Copyright © 2006 Ron Schwartz
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Three-Dimensional Christian Living

Living Without Limits! Going Beyond Boundaries!

April 28, 2006

By Ron Schwartz

Limitations, Standards, and the Natural Mind

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ

As natural beings, we are confined to a “fleshly” realm that has only two dimensions.  I’m not referring to the three-dimensional universe of length, width, and height, but a universe of our minds.   This universe has only two dimensions, and the dimensions are “imagination” and “high things.”   Thinking in only two dimensions means that we are limited in possibility and potential.  It means that we inhabit a universe of size without substance, a universe of area with no real depth.

To illustrate how two-dimensional thinking limits us, imagine a room that is twelve feet by twelve feet.   Now fix its size in your mind.  How big is it?  Normally, we would respond with an answer of 144 square feet.  Rarely do we ask, “How high is the ceiling?”  To have a true understanding of the room’s size, we need to know that third dimension.

We have become so used to limitations in our thinking that we also tend to think two-dimensionally when it comes to our spiritual lives.  Actually, when we think two-dimensionally concerning our spiritual lives, we are not thinking spiritually at all.  We are thinking in the “natural” and calling it spiritual.  Consequently, many Christians tend to evaluate and appraise the scripture within the confines of their two-dimensional minds, and this is why their spiritual lives have no more depth than those of the unsaved.

The dimension of the spirit is the only true spiritual standard.  Without it, we are left with our opinions that are based on the limitations of our two-dimensional thinking.  This is the reason why “Moral Relativism” is so popular today.  As our society becomes less and less spiritual, truth becomes a personal point of view, a personal preference, or an opinion.

So how do we know whether we are evaluating spiritual things by our own two-dimensional minds or by the Spirit of God?   First, remember that our mind’s universe is captive to limitations.  Therefore, when we see limitations while assessing spiritual things (or the scripture), we are most likely using our own two-dimensional thinking.

High Things

“…every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” 

I find it interesting that “high thing” here is a noun that describes a large (and therefore high) barrier rather than a lofty position (as in arrogance, although arrogance can also be a large barrier).  Barriers are those things that prevent us from going forward or overcoming.

A century ago, human flight was impossible.  Mankind incorrectly believed that because of gravity he was confined to the limitations of this earth.  About half a century ago, the sound barrier stood as an impenetrable obstruction, but it too was broken.  Mankind has always sought to define his limitations, yet those limitations are invariably in error.

Many Christians have brought this same mindset into their spiritual lives.  We see this manifested in doctrinal mandates.  Much of the doctrine to which we cling so tightly is nothing more than the well-defined limits of our spiritual existence.  The only difference is that history has demonstrated that our physical laws can be broken by the skilled and the determined.  So why can’t our spiritual ones as well?  It seems that the natural man has learned how to overcome his limits far better than Christians have.

Romans 7:19-8:2 KJV

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Many Christians point to Romans 7 as proof that Christians are limited to fleshly bondage by an impassable barrier of corruptible desires (that is to say, their flesh).  To them, Romans 7 is the proof that we cannot breach the limitations of the fleshly laws that give sin power over our lives.  Unlike the physical barriers of this world, to them the fleshly desires and passions of this life are as immovable as the sun.   Is it possible that the “law of sin” presents a barrier that fails the very words of Jesus: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26)?”  Or is this just a “high thing,” a self-imposed barrier created by our natural minds?

Once again, we find ourselves looking at a room in only two-dimensions.  The two dimensions Paul describes in this passage are the “law of sin” and the “law of [our] mind.”  It’s true that we are fleshly beings, and that in our flesh there is no good thing.  It is also true that there is a force (a law) in our flesh that wars against our minds (our desire to do right), and this force in our flesh will win more often than not.  Consequently, many Christians have assessed this scripture through the limitations of their two-dimensional minds and have thus concluded that they are incapable of changing in any significant manner.  They resign themselves to this state and create doctrine as barriers (“high things”) to keep it that way.

I am not about to suggest that we can overcome sin and our fleshly passions though willpower.  That would still be using our natural minds.  I do believe, however, that as long as we live in the two-dimensional confines of our natural minds, this state Paul describes in Romans 7 will hold us captive forever.  There will be no escape and no overcoming.

As believers who are filled with the spirit of God, another dimension is added to our lives.  Paul calls this dimension “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2).”  He describes this spiritual dimension as having power to change the limitations of the believer just as adding height changes the true size of a room.

In verse 5 Paul continues, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.”  Here we see how the dimension of the Spirit changes a person who is limited by the law of sin and the law of the mind.  The law, or dimension, of the Spirit gives us the ability to transcend the limitations of our flesh.  It’s like adding height to a room.  We find that this new dimension allows us to rise above the confines of the flesh.

A Failure to Imagine

Congressman Brad Sherman (part of a hearing on the 9/11 Commission Report) said, “the failure of imagination leading to 9/11 was the failure to imagine the unprecedented -- a terrorist attack killing thousands of Americans.  Today our imaginations, and our policy focus, seems once again limited to preventing the precedented.  Our current failure of imagination is our failure to envision the hundreds of thousands of Americans who could be killed by nuclear weapons – and our failure to focus on North Korea and Iran…”

Like the USA, we as Christians are sometimes limited by our failure to consider the impossible.  Sometimes these limitations are the manifestation of our fears, and sometimes they are our inability to dream.  Like our two-dimensional universe, our failures and limitations are quite often self-imposed by what we don’t know, or even what we think we do know.

