Something was just dropped within me, so bear with me while we try to bring it through the knot hole, if you will. Jesus asked a question which Matthew records in chapter 6 verse 23: “But if your eye be evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Or we may say, if the sin which is in us is evil, how great is that sins power over us? Or like we've heard said, that sin will cost you more than you want to pay and keep you longer than you want to stay. But just here is what our being placed within the corral of Israel's estate is to draw us to, not only convict of sin but to reveal the evilness of sin and that we're not equipped to rid ourselves of its power in our own strength or self sufficiency. This is why we've been gifted with the Holy Spirit for His training onto God's righteousness, drawing us. Then He opens up our understanding of the need for the second blessing when He's had His perfect work in us. Up until then we're still caught in the holds of Him as our tutor just as the Levitical Law was meant to be for Israel's training it is for ours also. But like Israel, God did not want them to remain within its borders and self imposed weights of idolatry. They too were to have come out of its weightiness of sin and its death. And Paul tells us just how to break the hold of death and sin on us and in our members or flesh. When Paul says in Romans chapter 6 starting at verse 1:
Romans 6:1-2
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (1 John 3:9)” Now remember we're still dealing with Paul's stint in the wilderness at which time he received further revelation or what could be called the second blessing. That being:
Romans 6:3-14 “Know we not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in Newness of Life (the promised New Covenant of Jeremiah 31:31). 5 For if we have been planted (John 12:24, 15:1-8) together in the likeness of His death (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Philippians 2:8), we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10-11; Ephesians 2:5-6): 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him (1 Peter 2:24), that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin (Galatians 3:13, Titus 2:4). 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over Him (Ephesians 1:13). 10 For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He lives, He lives unto God. 11 Likewise reckon (an accounting term: the reasons, to deliberate) we also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that we should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield we your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves to God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for we are not under the law, but under Grace.” This we feel is the key which opens the door or gate which the Lord Jesus said that He was, He even alluded to the gates keeper which we feel at this time is Paul. One example maybe found in John's gospel: 10:2-3 “But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear His voice: and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out.” How do we know this to be true? Lets look at Romans chapter 5 verse 19 for the answer:
Romans 5:18-19 “Therefore as by the offense (Adam) of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (the second Adam) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life (through death). 19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” We've been made righteous of God by God's placing us in Christ and therefore our being identified as being in Christ hung on the tree, buried with Him, resurrected in Him and then ascended within Him to His place of Glory at the Father of spirits right hand. This is the second blessing and is part and parcel of the ("Last Super" through this term is not used in scripture) pass over meal because Jesus was the figure hidden within it, the revelation which was given to Paul while he was in the wilderness. For its from this point on that he no longer goes first to the Hebrew synagogues to preach. Now this was all said to lay a foundation for that which is still to follow. But here's where the Hebrews have the greatest problem and that is chapter 53 of Isaiah which is where our quote here is taken from, verses 10-12 (Hebrews 5:8-9). Back to Peter's message to see how this all just fits so well.
II Peter 3:15-16a
"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16. As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; (of salvation in verse 15) in which are some things hard to be understood,..." We don't think Peter ever fully understood Paul's Gospel of Grace. Why? Because he held to the rituals of Israel's priesthood and the forefathers just as people are doing now and Israel is attempting to resurrect even now. When this is done they remain under the veil and cloud of separation which for those of the second blessing have it removed in total. Why? Because of the willingness to give all into God's hands, in other wards, to die by the means of revelation and in the power of God's working it in them, the sanctification of holiness and righteousness unto godliness. This is to become truly Christ-Like and to walk in the New Covenant in the power of an Endless Life, the abundance of life which Jesus said we're to have "IF" we love Him and obey His commands, that is to be a doer of His Word and not hearers only. Then we are not ever willing to give up so great a salvation. For we know that to do so would mean total destruction of both soul and spirit as we would put to shame the Blood and the cross of Christ. And Christ will not be had in that fashion. Now verse 9 of Galatians chapter 2.
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