The MIDDLE Life

I call the progressive work of sanctification the "MIDDLE" life because I believe that SPIRITUAL life occured past tense in our spirit with regeneration (Jn. 3:6) and the change in our body occurs in future tense but now the present tense is the MIDDLE process of our salvation.

I believe the MIDDLE life has to do with progressive growth in our EXPERIENCE of salvation rather than gaining or concluding our salvation. We can MATURE or we can be stunted (Heb. 5:12-14) in the MIDDLE life.

It has to do with our DAILY experience and it is an experience between walking "in the Spirit" or "after the flesh." It is a daily experience where life and death are actually experienced. We are either walking "IN" the Spirit so that our daily life is experiencing the blessings of salvation here and now or walking "after" the flesh so that we are EXPERIENTIALLY separated from those blessings of salvaiton and thus experiencing death (separation).

This daily experience involves the internal attitudes and actions of our soul as they are put on in the external words and activities that compose our lives. As our soul sets its affections and thinking on things above and submits to the leadership of the Holy Spirit we are glorifying God in all that we say and do. As we fail to do this, that aspect of our daily life is lost, and we suffer its loss forever (1 Cor. 3;15). Hence, the goal of the middle life is to "redeem the TIME" (Eph. 5:17). Our middle life is being lost and saved on a daily basis and what portions are lost verus what portions are saved will be the investigation of judgement for our rewards after we are raised to eternal life in the body.

 

Eph. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 ¶ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.


Chapter five is about the Christian "walk". It begins with the command to "mimic" God as the Greek term translated "be followers" is the Greek term where we get our English word "imitator" from. How do we "mimic" God? Three ways.

1. "Walk in love" - v. 2
2. "Walk as children of light" - v. 8
3. "Walk circumspectly" - v. 15

Our "walk" is about our MIDDLE Life or how we live day to day between regeneration and glorification.

The section of scripture above is under the aspect of our walk described as "Walk circumspectly". The Greek term translated "circumspectly" is "akribos" and means "exactly" "carefully" or with attention to details or precisely. The same term is used to describe the Pharisees who are said to be the "strictest" sect.

So how does one walk "precisely" or with attention to details?

1. They must "redeem the time"
2. They must be "understand what the will of the Lord is"
3. They must be "filled" with the Spirit.

We are all given the same daily time but we are not all given the same length of time to live.

How does one "redeem" the time? By understanding what the will of the Lord is. You can't make your life count for God unless you know what pleases and what displeases God. You can't know that without prayerfully considering his Word. Once you understand what the will of the Lord is then one must submit to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in order for his will to be carried out presently in your life.

Paul explains that to be "filled" with the Spirit is like being under the influence of alcohol. A drunk man's speech, thinking and behavior is completely under the control of alcohol and it is easy to tell. Likewise, one who is "filled" with the Spirit is under the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit and it is easy to tell as they have a joyful (Eph. 5:19-20) and submissive spirit to (Eph. 5:21-6:5) God's will in relationship with others.

How is one filled with the Spirit? By first confessing complete inability as described in Romans 7:14-25 and then resist sin by consciously and determinately yeilding to Him as described in Romans 6:12-13 and then finally "reckon" yourself dead to sin but alive to God and step out by faith as Peter stepped out on the water doing what he knew God's present will at the present moment trusting in Christ that he can do all things through Christ.

Thus your present time has been redeemed, made to count for the glory of God.