“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:7-10 ESV)
How we live matters for eternity, regardless of what anyone else tells you. For the Bible tells us clearly that those who are of genuine faith in Jesus Christ are those who walk in obedience to the Lord in holy living, in practice, and who are not those who deliberately and habitually sin against the Lord and against other humans. So don’t be deceived by those who are telling you that you can just “believe” in Jesus and have all your sins forgiven and be on your way to heaven, but regardless of how you live.
For that is mocking God if we think we can “believe” in him and have heaven secured us while we continue living in sin and going our own way and doing what we want to do regardless of what the Scriptures teach, and regardless of what God/Jesus did for us on that cross. For Jesus died on that cross to put our sins to death with him so that by faith in him we will die with him to sin and live to his righteousness, in the power of God, by the grace of God. He died to deliver us from slavery to sin, not just to forgive us our sins.
For his grace, which is bringing us salvation, trains us to renounce (say “No!” to) ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. For Jesus Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works,” the works “which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” as his creation in Christ Jesus and as his workmanship (Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:10).
So the faith to believe in Jesus is not of our own doing – not of the will nor of the flesh of man. So we don’t get to choose what that faith looks like. God does! His word does! And we read in his word that we can’t even come to faith in Jesus Christ unless God the Father draws us to Christ (John 1:12-13; John 6:44), i.e. unless he persuades us as to his holiness and righteousness and of our sinfulness and of our need to turn from our sins and to follow Jesus in walks of obedience to his commands (Romans 1:18-32).
And the faith to believe in Jesus comes from God, is authored and perfected by Jesus Christ, and is gifted to us by God (Hebrews 12:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-10). So, this is not of ourselves, but is of God, and thus is defined by God and by his word. And since this faith is persuaded of God it is going to align with his expressed will and purpose for our lives, which is that we die to sin and live to righteousness and that we follow him in obedience to his commands in holy living (Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Acts 26:18).
Therefore, the Lord is letting us know here that we are not to be deceived by those who are telling us that no works are required of us at all, and that God is pleased with us no matter what we do, and that heaven is secured for us no matter how we live. We are not to be deceived by those who are telling us that obedience is not required and that repentance (turning from sin) is also not required of us for salvation from sin and eternal life with God. For God’s holy word is very clear that obedience and forsaking sins are required.
And we learn here, and in other passages of Scripture, that we are all going to be judged by our Lord in the end according to our deeds. For whatever it is that we sow in this life we are also going to reap. So if we sow to our own flesh, meaning that we live by the flesh and that we make fleshly choices, and thus we live in sin and not in walks of obedience to our Lord, from our flesh we will reap corruption (destruction, death). But if we sow to the Spirit, i.e. we live by the Spirit, then from the Spirit we will reap eternal life.
Jesus said that not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING the will of God. And he said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin and to self) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow our Lord in obedience, then we have the hope of eternal life with God (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26).
So, our lives on this earth are not to be lived for our own worldly pleasure. They are to be lived for God and for his pleasure and according to his will and purpose for our lives. And thus we are to be doing the good that God has designed for us to do and that we are instructed to do in the Scriptures, especially in the New Testament under the New Covenant. And that “good” requires us putting sin to death, by the Spirit, and us walking in obedience to our Lord in holy living, by the Spirit, according to the will of God.
[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-24; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-11; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Co 10:1-22; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
The Lord’s Anointed
An Original Work / December 16, 2011
Based off Isaiah 61
The Spirit of the Sov’reign Lord on me;
Anointed to preach the Good News;
Sent me to bind up the brokenhearted;
Proclaim freedom for the captives.
He sent me to preach release for pris’ners
Who are walking in sin’s darkness;
Proclaim God’s grace to all men who’ll listen;
And tell them about God’s judgments;
Comfort all who mourn;
Give crowns of beauty;
Oil of gladness and thanksgiving.
They will be called oaks of God’s righteousness,
A planting of our Savior, God,
For the display of our Lord’s splendor, and
They will rebuild God’s holy church.
God will renew them, and will restore them,
And you’ll be called priests of the Lord.
You will be ministers of our God, and
You will rejoice in salvation.
The Lord loves justice;
He is faithful to
Reward those who are seeking Him.
I delight greatly in the Lord;
My soul rejoices in my Savior, God.
He has clothed me with His salvation,
And in a robe of His righteousness.
He has given me priestly garments to wear,
As the bride of Jesus Christ.
As the garden of our Lord and Savior,
He causes us to grow in Him.
He makes righteousness,
Praise, and thanksgiving
Spring up before all the nations.
https://vimeo.com/114836524
No comments:
Post a Comment