THE ABUNDANT LIFE:
“…I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The only way into eternal life is through Jesus Christ as personal Savior, (John 3:15). But we do not stop here; to have eternal life is great, but there is more. Christ came that we might have life more abundantly. All believers have life, but not all have abundant life. We are living beneath our privilege if we are a believer and yet not enjoying the abundant life. For life to be abundant, it must have abundant resources, and the only unlimited source of life is in the person Jesus Christ the Son of God, (John 14:6). To possess this fuller life, the believer must believe in Him, (John 15:1-5). Dynamic, abundant living is not for just a few. It is God’s norm for all believers. It is spiritual life in depth, and without it, the Christian life becomes inane and meaningless. There is more and more talk about going "deeper" in the Lord. Well "deeper" should mean that we are walking in the abundant life of God. If we do not have abundant life within us, we soon yield to the carnal (fleshly) life around us (1 Corinthians 3:1-4). The carnal life is circumstance-controlled; the abundant life is Spirit-controlled. The carnal Christian life leads to defeat; the abundant life leads to victory in Christ. Man seems to know everything about life except how to live it abundantly. From this moment on, determine not to be satisfied with anything less than God’s best: living life abundantly. LIFE LIKE GOD HAS LIFE!
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Some Christians do not seek to be free from their sin or get delivered from sin because they justify their behavior for one reason or another. They say they want to be delivered. They may come up for prayer and ask for deliverance. But they do not receive deliverance because they walk in double-mindedness. They have the feeling that "they do, but they don’t want" to be delivered and set free. James 1:6-8 ESV But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. They do because they know it is wrong to continue in sin. They don’t because deep in their heart they... 1. Are not convinced total deliverance from their stronghold is a requirement. 2. Are not convinced total deliverance from their stronghold is possible. 3. Want to just keep on with the sin they are engaging in. All the rewards we associate with the Christian son-ship go to those who overcome. Romans 12:21 ESV Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 1 John 5:4 ESV For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Revelation 2:7 ESV He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.' Revelation 2:11 ESV He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.' Revelation 2:17 ESV He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.' Revelation 2:26 ESV The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, Revelation 3:5 ESV The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. Revelation 3:12 ESV The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. Revelation 3:21 ESV The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. We overcome sin through the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ has sufficient power to enable us to turn away from sin in word, deed, and thought. He possesses wisdom and authority and will lead us to total victory. Is total victory necessary? Does the Bible promise us that under the new covenant we can gain victory over sinful behavior? Galatians 5:16-18 ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (17) For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Because we battle with faith that the Word of God is true and absolute we have opened the door for the enemy to persuade us that Christ does not have the power to enable us to overcome sin. All kinds of false doctrine has invaded Christian thinking that has as a foundational concept that the new covenant does not include deliverance from our sinful behavior. Some of that stinking thinking is the misuse and improper understanding of Christian liberty. A great part of the conquest of breaking the habit of sin has to do with our determination to do so. The Bible commands us to be holy as He is holy. We speak a lot about the 10 Commandments of the Old Testament, however have you noticed the hundreds of commands in the New Testament? There are 1,050 commands in the New Testament. We are commanded to love one another. We have been commanded to be cheerful givers. The list could go on and on. The reason we are commanded these things in the New Testament is because as believers under grace we are more likely not to do them. Pick a New Testament book, maybe start with a smaller book first like James or Philippians and make a note every time the Word tells/commands you as a believer to do something. Our Christian life is filled with decisions about how we walk out our lives.
What if we can a hurt and confess that there is someone we cannot forgive. The ability to forgive can come only through the blood of Jesus Christ. But we have to do our part and choose to forgive. Our emotions and thoughts will always tell us "no" when it comes to forgiveness, but God's Word, God's Spirit and God's character say yes we can, by a choice to do so. Our part is to confess to God clearly that we have sin in our heart. Then we are to renounce it with all the faith and strength we have. We do not struggle against it, we confess it and renounce it as sin, fit only for the Lake of Fire. We resolve in the future to draw near to God and to resist this sin, not struggle against it, just not give it any more place in our life. Then we rest in the Word of God and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Why is it that Jesus and the cross is always enough for victory when dealing with someone else's sin, but never seems to be enough for ours? Often such clear confessing and renouncing, followed by a determination to resist, is all that is needed. In other words we make a decision against that sin and that settles it. Other times we need to declare war and have a series of battles and a prolonged decision making process until the habit and stronghold in our mind and body has been broken and replaced with the Word of truth. Remember what I said in earlier posts. I am not in debt to my flesh. I do not owe my flesh anything that I should obey it. Romans 8:12-13 ESV So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. (13) For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. We must choose to die daily. We put to death the misdeeds of the body. 1 Corinthians 15:31 ESV (31) I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! Galatians 2:20 ESV I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. We are not in athletic contest against sin, we are in a war against sin and our enemy. Sin is an evil, vicious, subtle, cunning, wicked monster that dwells in our flesh. We are to kill it! crush it! strike it until it is dead! This means we are in the offensive mode and charging after the sin within us. Paul says the God of peace will crush Satan under our feet. We cannot treat demons gently. We cannot coax them. Demons love to reason and are more than happy to have you talk to them by the hour. Jesus did not let the demons speak. He did not have the time to listen to their endless arguments. We have to decide once and for all that whatever we are doing that is condemned by the Word of God must leave. You can yell at it if you like. Anything that will prove to you, the enemy, and the stronghold of sin that you mean what you are saying. If you say to your dog, “Honey, wouldn’t you like to get off Mother’s bed? There’s a darling.” What do you think the dog will do? He will lay there and look at you. If you frown at the dog, advance on him or her in a threatening manner, and say, “Get off my bed now!” the dog will do what you command. Now dog lovers, this is an illustration, stay calm. It is the same way with the stronghold of sin. You cannot address sin with loving endearment sweet phrases. Neither can you say, “I know I shouldn’t do this, but.” You have to treat your sin like a dirty muddy dog on your new clean sheets. It is learning by communion with the Father to hate the sin in us as much as God hates it. How much does the Father hate the sin in me? The sin in me cost the death of the Son of God as a sacrifice to pay the price of sins penalty over me, sins power in me and sins presence throughout me. I love the KINGDOM Scriptures. The ones which our Lord Jesus Christ said that the kingdom is like...and then He gave a parable. He did not speak in a parable so that all would understand. He spoke in a parable to hide the truth from all who did not have ears to hear. Only those who had ears to hear were given the secrets of the kingdom.
Matthew 13:10-11 ESV Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" (11) And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Before actually getting into any of the parables I would like to discuss the value of the kingdom. Lost people are seeking to gain the riches of the kingdom of the world and are trying to finds ways to get ahead. They place value on that which is temporal without a thought of seeking that which is eternal. Christians battle this temptation because we are in the world and struggling not to be of this world. We have to work to make income for food and housing. However some believers have placed more value on the temporal kingdom of this world than they place on the eternal kingdom of God. In other words, they sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the temporal. What determines value? If I am supposed to place great value on the kingdom of Heaven and seek after it then how can I determine the value of that which I seek? Romans 14:17 ESV For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. THE TEST OF VALUE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: There is a test that will determine the value of any and all products or knowledge. Those things which relate to the Gospel and the kingdom of God can sometimes be taken for granted. Maybe the church of our Lord Jesus Christ would do well to step back and evaluate the value of the treasures that we have in our Lord. Now we know that we can not put a price on the Gospel, the death of our Lord, nor the Scriptures. Realizing the value of an object in our minds helps us realize what we have or increases the desire to seek to have more of something. What makes something valuable? What drove the people in these kingdom parables of Matthew 13 to forsake all that they had to gain something else? Matthew 13:44 ESV "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Matthew 13:45-46 ESV "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, (46) who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 1. RARITY: Years ago a famous painter died leaving many paintings. All but three of these paintings were destroyed, making these three very valuable. Rarity increases value. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is valuable because there is no other way to the Kingdom of God. There is no other Gospel, it stands alone. There is no other Savior of mankind. 2. AUTHORITY: A boy was playing with a piece of glass he had found. His mother looks at it marveling at the colors of the transparent glass. She nonchalantly gives it back to the boy to play with. A man of authority on glass walks by and sees the colors gleaming from the glass. With a keen, trained eye he inspects, judges, weighs and measures the glass. He passes it to the mother and proclaims that the child is not playing with glass but a very valuable diamond. The word of authority of one with knowledge and experience greatly increased the value of what was believed to be an object of play. The authority identifies the value to that which was never seen before. The preaching of the cross and of the kingdom is foolishness to those who perish. But it is power to those who have received the gospel message and the message of the kingdom. The authority of a true witness who has experienced the kingdom is of greater value then one who has just played with the things of God. 3. DURABILITY: We give our children money to go shopping and we tell them to buy something that will last. How long will it last? How long will it's beauty last? The value of the Gospel and of the kingdom in light of durability is this. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word will be forever. 4. ADAPTATION: How do I apply this to my life? What is the use of a telescope that does not bring things nearer? Can I adapt the Gospel message to my life? Can I live kingdom life today? If so does this bring a greater quality of life? The answer is YES! YES! YES! And this is another reason for the value of that which drove the men in the parables. The Kingdom of heaven as a treasure is not fully understood by many men. The Kingdom possesses great intrinsic value The source from which it originates brings value. The blessings which it communicates brings value. The permanence with which it is invested brings value. When digging for the value of the kingdom of Heaven, remember... THE BEST THINGS ARE JUST BELOW THE SURFACE. We are called to be a people of prayer, (Communication and Communion with the Father)
One of the key focuses of our prayer should be for our country. I would like to share some thoughts about praying for the country in which you call home. These are basic truths of where we areas a nation and how to pray. OUR BASIC MORAL FOUNDATIONS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED: Psalms 11:3 ESV if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Psalms 82:5 ESV They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. GOD STANDS FIRM: PROMISES TO BLESS A NATION WHOSE GOD IS THE LORD. Psalms 33:11-19 ESV The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations. (12) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage! (13) The LORD looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; (14) from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, (15) he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. AMERICA'S FALSE HOPE: WE THOUGHT OUR STRENGTH WAS IN OUR MILITARY. Psalms 33:16-19 ESV The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. (17) The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. (18) Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, (19) that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. GOD STANDS FIRM: THE CALL FOR REPENTANCE 2 Timothy 2:19 ESV But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity." IF THE LEADERS WALK IN THE PEACE OF GOD, THE PEOPLE WILL WALK IN THE PEACE OF GOD. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, (2) for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. WHY PRAY? SO WE CAN HAVE A PART IN REBUILDING THE BROKEN DOWN WALLS. Isaiah 58:12 ESV And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. Romans 6:1-4 ESV What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? (2) By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (3) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (4) We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Sometimes the reason we do not gain victory over sin is because we have a feeling within ourselves that we owe it to ourselves to not be too strict in the matter of resisting sinful behavior. This feeling is due to the fact that we do not recognize that our adamic nature is on the cross with Jesus. We owe our fallen nature nothing—absolutely nothing—that we should obey its fleshly, soulish desires! There is not enough preaching and teaching today about the fact that when we were baptized in water we were baptized into the death of Jesus Christ and into His resurrection. We simply do not understand we are one with Christ in His death and one with Him in His resurrection. When we consider the prospect of being free from sinful behavior we should not be worried about losing something worthwhile. When we gave our lives to Christ the old Adamic nature within us is dead, dead, dead. To continue sinning is to deny the state of being adopted by Christ by faith and having a new nature. The New Testament teaches with utmost clarity that the new covenant does not tolerate continuance in sinful behavior. Freedom from the power of sin and freedom from the compulsion to sin is included under new covenant grace. Now, how do we go about being delivered from sinful behavior? What does the Scripture teach? The general position we are to take concerning victory over sinful behavior is that which is true of any promise of God. We must read it, understand it, accept it by faith, and then pursue it with patience and hope until we have a full grasp on it. Look at the words of Paul to young Timothy. 1 Timothy 6:10-12 ESV For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. (11) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Hebrews 6:11-12 ESV And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, (12) so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. When we read a promise in the Bible, whether it be for salvation, or the baptism with the Holy Spirit, or Divine healing, we tell God we believe it and thank Him for it. Then we pursue it. We never, never, never quit. So it is with righteous behavior, with victory over sinful behavior. Some victories are gained easily and quickly. Others may require years. But we never cease letting the Lord know we will not accept sin in our life now that He has promised us deliverance. This is the last post in this series. I pray that we take these Scriptures to heart and heed the call to be separate with a holy heart.
We have been talking about us separating ourselves from different people who are actively involved in certain lifestyles. The last point is quite different. Instead of us separating ourselves we will find others separating themselves from us. WE WILL SEE IN THESE LAST DAYS THAT THOSE WHO ARE SINFUL WILL SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM US: Especially the lost religious people. Jude 1:17-19 ESV But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. (18) They said to you, "In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions." (19) It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. People will HATE US: People will EXCLUDE US: People will SEPARATE FROM US: People will INSULT and DEFAME US: How are we to react? Luke 6:22-23 ESV "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! (23) Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. We are to REJOICE: We are to LEAP FOR JOY: WHY? Because we are blessed! CLOSING REMARKS CONCERNING THE DAYS IN WHICH WE LIVE: To say that we live in troubling times would be an understatement. We live in a day that a man's word cannot be trusted, therefore we can not longer believe anything coming from the media or our government. People are aggressive, violent, lovers of themselves and lovers of entertainment and self pleasure. However, in the Father we have absolutes because God is unchanging. He will always love us with an everlasting love that is of full measure, (lacking nothing). 2 Timothy 3:1-7 ESV But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. (2) For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, (4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (6) For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, (7) always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. RECAPPING the series of COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM. In part one I talked about Biblical discipline and how separation does not break unity but establishes Biblical unity. (See Ps.1:1-2; Prov.1:10-16; 13:19-21) In part two we are to separate ourselves from Christians who are unruly, meaning they are morally disorderly. (See 2 Thess.3:5-7; Matt.18:15-17) In part three we are to separate ourselves from Christians who do not follow the Word of God given to them. (See 2 Thess.3:14-15; Rom.16:17-18) In part four we are to separate ourselves from Christians who walk in a lifestyle of sin. (See 1 Cor.5:9-12). In part five we are to separate ourselves from those who walk in the lifestyle of sins (See 1 Tim.6:3-21). In part six we are to separate ourselves from those who are lost, unsaved, children of wrath, children of the enemy or any other name which the Bible identifies them. (See Jam.4:4) In part seven we are to separate ourselves from false teachers.(See 2 Jn.1:9-11) Now here in part nine we see that our Lord says that we are in the world but we are not of the world. We need to separate ourselves from the worldly system and the evil of it. If you live in the Spirit, walk in it If you live in the light, walk in it. In other words dear brother or sister, walk where you live. We know that in all things the Father should be glorified. We know that He is a jealous God and that His name is jealous.
Exodus 34:13-14 ESV You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (14) (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), Colossians 3:17 ESV And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV (31) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. We know that it is natural for mankind to seek the glory, praise, and acceptance from one another. However, it is far greater and related to the kingdom that we abase ourselves and give all glory to the Father. We know that God desires to be glorified in all that we do. There is nothing we do or have in the flesh that can receive glory before His presence. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 ESV (27) But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; (28) God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, (29) so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. The 5 things in 1 Cor.1:27-29 which God has chosen for His glory: 1. Foolish things to confound the wise 2. Weak things to confound mighty 3. Base things to humble the exalted 4. Despised things to humble noble 5. Powerless things to bring to defeat the things that are powerful Why? That no flesh should glory in HIS presence! 1 Corinthians 1:31 ESV so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." In order to have victory over sin we need to have a Biblical viewpoint about sin and the position it places us.
John 8:34 ESV Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. This is what sin is like and the position it places us in. When we practice sin we are a slave to it, meaning that it is our master instead of our Lord Jesus Christ being our Master. The enemy lies to us and tricks us about sin. I know that in my own life I have seen certain sin as this big obstacle ahead of me that seemed immovable. Of course the enemy would have us believe this is true in order to defeat us. If we maintain the mindset that our sin is to big of an obstacle to move or get around then we stay a slave to it. We don’t dare pull out and try to get around our sin when we are unsure of what is coming head on against us around the curve. But if we knew that the way ahead of us is clear and free we would act differently about overcoming sin. Christ did not come to forgive the sins and works of the devil but to destroy the sins and works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 ESV Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. Does the New Testament state we do not have to be bound by sin? YES! The reason the new covenant is superior to the old is that the old covenant merely forgives sin while the new covenant forgives and removes sin. Look at the key points of Romans 6:11-14: Romans 6:11-14 ESV So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (12) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. (13) Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. (14) For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 1. We need to have the mindset and reality that we are dead to sin. (6:11) 2. We need to have the mindset and reality that we have spiritual life in God. (6:11) 3. We need to know that we are commanded not to allow sin to have dominion or rule and reign in us. (6:12) 4. We need to know that we are commanded not to allow sin to make us obey its passions. (6:12) 5. We need to know that we are not to make any part of our body available to be used by sin. (6:13) 6. We need to know that we are to make every part of our body available to God for righteousness. (6:13) 7. We need to maintain the mindset that sin will not rule over us because we are not under the law but under grace. (6:14) Therefore, bottom line is: The New Testament teaches that sin shall not be our master! Amen! Rom.6:14 says: “sin shall not be your master.” It does not say it doesn’t matter whether or not you sin. it states “sin shall not be your master”; “sin shall not have dominion over you”; “sin shall not exercise control over you.” This was not the case under the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses made no provision for victory over sin. The Law told people what sin was but did not give them the power to over come it. The grace of the new covenant has given us the blood of the atonement to forgive our sins, and then the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome our sins. This is why the new covenant is a superior covenant. The blood of bulls and goats could never remove our sinful tendencies. But the power of the Spirit of God working on the basis of the blood of the cross has more than enough power to give us victory over every sinful act that binds us. Hallelujah! Romans 8:12-13 ESV So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. (13) For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. We are not obligated to our flesh at all. We don't owe our flesh any debt that we need to sin to satisfy it. We owe no obligation to our flesh to live according to the sinful nature! Amen! This is the New Testament life of grace. Why are we not obligated to the sinful nature to live according to it? Because we by faith have placed our sinful nature on the cross with the Lord Jesus Christ. Our body is dead because of sin. Therefore we owe it nothing that we should obey its passions. In part one I talked about Biblical discipline and how separation does not break unity but establishes Biblical unity. (See Ps.1:1-2; Prov.1:10-16; 13:19-21)
In part two we are to separate ourselves from Christians who are unruly, meaning they are morally disorderly. (See 2 Thess.3:5-7; Matt.18:15-17) In part three we are to separate ourselves from Christians who do not follow the Word of God given to them. (See 2 Thess.3:14-15; Rom.16:17-18) In part four we are to separate ourselves from Christians who walk in a lifestyle of sin. (See 1 Cor.5:9-12). In part five we are to separate ourselves from those who walk in the lifestyle of sins (See 1 Tim.6:3-21). In part six we are to separate ourselves from those who are lost, unsaved, children of wrath, children of the enemy or any other name which the Bible identifies them. (See Jam.4:4) In part seven we are to separate ourselves from false teachers.(See 2 Jn.1:9-11) Now here in part eight we see that our Lord says that we are in the world but we are not of the world. We need to separate ourselves from the worldly system and the evil of it. In salvation we have been freed from the penalty of sin and from the power of sin. However, the power of sin and the presence of sin that will affect us defends on how much of the world we allow within our daily lives and activities. There is an old saying which goes like this: "You cannot play with fire very long without getting burned." John 17:14-17 ESV I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (15) I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. Why do I send out this type of Bible study? The answer is found in one verse of Scripture. 1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV (33) Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." I have maintained my stand for over 40 years that the two things most needed in the church yet most absent are the fear of God and church discipline. Because of these things missing in the body of Christ the love of God (agape, God's unconditional love), has been corrupted among us to be nothing more than the emotional worldly loves of phileo (conditional love of you be my friend and I will be your friend), and eros (conditional love of lust and desire). In this we corrupt what Biblical unity really is and how to obtain it. Our Lord Jesus Christ said that the truth of His Word would divide even family members. We don't really want truth in our churches. We say we do, but in reality we want numbers, finances, and some sense of peace (absence of strife). If you need to refresh, reread or see for the first time these first 6 studies, they are found here on this website under the category of "COME OUT FROM." In part one I talked about Biblical discipline and how separation does not break unity but establishes Biblical unity. (See Ps.1:1-2; Prov.1:10-16; 13:19-21) In part two we are to separate ourselves from Christians who are unruly, meaning they are morally disorderly. (See 2 Thess.3:5-7; Matt.18:15-17) In part three we are to separate ourselves from Christians who do not follow the Word of God given to them. (See 2 Thess.3:14-15; Rom.16:17-18) In part four we are to separate ourselves from Christians who walk in a lifestyle of sin. (See 1 Cor.5:9-12). In part five we are to separate ourselves from those who walk in the lifestyle of sins (See 1 Tim.6:3-21). In part six we are to separate ourselves from those who are lost, unsaved, children of wrath, children of the enemy or any other name which the Bible identifies them. (See Jam.4:4) So the question for the day: How can we walk as a sanctified, called out, holy vessel of God if we continue to fellowship with darkness and that which is an enemy to God and the cross? Now in part seven we see that we are to separate ourselves from false teachers. SEPARATE OURSELVES FROM FALSE TEACHERS AND DO NOT ALLOW THEM INTO THE HOME. I know that we have a zeal to win people to Jesus. However, God gives clear instruction as to where we are to do this. Most of the time when it speaks about soul winning it is out in the highways and byways. Words carry life and death, blessings and cursing. Therefore, we have instructions about not allowing the words of false teachers be released into our homes. I have met Mormons out somewhere to witness to them but I do not allow them into my home. This goes for Jehovah Witnesses or anyone who embraces a false teaching that is against the Gospel message. 2 John 1:9-11 ESV Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, (11) for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. Romans 16:17-18 ESV I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. (18) For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. Galatians 1:8-9 ESV But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. (9) As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 1 John 1:7 ESV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
We must keep in mind the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain for us. As long as we are moving along in this thing we call life, the blood of Jesus keeps covering us. We remain righteous and holy in God’s sight. What some principles about the New Covenant that we need to understand? First of all, we must be clear that the new covenant does not permit our continuing in a lifestyle of sin. There are numerous statements of this fact in the New Testament. Galatians 5:19-21 ESV Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (21) envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 John 3:5-6 ESV You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. (6) No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 ESV Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, (10) nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. “Those who live in a lifestyle of continual sin will not inherit the kingdom of God.” “No one who lives in Christ Jesus keeps on sinning.” If we say we are in Christ we do not keep on sinning. It is as simple as this. Sometimes I ask people, “Can Jesus Christ deliver someone from lying?” Usually they affirm He can. “Can Jesus Christ deliver someone from stealing?” Usually the answer will be, “Yes, He can.” Then I ask, “What sin is too great for Christ to overcome?” Usually the answer is, “There is no sin too great for Christ to overcome.” How come we know this to be true in theory, yet not in practice and in reality? Have we allowed Satan and the world to convince us that our sin is not so bad, or that we have sinned so much it is useless to start overcoming our sins one at a time? God calls us overcomers for a reason. QUESTION FOR TODAY: Am I a sinner because I sin OR do I sin because I am a sinner?
