Scriptural Contrasts

A compilation of Scriptural contrasts showing the spiritual condition
and behavioral expression of the unregenerate and regenerate.

©1999 by James A. Fowler. All rights reserved.
You are free to download this article provided it remains intact without alteration.
You are also free to transmit this article and quote this article
provided that proper citation of authorship is included.


FOREWORD

    There has been much semantic confusion as Christians attempt to explain the "spiritual condition" and "behavioral expresssion" of both Christians and non-Christians. If we can retain Biblical terminology, perhaps we can avoid:

- I Tim. 1:6 - "fruitless discussion"
- I Tim. 6:4 - "morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words"
- II Tim. 2:14 - "wrangling about words"
- II Tim. 2:23 - "foolish and ignorant speculation"
- Titus 3:9 - "foolish controversies"

    Purpose: The purpose of this compilation of Scripture is to provide a contrast of the "spiritual condition" of the unregenerate and regenerate, and a contrast of the "behavioral expressions" of the same, which will include the misrepresentative behavior of a Christian who fails to allow the Christ-life to be expressed behaviorally.

    Format: This compilation is formatted into four (4) quadrants. The quadrants above the horizontal line represent "spiritual condition"; the quadrants below the horizontal line represent "behavioral expression". The quadrants in the left column represent satan's activity and the quadrants in the right column represent God's activity.

Spiritual condtion
of unregenerate

Spiritual condition
of regenerate
 Behavioral expression
of both unregenerate
and misrepresentative regenerate		  Behavioral expression
of regenerate

   No Dualism: Though the columns of this compilation often contrast satanic activity and God's activity, they must not be construed as positing a dualism between satan and God. God is the omnipotent, sovereign Creator; satan is a creature who rebelled against God and became the spiritual adversary, the deceiver, the Evil One.

   No Determinism: The compilation of these Scriptures in such stark contrast with one another does not imply a deterministic identification with either satan or God. God created man as a choosing creature with freedom of choice. Choice is necessitated to be converted from an unregenerate spiritual condition to regenerate, and repeatedly necessary in order to behave like who we have become in our spiritual condition "in Christ."

   Such a compilation will inevitably involve some arbitrary categorization according to the interpretation of some Scriptures. The placement of these Scriptures in contrast to others is designed to cause the student of Scripture to consider their import, and to study the Scriptures further. The Scriptures cited and the categories utilized are obviously not exhaustive, so a diligent student can expand this compilation many fold.

Scriptural Contrasts

In Adam
- Rom. 5:12 - "through one man sin entered into the world"
- Rom. 5:19 - "through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners"
- I Cor. 15:22 - "In Adam all die"

 

 

 

In the evil one
- I John 5:19 - "the whole world lies in the evil one."

In Christ
- Rom. 8:1 - "those who are in Christ Jesus"
- I Cor. 1:30 - "by His doing you are in Christ Jesus."
- I Cor. 15:22 - "in Christ shall all be made alive."
- II Cor. 5:17 - "if any man is in Christ..."
- Gal. 3:28 - "you are all one in Christ Jesus"
(numerous others)

In Him
- Eph. 1:13 - "you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise"-
- I John 2:5 - "by this we know that we are in Him"
(numerous others)

In the Father
- I John 2:24 - "you will abide...in the Father"

In the Spirit
- Rom. 8:9 - "you are...in the Spirit"
- Gal. 3:3 - "having begun in the Spirit"

Old Man
- Rom. 6:6 - "our old man has been crucified with Him"
- Eph. 4:22 - "you have laid aside the old man"
- Col. 3:9 - "having laid aside the old man"

New Man
- Eph. 4:24 - "you have put on the new man"
Col. 3:10 - "having put on the new man"

New creature
- II Cor. 5:17 - "he is a new creature"
- Gal. 6:15 - "a new creation"

Natural man
- I Cor. 2:14 - "a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit"
- Jude 19 - "natural, devoid of the Spirit"

Spiritual man
- I Cor. 2:15 - "he who is spiritual"
- I Cor. 3:1 - "as spiritual men"
- Gal. 6:1 - "you who are spiritual"

Christian
- Acts 11:26 - "first called Christians in Antioch"
- I Peter 4:16 - "if suffer as a Christian"

Children of the devil
- I John 3:10 - "children of the devil are obvious"
- John 8:44 - "you are of your father, the devil"		 Children of God
- John 1:12 - "right to become children of God"
- Rom. 8:16 - "we are children of God"
- Rom. 8:21 - "the glory of the children of God"
- Phil. 2:15 - "children of God above reproach"
- I John 3:1 - "called children of God"
- I John 3:2 - "now we are children of God"
- I John 3:10 - "children of God...are obvious"

Sons of the evil one
- Matt. 13:38 - "the sons of the evil one"

Son of the devil
- Acts 13:10 - "you son of the devil"

Sons of disobedience
- Eph. 2:2 - "spirit now working in the sons of disobedience"
- Eph. 5:6 - "wrath of God on sons of disobedience"

Sons of God
- Matt. 5:45 - sons of your Father in heaven"
- Lk. 6:35 - "sons of the Most High"
- Rom. 8:14 - "led by Spirit...sons of God"
- Rom. 8:17 - "adoption as sons"
- Rom. 9:26 - "sons of the living God"
- II Cor. 6:18 - "called sons and daughters"
- Gal. 3:26 - "you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."
- Gal. 4:6,7 - "no longer a slave, but a son"
- Heb. 2:10 - "bringing many sons to glory"
Enemies of God
- Matt. 12:30 - "the one not with Me is against Me"
- Acts 13:10 - "enemy of all righteousness"
- Rom. 5:10 - "while we were enemies"
- Phil. 3:18 - "enemies of the cross"
- James 4:4 - "friend of world...enemy of God"		 People of God
- Rom. 9:25 - "I will call them...My People"
- Titus 2:14 - "a people for His possession"
- Heb. 4:9 - "a Sabbath rest for the people of God"
- I Peter 2:10 - "now you are the people of God"

Strangers
- Eph. 2:12 - "strangers to the covenant of promise"
- Eph. 2:19 - "strangers and aliens"

Of this world
- Gal. 4:3 - "in bondage under elemental things of the world"
- Eph. 2:12 - "without God, in the world"
- I John 2:15 - "love the world"
- I John 4:5 - "from this world"

