| Repentance from Dead Works |
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6:1 Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
9:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
The phrase is found in Hebrews 6.1. There is the ‘elementary teaching about Christ’, viz. repentance from dead works & faith toward God; instruction about baptisms & the laying on of hands; and the resurrection of the dead & eternal judgment.
Then again, in Heb 9.14, we find this wonderful statement: ‘How much more will the blood of Christ…cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?’
The phrase ‘dead works’ has been coming to my mind often these days. There seems to be a lot of dead works these days, especially in evangelical circles. Do we really understand the impact of Calvary? The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience [and spirit] from dead works. We think about our conscience as being cleansed from sin, but the writer to the Hebrews talks about ‘cleansing from dead works’!
What is it that is issuing from me – is it the dead works of the flesh or the fruit of the Spirit? Whatever comes from my old man, my natural wisdom, my natural strength, my skill, my talent, my own will – all this will result only in ‘dead works’. It is only that which originates from God through the Spirit that brings forth life. If I try to work for God in the energy of the flesh, it will be of no avail. The best of human wisdom will fail in the service of God.
Whatever I do in the flesh, out of natural reasoning and human wisdom, is null and void where God is concerned. God has to bring forth life in us, and He does that through His Spirit working in our spirit. Which means, I must in all humility and helplessness learn to wait upon the Lord, I must learn to spend time at His feet. I will not move, unless He tells me to move. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life and peace, and I have to live and walk by the Spirit. Nothing of or from myself is of any use to God. He is the Great Originator.
Which means I can do nothing for God! God has to work in and through me. But first the blood has to be sprinkled on me, in my heart, in my spirit. Then I am freed from dead works and can serve the living God. |
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