Plan A Versus Plan B

Since we are all born spiritually dead in our trespasses and sins, we begin our existence with no awareness of God’s presence, nor do we have a knowledge of His ways. So we all learned to live independently of God. Let’s call that Plan B. Then one day we choose to believe the gospel and we are born-again. We have in our presence the mind of Christ and the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth. Let’s call that Plan A. We have the choice to walk by the Spirit (Plan A) or walk by the flesh (Plan B), because Plan B is still entrenched in our minds, and there is no delete button.

We need to grow in our awareness of God’s presence and learn His ways. All new believers will struggle with some carnality (fleshly living), because that has been their dominant learning experience. So we need to cut new believers some slack as they learn to crucify the flesh, and walk by the Spirit. God has forgiven them, and so should we as we help them grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, we are warned that new converts should not be considered for eldership. “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil” (1 Tim. 3:6). When pressure comes, new converts will likely fall back on their old ways of coping.

They have a choice when confronted by every new situation they face. They can choose to respond according to their old flesh patterns (old nature), and rely on their own strength and resources, or they can choose to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. They can choose to believe a lie, or they can choose to believe the truth. It is their choice, and nobody else can make it for them.

Jesus told the Pharisees, “You have set aside the commandments of God (Plan A) in order to observe your traditions” (Plan B). Any commitment we make towards Plan B, decreases our commitment to Plan A. The more we focus on man’s ways, the less we focus on God’s ways. “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sit is the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Psalm 1:1-3).

Dr. Neil

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