Preparation for Heavenly Living Correspondence School

http://www.geocities.com/bibleloverbill

PFHL Course 401-- New Way of Thinking (4 pgs.)

Directions: Write an essay about how you personally relate or have experienced the concepts
in the following essay. This assignment is worth 2 units, so write at least 2 quality
pages (single spaced lines and no redundancies).
Change of Vocabulary in a Frequently Spoken Statement
(by Bill Stevenson-- March 7, 1998)
In a counseling session, I said, “Only with God’s help can we go against our human nature.”
The counselor shocked me by immediately telling me not to say that again. Before I could start to
elaborate on the statement I made, he went to a butcher paper easel and started drawing a special
chart about teaching he received over 20 years ago from Steve Hayner. Below indicates my
understanding of what Mr. Jones drew and taught me:

Creation Time of Innocence The Fall and Post Pentecost Post Second
God's 1st Covenant Coming
Mankind and Dispensation of
creatures Grace
Human nature= Complete trusting in God Some individuals are righteous via 1 John 1:9 and
by the first man and completely trusting in God.
woman.
“in Our likeness” (No need to eat of "the
Tree of Good and Evil".)
"It is good."
Also at the same time, most individuals
live selfishly, pridefully, etc.--
Fallen Unnatural Nature.

Therefore, I should say from now on, “Only with God’s help can we get back to the pre-Fall
way of thinking-- the created good human nature.” Now think about that. That means a very
positive reason for living along with the Great Commission!! That doesn’t mean we stop being
against the “fallen unnatural nature” indicated in Galatians 1-5:21 and Romans 1, but it means our
emphasis should be the transformation indicated in Romans 12 & 8. Look how Romans 8 ends!!
Romans 8:28-39--
“And we know that in all things
God works for the good of those
who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose.
For those God foreknew He also predestined
to be conformed to the likeness of His Son,
that He might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those He predestined, He also called;
those He called, He also justified;
those He justified, He also glorified.

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 What, then, shall we say in response to this?
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all--
how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
It is God Who justifies.
Who is he that condemns?
Christ Jesus,
Who died-- more than that, Who was raised to life--
is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written: ‘For your sake, we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

But what keeps us from this confident way of thinking? Mr. Jones told me new information,
which explains this. In his reading of pre-Luther/Reformation Christian philosophy writers, he has
concluded that most post-Reformation individuals are interested in obtaining more information
and many of those make changes in thinking, behavior, and decision making in relation to the new
information. An Information/Reformation cycle is developed for the latter, missing the
Transformation (Romans 12:1-3) aspect of the Eastern-developed Christianity!!
Romans 12:1-3--
“Therefore, I urge you, in view of God's mercy,
to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--
this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--
His good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,
in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Notice that Romans 12:2 says “be transformed”, not “transform yourselves” or “transform
your minds”. We do our part in acquiring God-pleasing wisdom and making the Holy Spirit urged
changes with excited anticipation of supernatural transformation-- restoration our nature to more
of Creation created human nature. Consider the following Bible passages of the Apostle Paul’s
advice:
Galatians 5:22-26--
“But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things, there is no law.

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 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit,
let us keep in step with the Holy Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.”
Colossians 2:6-10--
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him,
rooted and built up in Him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and
overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,
which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world
rather than on Christ.
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
and you have been given fullness in Christ,
Who is the head over every power and authority.”
Colossians 3:1-10 & 12-25--
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ,
set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things above, not on Earthly things.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ, Who is your life, appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your Earthly nature:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these:
anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
and have put on the new self,
which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
And over all these virtues, put on unselfish love,
which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly
as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and
as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed,
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

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 Slaves, obey your Earthly masters in everything;
and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor,
but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for his [or her] wrong,
and there is no favoritism.”
Colossians 4:2 & 6--
“Devote yourselves to prayer,
being watchful and thankful.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Philippians 4:4-8--
“Rejoice in the Lord always.
I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--
think about such things.”

Conclusion: That is enough for true revival in any Christian. It was for me and will be for
the rest of my life!! Such is the only way to experience the thinking
wonderfulness that Adam and Eve were able to experience before the Fall.
Have you had such experiences of innocence and peace and love?