As stated in the title, this is only a beginning of this discussion. Input and questions are welcome. Often it is through dialogue that clarity is developed through the refining process of questioning ways ideas were expressed. Please join the process and contribute that part you are gifted in.
There is a first step in “putting on love”, just as there was a first step in the ordination of the priesthood. The old garments must be laid aside, the body washed clean, and then the new garments “put on.” Similarly, we must “put off the old man”, “mortifying our members upon the earth”, in order to make room to “put on love”.
Spirit and flesh will not bond together, and thus our “old man” must be stripped away by our own cooperation with the Holy Spirit. Paul’s use of the “aorist, middle imperative” each time he wrote about this putting off unmistakably places the responsibility for this process upon the believer. None of us could do this on our own, only with the help of the Holy Spirit can we “put to death the deeds of the body”; however, the Holy Spirit will not do the work without our full cooperation.
This is where “denying self” and “laying hold of eternal life” meet together creating a spiritual transformation which is literally “faith working through love.” At spiritual birth our “inner man” is indwelt by the presence of Christ in the person of His Holy Spirit. Before this re-birth from above, we were by nature carnal and every orientation was sensual. Our “new man” no longer a slave to carnal impulse, can begin the process of regeneration and sanctification of our soul. This is a process where “carnal” spiritual babes in Christ begin to grow up in their salvation through the renewing of the mind. We must grow up into Jesus Christ just as He Himself grew in spirit and wisdom. The Spirit accomplishes this by revealing the mind of Christ in every situation we face, moment by moment; we are never left alone. This is the main ministry of the Holy Spirit; He takes every beautiful grace of Jesus Christ and makes them known to us on a moment by moment basis.
“Putting on love” is simply receiving by faith the life of Jesus Christ in each situation where we are faced with a choice of walking according to the flesh (the deeds of the body) or denying self by faith and receiving the very virtue of Jesus Christ. This is how believers receive His power that enables them to walk in righteousness through yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Love is a person - GOD, therefore, “putting on love” is receiving the life of God through the impartation of the Holy Spirit through faith. We receive the life of Jesus moment by moment, from faith to faith, and His power is made perfect in the area of our own inability where we are being tempted. This is how our weakest areas become the proving ground for His strength to be made perfect in us. This is putting on the Lord Jesus, becoming strong in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might.
“Putting on love” is an act of faith. Aware of both the old man’s desires, and the pure desires of Jesus through the help of the Holy Spirit, we choose either the way of being enticed by lust or denying self and placing faith in Jesus in that moment. Yielding to Jesus through faith is “putting on” Jesus, thus “putting on love.” It is like the completion of a spiritual circuit. The power of Spirit and Life are in the person of Jesus. Through faith we refuse to yield to the old man’s old ways and choose by faith to connect to Jesus. This connection causes His very life to flow into our inner man, strengthening us with power to walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the lust of the flesh.
There is much more to it than this, but in an attempt to stay brief, this will at least begin a discussion.
makrothumia
