DOCTRINE OF THE RULERSHIP OF LIFE
September 9, 1981
  1. Preliminary observations and introduction.
    1. The principle of rulership is found in the theology of Rom.5:14,17,21 and 6:12.
    2. There exist two potential rulers of the Real You (the soul).
      1. The ISTA, programmed with a knowledge of human good and evil (Rom.6:12).
      2. The IHS along with the reprogrammed mind of Christ (Gal.5:17).
    3. A distinction must be maintained between the:
      1. Real You (determines who rules).
      2. ISTA (totally depraved).
      3. IHS and mind of Christ (producing the image of Christ).
    4. The volition of the soul (the Real You) determines who rules the soul at any given moment (Gal.5:17, pres.act.subj. of poie,w, poieo).
    5. The origin of the three men.
      1. The Real You is immaterial, invisible, and eternal, and comes perfect and sinless from creation at physical birth. See the Doctrine of the Soul.
      2. The ISTA comes through procreation through genetic engineering and is therefore called "flesh" (Rom.7:14,17,18,20,21,23. See the Doctrine of the OSN/STA).
      3. The new or inner man, which the IHS constructs out of Bible Doctrine in the positive believer (Rom.7:22; 13:14; Eph.4:24; Col.3:10; cf. Gal.4:19; Jn.15:4,5,7,10).
  2. The Real You determines who is the ruler of life at any given point in time (Rom.8:5).
    1. As seen in the exhortations to walk by the Spirit and not the flesh (Gal.5:16,17; cf. Rom.6:12).
    2. All afferent impulses (5 senses) to the brain computer are either translated into efferent action in the body, i.e., sin or righteousness (Rom.6:13,16,19).
    3. Neither the ISTA nor IHS can usurp authority over the Real You apart from volition (can only lust, entice, strive, etc.).
  3. When the OSN/STA rules the Real You.
    1. In the believer the OSN is put in the rulership spot when the volition sends out a command to the body to sin (Rom.7:8).
    2. Paul uses himself to illustrate this process in Rom.7:7-11 "sin came back to life".
    3. The sin that the believer commits under the FHS immediately places the flesh in control of the life.
    4. The believer who is in this carnal state is said to be:
      1. Dead (Rom.7:9-11; 8:13; Jam.1:14,15).
      2. A slave to STA lusts (Rom.6:6,16).
      3. A prisoner of war (POW; Rom.7:23).
      4. Like the unbeliever.
      5. Having an affair with the STA (Jam.1:14,15).
      6. Deceived by lusts (Rom.7:11).
    5. Synonyms for the sin nature.
      1. Sin in the singular, with or without the definite article (Rom.7:17,18,20).
      2. Flesh, fleshly (Rom.8:8; 1Cor.3:1; Col.2:18).
      3. Mortal body (Rom.6:12).
      4. Old man (Rom.6:6; Eph.4:22; Col.3:9).
      5. Corruptible man (Rom.1:23).
      6. Corruptible seed (refers to the mechanics of transmission; 1Pet.1:23).
      7. Body of death (Rom.7:24).
      8. Body of sin (Rom.6:6).
    6. As a spiritual POW, the believer enters evil, which includes (Eph.5:11; 6:12; Col.1:13; 1Jn.1:6; 2:11):
      1. Sins (Gal.5:19,21).
      2. Human good (Heb.6:1; 1Jn.3:12; cf. Rom.7:19,21).
      3. Doctrines of demons (Rom.1:18ff; 1Cor.1:21; 1Jn.4:5).
  4. When the IHS and the new man rule the Real You.
    1. You do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Gal.5:16).
    2. You keep the Law (Rom.8:4).
    3. Hence you practice righteousness (Rom.6:13b,16b-19).
    4. You produce divine good (Rom.7:21).
    5. You are constantly building up the new man (2Cor.4:16; Col.2:7).
    6. You exhibit the production of the Holy Spirit (Gal.5:22,23).
    7. You isolate the STA (Rom.7:8b; 8:13; Gal.5:24).
    8. Synonyms for this state.
      1. Alive (Rom.6:13; 7:9).
      2. FHS (Eph.5:18).
      3. Walking in the Spirit, light, or love (Gal.5:16; 1Jn.1:7; Eph.5:2).
      4. Slave to righteousness (Rom.6:16,18).
      5. The law of the Spirit of life (Rom.8:2).
      6. Imitators of God (Eph.5:1).
      7. Spiritual (1Cor.2:15).
    9. Synonyms for the new man.
      1. Image (2Cor.3:18).
      2. Christ (Rom.13:14).
      3. New man (Eph.4:24).
      4. Inner man (Rom.7:22).
  5. Only by knowledge of doctrine can believers practice spirituality (Rom.6:17,18) and hence, "walk in wisdom".
  6. And it is not by the Law (Rom.6:14; cf. 7:8b).

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  7. Whenever the positive believer is under control of one of the two rulers, the other is seeking to influence the Real You.
    1. The flesh being hostile to all divine viewpoint (Rom.8:7; Gal.5:17).
    2. Or the new man, who hates the works of the flesh (Rom.7:15; Gal.5:17).
  8. The issue for the believer who is carnal is found in Eph.5:14 (aor.a.imper. of avnisth,mi, anistemi; cf. Rom.6:12).
Reviewed: October 18, 1981

March 23, 1983

March 10, 1999


 

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