Physical Laws contrasted by Spiritual Laws
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. [3:12]
John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name: 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Lord likens our new spiritual birth to the origin and destination of wind that blows. One neither knows where it came from or where it is going though you may hear the sound of it. We can see, in the natural world, an analogy to one of the properties of wind that scripture uses. The Bible is full of natural analogies, which teach us spiritual truths. For instance, preaching the truth of the word of God is often pictured as sowing seed and all the related activities such as watering and reaping. So knowing details concerning natural truths increases our understanding of the spiritual truth it imparts. So just knowing and understanding the very basics of aerodynamics will also benefit us. In addition to the analogy to wind, we will find that other terms that are connected to aerodynamics are also used in the Bible and are applicable to our spirit man.
In it’s simplest terms wind is air in motion and the science of aerodynamics deals with the motion of air and other gases and with the effects of such motion in relation to the law of gravity. When we think of aerodynamics and gravity the most common thought is airplanes. And there are four forces that act on an airplane.
-Weight
-Thrust
-Lift
-Drag
To overcome gravity, an airplane needs an internal force, and three external forces.
And each of these forces have an opposing force. Lift works opposite of weight. Thrust works opposite of drag. When the forces are balanced, a plane flies in a level direction. Picture them
as four arms holding the plane in the air, each pushing from a different direction.
TWO OPPOSING LAWS- Romans 8:2
The law of sin and death- [ the law of Gravity]
The law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus- [ A Higher law]
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. [Romans 3:16-17,
John 4: 23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to [her] husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of [her] husband. 7:3 So then if, while [her] husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, [even] to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not [in] the oldness of the letter. 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
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.2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The law of sin and death is true. It is also good, just and holy, but is served in the flesh.
If we are under this law and we sin, we will die, for the wages of sin is death. The law of the harvest demands this for we reap what we sow! The strength of sin is the law. (1 Corinthians 15:56) This Law demands justice and it demands perfection.
WEIGHT AND LIFT
WEIGHT [ OF SIN and BONDAGE ]
Weight is the external force of gravity acting downward on the aircraft and everything in the aircraft, such as crew, fuel, and cargo, etc.. The “law of gravity” will naturally hold the airplane down. It needs a higher law to overcome it.
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every WEIGHT, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Just as the weight of an aircraft is subject to the law of gravity and must overcome this law by a greater power, our natural man, born in Adam, is subject to the law of sin and death and must be born again.
Our Christian life can either be lived carnally in the flesh or lived by abiding in Christ in the new spirit man. If we are walking in the flesh the weight of sin will pull us down every time. Abiding in Christ, which is the same as walking in the Spirit or walking in the light, overcomes and frees us from the power of the law of sin and death and produces the fruit of the Spirit and the fruits of righteousness by a higher law.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. [we must possess the gift of grace to fall from it]
Proverbs 27:3 A stone [is] heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath [is] heavier than them both. [Matt. 11:29-30; Acts 15:10]
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding [and] eternal weight of glory; (Hebrews 12)
Where our trials and afflictions are concerned, note that all of the saints listed in the Hebrews 11 passage had a different trial or trials that perfected their faith. Faith is strengthened as it is exercised through the many trials and circumstances of life. But we must submit to these trials rather than trying to circumvent them. Many times it is the ordinary and everyday things we are responsible for that stumble us.[ For example see Numbers13:25-33 & 14: 1-3; Luke 14:16-35 ]
LIFT [External Force- Our Faithful Obedience ]
- To raise; to elevate;
Lift is defined as the external force that propels upward, having a direction perpendicular to direction of travel. Lift is positive upwards. It balances out the downward pull of gravity.
There are many things that will prevent us from being lifted up above the law of sin and death and keep us in captivity to the world. Lifting up ourselves in pride is a carnal act. We are told to humble ourselves. It is only when we recognize our weakness and are fully trusting and depending on God that His power can be displayed in our lives. Also, murmuring, discouragement and wrath in the midst of trials and afflictions rather than patience and endurance will cause us to stumble and fall. The lack of a working faith puts us in a weakened condition and allows us to be caught up in temptations and snares while the winds of the world buffet and toss us ever which way. Our enemy is always lurking around waiting to pounce. [Eph.4:14, James 1:5-8]
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus:
A Christian has two minds; the first, the old natural or carnal mind which originated from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was said of the children of Israel several times, that every man did that which was right in his own eyes. But the Lord says ————-
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is] wise. [Prov. 21:2]
But we have the mind of Christ if we are in him. These words come from the Tree of Life. The more we know him and desire to do his will, the more of his mind we will have. We have a choice every moment of our lives as to which tree we are going to eat from.
1 Samuel 2:7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
2:8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, [and] lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set [them] among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth [are] the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
Psalms 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
(Ps.36:7; Ps. 91:4;)
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
DRAG and THRUST
DRAG, v.t. G., L. [ Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.]
- To pull; to haul; to draw along the ground by main force; It tends to slow an object.
Drag is an opposing external force that acts parallel to the direction of travel and is positive rearwards. For flight to take place, thrust must be equal to or greater than the drag.
If, for any reason, the amount of drag becomes greater than the amount of thrust, the plane will slow down. If the thrust is increased so that it’s greater than the drag, the plane will speed up.
We walk and live in a world that is directly opposed to GOD’S ways but the LORD promises he will never leave us. [ Isa.55: 6-9; Isa.5:20, Romans 12:2, 1st John 2:15-17; Heb 13:5-6]
Psalms 69:18 Draw nigh unto my soul, [and] redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
Song of Solomon 1:4a Draw me, we will run after thee:
Psalms 73:28 But [it is] good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Psalms 31:4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou [art] my strength.
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?
Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
It is not the Lord that turns away from us. It is we that wander away from HIM when we let the world capture our heart and draw us back.
THRUST
[God’s Power Within Us]
- To push or drive with force; as, to thrust any thing with the hand or foot, or with an instrument
- To drive; to force; to impel.
Thrust is the force or power generated by the engine. It is internal.
Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God [is thy] refuge, and underneath [are] the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy [them].
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ( Ephesians 6:10, Col. 1:11, 2 Tim. 1:7)
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Job 4:4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.
Psalms 63:8 My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
As thrust is the internal force or power that raises up the plane, the Holy Spirit is our internal source that gives us power to resist and overcome sin. It is only as we abide in Him that fruit can be brought forth in and through us while the hands of the potter mold and shape us through the trials and tribulations of this life. And it is through a ‘working’ faith that this power is upon us and working in us..
Acts 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of [this] calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of [his] goodness, and the work of faith with power:
1 Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. (Romans 12:3, Ephesians 4:7)
An aircraft in flight is in a constant battle from these different forces upon it, but they are all expected and known. The airplane is designed to take advantage of each one of these forces. Likewise we should be prepared for the forces that seek to come against us and use the means God has given us to overcome them. If we attempt to fight evil with evil we are going to lose for we have entered in and placed ourselves with-in the enemy’s camp.
In 1st Thess.3 Paul sent to know if their trials and afflictions had weakened or over-thrown their faith. And finding them standing strong said that they themselves were comforted in their own trials by the Thessalonians’ faith. All these trials and persecutions are to be expected . And as Peter says, 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-8)