Gal 5:16-26 『So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. … The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.』
If we live by the Spirit, worldly desires find no place in our mind. When we let the Spirit direct our lives, all the desires of the sinful nature will be removed. However, if we live according to the sinful nature, our hearts will not be filled with the desires of the Spirit.
Those who live after the flesh cannot inherit the kingdom of God. The Bible repeatedly says that no one can enter the kingdom of heaven if he participates in the fruitless works of darkness.
Eph 5:1-14 『Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us … But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person?such a man is an idolater?has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. … Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. …』
The above verse tells us how we should live our lives. I believe most of you have already understood it and live a gracious life. If anyone claims to live by faith but often forgets the great task of saving souls, being absorbed in the vain desires of the flesh, he must take them all away without hesitation.
When God looks down from heaven, the earth is nothing but a speck of dust and a drop of water in a bucket. To save us, who live in this small world, God left all His glory in heaven and chose a lowly path, taking on human form. If the God of love lives in us, what shall be our primary concern? ‘What should I do to lead his soul closer to salvation?' ‘How can I help him come to God rightly?' If Elohim God lives and works in a person, saving souls will be his greatest concern.
What about the person whose heart is full of idolatry? He is more concerned about showing off and exalting himself rather than thinking how he can help brothers and sisters come together to salvation. The devil assails such a person by various temptations. How much will God's heart ache when He sees His children still yielding to such vain and empty things?
We can be reborn as perfect beings when we have the spirit of self-giving for the salvation of souls like Christ. A potter continually works to mold and shape clay into a vessel until it is complete. However, if it is made into the vessel he wants it to be, no longer does he need to shape the clay on the wheel, put it in the kiln and enamel it, does he?
No comments:
Post a Comment