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First a brief elucidation of the phrases. Works of the flesh and works of the spirit. The cross also symbolize the law of Christ by faith, not by sight (works of the flesh), but rather the new nature/character in Christ. Works of the Flesh: Which is to walk by sight, the same as the law of works. We are to put forth works of the spirit, the spirit of God. Law of works = works of the flesh (old nature under the old law, covenant and order). This is self righteousness. Righteousness of the law and spirit of the flesh, of the world. Law of faith = works by the spirit, by grace, through faith (new mature under the new, , mature law, covenant and order). This is the righteousness of Christ/God. "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness. that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11 "Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law." - Romans 3:27-28
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, *not a result of works*, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created *in Christ Jesus for good works*, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:8-10
Phillipians 3: See how Paul himself actually describe the works of the law and the works of the flesh, and self righteousness as the same. And then he also give some examples as to what this constitutes. Then he goes on to say that we are not saved by the law, but by faith. So notice what he clearly speak of here, what he means by "law" here. Philippians 3: 3-9: "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence.
If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith."
Fruit (works) of the Law of works.
Same as the law of the letter/of the flesh/ the law of this world. Those who are under the old, immature law and covenant. They walk by "sight" (the literal, shallower, the apparant)
VS.
Fruit (works) of the Law of Faith.
Same as the law of the spirit. The law of Christ. Those who are under the new, everlasting law and covenant. They walk by faith.
2. Cor 3. Romans 8. John 7:24.
Works of the law, of the flesh (self righteousness,) is the typical, lesser, the local, the physical/apparant, the more superficial/external/outer, the immature, the temporal, what is limited to outer factors like race, nation, genes, gender, status and so on.
See Romans 2:28-29. For one good example. Also Galatians 3:26-29. We see works of the flesh, of self, contrasted with works by grace (undeserved power from the holy spirit of God) through faith. The latter happens by advancing in the process of sanctification and being transformed into the image of God. Works of the law is the same as the law of the flesh, which is also referred to as self righteousness, In Romans 8 we also have another expression associated with it: the law of sin and the law of death.
Romans 8:1-4
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."
So, it is the works committed under the old, immature law, covenant and order, which is the unsanctified immature nature of humanity. Hence why we must be sanctified, and advance forward on the path of the cross, crucifying the flesh = the sinful human character, and be born again under the new, everlasting law, covenant and order of Jesus Christ. Which is how He set us free from the law of bondage the law of sin. the law of works, the law of the flesh, the law that leads to death.
See also Galatians 4. Grace has two functions: it is both pardon for repented transgressions by the atonement of Christ. It is also power from God by His spirit to overcome our old nature, and be increasingly filled with the law of Christ. See Galatians 3:1-3. "By means of the flesh" or "by means of the spirit". Read also Galatians 4. Romans 8.
The witchcraft/magic of this world is about walking by sight after the old law of the flesh/world. While the magic of God, is to walk by faith, after the law of Christ/God, by grace. Walking after the new law, covenant and order. God's version, His magic, is by His spirit, a much deeper, higher magic from above, not of this world.
1. Corinthians 2:10-14:
"But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, *the deep things of God*.
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. 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. 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. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
So It has to do with whom we are linked to, (spell) bound by, entertained by.
"You foolish Galatians! Who has BEWITCHED you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by *means of the Spirit*, are you now trying to finish by *means of the flesh*?" - Galatians 3: 1-3
Here is contrasted those who walk by faith and by the spirit, and those who walk by sight. Works of faith, of the spirit of God vs Works of the flesh, of the spirit of the world. "Means of the spirit" vs "means of the flesh."
The law and spirit of the flesh is the same as the law and spirit of the world and of self.
1. Corinthians chapter 2.
"Works by" is actions, loyalty and obedience to either the Law of God/Christ
or the Law of the world/flesh.
Linked to:
1. The world/self /flesh and the father of it, Satan.
2. To Christ/ God
We could say that it is only by being increasingly filled with the deeper magic of God and heaven, by His spirit, that we can escape the magic of this World and the spirit of the world, Satan.
.....
Satan believe his magic is better and more powerful than God's magic. But that is because he do (or did) not expect or even comprehend much of the fullness of the spirit and magic from God. See explanation further down.
The deeper magic can be higher joy, higher justice, higher wisdom, higher love. The higher, divine love of God was perfectly demonstrated at the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When the highest, the son of God, chose to lower himself, and become a servant and savior of the fallen race, mankind.
Remember: This is a real battle, a real and highly advanced spiritual war.
"Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme.
The church may APPEAR as about to fall, but it does not fall."
2SM page 380
True Christianity will appear to fall, because it seems that way to those who walk by sight or according to their polluted doctrines = they walk according to how things appear like (this is a trait of the law of the old covenant, and the law of the flesh and the spirit of the world. Walking by sight, after their senses, after the literal, apparent, outer, which is of a shallower nature than the deeper things from the spirit of God).
"For Satan himself APPEAR as an angel of light.."
While Christ said in John 7:24:
"Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."
The false gods of Israel were gods they could see or touch or sense with their 5 senses. Observable and apparant gods. While faith and the spirit of God has to do with the invisible, inner, the spiritual and heavenly. Not just a 6th sense, but a 7th sense, if you will. The law of God written on our inner man, our hearts and minds. "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.” "The kingdom of God is within"
Luke 17:21
How did it seem or appear like to the world and immature believers, when Christ himself hung on that cross, and gained the victory over Satan?
He appeared to lose. Yet this was the moment of victory for the true Christian church, true believers. So we are not to judge by appearances, how things appear like. This is the way of this world, not the way of Christ. Who is a king, a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, not by outer factors like race, nationality, gender, ancestry, status etc, but only by faith (the deeper inner values of having Christ and His law written on our hearts and minds by grace through faith).
See Hebrews ch. 7-10. Galatians 3. Hebrews 8:10. ----- Read more here:
To learn more on the difference between the old and the new covenant , go to the series.
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