Citizens of heaven
- Eph. 2:19 - "fellow-citizens with the saints, and members of God's household"
- Phil. 3:20 - "our citizenship is in heaven"

Not of this world
- John 15:19 - "you are not of this world"
- John 17:14,16 - "they are not of the world"
- Gal. 6:14 - "world has been crucified to me, and I to the world"
- II Peter 2:20 - "escaped the defilements of the world"
- I John 5:5 - "the one who overcomes the world, he who believes"

No inheritance
- I Cor. 6:9 - "unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
- Gal. 5:21 - "those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God"

Heirs
- Rom. 8:17 - "heirs also, heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ"
- Gal. 3:29 - "heirs according to promise"
- Gal. 4:7 - "an heir through God"
- Titus 3:7 - "heirs...of eternal life"
- Heb. 6:17 - "heirs of the promise"
- James 2:5 - "heirs of the kingdom"

Kings and Priests
- Rom. 15:16 - "ministering as a priest"
- I Peter 2:5 - "holy priesthood"
- I Peter 2:9 - "chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation"
- Rev. 1:6 - "made us to be a kingdom, priests to God"

Sinners
- Matt. 9:13 - "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (cf. Mk.2:17; Lk. 5:32)
- Rom. 5:8 - "while we were yet sinners"
- Rom. 5:19 - "the many were made sinners"
- I Tim. 1:9 - "ungodly and sinners"
- I Tim. 1:15 - "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"
- I Peter 4:18 - "the godless man and the sinner"
- Jude 15 - "ungodly sinners"

Saints
- Rom. 1:7 - "called saints"
- Rom. 8:27 - "He intercedes for the saints"
- Eph. 1:18 - "His inheritance in the saints"
- Eph. 4:12 - "the equipping of the saints"
(cf. I Cor. 1:2; II Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; etc.)

Holy and blameless
- Eph. 1:4 - "that we should be holy and blameless before Him"
- Col. 1:22 - "holy, blameless and beyond reproach"
- Col. 3:12 - "chosen of God, holy"

Unrighteous
- Rom. 1:29 - "filled with all unrighteousness"
- I Cor. 6:9 - "the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God"
- II Peter 2:9 - "the unrighteous under punishment"

Righteous
- Rom. 5:19 - "many made righteous"
- Rom. 8:10 - "spirit is alive because of righteousness"
- I Cor. 1:30 - "Christ Jesus became to us... righteousness"
- II Cor. 5:21 - "we might become the righteousness of God in Him"
- Eph. 4:24 - "new man...created in righteousness"
- Phil. 3:9 - "righteousness which comes from God on basis of faith"

Justified
- Rom. 3:24 - "justified as a gift by grace"
- Rom. 3:28 - "justified by faith apart from works"
- Rom. 5:9 - "justified by His blood"
- Rom. 8:30 - "those called, also justified"
- I Cor. 6:11 - 'you were justified"
- Gal. 2:16 - "justified by faith in Christ"
- Gal. 3:24 - "justified by faith in Christ"
- Titus 3:7 - "justified by His grace"

Lost, Perishing
- Luke 15:32 - "lost has been found"
- I Cor. 1:18 - "those who are perishing"
- II Cor. 2:15 - "those who are perishing"
- II Cor. 4:3 - "those who are perishing"
- II Thess. 2:10 - "those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, so as to be saved"

Redeemed
- Rom. 3:24 - "redemption...in Christ Jesus"
- I Cor. 1:30 - "Christ Jesus became to us... redemption"
- Eph. 1:7 - "we have redemption through His blood"
- Gal. 3:13 - "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law"
- Gal. 4:5 - "redeem those under the law"
- Col. 1:14 - "in Whom we have redemption"
- Titus 2:14 - "redeem us from every lawless deed"

Perfect
- Phil. 3:15 - "as many as are perfect"
- Heb. 12:23 - "the spirits of righteous men made perfect"
- Heb. 10:14 - "He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified"

Ungodly
- Rom. 5:6 - "Christ died for the ungodly"
- I Tim. 1:9 - "law is made for ungodly"
- I Peter 4:18 - "godless men and sinners"
- II Peter 3:7 - "destruction of ungodly"
- Jude 15 - "convict ungodly of ungodly deeds done in ungodly way...ungodly sinners"		 Godly
- II Peter 1:3 - "granted to us everything pertaining...to godliness"
- II Peter 2:9 - "Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation"

Alienated
- Eph. 2:12 - "separate from Christ"
- Eph. 4:18 - "excluded from the life of God"
- Col. 1:21 - "alienated and hostile in mind"

 

Cast out
- Matt. 7:19 - "thrown into the fire"
- Luke 3:9 - "thrown into the fire"
- Luke 13:28 - "being cast out"
- Luke 14:35 - "thrown out"
- John 15:6 - "thrown away as a branch... and cast into the fire"

Reconciled
- Rom. 5:10,11 - "reconciled to God... having been reconciled...received reconciliation"
- II Cor. 5:18,19 - "God was in Christ reconciling us to Himself"
- Col. 1:22 - "He has now reconciled you"

Chosen
- John 13:18 - "I know the ones I have chosen"
- John 15:16 - "I chose you"
- Eph. 1:4 - "He chose us in Him"
- Col. 3:12 - "chosen of God"
- II Thess. 2:13 - "God has chosen you"
- Titus 1:1 - "those chosen of God"
- I Peter 1:1 - "those...who are chosen"
- I Peter 2:9 - "you are a chosen race"
- Rev. 17:14 - "the called and chosen and faithful"

Cursed
- Gal. 3:13 - "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us"
- II Peter 2:14 - "accursed children"		 Accepted
- Rom. 12:1 - Present your bodies as acceptable"
- Rom. 14:3 - "God has accepted him"
- Rom. 15:7 - "Christ accepted us to the glory of God"
- I Peter 2:5 - "acceptable to God through Jesus Christ"
Guilty
- James 2:10 - "stumble in one point, guilty of all"		 Forgiven
- Acts 10:43 - "everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins"
- Eph. 1:7 - "in Him we have...the forgiveness of our trespasses"
- Eph. 4:32 - "God in Christ has forgiven you"
- Col. 1:14 - "we have...the forgiveness of sins"
- Col. 2:13 - "having forgiven all our transgressions
- I John 2:12 - "your sins are forgiven"
Condemnation
- Mark 16:16 - "he who has disbelieved shall be condemned"
- Rom. 5:16 - "one transgression resulting in condemnation"
- Rom. 5:18 - "one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men"
- I Cor. 11:32 - "condemned along with the world"
- II Peter 2:9 - "the unrighteous under punishment"		 No condemnation
- Rom. 8:1 - "now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"

Filthy
- Prov. 30:12 - "filthiness"
- Rev. 22:11 - "let the one who is filthy, still be filthy"

Defiled
- I Cor. 8:7 - "conscience...is defiled"
- Titus 1:15 - "those who are defiled and unbelieving...their conscience is defiled"
- Heb. 9:13 - "those who have been defiled"
- II Peter 2:20 - "defilement of the world"

Cleansed
- Acts 15:9 - cleansing their hearts by faith"
- Titus 3:5 - "washing of regeneration"
- I John 1:7 - "blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin"
- II Peter 1:9 - "purification from former sins"
Unholy
- I Tim. 1:9 - "unholy and profane"
- II Tim. 3:2 - "ungrateful, unholy"		 Sanctified
- Acts 20:32 - "all those who are sanctified"
- I Cor. 1:2 - "those sanctified in Christ"
- I Cor. 1:30 - "Jesus became to us... sanctification"
- I Cor. 6:11 - "you were sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ"
- Heb. 10:14 - "those who are sanctified"

Spirit of error
- I John 4:6 - "by this we know...the spirit of error"
- John 8:44 - "father of lies"

Spirit of slavery
- Rom. 8:15 - "a spirit of slavery"

Spirit of the world
- I Cor. 2:12 - "the spirit of the world"

Spirit of truth
- John 14:17 - Spirit of truth...will be in you"
- I John 4:6 - "by this we know the spirit of truth"

Spirit of adoption
- Rom. 8:15 - "you have received a spirit of adoption"

Spirit of holiness
- Rom. 1:4 - "the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord"

Spirit
- Eph. 2:2 - "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devoid of the Spirit
- Jude 19 - "devoid of the Spirit"

Spirit
- Rom. 8:11 - "the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus..dwells in you; ... His Spirit indwells you"
- I Cor. 2:12 - "we have received the Spirit... who is from God"
- II Cor. 1:22 - "gave us the Spirit in our hearts"
- Gal. 4:6 - "God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts"
- James 4:5 - "the Spirit which He made to dwell in us"
- I John 3:24 - "He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us"
- I John 4:13 - "He has given us of His Spirit"

Holy Spirit
- I Cor. 6:19 - "the Holy Spirit who is in you"
- II Tim. 1:14 - "the Holy Spirit who dwells in us"
- Heb. 6:4 - "partakers of the Holy Spirit"

Spirit of God
- Rom. 8:9 - "Spirit of God dwells in you"
- I Cor. 3:16 - "the Spirit of God dwells in you"

Spirit of Christ
- Rom. 8:9 - "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him"
- Gal. 4:6 - "God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts"
- Phil. 1:19 - "the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ"

One Spirit
- I Cor. 6:17 - "one spirit with Him"

Sealed with the Spirit
- II Cor. 1:22 - "sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts"
- Eph. 1:13 - "sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise"
- Eph. 4:30 - "the Holy Spirit...by whom you were sealed"

Anointed by Spirit
- II Cor. 1:21 - "He who...anointed us is God"
- I John 2:20 - "we have an anointing from the Holy One"
- I John 2:27 - "the anointing which you received...His anointing teaches you all things"

Baptized in Spirit
- I Cor. 12:13 - "by one Spirit we were all baptized"

Led by Spirit
- Rom. 8:14 - "led by Spirit...these are sons of God"
- Gal. 5:18 - "led by the Spirit"

Bad Fruit
- Matt. 7:17 - "bad tree bears bad fruit"
- Rom. 7:5 - "fruit for death"

Fruit of Spirit
- Gal. 5:22,23 - "fruit of the Spirit is love..."
- Eph. 5:9 - "fruit of the light"
- Phil. 1:11 - "having been filled with the fruit of righteousness"

Gifts of Spirit
- Rom. 12:6 - "we have gifts that differ according to the grace given us"
- I Cor. 12:4 - "there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit"
- I Peter 4:10 - "each has received a gift"

Wicked Heart
- Jere. 17:9 - "the heart is...deceitful... and is desperately sick"
- Acts 8:21 - "heart is not right before God"
- Rom. 1:21 - "foolish hearts darkened"
- Rom. 2:5 - "unrepentant heart"
- Eph. 4:18 - "hardness of their heart"		 New Heart
- Ezek. 36:26 - "I will put a new heart... within you"
- II Cor. 1:22 - "the Spirit in our hearts"
- II Cor. 4:6 - "the One who has shone in our hearts"
- Gal. 4:6 - "God has sent forth the Spirit into our hearts"
- Heb. 8:10 - "I will write them upon their hearts"
Separate from Christ
- Eph. 2:12 - "separate from Christ"		 Christ in us
- John 14:20 - "you in Me, and I in you"
- John 17:23 - "I in them, and Thou in Me"
- Rom. 8:10 - "If Christ is in you, the spirit is alive"
- II Cor. 13:5 - "Jesus Christ is in you"
- Gal. 2:20 - "Christ lives in me"
- Eph. 3:17 - "Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith"
- Col. 1:27 - "Christ in you, the hope of glory"
- Heb. 3:14 - "we have become partakers of Christ"
- I John 3:24 - "abides in Him, He in him"

Without God
- Eph. 2:12 - "without God in the world"

False God
- II Cor. 4:4 - "god of this world"
- Gal. 4:8 - "slaves to those which by nature are no gods"

God in us
- John 14:23 - "We will come and make Our abode with him"
- II Cor. 6:16 - "we are the temple of the living God"
- I John 4:12 - "God abides in us"
- I John 4:15,16 - "whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God....God abides in him"
Do not know God
- John 8:19 - "know neither Me, nor the Father"
- I Cor. 1:21 - "the world through its wisdom did not know God"
- Gal. 4:8 - "you did not know God"
- I Thess. 4:5 - "do not know God"
- II Thess. 1:8 - "retribution to those who do not know God"
- I John 4:8 - "one who does not love...does not know God"		 Knows God
- John 14:17 - "you know Him because He abides with you"
- John 17:3 - "know Thee, the only true God"
- Gal. 4:9 - "you have come to know God"
- II Tim. 1:12 - "I know whom I have believed"
- I John 2:3 - "we have come to know Him"
- I John 2:13,14 - "you know Him"
- I John 4:7 - "everyone who loves...knows God"
Blind
- Matt. 15:14 - "blind guides of the blind"
- John 9:39 - "those who do not see may see"
- John 12:40 - "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts"
- Acts 28:27 - "they have closed their eyes"
- II Cor. 4:4 - "god of this world has blinded minds of unbelieving"
- I John 2:11 - "the darkness has blinded his eyes"
- I John 3:6 - "no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him"
- III John 11 - "the one who does evil has not seen God"		 See God
- John 6:40 - "everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him, may have eternal life"
- John 12:45 - "he who beholds Me, beholds the One who sent Me"
- John 14:9 - "He who has seen Me has seen the Father"
- John 14:19 - "you will behold Me"
Evil Treasure
- Matt. 12:35 - "evil man out of evil treasure brings forth evil things"		 Good Treasure
- Matt. 12:35 - "good man out of good treasure brings forth good things"
- II Cor. 4:7 - "we have this treasure in earthen vessels"
- II Tim. 1:14 - "the Holy Spirit, the treasure which has been entrusted to us."
Lamp of the Wicked
- Prov. 13:9 - "the lamp of the wicked goes out"
- Prov. 24:20 - "the lamp of the wicked will be put out"
- Prov. 21:5 - "the lamp of the wicked is sin"		 Lamp of the Lord
- Prov. 20:27 - "the spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord"
- Matt. 6:22 - "lamp of the body...whole body full of light"
Nature of wrath
- Eph. 2:3 - "by nature children of wrath"		 Divine Nature
- II Peter 1:4 - "partakers of the Divine nature"

Death
- Gen. 2:17 - "in the day you eat...you shall surely die"
- Rom. 5:12 - "death spread to all men"
- Rom. 5:15 - "the many died"
- Rom. 5:17 - "death reigned through the one"
- I Cor. 15:21 - "by a man came death"
- I Cor. 15:22 - "in Adam all die"
- Eph. 2:1 - "dead in your trespasses and sins"
- Eph. 2:5 - "dead in our transgressions"
- Col. 2:13 - "dead in your transgressions"
- I John 3:14 - "abides in death"

 


No Life
- Eph. 4:18 - "excluded from the life of God"
- I John 5:12 - "he who does not have the Son of God does not have life"

Life
- Gen. 2:7 - "breath of life"
- John 10:10 - "I have come that you may have life"
- John 11:25 - "I am the resurrection and the life"
- John 14:6 - "I am the way, the truth and the life"
- John 20:31 - "believing you may have life"
- Rom. 6:4 - "newness of life"
- Rom. 8:10 - "the spirit is alive"
- II Cor. 3:6 - "the Spirit gives life"
- Col. 3:4 - "Christ who is our life"
- I Peter 3:7 - "the grace of life"
- II Peter 1:3 - "all things pertaining to life"
- I John 3:14 - "passed from death unto life"
- I John 4:9 - "we might live through Him"
- I John 5:12 - "He who has the Son has the life"

Alive to God
- Rom. 6:11 - "alive to God in Christ Jesus"

Alive with Christ
- Eph. 2:5 - "alive together with Christ"
- Col. 2:13 - "alive together with Him"
- I Thess. 5:10 - "live together with Him"

Eternal Life
- John 3:16 - "should not perish ,but have eternal life"
- John 5:24 - "has eternal life"
- Rom. 6:23 - "free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"
(numerous others)

Born of God
- John 1:13 - "born...of God"
- John 3:3 - "born from above"
- John 3:5,8 - "born of the Spirit"
- I Peter 1:3 - "born again to a living hope"
- I Peter 1:23 - "born again...of imperishable seed"
- I John 2:29 - "born of God"
(cf. I John 3:9; 4:7; 5:1,4)

Regenerate
- Titus 3:5 - "the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit"

Darkness
- Matt. 6:23 - "the light that is in you is darkness"
- Luke 22:53 - "power of darkness yours"
- John 3:19 - "men loved the darkness"
- John 12:46 - "remain in darkness"
- Acts 26:18 - "turn from darkness"
- Rom. 2:19 - "those who are in darkness"
- II Cor. 6:14 - "unbelievers...darkness"
- Eph. 5:8 - "formerly darkness"
- Col. 1:13 - "domain of darkness"
- I Thess. 5:4,5 - "night, darkness"
- I Peter 2:9 - "called you out of darkness"
- I John 2:9 - "in the darkness"
- I John 2:11 - "in the darkness and walks in darkness...the darkness has blinded his eyes"

Angel of Light
- II Cor. 11:14 - "Satan disguises himself as an angel of light"

Light
- Matt. 5:14 - "you are light of the world"
- Matt. 6:22 - "whole body full of light"
- John 1:4 - "the life was the light of men"
- Acts 26:18 - "from darkness to light"
- II Cor. 4:6 - "has shown in our hearts to give the light"
- Eph. 5:8 - "you are light in the Lord"
- Col. 1:12 - "the saints in light"
- I Thess. 5:5 - "sons of light"
- I Peter 2:9 - "out of darkness into His marvellous light"
- I John 2:9,10 - "abides in the light"


Enlightened
- Heb. 6:4 - "have been enlightened"
- Heb. 10:32 - "being enlightened"

Strength
- Eph. 3:16 - "strengthened with power...in the inner man"
- Col. 1:11 - "strengthened with all power"
- Phil. 4:13 - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"
- I Peter 4:11 - "by the strength which God supplies"
- I John 2:14 - "you are strong"

Derivation
- John 8:44 - "out of your father, the devil"
- I John 3:8 - "one who sins is out of the devil"
- I John 3:12 - "Cain, was out of the evil one"		 Derivation
- II Cor. 3:5 - "our adequacy is out of God"
- II Cor. 5:18 - "all things are out of God"
- I John 4:6 - "we are out of God"
- I John 5:19 - "we know that we are out of God"
Power
- Luke 10:19 - "the power of the enemy"
- Luke 22:53 - "the power of darkness"
- II Thess. 2:9 - "in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power"
- Heb. 2:14 - "him having the power of death, that is the devil"
- Rev. 13:2 - "the dragon gave him his power"		 Power
- Acts 1:8 - "you shall receive power when Holy Spirit has come upon you"
- I Cor. 1:24 - "Christ, the power of God"
- II Cor. 4:7 - "the power may be of God"
- II Cor. 12:9 - "power of Christ "
- Eph. 3:20 - "the power that works within us"
- Col. 1:29 - "His power which mightily works within me"

Authority
- Acts 26:18 - "the authority of Satan"
- Col. 1:13 - "the authority of the darkness"

Energizing
- Eph. 2:2 - "the spirit now energizing in the sons of disobedience"

Authority
- Matt. 28:18 - "all authority given to Me"
- Acts 26:18 - "authority of ... God"

Energizing
- Eph. 3:20 - "the power that energizes within us"
- Phil. 2:13 - "God is energizing in you"
- Col. 1:29 - "His energy energizing in me"

Slaves
- John 8:34,35 - "everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin"
- Rom. 6:6 - "slaves to sin"
- Gal. 4:8 - "slaves to those which by nature are no gods"

Free
- John 8:32 - "the truth shall make you free"
- John 8:36 - "the Son shall make you free"
- Rom. 8:21 - "the freedom of the glory of the children of God"
- Gal. 5:1 - "it was for freedom that Christ set us free"
- Gal. 5:13 - "you were called to freedom"
- IPeter 2:16 - "free men"

Slave of Christ
- Rom. 6:16 - "slaves for obedience"
- Rom. 6:18 - "slaves of righteousness"
- I Cor. 7:22 - "Christ's slave"
- I Cor. 9:19 - "though free, I have made myself a slave"
- II Cor. 4:5 - "bond-servants for Jesus"

Bondage
- Acts 8:23 - "the bondage of iniquity"
- Gal. 4:3 - "in bondage under the elemental things of the world"
- II Tim. 2:26 - "having been held captive by him (devil) to do his will"		 Liberty
- II Cor. 3:17 - "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty"
- Gal. 2:4 - "our liberty...in Christ Jesus"
- James 1:25 - "the perfect law of liberty"
- James 2:12 - "judged by law of liberty"
Under Sin
- Rom. 3:9 - "both Jews and Greeks are all under sin"
- Gal. 3:22 - "the Scripture has shut up all men under sin"

Freed from Sin
- Rom. 6:7 - "freed from sin"
- Rom. 6:18,22 - "been freed from sin"

Dead to Sin
- Rom. 6:2 - "we who died to sin"
- Rom. 6:6 - "body of sin done away with"
- Rom. 6:11 - "consider yourselves to be dead to sin"
- I Peter 2:24 - "that we might die to sin"

Under Law
- Rom. 3:19 - "those who are under the Law"
- I Cor. 9:20,21 - "those who are under the Law"
- Gal. 3:23 - "kept in custody under the Law"
- Gal. 4:4,5 - "those under the Law"
- Gal. 4:21 - "under the Law

Not Under Law
- Rom. 6:14,15 - "you are not under the law, but under grace"
- Rom. 7:2,6 - "we have been released from the Law"
- Gal. 5:18 - "you are not under the law"

Dead to Law
- Rom. 7:3,4 - "you were made to die to the Law"
- Gal. 2:19 - "I died to the Law"

End of Law
- Rom. 10:4 - "Christ is the end of the Law"

In the flesh
- Rom. 7:5 - "we were in the flesh"
- Rom. 8:8 - "those in the flesh cannot please God"

In the Spirit
- Rom. 8:9 - "you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit"

Dead to flesh
- Gal. 5:24 - "those who belong to Jesus have crucified the flesh"
- Col. 2:11 - "the removal of the body of the flesh"

Nothing
- Jere. 10:23 - "a man's way is not in himself; nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps"
- John 6:63 - "the flesh profits nothing"
- John 15:5 - "apart from Me, you can do nothing"
- II Cor. 3:5 - "we are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves"

All Things
- I Cor. 3:21,22 - "all things belong to you"
- II Cor. 9:8 - "all sufficiency in everything"
- Eph. 1:3 - "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ"
- Col. 2:10 - "in Him you have been made complete"
- II Peter 1:3 - "everything pertaining to life and godliness"

As He is
- I John 4:17 - "As He is, so are we, in this world"

[Spiritual Condition]

 

[Behavioral Expression]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Temptation
- Matt. 4:1 - "tempted by the devil"
- Mark 1:13 - "tempted by satan"
- Luke 4:2 - "tempted by the devil"
- I Cor. 7:5 - "lest Satan tempt you"
- I Cor. 10:13 - "no temptation...but such as is common to man"
- I Thess. 3:5 - "the tempter might have tempted you"
- James 1:13 - "God...does not tempt any one"

Pre-eminent Resource
- Rom. 8:31 - "If God is for us, who is against us?"
- I Cor. 10:13 - "God will not allow youto be tempted beyond what you are able"
- II Thess. 3:3 - "He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one"
- Heb. 2:18 - "He comes to the aid of those who are tempted"
- I Peter 1:5 - "protected by the power of God"
- II Peter 2:9 - "Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation"
- I John 4:4 - "greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world"
- I John 5:18 - "Jesus keeps him and the evil one does not touch him"

Preserving Power
- Rom. 14:4 - "Lord is able to make stand"
- I Cor. 1:8 - "Jesus shall confirm you to the end"
- Phil. 1:6 - "He who began a good work in you will perfect it"
- I Thess. 5:24 - "He will bring it to pass"
- II Tim. 1:12 - "He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him"
- Heb. 12:2 - "Jesus, the author and perfector of faith"
- Jude 24 - "Him who is able to keep you from stumbling"

Do not...
- Rom. 6:12 - "do not let sin reign in your mortal body"
- Rom. 6:13 - "do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin"
- Rom. 12:2 - "do not be conformed to this world"
- Gal. 5:1 - "do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery"
- Eph. 4:27 - "do not give the devil an opportunity"
- Eph. 4:30 - "do not grieve the Holy Spirit"
- Eph. 5:11 - "do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness"
- Phil. 2:3 - "do nothing from selfishness"
- I Thess. 5:19 - "do not quench the Spirit"
- James 1:16 - "do not be deceived"
- I Peter 1:14 - "do not be conformed to the former lusts"
- I Peter 2:16 - "do not use your freedom as a covering for evil"
- I John 2:15 - "do not love the world"
- Gal. 5:13 - "do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh"

Abstain
- I Thess. 5:22 - "abstain from every form of evil"
- II Tim. 2:19 - "abstain from wickedness"
- I Peter 2:11 - "abstain from fleshly lusts"

Resist
- James 4:7 - "resist the devil"
- I Peter 5:9 - "resist him"

Deny
- Matt. 16:24 - "if anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself"
(Cf. Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)
- Titus 2:12 - "deny ungodliness and worldly desires"

Keep
- I Tim. 5:22 - "keep yourself free from sin"
- James 1:27 - "keep oneself unstained by the world"

Miscellaneous
- Rom. 6:11 - "consider yourselves to be dead to sin"
- Rom. 6:14 - "sin shall not be master over you"
- Rom. 6:16 - "you are slaves of the one whom you obey"
- Rom. 8:12 - "we are under obligation, not to the flesh"
- Rom. 13:14 - "make no provision for the flesh"
- I Cor. 10:12 - "take heed lest you fall"
- Phil. 3:3 - "put no confidence in the flesh"
- II John 8 - "watch yourselves

May it never be
- Rom. 6:1,2 - "to continue in sin that grace may increase"
- Rom. 6:15 - "we sin because we are not under law"

Stand
- I Cor. 16:13 - "stand firm in the faith"
- Eph. 6:11,13,14 - "stand firm"
- Phil. 4:1 - "stand firm in the Lord"
- Col. 4:12 - "stand perfect and fully assured in the will of God"
- I Thess. 3:8 - "stand firm in the Lord"
- II Thess. 2:15 - "stand firm"

Set your mind
- Phil. 2:5 - "set this mind in you, which was in Christ Jesus"
- Col. 3:2 - "Set your mind on things above"

Abide
- John 15:4-9 - "Abide in Me"
- I John 2:28 - "abide in Him"

Reckon
- Rom. 6:11 - "reckon yourselves dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus"

Draw near
- Heb. 4:16 - "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace"
- Heb. 10:22 - "let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance"
- James 4:8 - "draw near to God"

Present
- Rom. 6:13 - present yourselves to God"
- Rom. 6:19 - "present your members as slaves to righteousness"
- Rom. 12:1 - "present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice"
- II Tim. 2:15 - "present yourself approved to God"

Be diligent
- Heb. 4:11 - "be diligent to enter that rest"
- II Peter 1:10 - "be diligent to make certain about His calling you"
- II Peter 3:14 - "be diligent to be found by Him in peace"

Let God
- Col. 3:15 - "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts"
- Col. 3:16 - "let the word of Christ richly dwell in you"

Battle is Lord's
- II Chron. 20:15 - "the battle is not yours, but God's"
- I Sam. 17:47 - "the battle is the Lord's"

Keep on believing
- John 3:16 - "whoever keeps on believing in Him"
- Rom. 14:23 - "whatever is not from faith is sin"
- I Peter 1:8 - "keep on believing in Him"
- I John 5:10 - "the one who keeps on believing in Him has the witness in Himself"

Flesh
- Rom. 8:12 - "live acording to the flesh"
- Rom. 13:14 - "proavision for the flesh"
- I Cor. 3:1,3 - "men of flesh,...still fleshly"
- II Cor. 1:12 - "fleshly wisdom"
- II Cor. 1:17 - "purpose according to the flesh"
- II Cor. 10:3 - "war according to the flesh"
- Gal. 3:3 - "having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"
- Gal. 5:16 - "carry out desires of the flesh"
- Gal. 5:17 - "the flesh sets its desires against the Spirit"
- Col. 2:8 - "inflated by fleshly mind"
- I Peter 4:2 - "live...by the flesh"		 Spirit
- Rom. 7:6 - "serve in newness of the Spirit"
- Rom. 8:2 - "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus"
- Rom. 8:11 - "life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit"
- Rom. 8:13 - "by the Spirit...you will live"
- Rom. 8:26 - "the Spirit helps our weaknesses"
- I Cor. 2:4 - "demonstration of the Spirit"
- II Cor. 3:6 - "the Spirit gives life"
- Gal. 3:5 - "provides you with the Spirit, and works miracles"
- Gal. 5:5 - "through the Spirit, by faith"
- Gal. 5:25 - "live by the Spirit"
- Gal. 6:8 - "sow to the Spirit"
- Eph. 5:18 - "filled with the Spirit"
- Phil. 1:19 - "the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ"
- I Peter 1:2 - "the sanctifying work of the Spirit"
- II Thess. 2:13 - "sanctification by the Spirit and faith"
Sin
- Rom. 6:12 - "let sin reign in mortal body"
- Rom. 6:14 - "sin...master over you"
- Rom. 6:16 - "sin resulting in death"
- Rom. 7:11 - "sin...deceived me"
- Rom. 7:14 - "bondage to sin"
- Rom. 7:17,20 - "sin indwells me"
- Rom. 7:23,25 - "law of sin"
- Rom. 8:2 - "law of sin and of death"
- Rom. 14:23 - "whatever is not of faith is sin"
- I Cor. 15:56 - "power of sin is law"
- I John 1:8 - "if we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves"		 Saving Life of Christ
- Rom. 5:10 - "saved by His life"
- Rom. 5:17 - "reign in life through...Jesus Christ"
- Rom. 13:14 - "put on the Lord Jesus Christ"
- II Cor. 5:14 - "love of Christ controls us"
- II Cor. 12:9 - "power of Christ may dwell in me"
- Gal. 2:20 - "Christ lives in me"
- Phil. 3:10 - "the power of His resurrection"
- Col. 3:15 - "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts"

Law
- Rom. 7:6 - "we serve...not in oldness of the letter"
- II Cor. 3:6 - "servants of...the letter...the letter kills"
- Gal. 5:4 - "seeking to be justified by law"

 

 

Religion
- Acts 17:22 - "you are very religious in all respects"
- Col. 2:23 - "self-made religion...of no value against fleshly indulgence"

Grace
- Rom. 5:2 - "this grace in which we stand"
- Rom. 5:17 - "the abundance of grace"
- Rom. 5:21 - "grace might reign"
- I Cor. 15:10 - "the grace of God with me"
- II Cor. 1:12 - "in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves"
- II Cor. 9:8 - "God is able to make all grace abound to you"
- II Cor. 9:14 - "the surpassing grace of God in you"
- II Cor. 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you"
- Eph. 3:7 - "God's grace given to me according to the working of His power"
- Heb. 4:16 - "grace to help in time of need"
- James 4:6 - "He gives a greater grace"
- I Peter 4:10 - "good stewards of the manifold grace of God"
- II Peter 3:18 - "grow in the grace...of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Law (principle)
- Rom. 7:21 - "the principle that evil is present in me"
- Rom. 7:23 - "a prisoner of the law of sin"
- Rom. 7:25 - "serving...with my flesh the law of sin"
- Rom. 8:2 - "the law of sin and of death"		 Law (principle)
- Rom. 3:27 - "law of faith"
- Rom. 7:22 - "law of God"
- Rom. 8:2 - "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus"
- I Cor. 9:21 - "law of God...law of Christ"
- Gal. 6:2 - "law of Christ"
- James 1:25 - "the perfect law..of liberty"
- James 2:8 - "the royal law..love"
- James 2:12 - "law of liberty"
 

Power of God
- II Cor. 3:5 - "our adequacy is of God"
- II Cor. 4:7 - "surpassing greatness of the power is from God"
- II Cor. 13:4 - "we live because of the power of God"
- Phil. 2:13 - "God is at work in you"
- Phil. 4:13 - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me"
- Col. 1:29 - "His power mightily works within me"

Filled
- Rom. 15:13 - "God of hope fill you with all joy and hope"
- Eph. 3:19 - "filled up to all the fullness of God"
- Eph. 5:18 - "be filled with the Spirit"
- Col. 1:9 - "filled with the knowledge of His will"

Renewed
- Rom. 12:2 - "transformed by the renewing of your mind"
- II Cor. 4:16 - "inner man being renewed day by day"
- Eph. 4:23 - "renewed in the spirit of your mind"
- Col. 3:10 - "renewed...according to the image of the One who created him"

Strengthened
- Eph. 1:19 - "the working of the strength of His might"
- Eph. 3:16 - "strengthened with power...in the inner man"
- Eph. 6:10 - "be strong...in the strength of His might"
- Col. 1:11 - "strengthened with all power"
- II Thess. 2:17 - "Lord Jesus...strengthen your hearts"
- Heb. 13:9 - "strengthened by grace"
- I Peter 4:11 - "by the strength which God supplies"
- I Peter 5:10 - "God of all grace...will strengthen you"

Walk
- John 12:35 - "walks in the darkness"
- Rom. 8:4 - "walk according to the flesh"
- I Cor. 3:3 - "walking like mere men"
- II Cor. 4:2 - "walking in craftiness"
- Eph. 2:2 - "walked according to the course of this world"
- I John 1:6 - "walk in the darkness"
- I John 2:11 - "walks in the darkness"		 Walk
- Rom. 6:4 - "walk in newness of life"
- Rom. 8:4 - "walk...according to the Spirit"
- Gal. 5:16 - "walk by the Spirit"
- Gal. 5:25 - "walk by the Spirit"
- Eph. 5:2 - "walk in love"
- Col. 1:10 - "walk in a manner worthy of the Lord"
- I Thess. 2:12 - "walk in a manner worthy of God"
- I John 1:7 - "walk in the light"
- I John 2:6 - "walk in the same manner He (Jesus) walked"
Live
- Rom. 6:2 - "live in it (sin)"
- Rom. 8:12 - "live according to the flesh"
- Rom. 8:13 - "living according to the flesh"
- II Cor. 5:15 - "live for themselves"
- II Peter 2:18 - "live in error"		 Live
- Rom. 8:13 - "live...by the Spirit"
- Rom. 14:8 - "live for the Lord"
- Gal. 2:20 - "life I now live, I live by faith"
- Gal. 5:25 - "live by the Spirit"
- I Thess. 5:13 - " live in peace"
- II Tim. 3:12 - "live godly in Christ Jesus"
Deeds
- John 3:19 - "deeds were evil"
- John 7:7 - "deeds are evil"
- Rom. 8:13 - "deeds of the body"
- Rom. 13:12 - "deeds of darkness"
- Gal. 5:19 - "deeds of the flesh"
- Eph. 5:11 - "deeds of darkness"
- Titus 1:16 - "deeds that deny Him"
- II Peter 2:8 - "lawless deeds"
- Jude 15 - "ungodly deeds"		 Deeds
- John 3:21 - "deeds manifested as having been wrought in God"
- Titus 3:8 - "good deeds"
- Heb. 10:24 - "good deeds"
Works
- Gal. 3:10 - "works of the Law"
- Heb. 6:1 - "dead works"
- I John 3:8 - "works of the devil"		 Works
- John 6:28 - "work the works of God"
- John 14:10 - "Father abiding in Me does His works"
- Eph. 2:10 - "created in Christ Jesus for good works which He prepared beforehand"
- Heb. 13:21 - "working in us that which is pleasing in His sight"
- James 2:18 - "show faith by my works"
Unfruitful
- John 15:2 - "does not bear fruit"
- Rom. 7:5 - "bear fruit for death"
- Eph. 5:11 - "unfruitful deeds of darkness"
- Titus 3:14 - "unfruitful"		 Fruit
- John 15:5 - "bears much fruit"
- Rom. 7:4 - "bear fruit for God"
- Gal. 5:22,23 - "fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control"
- Eph. 5:9 - "fruit of the light"
- Col. 1:10 - "bearing fruit in every good work"
Unrighteousness
- Rom. 2:8 - "obey unrighteousness"
- Rom. 6:13 - "members of body as instruments of unrighteousness"
- I John 5:17 - "unrighteousness is sin"		 Righteousness
- Rom. 6:13 - "instruments of righteousness to God"
- Rom. 6:16 - "obedience resulting in righteousness"
- James 3:18 - "fruit is righteousness"
- I Peter 2:24 - "live to righteousness"
- I John 2:29 - "practices righteousness"
Sins
- Rom. 6:1 - "continue in sin"
- I Tim. 5:24 - "sins...quite evident"
- I John 1:8 - "if we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves"		 Confess our Sins
- I John 1:9 - "we confess our sins"
- I John 2:1 - "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father"

