SUMMARY
When we get born again yet remain spiritually blind, we find ourselves putting up with things that we do not have to tolerate because of what Jesus did. Renewing our minds according to the Gospel of Grace frees us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and we learn things of which the world is unaware. Learning to think differently changes our thought patterns so that we are no longer bound by the Law of Moses. The enemy does not want this change to happen, and he tries to stop it by attacking our minds.
If Satan can affect our consciousness, then he can impact our spiritual sight. Believers living under grace are no longer sinners, because their old sinful natures are gone. We can overcome the enemy’s attempts to remind us of sin by consciously being aware of life under God’s grace. A. We must be mindful that we are now under grace and no longer under the law. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the
gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). Believers do not have to tolerate what the rest of the world puts up with, but if we are unaware of this, we are spiritually blind. Satan tries to keep people in bondage by blinding unbelievers’ minds to the gospel of grace (2 Corinthians 4:4). For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you (Romans 6:14-17). This refers to sin as a noun, not as a verb. The sin to which Paul refers is the sinful nature. When we are saved, our old sinful nature is dead and gone. We are living under grace; therefore, we must have a grace-consciousness. Sin unto death and obedience unto righteousness are two different doctrines. The first doctrine came by Adam; the second came by Jesus Christ. To obey is to hearken or listen to. We will serve whatever doctrine we listen to. Sin-consciousness can affect our faith. The disciples got confused on this point until Jesus explained to them that they did not need more faith, but simply faith the size of a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6). The real issue is not how much faith we have, but whether we continue to employ it until we have what we want. Believing God and standing on our faith is how we fight spiritual warfare. Our faith is strengthened by assembling in church with other believers. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Our works of faith maintain our belief. This is part of laboring to enter into rest (Hebrews 4:11). B. The Law of Moses has been repealed. God replaced it with a better covenant. When God speaks of a new [covenant or agreement], He makes the first one obsolete (out of use). And what is obsolete (out of use and annulled because of age) is ripe for disappearance and to be dispensed with altogether (Hebrews 8:13, AMPC). This refers to the Mosaic covenant, the Law of Moses. The grace of God reconciles everything that is wrong, including marriage relationships based on an expired covenant (Genesis 3:16). Jesus restored the equality between women and men (Galatians 3:28). It is not good to be always conscious of sin and the requirements of the law (1 Timothy 4:1-3). And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons (Genesis 3:7). God’s original plan was for mankind to live by the Tree of Life, not by the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. He wanted man to trust Him, but man thought he needed knowledge. Adam and Eve had a choice as to which tree would open their eyes and their consciousness. We have the same choice; our lives will follow that consciousness. If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? (Hebrews 7:11). In the Bible, there were two types of priesthoods. The Aaronic priesthood stated that man had to do something first in order to get something from God. The Melchizedek priesthood was the opposite, and it emphasized blessings with no curses. This perfection does not refer to being perfect and sinless; it refers to our conscience. If we are conscious of sin, our conscience has not been perfected. We cannot have a perfect conscience under the law. C. As believers, we are sinners no longer. We must remember that we are saints. Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience…How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:9, 14). When we get born again, we obey the doctrine of obedience to righteousness and become consciously aware of who we are in Christ. At that point we have come to perfection as pertaining to our conscience. Religion tells us we are sinners saved by grace. Because of Jesus’ blood, we are no longer sinners, but saints saved by grace. In many churches, the doctrine of Adam is preached to promote sin-consciousness. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22). An evil conscience is sin-consciousness. It happens when we are more aware of sin than our identity in Christ as the righteousness of God. Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:2). A seared conscience is a conscious mind perpetually stuck in sin-consciousness. The message of grace sets us free from an evil conscience. Paul felt strongly about this. There is no other Gospel but the Gospel of Grace. He wrote that anyone preaching any other Gospel should be accursed (Galatians 1:6-9). SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Acts 20:24 Genesis 3:7, 16 2 Corinthians 4:4 Galatians 3:28 Romans 6:14-17 1 Timothy 4:1-3 Matthew 17:20 Hebrews 7:11 Luke 17:6 Hebrews 9:9, 14 Romans 10:17 Hebrews 10:22 Hebrews 4:11 Galatians 1:6-9 Hebrews 8:13
