I’m reading the book Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be: A Breviary of Sin, by Cornelius Plantinga. This is not going to be a book review of that book. I’m only on chapter six, and in this chapter the author and I share some of the same beliefs regarding high control religion. So far, it’s a dark book. In my understanding, the writing is set on the flesh, and not on the Spirit. I’m curious to see if Cornelius Plantinga will be able to lead us away from the power of sin, and out of that darkness and into the light of Christ. He wrote the book thirty years ago, and I wouldn’t be surprised if maybe some of his thoughts have changed since then.

I was reading someone’s deconstruction from high control religion on Twitter today, and it got me thinking that Jesus does have a theology about sin, but it might be different than the religious spirit’s theology about sin, and from high control religion’s, theology about sin. High control religion is running and ruining the church these days.

Jesus came into this world to take away the sin of the world, to give us righteousness and holiness as a gift. Jesus takes away the power of sin at the cross. What is the sin of the world? It’s unbelief in Jesus. What is the power of sin? The power of sin is the law that was given through Moses, 1 Corinthians 15:56. 

At the cross, Jesus takes away wrath, sin, law, and a mind that is set on law and sin. These are the themes of Romans 5, 6, 7, and 8. Those old things are passing away, and the new creation is here. A mind set on the Spirit is a renewed mindset that we are righteous and holy as a gift, right now, on account of Christ crucified and resurrected. We keep in step with the Spirit by being set free from the rule of the law. Now this world is enslaved to law and sin, but we don’t have to be.

Jesus has a theology about sin. Jesus says, it’s the Spirit’s job to convict the world of sin, because they don’t believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. It’s the Spirit’s job to convict us of righteousness, because we do believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. John 16:7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

The Church’s error is to bring the law of Moses, the ten commandments and the two commandments, into the Christian life. When the power of sin, the law, is ruling over us how can we have victory over sin? We can’t. We end up biting and devouring one another. We end up having a mind that is set on the flesh, on law and sin. The Spirit’s job is to renew our minds to think correctly about law and sin. 1 Timothy 1 says there’s a correct way to use the law, but the law is not for those of us who are righteous by faith in Christ, crucified and resurrected. 1 Timothy 1:4b These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith. 5 Now the goal of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and turned aside to fruitless discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on. 8 But we know that the law is good, provided one uses it legitimately. 9 We know that the law is not meant for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and irreverent, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral and homosexuals, for slave traders, liars, perjurers, and for whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which was entrusted to me. Now that we have received faith in Christ we operate by faith. We are righteous and holy as a gift. This is also true for homosexuals, and for us who are sexually immoral in our hearts and minds. for. all. of. us.

I admit I struggle with understanding this. I am going to try to explain how I am currently understanding what it means to have a mind set on the flesh, and what it means to have a mind set on the Spirit. 

A mind set on the flesh is a mind that has a secure attachment to the Law. The law, or Moses, as Jesus refers to it in John 5 accuses us of sin. The law’s job is to point out sin. The law’s job is to empower sin to be more sinful. The law’s job is to kill us. When we walk through this world under the rule and authority of the law we are walking in the flesh. Our mind is set on sin and “repenting of sin”. The legalistic mindset wants us to root out sin and turn away from it. The legalistic mindset believes that it is the Spirit who is pointing out sin, but Jesus says that it’s actually Moses who is pointing out sin and accusing us. 

John 5:41 “I do not accept glory from people, 42 but I know you — that you have no love for God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and yet you don’t accept me. If someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe, since you accept glory from one another but don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe what he wrote, how will you believe my words? ”

I find verse 41 very interesting. Jesus does not accept glory from us. The theology that says our primary job is to glorify God and worship Him forever? To that Jesus says, I don’t accept glory from people. He also says that we don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God? This is triggering a memory of someone, David Lundie, saying that Jesus shares His glory with us. “To my mind this gets to the heart of who God is – a God who chooses to share His glory, not hoard it. The Son and Holy Spirit don’t detract from the glory of the Father, quite the opposite. And in the Holy Spirit God chooses to share His glory with us.” As in glory is not one-sided, it’s shared with us. Maybe, instead of us giving Him glory, He gives us glory? That’s a topic to explore further at another time. If you’re interested Brian Morris looks at it some here.

What jumped out at me in this section is but I know you — that you have no love for God within you…Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope. Jesus is talking to people who don’t believe in Him for the forgiveness of sins, meaning they have no love for God within them. Reader, if you do believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin you do have love for God within in. But you may be confused about your relationship with the good and holy law. It has come to an end in Christ. While everything that Moses accuses us of is true, Jesus does not accuse us to the Father. 

A mind that is set on the Spirit is about having the correct knowledge. Moses is still going be the accuser, but we no longer walk through this world under the rule, authority, or curse of the law. Our hope is not in Moses. Everything that the law accuses us of is true. The Spirit’s ministry is to convict us that we are righteous and holy as a gift. We keep in step with the Spirit, and we walk through this world with our mind set on being righteous and holy as a gift, apart from what we do or don’t do. The Spirit’s ministry is to turn us away from Law and by doing so the Spirit is turning us away from the power of sin. Sin will not have dominion over us. Sin will not overtake us. Sin is crouching at your door, turn away from Law, you are righteous and holy as a gift on account of Christ, crucified and resurrected. Romans 6:13 But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace. Christians should not live under the rule of the law. Their minds are set on the flesh, and sin will have dominion over them. It’s backwards from what we think it should be. We can think of all of the commands and demands as appeals to our freed conscience. Meaning we can trust that we might find ourselves doing some of these things, from time to time, as the Spirit gives us opportunity, and as we are willing and able to. 

When I have lust/adultery, hate/murder, coveting, or whatever it is, going on in my mind and heart. I am righteous and holy as a gift. That’s how I understand what it means to put sin to death and not have those strong desires overtake me. This is how I walk in the Spirit, and keep in step with the Spirit. When I hear Jesus say, go and sin no more, I know he is not saying go obey the Law and stop sinning according to the Law of Moses. It’s impossible to stop sinning according to the rule and authority of the law that came through Moses. Go and sin no more, I understand it to mean we are declared to be without sin on account of Christ, crucified and resurrected. That is how I understand Jesus’ theology about sin. It’s helpful to have Christian’s in my life who can remind me of the new covenant, and set my mind on the Spirit. 

When there is nothing left to do, but to be righteous and holy as a gift, it takes us out at the knees. It takes the wind right out of those who have a secure attachment to the good and holy law. When the preacher, or friend, is Moses, accusing me of all that I have left undone, I ignore it and walk spontaneously in the Spirit. I am already Christ-like, I don’t have to do more and more and more to be Christ-like. I am the righteousness of God by faith in Christ. I am Christ-like as a gift. Even when I often do not think or act like Christ. I now have an open permission to use my gifts, abilities, and vocation to help my neighbor out as I am willing and able to. I have an open permission to trust the Spirit, and my spirit, to guide me in this life. I have permission to relax and trust that the fruit of the Spirit will show up when and where God wants them to. Grace and peace through Christ.

1 John 4:16 CSB

And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.