The Four Spiritual Laws of man vs. The Five Spiritual Laws of God

“The ‘Four Spiritual Laws’ are a popular evangelistic framework [i.e. method(ology)], originating from Bill Bright's Campus Crusade for Christ [now known as CRU], summarizing the Gospel's core message: 1) God loves you and has a plan, 2) Humanity is sinful and separated from God, 3) Jesus Christ is God's provision for sin, and, 4) We must receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to experience God's love and plan. They aren't a direct biblical list, but distill core scriptural truths about salvation and a relationship with God.”

The Four Spiritual Laws [from the CRU website]:

Law 1.   God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life.

(What if His plan involves suffering, persecution, and even martyrdom? Not a good selling/talking point.)

• God’s love – John 3:16; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”

• God’s plan – John 10:10; “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Law 2.   All of us sin and our sin has separated us from God. (Truth)

• We are sinful – Romans 3:23; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

• We are separated – Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death…”

Law 3.   Jesus Christ is God's only provision for our sin. Through Him we can know and experience God's love and plan for our life. (Truth)

• He died in our place – Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

• He rose from the dead – 1 Corinthians 15:3-6; “Christ died for our sins...He was buried...He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures...He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred...”

• He Is the Only Way to God – John 14:6; “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’”

• This diagram illustrates that God has bridged the gulf which separates us from Him by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins.

Law 4.   We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (Truth)

• We Must Receive Christ – John 1:12; “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

• We Receive Christ Through Faith – Ephesians 2:8-9; “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” When We Receive Christ, We Experience a New Birth.

• We Receive Christ by Personal Invitation – Revelation 3:23; [Christ speaking] “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.”

“Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will."

"Which circle would you like to have represent your life?"

Self-directed life – You are in control and Jesus has no influence in your life. People like this have never received Jesus into their lives [false! Christians can live like this too]. They remain guilty and cut off from God by their sin.

• [A Christian who “continues” in sin, not repenting, can be cut off, again, from God. Paul makes this clear in Romans 11:22; “Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell [referring to the Jews], but kindness to you [Gentiles], provided that you continue in his kindness (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Colossians 1:22-23, 1 John 2:28). Otherwise, you also will be cut off.” Titus refers to these Christians as being “twice dead,” once before turning to Christ, and again after being cut off. These are the apostate Christians that seat themselves on God’s throne within (2 Thess. 2:3-4).]

Christ-directed life – Jesus is in control and you are following him as Lord [i.e. known as “Lordship”]. People like this have received Jesus into their life [and are continuing in His “kindness”]. They have been forgiven and experience God’s love [and now, they remain in His love by obeying His commands (John 15:10)].

The Five Spiritual Laws Of God

Romans 7:21-23 – See the note below.

21 I find then the principle [same Greek interpreted “law” below] that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.

22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner [2080- “inside, within”] man [444- “man-faced, i.e. a human being, whether male or female”],

23 but I see a different law in the members [3196- “a limb or part of the body”; of Christ and His body (Romans 12:5)”] of my body, waging war [497- “to oppose, to attack”] against the law of my mind [3563- “the mind, the intellect, the understanding, a mode of thinking and judging”] and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members [3196].

NASU

The first principle to be aware of is that evil is present within all of mankind, which is why we need a Savior. The sinful, or fallen nature as we refer to it can only be brought into submission through the power of the Holy Spirit. For the Christian, we must understand, as did Paul, that this is true and will require persistent vigilance on our part to keep it in check. Until we receive our glorified body in the likeness of Jesus, it will be a constant war of the two wills that exist within us; the Lord’s, or ours. This is where we learn the necessity of working together with the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 6:1) so as to keep this very present evil in check. Otherwise, it will rise up and cause constant problems in our walks, straining our relationship with the Lord.

It’s reassuring to know that it was Paul who wrote this. Describing his inner struggle with sin encourages me to continue in the good fight against what I, the one who has decided to follow Jesus, struggles against as well.

Four laws are listed in this passage; the law of God in the inner man, the law in my members, the law of my mind, and the law of sin (which is in my members). A fifth is mentioned by Paul in Romans 8:2; the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

The Greek word interpreted as “law” is defined in the following way; “anything established, anything received by usage, a custom, a command, law as prescribed by custom or by statute.” It’s my belief that, biblically speaking, laws can be defined as set precepts or principles with defining parameters that have been established by God.

