Obeying God Is Not Natural, It's Super-natural

“Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…” —Romans 5:12

There are sins in your life that you try so hard to resist, you are not successful.  Why do I know that? Because it is a common problem. It is in our nature – born of Adam to sin.  It is a spiritual problem that requires a spiritual solution.  God had to send His Son to overcome sin and its penalty.  The root of our sins is our sin nature.  At the root of our sin nature is our desire to be the “ruler of our world”. 

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – (Genesis 3:4-5)  

The original sin was our desire to be like God … not in His image and likeness, we were created by Him to be like that, but to take His place.  To be in charge, so to speak.  But God wants us to be like the Son (Romans 8:29) who reflects the Father. (John 14:9)  It seems so simple when you read it, but it can be, and is, so difficult to live it.  We can only live our new life successfully if we live it in the awareness of the power by which we must live it.

“It is not by strength, not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord God of Hosts.” – Zechariah 4:6

Our new life is spiritual.  Our old life is natural.  We are drawn to the natural.  Our old nature, like the Song of the Sirens, lures us to the rocks.  If you are familiar with the ancient Greek epic the Odyssey, the Sirens attempted to use their enchanting song to lure the hero Odysseus and his crew towards deadly waters. Odysseus' crew had blocked their ears to protect themselves from the Sirens' singing, but Odysseus, wanting to hear the Sirens, was lashed to the mast of the ship.  Don’t be fooled that you can listen to the “song” and not give in to its allure – the result is sin.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.” – James 1:12-16

To be successful in living out our new life, we must seek out the spiritual.  The spiritual does not happen naturally.  If you live your life with little thought to the spiritual disciplines, you are in trouble .. spiritually speaking.  You are headed for the rocks. Galatians 2:20 says that you are crucified with Christ, nevertheless you live, but it’s not you but Christ in you.  You are sealed with the Spirit.  Jesus is not in your heart, He is at the right hand of the Father as our intercessor and high priest, the Spirit is in you.  The Spirit is in you and is what makes the spiritual part of you, your new life, possible.  Don’t neglect spiritual things .. the Word, prayer, fellowship with other believers … if you do you will find it impossible to live the new life.  Trying to be “good” has its source in the original sin … believing the lie “I can do it, I don’t need God.”   Believing that you can listen to the song and not be drawn to the rocks.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone