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LSM’s Negative View of the Believer’s Body versus the Bible
Bro. Lee’s teaching about Satan’s indwelling conveys an overwhelmingly negative view of the believer’s body. He asks, “Do you like to see Satan? Just come to your flesh. Satan is here. Satan is always in the flesh with sin and death.” He also says, “We have to realize where Satan is in our being. He is in our flesh…because the flesh is fully possessed, taken over, by Satan as sin.” According to this doctrine, the believer’s body is Satan-possessed, “fully possessed, taken over, by Satan as sin.” It would not be surprising if embracing this doctrine led some believers to despise and denigrate their bodies. Yet, the Bible presents another, positive attitude towards our physical bodies. Scripture describes the believer’s body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19) and as “members of Christ” (1 Cor. 6:15). The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians your “body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God” (1 Cor. 6:19). In terms of LSM’s Satanology, this raises the question—would God allow Satan to personally inhabit His temple--the believer’s body? Wouldn’t God first cast Satan out before taking up residence there Himself? Watchman Nee says, 44 “Wherever the Lord went, Satan was cast out…Satan could not remain where the Lord was.” Moreover, if the believers’ physical bodies are “members of Christ,” (1 Cor. 6:15) how could they be “fully possessed, taken over, by Satan”? Wouldn’t that make them “members of Satan,” rather than of Christ? Yet the Bible never says this! In fact Romans 8:11 speaks of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, giving life to our mortal bodies. Hence, Bro. Nee says, 45 “even though the body is not yet redeemed, it no longer has to be a frustration to God’s will.” The Bible indicates that the Lord values our physical bodies; He will resurrect and transfigure them, conforming them to His glorious body (1 Cor. 15: 51-54; Phil. 3:21).
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Romans 7:14-20
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 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.
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Nigel Tomes cited that "the believer’s body as a “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19) and as “members of Christ” (1 Cor. 6:15)" and was contending whether God would "allow Satan to personally inhabit His temple--the believer’s body?"
However, it is so striking to note that the writer of 1 Cor 6:19 and 1 Cor 6:15 was the apostle Paul who also wrote "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18a).
Again,
Nigel Tomes misunderstood the vast difference between the terms "body" and "flesh". In his writing, he is mixing apple with orange; and orange with apple. The apostle Paul was very careful to distinguish the "flesh" where "death" or "sin" dwells which signifies Satan. Also, the apostle Paul openly declared that the "body" of the believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit and member of the Body of Christ knowing exactly that this "body" is a product of the believer's regenerated spirit and transformed soul. Brother Witness Lee teaching is totally in line with what the apostle Paul has seen regarding the vast difference between the "flesh" and the "body". But it seems that
Nigel Tomes has neglected this portion of the Word of God.