The Form of Doctrine

The Form of Doctrine

“But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”

“But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness [sanctification], and the end, everlasting life.” V. 22. What is sanctification? Sanctification is when I put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit; then I shall live. Rom. 8:13. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” V. 14.

A multitude of people who believe in God believe they are sons of God through the forgiveness of sins. This was John’s work, and Jesus said about him that there was no one greater who was born of women. But he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matt. 11:11-12. John says, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matt. 3:11. Here we can see the great difference between being baptized for the forgiveness of sins and putting to death the deeds of the body by the Holy Spirit.

A person knows he is sinning when he lives according to the flesh. 1 John 3:4-5. We know that Jesus was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. We know that if a person prays for the forgiveness of sins, these same sins will come back again. But if the deeds of the body are put to death by the Spirit, they will not come back again if the person continues to walk in the Spirit. It is marvelous to be able to live with a pure conscience. However, this alone will not bring about spiritual growth. In 2 Peter 1:3-5 we read: “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” We read further about giving all diligence to add virtue to our faith. If we do this, we are neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then he continues to exhort us to give all diligence to increase in the virtues.

We partake of divine nature to the same degree that the virtues become our nature. In this development we put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit. In Romans 4:25 we read that Jesus died for our offenses, but He was raised for our justification. Then we have received Jesus as Lord. Col. 2:6; Acts 13:38-39.

We read in Romans 5:2-5 that we rejoice in hope of the glory of God, but not only that: we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces patience, etc. We could think that everything is in order when we do not live according to the flesh and have a good conscience. However, we read that if we put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit, we shall live. How shall we find the deeds of the body? We find them when we come into tribulations; then our nature rises up. Then we learn to know ourselves better, and perhaps other people also realize that now our nature is rising up. But this is not the intention, because we read: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Col. 3:3.

We notice how Paul exhorts Timothy to take heed to himself; then he will save both himself and those who hear him. 1 Tim. 4:12-16. This was also the first exhortation to the elders in Ephesus. Acts 20:28. If they did that, they could see the deeds of the body in themselves and put them to death before the others saw them. This is the hidden life with Christ in God. Therefore Paul rejoiced not only in the glory of God, but he also gloried in his tribulations, because through them he could see the deeds of the body and put them to death.

Most people know what is written in Romans 8:28, but few know verse 29. We who love God receive what we need in order to be conformed to the image of His Son. We need tribulations to be conformed to Jesus’ image. In verse 26 we read that we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses.

In 2 Corinthians 4:6-18 Paul writes that God had given him light. He explains some of his sufferings, and that he was always delivered unto death. He found sufficient deeds of the body in tribulations.

In verses 16-18 he describes the tremendous glory he gained from his sufferings. We can also obtain that same glory through the gospel. God be thanked for His grace over us.