…casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts
itself against the knowledge of God… —2 Corinthians 10:5
“Deliverance from sin
is not the same as deliverance from human nature. […] every theory or
thought that raises itself up as a fortified barrier “against the knowledge of
God” is to be determinedly demolished by drawing on God’s power, not through
human effort or by compromise (see 2 Corinthians 10:4).[…] The warfare is not
against sin; we can never fight against sin— Jesus Christ conquered that in His
redemption of us. The conflict is waged
over turning our natural life into a spiritual life. This is never done
easily, nor does God intend that it be so. It is accomplished only through a
series of moral choices. God does not make us holy in the sense that He makes
our character holy. He makes us holy in the sense that He has made us innocent
before Him. And then we have to turn that innocence into holy character through
the moral choices we make. These choices are continually opposed and hostile to
the things of our natural life which have become so deeply entrenched— the very
things that raise themselves up as fortified barriers “against the knowledge of
God.” We can either turn back, making ourselves of no value to the kingdom of
God, or we can determinedly demolish these things, allowing Jesus to bring
another son to glory (see Hebrews 2:10).” CHAMBERS
In Romans 7:18-25
Paul addresses the struggle. “For I have
the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the
good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now
if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin
living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do
good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s
law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind
and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched
man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be
to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Can you identify with Paul?
Are there things in your life that you cannot seem to overcome .. part
of your old nature? For many people they
have absolved themselves from responsibility for doing the “good” by accepting
that the “not so bad” is as good as it will ever get. Yet we know that there is something not
right. If you spend your new life trying
to do good … you will eventually accept the “not so bad” as a substitute. The reason is because that is the best you
can do, on your own. But, the closer you
draw to Christ you will see that the “not so bad” is still “bad” and that you
are incapable if overcoming it on your own.
Like Paul, you must come to the understanding that only Jesus can help
you. But He “can” and will help you. As Christians, we must stop trying to be good
and turn to the One who “is” good. Don’t
be content with being lukewarm in your faith.
Think about it. ELGIN
Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)
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