Justified in the Spirit

Justified in the Spirit

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.” 1 Tim. 3:16.

This is indeed a great mystery of godliness. He was not justified in the flesh. We read about Him “being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” 1 Pet. 3:18.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” Rom. 7:18. “Because the desire of the flesh is enmity against God.” Ch. 8:7.

Jesus partook of this same flesh. According to the flesh He was born of the seed of David. Rom. 1:3; Heb. 2:14-16. Esau and Edom represent the flesh. Isaiah prophesied concerning Jesus: “Who is this who comes from Edom, with red garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength?—‘I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.’” “I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the people no one was with Me. For I have trodden them in My anger, and trampled them in My fury.” “For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come.” “I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, made them drunk in My fury, and let their blood run down to the earth.” Isa. 63:1-8.

This was the prophecy, and the fulfillment of it was this: “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh . . . .” Rom. 8:3. When Jesus came in the flesh, He had opportunity to avenge Himself. He trampled the peoples in His anger. Sin was condemned in the flesh. The law could not help people to be liberated from the flesh—from Edom. This help was provided by God when He sent His Son. He did not remain in Edom. He was not overcome by sin in the flesh; neither did He play around with it. He did not enjoy His flesh in the least. He had a day of vengeance in His heart and put to death all the peoples of Edom—He put to death sin in the flesh. He was justified in the spirit. According to the flesh He was born of the seed of David, but His resurrection from the dead proved that His spirit had not been tainted by the flesh, that He had conquered it completely. Rom. 1:3-4. For he who lives according to the flesh shall die. Ch. 8:12-13. Concerning this battle against the flesh in order not to die, we read that He had “in the days of His flesh . . . offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear.” Heb. 5:7.

Jesus invites us to follow Him on this way out of Edom. He says that if we want to follow Him, we have to take up our cross daily and deny ourselves. He who finds his life (his life according to the flesh) shall lose it. This is what it means to put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. Rom. 8:13. Then we find the life in Christ, because we are no longer debtors to the flesh. V. 12. We do not owe these peoples from Edom anything. If we want to follow Jesus, we must also have this vengeance in our hearts. We receive power through the Spirit to follow Him on the way out of Edom. Then we become spiritual instead of remaining carnal.

This battle reveals whether we are being justified in the spirit, or whether our human spirit agrees with and wants to enjoy something in the flesh! If we have the same vengeance Jesus had we will suffer in the flesh and be justified in our spirit. In this battle we can arm ourselves with the same mind that “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” 1 Pet. 4:1.

On this way we become partakers of divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:4. When we live like this, it can be said of us, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit.” Rom. 8:9. The trials will reveal whether this is true or not. As the light increases, it reveals things in our life that are not good. The evil will appear because of sin in the flesh, but has my mind consented to it? This is the pivotal question. Paul says, “It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Rom. 7:19-20. This has to be tested whether it is true. I do not have this vengeance of Jesus in my heart if I excuse it and explain it away; then I am not being justified in the spirit either. But if I do have this vengeance in my heart, it proves that I serve the law of God with my mind. I am being justified in the spirit and suffer death in the flesh. This is what it means to walk in the light.

“And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” Rom. 8:10.

Life is fellowship. Those who follow Jesus out of Edom—who are being justified in the spirit—experience more and more fellowship. It is impossible to build up fellowship among religious people who are carnal. They explain away the bad things they do and seek recognition from one another. Their spirit is not being justified and set free from sin in the flesh. They argue and backbite one another because their desires wage war in their members. Jas. 4:1-3.

Thanks be to God who has revealed the narrow way to us that leads to life. Jesus’ prayer, “That they all may be one,” is being fulfilled in our midst.