Putting Off the Grave Clothes

The dead man came out, his feet and his hands bound in bandages and his face wrapped in cloth. Jesus said, loosen him and let him go.*

One translation reads, "take off the grave clothes and let him go." Like Lazarus there is no question we were dead, we existed as the old man before Christ spoke life into us. And he continues to give us life. We died with Him, we were crucified, buried with Him in baptism, we participated in the likeness of His death so also we participate in the likeness of His Resurrection. Jesus is the resurrection and the Life, if you believe this then "take off the grave clothes," you are a new man, so walk in newness of life. It is a picture of baptism, the earthly man, the old self dies, crucified with  Christ, putting off the grave clothes we walk in newness of life. 

Therefore, as you go, train in discipleship all, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teachings them to guard all that I charged to you, and remember I exist with you all the days, to the end of the age.*

Oh, it is truth that we walk together with Him, and should walk in truth and agape love with one another. Jesus didn't train one to establish the church, no, as he went, he trained in discipleship the apostles, on which the church is established. We do not make disciples, Jesus does, but we facilitate, having been taught, having been proven ourselves, we now guard the truth in teaching others. You don't send a child to train others, first you must be proven, grown into maturity. Notice, there are three parts; train in discipleship, baptize, and teach. Have you ever heard of anyone teach baptism along with discipleship? Teaching encompasses all three components and in such we see the importance of the teachings of baptism, sanctification in truth, which transforms one into maturity.

Now faith exists; assurance, hope, conviction, things unseen.*

"Assurance means confidence, trust, being sure; it is a standing under, a taking of a thing upon one’s self; an assumed position. Faith exists as assurance, so please be sure of your salvation, if you are not go here.1" If the same people are raising there hand for salvation then the issue is one of assurance, which is an issue of faith, as faith exists assurance. It is a fearful place to be in a state where one is not assured of salvation, and it is the goodness of God that persuades. Of course, it is hypocritical to condemn children for not understanding, for not being obedient, when you haven't taught them. Faith is given as a measure, a tiny mustard seed, which must increase, in fact the nature of faith is that if you truly have it, then it will increase. In this we see another element of faith, conviction, or the trying in order to prove, or in the trying we are persuaded of truth. It is the testing of our faith that proves or brings us into maturity.

And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed, the renewing of the mind, to the extent that you prove the will of God, that it is good and acceptable and perfect.*

This word perfect means brought to completion; fully accomplished, fully developed; fully realized; full grown of ripe age. Perfection speaks of maturity, and increasing in faith plays an important role in it; fixing your eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of faith. Abraham did not turn back because of unbelief.* But he was strengthened in faith, being fully convinced that what God said, he exists also powerful to do, this is why faith was credited to him as righteousness.* How do we become fully convinced? do not turn back because of unbelief but be strengthened in faith. The word of God, the truth, strengthens faith. What is the outcome of faith increasing? perfection or maturity, transformation, the renewing of the mind. 

... to the extent that you prove the will of God, that it is good and acceptable and perfected.*

To the extent that you prove the will of God. Proving is the testing of faith, the proving of maturity and for the child of God the battle is in the mind as evil easily wars against the mind to bring it into captivity to the flesh. Transformation is the renewing of the mind, not the other way around, one is not transformed by thinking positively, but thinking positively is an outcome of a renewed mind. Transformation is accomplished by sanctification in truth. What does transformation produce? Obedience. The true identity of the child of God is realized as the old man with a carnal mind opposed to God's laws has died, metamorphosed in his place is the new man, renewed in mind, reflecting the true identity and nature of the new man inwardly. The new man finds God's will good and acceptable. In this purpose we find his grace is sufficient and that we will rule over sin under grace, not under the letter of the law, as it is His power perfecting us. Faith is energized in agape love, as children are rooted and grounded in love. The increasing, the proving, the perfecting of our faith succeeds as faith also exists hope and because faith is active in love.

Now faith exists; assurance, hope, conviction, things unseen.*

"Conviction here is defined as a trial in order to prove; a certain persuasion. This fits with the root word of faith and the idea of faith being a firm persuasion, assurance, and it is the concept of approving and receiving. Assurance and conviction exist as things of faith, things not seen."2 Transformation, the renewal of the mind, is how we are proven, and God goes to great lengths to help us be persuaded, saying anything we ask for this purpose so we become. In this we see the real spiritual blessings of God, and the fruit that multiplies thirty, sixty, and hundred fold being the fruit of abiding, in the vine, in the truth, not earthly money as some teach today. As children, God is convicting, persuading that there exists something more. 

So that the proving of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, proven by fire, also now obtain to the extent of praise and glory and honor in the revelation of Jesus Christ.*

Prophecy said Jesus would come as a refiners fire. He is the author and perfecter of faith. Faith is proven and exists conviction, a trial in order to prove. I was convicted that I needed to be baptized, so I was dunked in water, in the traditional teaching that said it was an act of obedience. But I was still convicted there was more so I "rededicated" my life but even still I knew there was more. I found the more in the truth, in the teachings of baptism, which is much more than just a commitment to follow Jesus. Baptism did not benefit me until I was taught the truth, in which is our reasonable service, to present the old man dead, crucified and buried with Christ, and to be raised, to walk in newness of Life. I am committed to that truth, presenting that my body, the old man, a living sacrifice. Teaching baptism is teaching truth.

Also now, you abide in that you learned and being convinced of, knowing among whom you have learned.*

The word convinced means to make trustworthy; pass. to be assured, assurance of belief. Assurance, confidence, trust, being convinced, these come as faith increases, just like Abraham was strengthened in faith being fully convinced. Faith increases by abiding in the truth, and in abiding comes knowing, and in knowing comes fully convincing, which outcome is Liberty and Life. The truth in the teachings of baptism, taught me I did not die, that I can't flog the old man to death, I can't give up sin, the truth told me the old man died, was crucified and buried with Christ and I was a new creation in Christ. Jesus exists the resurrection and life, He is truth and His words exist eternal Life. When we abide in truth we see the increasing of faith which exists assurance, conviction, and hope in things unseen. In the truth is sanctification, the proving, putting off the old garments, the old grave clothes, and walking in newness of Life.

I Surrender