By Arthur J Licursi

Paul herein explains how a wayward believer is to be recovered, as it applies during today’s Post-Acts “dispensation of the grace of God.” (Eph. 3:2) concerning those of “the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22b-23a).

The fact is that every believer already has the Glorious Christ-life within their spirit, even while and if their soul is unrenewed and yet rebellious. Paul points us to our mind’s part in coming to Glorious Christian living, admonishing believers to “be renewed” in mind. “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” Eph. 4:23 (KJV)

God uses our sufferings, not as punishment, but rather to teach us, and change our mind, and bring us to the way of faithful living. Paul writes of his frequent sufferings in 2 Cor. 1:7-10, and how the Lord uses them.  

“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, [SO] THAT we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:” 2 Corinthians 1:9 (KJV)

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (KJV)

Even with the close of the Acts period and the Post-Acts “dispensation of the grace of God” in view Paul continues to speak of the linkage between suffering and glory.

 Romans 8:18 or I reckon that the Sufferings Of This Present Time are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY which shall be revealed in us.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall Suffer Persecution.

Phil. 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to Suffer For His Sake;

2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us [from reigning]:  

God often uses our spiritual failures and sin to bring about a change to our minds and hearts. We do have a part in changing our mindset. Note that Paul uses the word “let” in this verse. “Let this mind [mindset] be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5 (KJV).

Clearly, Jesus’ mindset was to “do the will of the Father.” And Christ’s resurrected “Spirit of life” still indwells the believer’s spirit even when he is in rebellion. It is critical for us to Know and Believe the doctrinal truth applicable to us during today’s Post-Acts “dispensation of the grace of God.” Such a mindset is vital. Such truth tells us ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are NOT under the Law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14).

Knowledge and faith in the TRUTH for today is the way of victory in the life of every believer who at times is rebellious and self-seeking. The believer needs to identify with his “death with Christ” (Rom. 6:3) and ‘new life by Christ in Him as “the hope of glory’ (cf. Col. 1:26-27).

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

The saved but disobedient believer needs to be restored to a proper mindset based upon the Dispensational Truth that is for us Today. Believers who resist the truth of the power of the Cross-work of Christ for us and as us, are tempted and possessed of the ‘mindset of the Devil.

They obviously need to be recovered to Godly thinking of “the truth” after having been ensnared by the Devil’s mindset. Recall that “Sin” is still latent “in the flesh” (Rom. 8:3) of all men, both saved and unsaved… until we are Resurrected to Exchange our Mortal Corruptible Bodies for The Incorruptible. (Phil. 3:20-21).

Paul tells us how it is that the intelligized mature believer is to help wayward believers to “recover themselves” from “the snare of the devil.” As seen below, it is by … “in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” “to the Acknowledging of the Truth.” We then pray that “God peradventure will give them [bring them to] Repentance [i.e., a change of mind] To The Acknowledging of The Truth;”

2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to Teach, patient, ²⁵ In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; ²⁶ And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Since Christ’s Cross-work finished it all; it is but for us to BELIEVE and receive the fruit of the Cross by faith, to arrive ant a new mindset and life. Thus, we study His word of truth ‘rightly divided.’ (2Tim. 2:15)