THE ORIGINAL VICTORY
Deception | Eden
The man whom God created
was indeed good, but there remained a deciding issue—that of life and death.

Watchman Nee
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THE GREATER DECEPTION
By Lee LeFebre

We of course expect the world to be deceived. We expect them to not know normality from abnormality, good from evil, or light from darkness. But why in heaven’s name is most of the church ignorant of this? Why does the Christian community buy into all the insanity of calling non-physically-based mental, emotional, and relational symptoms sickness instead of normalcy, or the works of the flesh, which is how the Bible describes them? Let me suggest it’s because the same effects of self-sufficiency and incompleteness afflict the church. How can this be? Isn’t the Christian indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Of course! But if the person is indeed a Christian isn’t he complete? Remember, I mentioned earlier that Christians have the same difficulties in their ranks as the world does. The Christian community is not hearing how God came to free us from who we are in our first birth. We aren’t being taught how to exchange our source of life.

The church is hearing that God came to set them free from what they have done—forgiveness for their sinful past. In the meantime, they are left to struggle and fight the good fight to set themselves free, and to overcome and cope with the bondage, the captivities, the destructive personalities, and their past. God, they are told, will help them do this.

The truth of the matter is that the gospel of forgive- ness is not enough, and neither is the gospel of trying to produce the fruit of the Spirit with God’s help.

The Set-up

We learn at a young age the need for a life based on self-sufficiency. We were born self-centered, self- sufficient, self-empowered, self-actualized, and self- protective. If we were going to be somebody, we had to be self-made. If we were to find freedom from dependency we had to work to become independent. If we were going to improve our image, we had to develop self-esteem. These traits are looked upon as worthy goals.

Somewhere in the process we hopefully invited Christ into our life. We were told that Christ came to help us. Help us—the self-sufficient, independent ones—to live the Christian life, to help us to defeat sin and temptation, to help us cope with the stresses of life, and to not only help us but to strengthen us and guide us as well.

Consider, for example, the vine and the branches Jesus spoke of in the gospel of John. Can you imagine the branches on a vine being asked what role the vine plays in their life, and answering “Well, the vine came to help me be a good branch. The vine came to be my assistant. I am quite capable of being self-sufficient except when times get tough. Then I need to ask the vine for help. However, be assured that I give the vine credit for everything I do.”

The vine would say, “Oh foolish branch, apart from me you are dead and have no life. I am your very life, your identity, your source of power. You bear fruit because of me! Apart from me you can do nothing. Get over your arrogance, your pride, your self-sufficiency. And, by the way, self-exaltation is another of your problems.”

It is a deception that God came to be our helper, rather than our life. Certain scriptures of course, refer to the Holy Spirit as our helper, or comforter, as in the following, ....so we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6). These are largely quotes from the Old Testament when God was outside of man instead of indwelling man. He never intended that the Holy Spirit would help the flesh to be self-sufficient and self- loving. They are opposed to one another. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish (Galatians 5:17).

Flesh Enablers

The underlying issue is we have not been taught to exchange our original strategy for living at birth—the self-sufficient life—for the Christ-sufficient or dependent life. However, we have been taught to improve the flesh. More often than not, our Christian teachers have been flesh enablers.

Of course, there are many variations of this deception for Christians. Many think that abiding in Christ is the flesh depending on Christ when performing a particular task.

I personally opted for the throne concept for five years. When I sinned, I believed self was on the throne. When I confessed every known sin and asked to be controlled by the Spirit, I claimed Christ was on the throne. Let me explain.

He Came to be My Life

I in no way wish to detract from the kingship of Christ, but the throne concept masks a deeper truth. Jesus Christ didn’t come to be on the throne of my life! He came to be my life! When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory (Colossians 3:4), I came to give life—life in all its full- ness (John 10:10 NCV), and. For to me, to live is Christ
(Philippians 1:21). When he is experienced as life, he will also be my Lord and King.
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