Law 1: The Law Of God In The Inner Man

Paul says to the Christians in Rome that the law of God is placed within the “inner man.” I believe this to be the conscience of mankind in our spirit. It’s our moral compass telling us right from wrong, good from evil, influencing the soul in its decision making process. This moral knowledge is pictured in the garden of Eden by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which is God’s law, in type (Genesis 2:16-17). It is “quickened” (i.e. “to revitalize, brought to life, made alive”) by the Holy Spirit whenever a person turns to the Lord, making you very alert and sensitive to sin, and deception (John 6:63). Apart from the life of God in Christ, you could be easily swayed by the demonic spirit of the age that dominates the culture of every age. Paul wrote of this in his letter to the Ephesian church;

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions…”

(Ephesians 2:1-5/NIV)

When a Christian continues to walk in sin, without repentance, your moral compass, convicting you of right and wrong, begins to be dulled. It can even be “seared” over time, desensitized to right and wrong, after turning to Christ (see 1 Timothy 4:1-2, Hebrews 10:26-27). The Greek for seared in the New Testament is defined in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance as “to mark by branding, to render insensitive, medically to cauterize.” To cauterize is “to stop something from causing someone to feel emotion.” In other words, the normal emotional response against sin for righteous living is not sensed within the inner man.

Whenever someone is said to be “given over” to their sin by God, their conscience is no longer able to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil (Isaiah 5:20). In fact, they are by definition “given over to the power of another” (i.e. the devil), causing evil to become right in their mind, as we see today within many in our society, and even the church (Isaiah 5:20). Because of the ever-increasing depth of depravity among mankind, we’re now having open conversations in society, and, again, within the church that would never have been discussed not that long ago. And so, as the Holy Spirit declares through Paul, the final outcome of rebellion against God’s law is what we now hear and see; “Professing to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22) Within the church, this is what defines a wise virgin from a foolish one. The wise hear and do what the Spirit is saying to them. The foolish regard His commands with frivolity, choosing their own way instead, to their destruction.

Law 2: The Law In The Members Of My Body

Within the phrase “the members of my body,” I see an application for an individual, and the corporate body of Christ. This law is described by Paul as that which wages war against the law of our minds, causing us to become enslaved to sin when in control. It sets in motion a mindset that fights against the will of the Lord. The outcome of this battle will determine our destiny.

This battle is not only within our physical makeup individually, but also within the corporate body of Christ. We are said to be a many-membered body with different gifts for different functions. All though not all are the same, but all are under the Head, who is Christ (i.e. lordship). As with a healthy body, the head is the one that determines when and how each member is to operate, whether that be alone or with other members. It is these “members” within the body that act outside of the Head’s will that cause problems for the rest of the body. They are rogue cells that must be dealt with. This is the final healing (i.e. revival) of Christ’ body, including the removal of certain diseased parts that must occur before His return so as to make us ready for Him to fill us with His glory.

Much of modern Christianity now runs on its own ways, without acknowledging or even understanding God’s ways (see Isaiah 55:8-9). Unless we confess our sin against the Lord, acknowledging and repenting of our self-glorifying ways, there will not be healing, or reviving in that portion of the body of Christ during the final outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Tragically, they will be cast out of His kingdom. Only those who admit their prideful sin against the Lord will be made ready, as a spotless bride, for His return. (For more on acknowledging God, see Matthew 10:32, 2 Timothy 3:1-7, 1 John 4:1-3, 2 John 7, and Revelation 3:5, 9.)

In the Bible study Wholly Illumined, No Dark Part, I shared the following insights;

• Luke 11:33-36 - The Bible declares that when Jesus comes, His body will finally be a perfected body of believers that is full of light, with no “dark part” in it. We will be “wholly illumined” as when the lamp illumines you with its rays. Darkness in the Body of Christ will be removed by the angels (see Matthew 13:41 below).

