Our Hidden Life

“For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:13.

This verse covers a vast territory—from manifest works of the flesh, to unconscious deeds—deeds that are the result of the “another law in our members” working in us. Romans 7:23. Here we have some of the height, breadth, length, and depth of the work of salva­tion that is in Christ, which we receive grace to comprehend together with all the saints. Ephesians 3:18.

From Jesus’ letters to the seven churches in Revelation we can observe that everything rested on the quality of their works. They had to be perfect before God. Revelation 3:2.

We have to find our “self,” our inner hidden man, where our life and desires are. When we put them to death by the Spirit, we shall live. The acknowledgment and understanding we receive through this cleansing becomes our personal possession. This can neither be taken away from us, nor can it be harmed by any power. We remain standing before the Son of Man. Luke 21:36.

Bringing the deeds of that “other law” into the death of Christ results in glorious fruits. Those who are godfearing, wholehearted, and zealous experience a blessed life. When this “other law” reveals my “self,” it is because of godly fear. We must delight in the law of God with all our heart. Romans 7:22.

In order to receive this grace, our mind has to be closed to the world and open to God. Everything can have a nice outward appear­ance, but if our heart is not apprehended of the things that are invisi­ble, it is all in vain. Blessed is the man who meditates on the laws of the Lord day and night. Psalm 1:1-2. This man has set his mind on these things. Paul delighted in the law of God according to his inward man, and he served this law with his mind. Romans 7:25. We cannot be more apprehended than that.

Jesus put on the garment of zeal for clothing (Isaiah 59:17); it was this zeal for God’s house which consumed Him. John 2:17. If we want to partake of the height, breadth, depth, and length of this galvation, then we must also deny things that are not sin. By God’s love in our hearts, our minds are also set free from our “good” I.

There was no law in the old covenant that could give life. Galatians 3:21. However, now we can be made alive by the laws of the Spirit of life in Christ, by putting our nature to death.

The works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19), as well as dead works (Hebrews 6:1 and 9:14), are easily recognizable, but it is difficult to see the deeds produced by the “other law.” They are only revealed to us when we live a hidden life with Christ in God.

Being good, kind, and filled with the knowledge of God (Romans 15:14), as well as being praised for knowing the law (Romans 7:1), does not suffice. Our aim is to find those laws that set our mind free from our own nature. Then we can die as a grain of wheat in the ground and bear fruit to maturity by serving God. If there is a lack of spiritual service, it is because there is a lack of a hidden life and meditating on the laws of the Lord.

When we live a godfearing life so that the deeds of the “other law” are revealed, a transformation takes place in our life for which Jesus ministers as our High Priest. There are few who find the narrow way that leads to life (Matthew 7:14) and whose desire and longing is for Christ to give them light. Ephesians 5:14. They partake of a hidden life which, in weight and content, is like an iceberg, the greater part of which is hidden beneath the surface.

We are not permitted to have a lesser goal for our spiritual service than what we read in Romans 12:1: to “present our body,” so we can find our “self” and the things that we are to put to death by the Spirit.