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by David Neal
We can now conclude from the two “Sauls” that the first Saul was
initially chosen of God (appointed) and filled with His Spirit to
perform the Lord’s purposes. However, through disobedience, he
lost the Spirit and became an enemy of God. He became a
persecutor of God’s chosen and did not perform the will of God.
The second Saul started out as disobedient and a persecutor of
God’s purposes and was void of the Spirit (did not have).
However, through obedience to God’s will (truth), he was chosen
of God, filled with the Holy Spirit and performed God’s purposes.
These men lived opposite lives. These two lives are actually an
allegory of God’s dealings with man. In the beginning, man
(Adam, then Eve) was created for God’s purposes (good pleasure,
Gen 1:26 -27, Rev 4:11 ). Man was to rule over God’s creation
(given great authority, Gen 1:28). God required that man love,
trust, surrender to (humbleness) and obey Him (faith). Through
the serpent’s enticement, man disobeyed God in favor of self
(Gen 3:11-13). Man sought to be as a god (Gen 3:4-5) in
determining his own way (path, desire). In order for man to seek
his own authority, he had to reject God’s authority (through
disobedience to God’s will). Man’s original disobedience (eating
the forbidden fruit) was the rejection of God’s authority in favor of
the desires of the flesh. Man’s fallen nature is now that of pride
(self exaltation – seeking your way) and disobedience (unbelief).
The serpent’s (Satan’s) Lie proposed that man could transgress
the will of God (disobey) and not die (ye shall not surely die, Gen
3:4). In so doing the Lie further proposed that man would be able
to independently seek his own will (way). God told man if he
disobeyed, “thou shalt surely die.” The devil told man that if he
disobeyed, “ye shall not surely die.” Which one held true?
Irregardless, man still clings to this “Lie” in seeking his own way
in disregard of God’s Word (even and mostly religiously).
Therefore, man was created perfect and in God’s will (chosen of
God) and given great authority (over the creatures of the earth),
but disobeyed God and became rebellious and a transgressor of
the Lord’s will. All men are now born with this fallen nature.
However, God has made a way of reconciliation whereby man can
renounce his rebellion and come back under God’s authority and
be restored as prior to the fall of man. God showed perfect love in
sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, for our benefit (Jn 3:16 ). Jesus Christ
came to this world and perfectly obeyed the Father in total love,
surrender, and trust. Jesus showed perfect love in sacrificing Self
for our benefit (He laid His life down). Jesus invites us to: “Come
follow me.” John 12:26 , “If any man serve me, let him follow
me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man
serve me, him will my Father honour.” Christ went back to the
Father. Those that follow Christ will also go back to the Father.
Jesus reconciles us back to God – He restores that which He took
not away (Ps 69:4). For it is said: Psalms 23:3, “He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s
sake.” Romans 5:10, “For if, when we were enemies, we were
reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” AND 2 Corinthians 5:18-
19, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself
by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the
world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and
hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” Jesus will put
all things back into right order: 1 Corinthians 15:27-27, “For he
hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are
put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all
things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him,
then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all
things under him, that God may be all in all.” Our life is found in
“FOLLOWING.” We must walk as He walked (1 Jn 2:6). Jesus
came and led BY EXAMPLE! We follow in Christ’s steps (1
Pt 2:21 ). Jesus said it like this: Luke 9:23, “And he said to them
all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take
up his cross daily, and follow me (also Mt 16:24, Mk 8:34, 10:21,
such an emphasis).” To deny self is to make sacrifices (of the
flesh) for the benefit of God. Taking up the cross spells death to
self (the flesh, your way). Jesus further stated: Luke 14:27 , “And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be
my disciple.” This is not an optional request! In following Christ,
we must surrender ALL. Luke 14:33, “So likewise, whosoever he
be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple.” All that you hold dear (more cherished, valued and
precious than Jesus): Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and
hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and
brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my
disciple.” Christ offers us new life (in Him). 2 Corinthians 5:17 ,
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (also
Rm 6:4).” The old things are that life of self seeking which
transgresses and rebels against the will of God (the fallen nature).
The new things are love, surrender, trust and obedience to God
(faith). You actually come back under God’s authority and
renounce (die to) your own. John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.” Jesus sends His Spirit to lead, guide and
teach us in following Him in “The Way” – the very narrow way (2
Cor 4:10 )! Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no
condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Those following the flesh are
condemned while they yet live. Romans 8:8, “So then they that
are in the flesh cannot please God.” Take note: Romans 8:14,
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God.” Therefore, men who are born into transgression and
rebellion against God (disobedience) can repent and live in
obedience through Christ and be “born again (Jn 3:3)” into
the kingdom of God . We follow Christ in faith which is surrender,
humbleness, trust, love, patience and obedience. Romans 5:1-2,
“Therefore being justified by faith (obedience and following
Jesus), we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ
(reconciliation): By whom also we have access by faith (love,
trust, obedience, surrender) into this grace (influence of the Holy
Spirit in renewing the heart and conforming you to the image of
Christ, Rm 8:29) wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God.” Our hope is in yielding to God and allowing Him to
transform us into the likeness of our Lord. This occurs as we walk
the narrow way in obedience to Christ.