• Matthew 3:7-12 – To cleanse His body of followers, Jesus is going to “clear His threshing floor” by removing “out of His kingdom” (Matthew 13:41) the parts of His body that are considered chaff, even causing others to stumble in their walks (“all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness” in Matthew 13:41 further below). They will not repent, resulting in their being cut off from Himself (see the Bible study Cut Off). They are the faithless/unfaithful followers, the dark parts that must be removed so as to have His body of faithful followers filled with His light and glory at the end of this age (see the Bible study Cultivate Faithfulness).

The Greek for “clear” is diakatharizo (dee-ak-ath-ar-id'-zo) which means “to cleanse perfectly, to cleanse thoroughly.” This is the final perfecting of the body of Christ at the end of this age. The Lord will accomplish His cleansing/purging of His body through the fire of the last days. As with the three Hebrew children in Daniel who were cast into the fire for not bowing to an idolatrous image, they will come forth shining, having the dross of their fallen natures completely removed (Daniel 3), filled with God’s glory. They were “delivered” in the fire by God because they “put their trust in Him” (Daniel 3:28). So will we (see Psalm 78:22). (See the Bible study Delaying At The Opening Of The Womb for more on the final delivery of Christ’ body.)

• Matthew 5:27-30 – Jesus gives us a teaching, using an extreme example, to show how serious it is to allow sin to continue within His body. Having one part of the body that causes us to continue in sin cut off and thrown or cast away from us is better than having our whole body cast into hell. This applies to the corporate Body of Christ as well. Those “members” that continue in sin without any repentance, not looking for the Lord’s “way of escape” will be cut off from the rest of the Body (see the Bible study Cut Off).

• Matthew 13:24-30 – In this parable Jesus taught that the wheat and the tares are allowed to grow together in the Body until the time of the harvest when the “dark parts” are removed. Harvest time is a time of separation. At the end of this age, Christians will separate themselves from the darkness or be separated from the Body of Christ and thrown into the fire. This is the final gathering of God’s people (see the Bible study The Third Day Gathering).

• Matthew 13:36-43 – Again Jesus teaches about the dark parts being removed from His kingdom at the end of this age. They are defined as “all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness” (see 2 Thess. 2:1-8). They are removed from God’s kingdom at harvest time and are thrown into the furnace of fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (see the Bible study Outer Darkness). Depending upon the object, fire either purifies or destroys. Because the darkness has been removed, the Body will then be full of light, spotless and blameless, shining bright as the sun with the glory of God.

Law 3: The Law Of My Mind

The law of the mind (i.e. “the mind, the intellect, the understanding, a mode of thinking and judging”) is within the soul. It’s where the battle lines are drawn, where opposing forces, the Holy Spirit and the flesh, meet to wage war in order to gain dominion (for more clarity on this, see the section Spirit, Soul, and Body in the Bible study The Point Of Arrival). This is the place within us where we determine, by the will, what influence we will choose to obey, that of the Holy Spirit through our “made alive/quickened” spirit, or that of the world through the “members” of my body (i.e. in the flesh).

In his letter to the Romans, Paul warned all Christian’s to “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed [3339- “to change into another form, transfigure”] by the renewing [342- “a renovation, a complete change for the better”] of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) So, in other words, if we do not change our mindset per the instructions of the Holy Spirit, we will not be transformed into the image of Christ. Much of Christianity today has embraced the ways of the world. It’s become a place of worldly entertainment with the intent to draw in members through fleshly means. The Lord has been on the outside knocking to get into His own church. It’s my conviction that He has quit knocking and is now calling His children out of a system that is under judgment.

Titus, the only other place in the New Testament that uses the same Greek word interpreted “renewing” above, also uses it in regards to salvation;

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration [3824- “new birth”] and renewing [342] by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior…”

(Titus 3:4-6/NASU)

The renewing of our mind by the Holy Spirit, after the washing of regeneration (i.e. new birth in Christ), is a process of continued submission to His work in the inner man.

As stated, this war against our mindset can also be a certain “member” in Christ’ body of believers. Those in the church who walk according to the flesh can have a very strong influence on others, persuading them to also walk as they do, without the guidance and parameters established by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-25). Because of their influence over many, the devil always targets leaders with the intent of them becoming the deceived who keep deceiving others (2 Timothy 3:13), to the demise of as many as is possible, “even the elect” (Matthew 24:24).