Genesis 18:20-33 KJV

20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

30 And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

32 And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.

33 And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

In this account, we find Abraham appearing to beg the Lord to spare Sodom.  He says things like, “I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes” and “oh let not the Lord be angry,” and we are left with the impression that Abraham believed his requests were irritating God.  Yet nowhere in this account is there any indication that God was even the least bit disturbed or upset by Abraham’s requests.  In his final plea, Abraham asks, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there [will you not destroy it?]”  God agreed to this request but said nothing that would lead us to believe that Abraham could not continue to ask Him for more.  In fact, it is possible that the reason God told Abraham about His intentions to destroy Sodom was to give Abraham a chance to ask Him to spare the city.  Perhaps God was looking for an intercessor.

Abraham knew that there were four people in Lot’s family.  So what would have happened if Abraham had asked God to spare the city for four, or even one, righteous?  What would have happened if Abraham would have simply asked God to spare the whole city because of Lot, or just because he asked Him to?  We will never know.  We will never know because Abraham never asked.

Was it a failure to imagine that he could ask this of God?  Did he fail to imagine that God would do this for him?  Was it because he feared that if he asked God to spare it for four, God would think him selfish?

Often our prayers to God sound like the prayers of Abraham.  Instead of asking God for healing, we ask that God guide the hand of the surgeon, or we simply pray that God would have His way.  But as with Sodom, God will have His way if His people don’t ask Him for something different.

I find it interesting that many times Christians defend bitterly their reasons for why they either cannot or will not ask certain things of God.  Some people won’t ask God because they do not believe that God does miracles anymore.  Some people believe that the sinners of Sodom deserved it.  And still others don’t believe that they deserve anything from God, or essentially, they are where they deserve to be.  These are just limitations of imagination that are set in place by our natural two-dimensional minds.  The truth is, there are no limitations to asking God.  Limitations only exist in our two-dimensional minds.

Matthew 14:22-29 KJV

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

In verse 22, we find that Jesus “constrained” his disciples to enter a boat and cross a sea.  This word constrain carries the idea of persuasion by force.   Why was it necessary for Jesus to forcibly persuade them to go?  Could it be that they saw the approaching storm and recognized the imminent danger approaching?  Some of these men were experienced fishermen.  They knew how to tell weather.  So it should come as no surprise that they knew they were headed into trouble and therefore argued with Jesus as to the wisdom of this trip.  So we are left with the question, “Why would Jesus have knowingly sent His disciples into harm’s way against their will?”  The answer is found in what followed.

The disciples found themselves in the middle of a storm tossed about by the waves.  This wasn’t a small boat.  It was large enough to carry twelve grown men.  This gives us an idea of the severity of the storm.  Then, in the middle of the storm, Jesus comes out to them “walking on the sea.”  Here we find Jesus demonstrating to His disciples the dimension of the Spirit.  Two-dimensional thinking tells us that we have limitations when it comes to water (i.e., we sink and we drown).   Jesus then stops short of their boat.  He could have entered into the boat to help them, but instead He stands back just out of arm’s reach. We know this because Peter had to take a couple of steps to get to Him.

Consider the other disciples.  They were hanging onto a sinking boat even though the Lord of all creation stood nearby.  But rather than reach out in faith as Peter did, they clung tightly to certain failure.  Why?  The boat they clung to was something with which they had experience.  It was something in which they had confidence.  It had kept them above the water many times in the past.  It was their security.

Like the disciples, Christians often find themselves clinging to a sinking ship even though certain help is just out of arm’s reach.  We cling to the security we have known in our past.  But this is just two-dimensional thinking.  Christian living is a life of faith, not a mixture of past securities we have known.  When we find ourselves in storms of life, our two-dimensional minds will tell us that it is because of sin and failure rather than the building up of our faith and an opportunity to grow in our spiritual dimension.  Our two-dimensional minds will tell us to respond in a manner that has worked in our past rather than in the spiritual response that God may want.  It is much more likely that we will find ourselves limited by our imagination when facing a crisis than to find ourselves breaking the limitations and “walking on the sea” to Jesus.

Conclusion

Ephesians 3:20 KJV

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us

Three-dimensional Christian living is living a life above “all that we ask or think.”  It is limitless.  But if our expectation is that we cannot live a life free of sin, isn’t that also what we think?  How is that above our expectations?

Many Christians are afraid of freedom.  This is because, to them, liberty means license to sin.  But liberty as a license for sin is in itself another form of two-dimensional thinking, and Christians who view freedom this way are also thinking two-dimensionally.

The third dimension is spiritual.  It does not lead us into sin but to overcoming it.  It adds something to our lives rather than simply maintaining the status quo of living as spiritual failures (as we did before experiencing salvation).  A Christian who lives with the third-dimension of the Spirit is truly “a new creator.  Old things have passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17).”

Matthew 16:16-18 KJV

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Three-dimensional Christian living is going beyond simple faith into “seeing” the invisible universe of the Spirit.  When Jesus asked the disciples who people said He was, they answered out of what they and others simply believed Him to be.  Peter’s faith transcended simple belief and allowed him to catch a glimpse of something in the Spirit.  The confidence and authority in which he proclaimed the Lordship of Jesus demonstrated this.  Peter tasted of the third-dimension, the dimension of the spirit.   It is this third dimension that Jesus spoke of when He said, “Upon this rock I will build my church.”

Many sermons have been preached proclaiming this rock to be the revelation of Christ.  I believe that it is much more.  I believe that He was talking about the dimension of the spirit, which is the Holy Spirit’s presence working effectively to release us from the limitations and bondage of this flesh.  I believe that it is the life- giving power that created the universe working to create a new creature within us.

Our potential is limitless.  Let’s live lives that demonstrate it!