Cannot please God
- Rom. 8:8 - "cannot please God"
- I Thess. 2:15 - "not pleasing to God"

Please men
- Rom. 15:1 - "please ourselves"
- Gal. 1:10 - "trying to please men"
- Col. 3:22 - "those who merely please men"

Please God
- II Cor. 5:9 - "pleasing to Him"
- Eph. 5:10 - "pleasing to the Lord"
- Col. 1:10 - "to please Him in all respects"
- I Thess. 4:1 - "please God"
- Heb. 13:21 - "working in us that which is pleasing in His sight"
- I John 3:22 - "do the things that are pleasing in His sight"
Fall short of glory
- Rom. 3:23 - "fall short of the glory of God"		 Glorify God
- I Cor. 6:20 - "glorify God in your body"
- I Cor. 10:31 - "do all to the glory of God"
- Phil. 1:20 - "Christ shall...be exalted in my body"
- II Cor. 3:18 - "transformed into the same image from glory to glory"
- Col. 1:27 - "Christ in you, the hope of glory"
- I Peter 4:11 - "that in all things God may be glorified"
- I Peter 4:16 - "if anyone suffers as a Christian...let him glorify God"

POSTSCRIPT

    Many Christians do not seem to understand or appreciate the radical spiritual exchange that has taken place when one is "converted from the authority of satan unto God" (Acts 26:18 ). When one becomes a Christian, he/she has moved immediately and completely from the "spiritual condition" of the left column to the "spiritual condition" of the right column.

    Those who have doubts about their conversion will benefit from studying the contrasting "spiritual condition" of the unregenerate and regenerate. Christians who have a tendency to be self-depreciating and to focus on their failures, and Christians who do not appreciate their new identity "in Christ," will benefit from meditating on the "spiritual condition" of the Christian in the right column above the horizontal line, in order to recognize the "finished work" of Christ on their behalf. Some Christians respond, "Well, I don't feel like this is true about me." The question is: Are you going to believe your experiential feelings, or are you going to believe what God says about you in His inspired Scriptures?

   The radical difference between the "spiritual condition" of the unregenerate and regenerate should also cause Christians to have more compassion for the "lost," compelling them to share the "good news" of the gospel with those who are deceived, duped, deluded and held captive by the devil (II Tim. 2:26). Christians need this incentive for evangelism today.

   I pray that this compilation of Scriptural contrasts will especially be used of God to cause Christians to recognize and "know" (Rom. 6:6,9) the glorious reality of their "spiritual condition" and spiritual identity "in Christ." Many Christians seem to read the verses noted in the right column above the horizontal line, and have been taught to view these merely as "positional truths" ­ truths from God's heavenly position and perspective ­ which are not really true for the living of the Chrisitian life. They tend to postulate these as ethereal heavenly realities to be accepted "as if" they were true on God's heavenly accounting books, but they end up being not much more than "legal fiction" when applied to the actualities of Christian living in the present.

   The majority of Christians today do not view themselves as "standing" in Christ, fully assured of their "spiritual condition" in the right column. Rather, they tend to focus on the experiential "behavioral expression" and view themselves to be "standing" in the left column, below the horizontal line, trying, struggling and praying to get into the right column. Others view themselves as standing astraddle the line between the columns below the horizontal line, somewhat like walking on a behavioral tightrope. Such are the skewed perspectives of a religion of "works" and self-effort, wherein Christians base their identity on what they "do" rather than on what Christ has accomplished for them once and for all.

   The failure to understand one's objective "spiritual condition" causes Christians to dwell disproportionately on the subjective and experiential "behavioral expressions." Such a misdirected emphasis fosters such religious manifestations as:

* defeatism and lingering doubts of regeneration and reconciled relationship with God.

* introspective navel-gazing in order to evaluate one's behavior.

* self-orientation that focuses on one's experiences, rather than on Jesus Christ.

* an undue sin-consciousness that can lead to inordinate and obsessive confessionalism.

* legalistic keeping of rules and regulations in order to achieve "behavior modification."

* suppressionism of the "flesh" which reverses Galatians 5:16 to read, "do not carry out the desires of the flesh, and you will be walking in the Spirit."

* masochistic crucifixionism that keeps attempting to "die to self" in order to be alive in Christ. It required the cross of Christ to transfer us from the left column to the right column above the horizontal line; it does not require another cross in order to behave like who we have become "in Christ."

* constant questioning of the "will of God", attempting to find "it" apart from Jesus Christ.

* "worm theology" that fails to appreciate the glorious transference of "spiritual condition".

* personal identity based on one's behavioral failures: "I am bad, evil, sinner", instead of a spiritual identity "in Christ."

* schizophrenic duality of questioning whether spiritual identity is based on "old nature" or "new nature" (unbiblical phrases).

* paranoid uncertainty concerning behavioral motivations.

* antinomian excuses of sinful behavior.

   Such destructive religious behavioral practices can be avoided when Christians have a clear sense of spiritual identity based on the "finished work" of Jesus Christ; when Christians can say with Paul, "by the grace of God I am what I am" (I Cor. 15:10). A positive personal concept of who we are "in Christ" is foundational to consistent Christian living, in that people behave on the basis of the concept of their identity. If we know who we are "in Christ" (right column above the horizontal line), then we can "behave" (right column below the horizontal line) like who we have "become" ­ not by our own self-effort, but by allowing the dynamic of Christ in us to express His Life.

   The responsibility of the Christian is not to strive and labor to behave according to God's expectations; rather our responsibility is faithful receptivity of God's activity. All that was required on our part in order to be transferred to a regenerate "spiritual condition", from the left column to the right column (above the horizontal line), was faith ­ our receptivity of God's activity on our behalf in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Paul explains in Col. 2:6, "As you received Christ Jesus (by faith), so walk in Him (by faith)." Faithful receptivity of the provision given to us spiritually in Jesus Christ is all that is required to "behave" (right column below the horizontal line) like who we have "become" (right column above the horizontal line). Such behavioral follow-through comprises the "obedience of faith" (Rom. 16:26) which allows God to be glorified by the expression of His all-glorious character in the behavior of man.