the spirit of the world.

Romans 8:9

9 But ye 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.

Likewise, those who have the spirit of the world are not sons of God, they are still the sons of Adam and of Satan.

1 Corinthians 2:13

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual

It is the Holy Ghost who teaches us how to discern that which is of the spirit of the world and that which is of the Spirit of God. He enables us to compare the operations of the Holy Ghost to the operations of the spirit of the world. Operations could include deeds, sayings, doctrines and sentiments. When you are educated by the Holy Ghost, you are able to differentiate the things of the world from the things of God.

You cannot compare spiritual with spiritual without the Spirit of God. Sometimes it appears that there is a thin line between the spirit of the world and the Spirit of God; for example, sometimes there is a thin line between right and righteous. One can sometimes be right but not righteous. The state of being right is according to man's worldly wisdom, but righteousness is according to the the dictates of the Spirit.

If a doctrine points you to this world or yourself, it is of this world. The doctrines of God do not point you to yourself, because God is not trying to resurrect the old man. Sons of God make themselves of no reputation, as did Jesus Christ. The spirit of antichrist is already in the world, and we must have the Spirit of God in order to discern him.

ETERNAL LIFE

Genesis 3:22- 23

22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

In the Garden of Eden, there was a tree of life. Eternal life was in the tree. After Adam and Eve sinned, God put them out of the garden because the tree of life was there. He knew that if they partook of the tree they would continue living even though they had become spiritually dead.

ETERNAL LIFE NOW IN THE SON

1 John 5:7,11

7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son

Whereas, in the garden, eternal life was in the tree, this scripture (1John 5:11) declares eternal life is now in Jesus Christ. Everything in the New Testament must pertain to that record; that eternal life is in the Son. It is the life of Christ that has to be the focal point of the New Covenant. In addition, the life of Christ must be the focal point of our existence. All the information in the Old Covenant pointed to Christ, even before the Mosaic Law. We can see this when God prophesied to Eve of the coming Christ.

Genesis 3:14-15

14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

1 John 1:1

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life

John is saying the same thing Paul said in 1 Cor. 2:10 -12; when he indicated that those things had been revealed to us by the Spirit. Even the Apostles did not understand, until the Spirit fell on the Day of Pentecost. Although the disciples walked with Christ, they did not understand the mystery until they were filled with the Holy Ghost. Those things God has freely given to us are contained in Christ. It is the Holy Ghost who teaches us and causes us to understand the things God has freely given to us which are contained in Christ.

BOUNDARIES OF THE FAITH

Everything pertaining to the Church is in Christ. The life of Christ houses the things that God has given to us freely. He is the author and finisher of our faith so He sets the boundaries of the faith. The boundaries of the faith were set by the LIFE OF CHRIST. In that life (the boundary of the Faith) contains Oneness, Faith, Suffering and Purpose.

ONENESS

Jesus prayed for The Father to make us one as He and the Father are one. This can only be accomplished when we have the mind of Christ.

John 17:9-11

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

THE FAITH OF CHRIST

We now live by the faith of Christ, which is the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 4:5

5 There is One Lord, One faith and one baptism

Galatians 3:22-23, 25

22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe

23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed

Galatians 3:25

25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster

Galatians 2:20

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me

SUFFERING

We are appointed to suffer for Christ's sake. It is a necessary and key element in the life of Christ. We are required to enter into the fellowship of Christ's suffering so that we can be established in Christ, cease from sin, glorify Him in our bodies and fulfil His purpose. It is through suffering in the flesh that we show forth the power of Christ.

Philippians 1:29

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

Philippians 3:10

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

1 Peter 5:10

10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

GOD’S PURPOSE

God’s eternal purpose is for us to be conformed into the image of Christ who is perfection.

Ephesians 3:8-10

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,