XI. Transition Points in Spiritual Growth

Psalm 40:6-8 is an extremely important portion of Scripture. These few verses describe a purpose of Christ's redemption going far beyond the salvation of a soul from condemnation. Psalm 40:8 is now the potential of every "born again" believer-priest through the indwelling Christ and His release through that believer by the believer totally yielding his will to the indwelling Christ. Therefore, Psalm 40:8 can potentially be descriptive of every Spirit-filled believer-priest. "I delight to do they will" is potentially available to every believer-priest through the filling of the indwelling Spirit of Christ.

"6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart" (Psalm 40:6-8).

This potentiality of producing God-kind righteousness through the surrendered will of the believer-priests is what II Corinthians 5:21 is stating. This text is so often abused and misunderstood. The substance of II Corinthians chapter five is the "new creation" and the PRACTICAL aspects of the responsibilities of every believer-priest to live "the righteousness of God." This is not a salvation text even though it is often presented and taught from this context. II Corinthians chapter five describes the responsibilities of the believer-priest's new position as a "born again" child of God.