Law 4: The Law Of Sin

The law of sin, which may be considered as one and the same with “the law in the members of my body,” resides in our flesh/fallen nature. It’s where temptation is introduced to us by the devil and his demons in the world. In Romans 8:2 Paul calls it “the law of sin and of death.” “Of death” because of what sin produces in us when allowed to remain.

When, in our heart, we are looking toward the world, participating in its ungodly activities, it affects the law of our mind, how we think and act, causing us to become a prisoner to its influence over us. But if we look to the Lord and His ways, not allowing the world to influence our decision making in the law of our mind, thereby freeing us from the bondage of sin, you will “derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.” (Romans 6:19)

We are all slaves to one or the other; either to Christ and His will leading to eternal life, or to sin and its passions and desires resulting in eternal death. This is every Christian’s daily struggle that we need to become more aware of if desiring to be set free “indeed” (“in reality versus theory, in point of fact as opposed to what is pretended or fictitious”; John 8:31-36).

Law 5: The Law Of The Spirit Of Life In Christ Jesus

“Who will set me free from this body of death?” (Romans 7:24) The answer to Paul’s question is our hope of complete victory.

After describing for us the conflict between the two natures in every Christian, the old, fallen nature and the new nature of God given to us, Paul adds another law in Romans 8:2 that, when applied, will set us free from our “body of death.” It’s called “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” It is only as we walk according to the Holy Spirit who reveals the laws of God in the inner man, that we can fulfill the law and experience His life of freedom, victorious over “the law of sin and of death.” Our mindset, led by the Spirit, will determine whether or not we experience the life and peace of God.

Per the internet; “Your mindset is a set of beliefs that shape how you make sense of the world and yourself. It influences how you think, feel, and behave in any given situation. It means that what you believe about yourself impacts your success or failure.

Mindsets can influence how people behave in a wide range of situations in life. For example, as people encounter different situations, their mind triggers a specific mindset that then directly impacts their behavior in that situation.”

In Romans 8:1-8, Paul explains the mindset necessary to walk in the victorious life and peace of God, free from the bondage of sin that leads to death;

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to [“in conformity with, in alignment with, depending on”] the sinful nature but according to [“in conformity with, in alignment with, depending on”] the Spirit. Those who live according to [“in conformity with, in alignment with, depending on”] the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with [“in conformity with, in alignment with, depending on”] the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.”

(Romans 8:1-8/NIV)

The key in our victorious walk over sin, fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law, is to “not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” The phrase “according to” is defined as, “in conformity with, in alignment with, depending on.” We are called to set our minds on the will of God, apart from the passions and desires of the flesh that are fueled by the world’s standards. They can cause us to be out of alignment with the will and desire of the Holy Spirit.

A slight misalignment will eventually become a major misalignment, which is where the majority of the church in America now finds itself engulfed in. While we were sleeping, being entertained by the business of dead religion and useless traditions, the enemy crept in unnoticed and established his own standards for Christianity (see the Bible study The Business Model Of The World In The Church). We now have a very watered-down version of the gospel that has “bewitched” many in the body of Christ. This is why we are commanded to fix our focus (i.e. mindset) on Jesus;

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

(Hebrews 12:1-2/NIV)

The Greek interpreted “fix” is defined as “to consider attentively, to look away from one thing so as to see another.” This is our issue throughout Christendom; cross-eyed Christianity. We cannot continue focusing our attention on the things of the world and Christ at the same time, in particular the sin which “so easily entangles” us, and think (i.e. a false mindset) that we will somehow be set free from “this body of death,” and joyfully enter into the presence of the Master. The extreme seriousness of this inner warfare, in particular as we near the end of this age, must be acknowledged before we will look to be set free.

This day, we must determine in our minds, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to turn away from that which feeds the fleshly cravings that wage war against our soul (1 Peter 2:11). It is imperative that we turn toward the will of the Lord as revealed to us by the Spirit, so as to be wise virgins with our lamps full of His oil, ready and looking for the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In this critical moment of history, we MUST set apart (i.e. sanctify) Christ as Lord in our hearts, in eager expectation of what the Spirit is telling His church to prepare for. A prepared people are a purified people.