I WAS NOT SEPARATED FROM GOD BECAUSE OF THE SINS I COMMITTED. I WAS SEPARATED FROM GOD BECAUSE OF MY SIN NATURE. I think maybe we, the church, need to re-evaluate some of our word usage or maybe our theology. As we are approaching the Feast of Passover (which is not Easter), whereby we celebrate the work of the cross there is a lot of talk about Christ going to the cross because we sin and do wrong. QUESTION FOR TODAY: Am I a sinner because I sin OR do I sin because I am a sinner? If the first statement is correct "Am I a sinner because I sin" then there was a time that I was not a sinner and at some point of my life I became one. This is fundamentally and theologically incorrect. I was conceived in iniquity. I was born with the sin nature. No one had to teach me how to sin, it was the natural thing to do. The second statement is correct. "I sin because I am a sinner." I was born a sinner. It is not WHAT I do, it is WHO I am. It is my status and position because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve. Why is this important? Because my Jesus did not die just so I can be forgiven each day of my sins. He died so that my Adamic nature would be put to death and a new race would come forth. That new race is the first-fruits of the Last Adam (Jesus Christ). He did more then just forgive my sins, He eradicated my sin nature and gave me a new nature. He removed the corruptible seed and placed within me an incorruptible seed. I have the very nature of God within me. Thank God that our sins are forgiven...however we need to move beyond that to the fact that we no longer have a sin nature. It is not natural for us to sin. We now have the righteousness of Christ within us. So walk in it. Hebrews 10:11 ESV And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. The reason Christians are not delivered from their daily sins is they don't know that they have the promise in the New Testament that they can be a distinct feature of the new covenant. I know there have been the holiness preachers and teachers who have taught instantaneous sanctification. From what I have seen by experience, this doesn’t work. Others have said that sanctification is a progressive process, and this seems more practical. However, with those who teach progressive sanctification there does not appear to be a clear statement that our salvation includes deliverance from sin or a workable program for overcoming the stronghold of sin. In other words once we are saved we seem to be trapped in some of the same junk and behavior as when we were lost. This ought not be the case. Before we can attempt to overcome our sinful nature we must know for a certainty that the Bible teaches that believers do not have to continue to walk in sin. Therefore let's state some facts from the New Testament. 1 John 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. From 1 John 1:9 we have a couple key truths. First, this verse is not to be used as a soul winning verse for the lost. The Holy Spirit is speaking through John here to Christians. So as Christians, we can confess our sins and be forgiven. However many stop there. The rest of the verse says that Jesus would cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That means to remove the sin. Traits of the NEW COVENANT: The new covenant does not permit continuing in sinful behavior. The new covenant includes deliverance from sinful behavior. The new covenant includes a workable plan for deliverance from sinful behavior. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We do not gain full victory over stronghold sins until we learn that such victory is possible and is promise within in the Word of God. Then we have faith to pursue victory over the sins of the flesh until we obtain it. 1 John 3:4-5 ESV Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. (5) You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. Victory! Think about it. Victory over behaviors, such as lust, anger, lying, gossip, slander, selfishness, hatred, unforgiveness, spite, backbiting, sexual perversion, drunkenness, the use of drugs, and other demonic chains that destroy Christians. Does the new covenant include victory over these? You bet it does. Galatians 5:16 ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. The “Kingdom of God & Kingdom of Heaven” are the spiritual realms that has God and our Lord Jesus Christ as its Head. To be a part of the Kingdom we must first be born again and then there must be the rule and reign of God in the heart and life of the believer.
There are two spiritual kingdoms: One that has God as its head. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven One that has the devil as its head. The kingdom o darkness Walking in the Kingdom of God or the rule and reign of God is learning how God made us righteous before Him. This reality enhances our ability to obtain food, drink,clothes and any other need because it is a total trust in the provision of God. The Lord is my SHEPHERD, I shall not WANT. (Have lack). Our ability to obtain natural things by faith is directly connected to our understanding of spiritual truths of the kingdom and our position in the kingdom. Our ability to reign in life is directly connected to how much we understand the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness we have been given. KEY: God, our Father is Abba. (Daddy). He desires that which is best for us and for His glory. Therefore by faith He desires t bless us with all we need. We first are to possess our bodies as vessels of honor. This is a part of our learning to rule and reign in the Kingdom. If we are not faithful in that which is inside of us, why would we think that the Father would trust us with that which is outside of our skin? 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 ESV (3) For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; (4) that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, Standing around and confessing “I reign in life!” does not work without an understanding of the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness. It is not the power of positive thinking that will bring us victory, although we need to think on the things of God. It is not the power of positive confession that will bring us victory, although we need to confess the truth of God's Word. It is the power of faith in God, His Word and His character that aligns us up with the victorious living the Word tells us about. The proper order is that God desires to establish His rule and reign in our heart. When this happens then we walk ruling and reigning in our daily life. Otherwise we find ourselves controlled by our circumstances. To Reign means: • To be predominant • To prevail • To have superior or full dominion In short-to be atmosphere changers. We shall reign in life as kings under the Kingship of our Lord Jesus Christ, and every action is under the authority of our Headship, our Lord Jesus Christ. |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
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