Preface 9
PART 1: A LOSING BATTLE 13
Chapter One
A Personal Odyssey 15
The Spiritual Slump ⢠18
The First of Many New Beginnings ⢠20
Many Shortcuts, No Solutions ⢠21
The "Read the Bible and Pray" Key ⢠21
The "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" Key ⢠22
The "Vocal Witness for Christ" Key ⢠25
The "He Will Do It All Through You" Key ⢠26
Sincere But Misguided ⢠27
Light at the End of the Tunnel ⢠28
Chapter Two
Unseen Warfare 29
The Reality of the Warfare ⢠30
Know Your Enemy ⢠32
The Process of Temptation ⢠32
Six Steps of Temptation ⢠33
The Compulsive Power of Passions ⢠36
Chapter Three
Unseen Personal Enemies 39
The Devil and the Spiritual War ⢠43
Baptism-A Special Advantage ⢠46
A Plan of Attack ⢠46
PART II: BACK TO THE BASICS 49
Chapter Four
The Holy Trinity 51
Knowing About God ⢠52
What Is God's Name? ⢠54
An Ancient and Modern Heresy ⢠54
Understanding the Holy Trinity ⢠57
Knowing God as Three Persons ⢠62
Three Distinct Persons but One Undivided Nature ⢠68
Chapter Five
The Word Became Flesh 73
Something Assumed: A Package of Human Nature ⢠74
It All Began in the Womb of Mary ⢠76
The Father and the Holy Spirit Did Not
Become Incarnate 77
A Landmark in Church History ⢠78
Jesus Christ "Used" Both Natures ⢠80
He Emptied Himself ⢠82
Most of All ⢠82
There Is More than Forgiveness ⢠84
The Relationship of the Two Natures ⢠85
One Nature Interpenetrates the Other ⢠86
Two Natures Always Working Together ⢠88
Resurrection and Ascension ⢠89
Chapter Six
I Believe in the Remission of Sins 91
Forgiven, Not Excused ⢠93
Repentance ⢠94
Confession ⢠97
Faith ⢠101
Obedience ⢠104
How to Receive God's Grace for Forgiveness ⢠105
The Meaning of Forgiveness ⢠106
Chapter Seven
Divine Energy for Human Living 111
The Meaning of Union with Christ ⢠112
How Union with Christ Is Established ⢠118
Union with Christ Needs Nurture ⢠123
Summary ⢠127
Chapter Eight
The Sword in the Fire 129
Another Look at Christ's Two Natures ⢠130
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit ⢠135
Living as a Christian with New Capabilities ⢠138
Chapter Nine
Personal Communion with the
Personal God 147
Communion with All Three Persons ⢠148
The Consequences of Personal Communion with God ⢠149
Ways We Commune with God ⢠153
PART II I: CHRIST OUR VICTORY 157
Chapter Ten
The Action Plan 159
Preparation Tested for Two Thousand Years ⢠162
Prayer ⢠162
Fasting ⢠165
Almsgiving ⢠168
A Virtuous Life ⢠169
Chapter Eleven
A Battle Call 173
The Remembrance of God ⢠174
You Are Not Alone ⢠176
Transformation of the Culture Around Us ⢠177
Great Is Your Reward in Heaven ⢠178
Conclusion ⢠179
About the Author 181
