Here, the Conclusion has become the Introduction:

In conclusion, if we therefore abide in Him, and He in us⎯ which is the essence of salvation for now and all eternity⎯ we are a “new man,” one that has never existed before but now is, and we are becoming His “disciples.” By abiding means we are being taught and refined daily. The perfection of our maturity as a new man, and the end of our discipleship is never reached on earth. There is a perfection by grace as we stand before God clothed with Christ, not to be mistaken with the perfection or completion of His transfiguring work in us transforming us and conforming us to His will. We never so much “are” as we are in the process of “becoming” Christ’s true followers and servants and sons of God.

This has been a heavy lesson. It is the meat of the word, not its milk. (1 Cor. 3.2, Heb. 5.12-14) It is intended to challenge to the highest calling of God in Christ Jesus. Milk is easily swallowed, meat must be chewed and entertained before ingesting, but is much more satisfying and enduring.

Of course the opposite of self-control is the lack of self-controlled, which includes behavior that is unrestrained and undisciplined. These words are often interchanged in the Bible, and especially with various translations. And so, I will take some liberty here in the Biblical use of these words to describe the vice of being unrestrained and undisciplined, therefore lacking of self-control.

Note that Gal. 5.23 after stating the fruit of “self-control,” the verse ends with “Against such there is no law.” The importance of this is extremely significant. Why is it so significant? Because it brings to the surface the distinction between the Law of the Old Testament written on scrolls to restrain the people, with the moral law of the Spirit written on the hearts of New Testament believers. For example comparing two scriptures:

Prov. 29.18 “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.”

This scripture clearly show the legalism of the Old Testament and how it “restrains” the people, serving as a covenant between God and Israel, revealing God’s character and standards, but also revealing man’s sinfulness. So it established a legalistic framework of how to worship,, practice certain rituals, proper social behavior, and moral standards. Without this revelation, it is written that “the people cast off restraints,” they become undisciplined, and their behavior breaks the covenant and is unacceptable to God. The disciplinary component of the covenant is then Divinely applied.

Now consider the “covenant” of the New Testament as revealed in Rm. 8.1-8,...

The wisdom of the world says the root cause of unfaithfulness are personal issues like: a feeling the something is missing in the relationship; a lack of emotional connection, unmet needs, self-esteems issues, or an opportunity suddenly arises and you feel your desires will be met in another God, or another mate or a different friend, or a different place. This is all the deeper the world can go in understanding unfaithfulness⎯summed up in self-centered wants and fantasies. All those supposed root causes have one thing in common, and that is “you,” otherwise known as: I, me, myself or the ego. In a true relationship the “I” is lost in the union with another, thus becoming we and us. In regards to marriage, it is written “a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” (Mt. 19.5); In regards to our heavenly Father, Jesus prayed, “that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be one in Us,” (Jn. 17.21), and in regards to other believers, it is written, “for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3.28)