Comparative Analysis: "Self as Satan's Concrete Expression VS Self
as Soul-life's Concrete Expression"
Gen 3:4-5 "And the serpent said unto the woman,
You shall not surely die: For God knows that in the day you eat thereof,
your eyes
shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil"
Gen 3:6 "And when the woman saw that the tree was good
for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to
make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof"
Matt 16:23 "But he, turning to Peter, said, Get out of my
way, Satan: you are a danger to me because your mind is not on the things of God, but on the things of men."
Gal 5:16-17 "Walk in the
Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh
lusts against the Spirit"
1 Pet 5:8-9 "Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about,
seeking whom he may devour"
James 4:7 "Submit
yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you"
Eph 4:23 "And be renewed
in the spirit of your mind"
|
Comparison Aspects |
Self as Satan's Concrete Expression |
Related Verses |
Self as Soul-life's Concrete Expression |
Related Verses |
|
Nature & Source |
Self formed by Satan's mind injected into human
soul, controlled by Satan |
1. Gen 3:1 "Now the
serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field" 2. John 8:44 "You are of
your father the devil...When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is
a liar, and the father of it" |
Natural, unrenewed expression of the soul-life |
1. Matt 16:22-23
"Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord" 2. James 3:15 "This
wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish" |
|
Formation Process |
1. Injection of Satan's
thoughts 2. Poisoning of emotions 3. Influence on the will |
Eph 2:2 "Wherein in
time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince
of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of
disobedience" |
1. Natural development of the
soul 2. Operation of unrenewed
life |
1. Rom 7:18 "For I know
that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing" 2. Rom 7:23 "But I
see another
law in my members, warring against the law of my mind" |
|
Concrete Manifestations |
1. Opposition to God's will 2. Destruction of the church 3. Enticement away from
God |
1. 2 Cor 11:3 "But I
fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your
minds should be corrupted" 2. Rev 2:24 "The depths of
Satan" |
1. Acting according to
self-will 2. Relying on self-wisdom |
Prov 3:5-7 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not
unto
your own understanding...be not wise in your own eyes" |
|
Dealing Method |
1. Deny the self 2. Bear the cross 3.
Resist Satan |
Matt 16:24 "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me" |
1.
Renewal of the soul 2. Living in the spirit |
Rom 12:2 "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" |
|
Path to Victory |
1. Knowing the cross 2.
Living in the Body 3. Submitting to the Lord's authority |
1. Heb 2:14 "Through
death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" 2. Rev 12:11 "And
they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,
and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death" |
1. Renewal and transformation 2. Conformed to the Lord's image |
1. 2 Cor 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory
of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory" 2. Phil 3:21 "Who
shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body" |
Key
Scripture Themes:
1. Satan's Working Methods:
o
Gen 3:1-6 (Pattern of temptation)
o
2 Cor 11:3 (Corruption of minds)
o
Eph 6:11 (Wiles of the devil)
2. Characteristics of Soul-life:
o
Matt 16:22-23 (Natural good intentions)
o
Rom 7:18-25 (Struggle between soul and flesh)
o
Gal 5:16-17 (Conflict with the spirit)
3. Path to Victory:
o
Matt 16:24 (Denying the self)
o
Rom 12:2 (Mind renewal)
o
Gal 2:20 (Crucified with Christ)
4. Ultimate Goal:
o
2 Cor 3:18 (Transformed into the Lord's image)
o
Phil 3:21 (Conformed to His glorious body)
o
Rev 12:11 (Overcoming through the blood of the
Lamb)
Practical
Application Points:
1. Learn to discern the source of the self
2. Practice
self-denial and cross-bearing
3. Allow the cross
to work on the
soul-life
4.
Live in the Body-life
5.
Maintain God's testimony
Additional
Notes:
1.
Both expressions of self are related to the soul but
differ in source and nature
2. The
methods and degrees of dealing with them are different
3. Spiritual
discernment is needed to recognize these different expressions
of self
4. The ultimate
goal is to live out Christ and build up the
church
*Please refer to the
International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones - October 2024
General Subject: Living in
the Reality of the Kingdom of God
Week 4: The Exercise of
the Kingdom for the Building Up of the Church
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