The Spiritual Divide

“The Tabernacle `building,’ with its two parts, represented the two conditions of all who undergo a change of nature from human to spiritual.

The first apartment, the ‘Holy,’ represented the condition of all those who (as Levites— justified believers) have consecrated their human nature to death, that they might become partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4), having been begotten of the Spirit. Its second apartment, the `Holy of Holies,’ (or “Most Holy”), beyond the `Vail’—death—represented the condition of the faithful overcomers, who will attain to the divine nature. These, after having completed their consecration in death, will be fully changed, born from the dead by the First Resurrection, to the divine nature and organism.

“The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit . . . neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:12–14)

No human being, be he ever so full of faith, be he washed from every sin, and in God’s sight justified freely from all things and reckoned perfect, can have any place or privilege in the spiritual things represented in the interiors of the Tabernacle and Temple. He cannot even look into spiritual things, in the sense of appreciating them.

However, during the Gospel age, such are `called’ to consecrate and sacrifice their human nature in God’s service, and to inherit instead the spiritual nature—as members of the Body of Christ.

“The fact that all things in the Tabernacle were made of gold, representative of the divine nature, implies that it represented the condition of such only as are called to the divine nature. Only those of the Levites who were consecrated to the work of Sacrificing (the Priests) had access to the Tabernacle; so only those of the household of faith who are consecrated to sacrifice, even unto death, enter the divine conditions represented in the Tabernacle.” (T19, 20)

In the Tabernacle picture the dividing line or “Spiritual Divide” which separates the natural man from the spiritual man is found centered over the “Door” of the Tabernacle, the “Kalumma”, or “First Vail”. Only those who have passed beyond this vail, having made a full consecration of themselves, having entered into Covenant relationship with the Father; a covenant by sacrifice (Psa 50:5) are permitted beyond this point. Henceforth all such are considered prospective members of the body of Christ, and of the Royal Priesthood, and as recalled only priests were permitted in the Tabernacle.

Despite what most professing Christians have been taught to believe only the fully consecrated, those who have passed beyond this First Vail have been begotten to a “new nature”, a spirit nature, but of course this new nature is only in its embryotic state at the present time, the new creature possesses only the “new mind”, spirit or will at present, not the new body. Like the gestation period in which a fetus is natured and developed within the womb so too the new creature needs to be natured and developed first before it is to receive its new body and be born a spirit being.

The “new mind” is unique to the spirit begotten “new creature”, alone; it is not something which is given to every professed believer, only to those who have fully consecrated themselves and have experienced a change of natures. Thus, such are the only ones in possession of the Holy Spirit, for the “new mind” IS the spirit or will of God in us, the Holy Spirit, and so only such are able to receive the things of the spirit of God which they without (whether believer or not) can neither receive nor understand,

“For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit (the mind or will) of the man which is in him? Even so no man knows the mind of God save he who has the spirit (or mind) of God. Now we have received, not the spirit (the mind) of the world, but the Spirit (the mind or will) which is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God… For “Who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind (the spirit) of Christ.” (1 Cor 2:11, 12, 16)

The natural man, (which includes not only ALL non-believers, but likewise ALL believers whether in the “camp” or in “courtyard condition”, those not fully consecrated), receive not the things of the Spirit of God (the mind of God),

Why?

Because they are carnally (fleshly) minded, that is to say they still retain their own minds, their own wills.

One of the most common mistakes made by believers is the idea that all believers are automatically begotten of the spirit and receives the Holy Spirit immediately upon a confession of faith in the Lord; however, a through comparison of all related scripture on the subject contradicts this thought. According to the teachings of the Scriptures, until one takes the “Second Step” of a full consecration and enters into covenant arrangement with the Father they remain a “natural man” human, earthly, and as such are limited to what the natural man is capable of accepting and comprehending.

The only way in which one could comprehend spiritual things is if one were spiritually minded, in possession of the mind or spirit of God, and the only way in which one can receive this mind or spirit of God is if they have experienced a change of nature from that of the earthly or human nature to that of the spirit nature. NOTE: it is not the natural or earthly man whom the Lord imparts his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, it is the “new creature”, the spirit begotten. And the only way in which the Scriptures teach that one can become a new creature, begotten of the spirit is by surrendering themselves entirely to God through Christ, which consists in following in the Master’s footsteps, fully consecrating one’s self and entering into covenant relationship with the Father.

As was stated above no amount of faith or justification changes one’s nature. The human nature and the spirit nature are separate and distinct natures. The spiritual divide which separates the natural man from the spiritual man is unbreakable regardless of how much faith one may possess.

What is a New Creature in the sense the Bible uses the term?

A New Creature, from the spiritual standpoint, is one to whom old things both good and bad have passed away, and all things have become new. Such a one may have been a noble, natural man, or a less noble, or a most degraded natural man. The change may take place regardless of the moral station of the individual. Reasoning’s and philosophies may and do affect the natural man, sometimes favorably and sometimes unfavorably, but these do not produce the change from natural to spiritual, from earthly to heavenly, nature.

This change comes from only one source, and only to persons in one condition of mind, or heart. It comes from on high. It is superhuman and in its effect it is revolutionary. It comes to those who, because of natural humility of mind, realize themselves to be sinners, and with natural conscientiousness and veneration, desire to approach their Creator and to obtain his favor and forgiveness of sins, and who thus are led to accept Christ as their personal Savior and Deliverer from sin. Or it may come to others naturally less tender of heart, through sorrows and sufferings and heart-breaking experiences, leading them to look for the Friend above all others and to accept his proffered forgiveness and guidance. These experiences, accompanied by a turning from sin, with a desire to live soberly and righteously, bring such characters to the place which the Scriptures designate justification by faith (as typified by the Levites, the tentatively justified believers in the courtyard condition) Still, however, they are not New Creatures.

