Our Earthly Walk.

12. Our Earthly Walk. At the moment we trust Christ as our personal Savior, we are indwelt with a new nature—the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13). The believer still has his old, Adamic nature he was born with. Therefore, both natures are in a battle to control the believer's life. Galatians 5:17-18 tells us...

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." This includes the Law of the Saturday "Sabbath," as well as the other 719 laws! The flesh always seeks to exalt self; whereas, the Holy Spirit seeks to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 8:1-2 is speaking of our service to the Lord and not of Salvation. The Lord makes it very clear that all works done out of the flesh will be condemned.

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, BUT after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE from the LAW of sin and death."

Remember, the specifics of the law of the seventh-day Sabbath were: you could not leave your dwelling place; you could not build a fire; you could not cook; nor, do work of any kind on the Sabbath. Violation of these Sabbath restrictions required the death penalty, by stoning. The Sabbath was a day of complete rest only. Those, today, holding on to the Saturday "Sabbath" ought to be so thankful they are living in the Day of Grace, and will only suffer loss of reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11-15); instead of being stoned to death under the Law! Therefore, "...the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

We are grateful to the Lord that the disciples followed the Holy Spirit's leading in setting aside the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (Sunday) for Christians to assemble. Following this example, we can use this day, not only to rest; BUT, also to worship together; partake of the Lord's Supper, fellowship, exhort others; and to study God's Word through the preaching of the Word. This provides us opportunity to exalt the Lord by the Holy Spirit, and not the flesh; by exalting self through the keeping of the Old Testament Law of the Sabbath. Proverbs 3:5-6 sums up the whole matter of the Flesh and Spirit conflict.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."