Session Notes

Q&A: Trying to find that magical place of filling:“Like you, I have seen that cold, clean and empty ”doctrinal“ stance taken by many who talk as if receiving the Spirit is merely technical, or ”positional“, and not really real …… I have also seen the desperation that comes from trying to reach that magical place that might be called ”filled“, etc. Neither ”side“ has exclusive rights to that desperation, either, for I come from a non-charismatic background and we tried over and over again to ”get IT back“ …… devotional, filled, sold-out, mature, vibrant, ”a man after God’s own heart“, etc. You know much of the terminology.”This is an excellent description of what it means to “try” rather than “be” in believing the Finished Work of Christ.

Q&A: Can a believer live any way he pleases?:“Can a born again believer live anyway he wants to and still be saved?… 1) There is a whole section (one of the very first added to the Shovel web site) devoted to the matter, and 2) The question pops up either rephrased or as an unspoken but underlying premise to many of the questions I hear…. Being ”saved“ may include a lot of somethings, but only in relation to the one who has not only done these things but has also become the life of those who are ”saved“.”

Q&A: Is Romans 7 our continuing reality in Christ?:“ The mind of theflesh cannot see past its own demise, extend beyond its ownconfinement, nor understand a choice it cannot make. No wondersomething within us balks at fleshly interpretations of the expressionsof another dimension, that is, from the real.You are absolutely correct, Romans 7 does not define or lay out ourcontinuing reality in Christ. Instead, it describes ”the law of theSpirit of life in Christ Jesus“ that cannot nor will not be contained,controlled or defined by the delusion brought on by the fleshly mind.It demands that who you really are in Christ is not made up of a blendbetween the two, but of a life that cannot help but see through theconclusions of ”the law of sin and death“.”This is a good article outlining the confusions of the law.

Shovel: consider it thru Friend: yes, I realize that in the war, we fight ‘from’ victory and not ‘for’ victory Shovel: how could ANY thought be taken CAPTIVE?… that means having your eyes on something that sounds stupid, foolish to our logical mind Friend: I know that in Romans 6 that we are to continually reckon ourselves to be dead to sin and alive to God, (resting in what is true) Shovel: yes … doesn’t that sound ethereal Friend: many legalist believe that this is a ‘work’ to make it true and that is of course a lie from hell “It is difficult to comprehend that even our beliefs can be ”works“or legalism.

Shovel Writings: The Issue of Salvation:“Salvation as an issue will always be up for grabs to whoever presents the most binding case based upon Scriptural proof-texts. Back to Top”The It is Finished argument will be debated until one realizes God’s Spirit is the final authority not Scripture.