The word justification implies making right and does not imply making over, or a change of nature. It is the human nature that is justified or reckoned right in God’s sight, because of faith in the precious blood of Jesus the Redeemer. Another step must be taken before the change of nature can take place (the “Second Step”), the step of consecration*, of devoting life, time, aims, and ambitions, all, to the Lord and to His service. It is to such only that the blessing of the Holy Spirit from above is granted. Its effect is the opening of the eyes of their understanding to new hopes and prospects and interests not earthly, but heavenly. (Harvest Gleanings Three, Page 706)

What is a Natural Man?

“Using the word natural in connection with mankind in its primary sense, the strict meaning of the expression, the natural man, would be a man possessed of the sum of qualities and attributes which belong to human nature, that is, a perfect man.

According to this strict definition, there is not a natural man living in the world today; for there is not one who possesses in perfect measure all the qualities and attributes which belong to human nature.

But the general use of the word “natural“, would define the expression, “the natural man,” thus: a man in harmony with the regular course of things, and after the, usual order of mankind as it exists at present, which Scripture asserts is a fallen or depraved condition, and not the condition which belonged to, and was enjoyed by, the first of the race.” (“The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom”, Oct 1932, Page 8)

“The natural man however well-disposed is of the earth, earthly; this does not mean that he must be sensual, devilish, degraded, for on the contrary some natural men have very fine characters indeed, considering that they are sharers with all men in the degradation of the fall. Adam was thus a natural man, in his perfection, the image of God.” (Z.’07-4; R3914)

The natural man is an animal man, of the earth, earthly, a human being he can be a good man or a bad man, a perfect man or an imperfect man, a believer or a non-believer, regardless of which he is still a natural man. Our Lord himself, when in the flesh was likewise a natural man and as such even, he was restricted to the limits of a natural man’s ability to understand. It was not until following his consecration and baptism that “the heavens were opened unto him”.

“There, at Jordan, the Father granted the Son the opening of His eyes of understanding. There He became the slain Lamb. At the very moment He made His consecration at Jordan He died, so far as His covenant with God was concerned. And so, it is with His followers. The very moment we make our covenant with God, we are dead indeed to sin and to all earthly interests. Our death dates, not from the time we actually die, but from the time we give up our will. So, God there counted Jesus dead. He was the sacrificial Lamb. To Him was given the right to open the Scroll.

So we read that at His baptism, when the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, “the Heavens [the higher things] were opened unto Him.” (Matt 3:16) The deeper things of God’s Plan became open to His mind. Never before had He seen the meaning of these things. They were hidden from Him, as from any natural man. The natural man whether perfect or imperfect, “receives not the things of the Spirit of God; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:14) Jesus became a perfect natural man, and as such He gave all that He had in consecration, then God begat Him of the Holy Spirit to the new nature. From the moment of spirit-begetting, old things passed away and all things became new.

After Jesus had received the Holy Spirit, He went immediately into the wilderness for forty days. During that time, He was a Bible Student, thinking over the Scriptures, which from boyhood He had heard read in the synagogue. Having now received the illumination of the Holy Spirit, He could understand what was meant by the manna in the wilderness, by the serpent erected upon the pole, by the bullock of the Atonement Day sacrifices and by the Passover Lamb. The whole Plan of God for human salvation was opened to Him. He had “loosed the seven seals.” By that time, He fully understood all that He was to suffer. He saw that He was to give up His life sacrificially, that He was to be crucified.” (Harvest Gleaning’s Three, Page 747)

NOTE: In regards to the step of consecration*

There is a tendency with some to confuse a consecration to the Lord with a consecration to an organization, a church or specific work. “Among Christians there is much which passes for ‘entire consecration,’ but it is often a consecration to some self-imposed tasks, or work instead of to God.

Some appear to be busy in the Lord’s service involved in various works and/or ministries, such as food banks, Church Choirs, Youth ministries, Sunday school classes and etc., imagining that they are severing the Lord. It’s true that many of these are very noble pursuits; however, the tendency is to sacrifice personal study and growth in the graces and knowledge of the Lord whilst enraptured in these pursuits convincing one’s self as well as others that one is fully devoted to the Lord rather than to the work itself.

“Our consecration, like that of Jesus, should be to do the will of our Father in Heaven. Jesus says He came not to do His own will, but the will of Him that sent Him. (John 6:38) This implies a thorough study of God’s Word to determine what exactly that will be, and how specifically He would have it accomplished. If one becomes so engrossed in some work or charity that they don’t take the time for personal study, to “show thy-self approved” they may unbeknownst to themselves be inadvertently working against the Lord.

The fact that you have any choice or preference as to what you shall do, is evidence in itself, that your will is not dead.”

“There is a tendency to put outward activity (works) in place of the inward work of grace, transformation of life and character, sanctification. In the closing portion of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 7:21-23), Jesus warns against this, saying “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven (the heavenly phase of the kingdom), but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied [preached] in your name… and have we not done many wonderful works in your name (some of which we mention above)?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of iniquity!”

In astonishment they might ask,

Workers of iniquity? What was wrong about preaching in your name? … Doing wonderful works?

The problem was they were doing this on their own, having their own program and activities, disregarding the Divine instructions, not being “co-laborers with God”, (not laboring together with Him, in his work, but rather laboring along their own specially chosen paths which they imagined to be his works)”.

When we seek our own works (devise our own plans for furthering the kingdom), when we would have the praises of men (their admiration and praise for our supposed devotion in the Lord’s service), then we disgrace both him and ourselves. It is then that we risk having these words pronounced over our life’s efforts: ‘I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity’.

We will continue with our next post.