By Arthur J Licursi 

As intelligized grace believers we can confidently make decisions as we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and our pure grace relationship with Him.

This first is based upon the fact that we as believing Christians have forever been justified and declared righteous by our Lord Jesus (cf. Rom 5:1).

• We are also free to conduct our “walk” (our daily living) in accord with the “word of truth” for today. That is, according to the words of our Apostle, Paul (Rom. 1:13).
• We are set free from any religious ‘performance’ laws or demands through faith in Christ and His all-sufficient Crosswork on our behalf.

The Apostle Paul wrote of our liberty from the tyranny, traditions, and laws, of manmade religion.

¹⁶ Let no man therefore judge you in meat [foods], or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Colossians 2:16 (KJV)

We are “counted” as righteous because of our faith in Christ. Thereby, Christ’s righteousness is “imputed” or counted to us (cf. Rom. 4:5-8). We now need to remain free so as to live in the liberty Christ’s procured for us (Rom. 8:21). Therein we can learn how to actually ‘walk righteously.’

Paul wrote:

¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the [Mosaic] law, but under grace. Romans 6:14.

Yet we are not loose, or unregulated in our living since we do in fact have a living regulator within us, which Paul calls “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:2). Here the word ‘law’ is the Greek word ‘nomos,” meaning “the method of regulation.” This indwelling law works to regulate us from within. We need only to “yield” to His “Spirit of life” in us (cf. Rom. 6:13, 16, 18). Our discernment of ‘the Spirit of life in us’ should always agree with the revealed written words of “the word of truth” for us today under the “the dispensation of the grace of God.” We have 1) an inner knowing, and also 2) the clear written word for today – these two will agree. The “word of truth” is our ultimate guardrail.

We have Christ’s resurrection “Spirit of life” in us as He is “one spirit” with our spirit.

²⁷ To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory [expressing His life]: Colossians 1:27

¹⁷ But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)

We have Christ’s Spirit in our “spirit of man” (cf. Rom. 8:9, Zech. 12:1) and we have the Pauline scriptures for “the saints and the faithful” members of “the body of Christ,” enlightening and teaching us.

The truth of our liberty and being endowed with Christ “who is our life” (Col. 3:4) and knowing “the word of truth” helps us when we consider our relationships with others, particularly with Christians. Being thus equipped we need not to consult with any other person in our decision making except perhaps as in accord with Paul’s husband/wife marriage relationship instructions as found in his Post-Acts epistles; i.e., Ephesians 5, Colossians. 3, and 1Timothy 3.

Many Christians speak of Paul’s Galatian 5 words commending us to ‘walk in the spirit’ This is not some spooky guidance of the Spirit at all. All the “words” of God found written in ALL the Scripture are His word. Jesus is… “the word” (John 1:1). He is the “mighty God” (Isa. 9:6). Jesus explains the important connection between the spirit and God’s written words ordained of God for us today.

⁶³ It is the spirit that quickeneth [makes alive]; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 (KJV)

The particular word “words” in the above verse are not only the words of Jesus that we read in the four Gospels alone, the whole of the Bible… every word is of the Lord Jesus. Jesus is in fact “The mighty God” of the words of the Bible as seen here. Isaiah prophesied of His birth.

⁶ For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

As grace believers today we are specifically to ‘walk’ (live) in accord with the Lord God’s written ‘words’ as found in Paul’s epistles for “ye Gentiles” (cf. Rom. 11:13, Eph. 3:1). Paul’s words teach us and guide us in the conduct of our daily life and activities. To “walk in the Spirit.” is to know and abide in accord with the ‘inspired’  Bible words that apply to us today during this Gentile age of “the dispensation of the grace of  God.” We abide faithful by living in the liberty we enjoy in accord with the words of Paul’s epistles to us for today’s age of “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2).

We need not to live in accord with any instructions of a preacher, denomination, religious leader, or brother or sister in the Lord. We are to live freely with open hearts to hear and consider what others in our life circle may say, in the light of “the word of truth,” but then proceed as the spirit and the word give us liberty in our decision making.

We take and apply the written word to the situations of life in making our decisions. I’ve heard it said, we should know and understand “the word of truth” so as to have a verse that sanctions our choices and activities. In deciphering God’s plan and will there is no need for reading tea leaves or for seeking Gideon-like ‘fleeces’ (cf. Judges 6:37) among Bible intelligized Bible believers. We have His “word of truth” for today in our hearts and minds, thus we are equipped to make our decisions in faith.

We also ought to give other believers the freedom and space to make their own decisions in like manner. We may offer our opinion to others but we are not to be the Lord over any other person. If a believer makes a wrong choice, such as we all may do, they (we) may suffer the natural consequence of our bad choices. Yet we know the Lord is faithful and will make even that failure to be ‘spiritually profitable’ (cf. Rom. 8:28) as we learn to walk by the written “word of truth” and the spirit of life. He thereby works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.

¹³ If we [as saved believers at times] believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13 (KJV)

¹³ For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 (KJV)

⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6 (KJV)