AS *GOD* would have it, HIS people ARE DIFFERENT IN THAT they do NOT follow the world, instead they FOLLOW HIM, and exist ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, IN the best of their knowledge, and understanding, WHILE RELYING ON HIM to LEAD them through this ever darkening valley! HIS CHOSEN DO NOT submit to the world, their ALLEGIANCE IS WITH HIM, as FULLY as is feasible IN their CONSCIENTIOUS COMMITMENT TO HIM, and THE KINGDOM! SURELY, we WILL stumble, trip, and even fall, YET, we are NOT bound by such, as we pick ourselves UP, and KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON IN HIS NAME, FOR HIS GLORY, and THE GOOD of others, and their souls!!!
More and more frequently, HIS people are indistinguishable as they conform to the world's ways, and choose to blend in as opposed to SHINING, and STANDING STRONG IN HIM! There are probably a slew of reasons for this, HOWEVER NONE of them are justifiable IN TRUTH! They may or may not be forgivable, but they are NEVER justifiable, BECAUSE WE KNOW what THE LORD *GOD* REQUIRES of us, and HAS instructed us to exist by!!!
2 CORINTHAINS 6: 17...
Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
It is wrong for believers to join with the wicked and profane. The word unbeliever applies to all destitute of true faith. True pastors will caution their beloved children in the gospel, not to be unequally yoked. The fatal effects of neglecting Scripture precepts as to marriages clearly appear. Instead of a help meet, the union brings a snare. Those whose cross it is to be unequally united, without their wilful fault, may expect consolation under it; but when believers enter into such unions, against the express warnings of God's word, they must expect must distress. The caution also extends to common conversation. We should not join in friendship and acquaintance with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with such, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves by converse with those who defile themselves with sin. Come out from the workers of iniquity, and separate from their vain and sinful pleasures and pursuits; from all conformity to the corruptions of this present evil world. If it be an envied privilege to be the son or daughter of an earthly prince, who can express the dignity and happiness of being sons and daughters of the Almighty?
1 PETER 2: 21-25...
21+++For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
22+++WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;
23+++and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
24+++and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
25+++For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
Christ's death was designed not only for an example of patience under sufferings, but he bore our sins; he bore the punishment of them, and thereby satisfied Divine justice. Hereby he takes them away from us. The fruits of Christ's sufferings are the death of sin, and a new holy life of righteousness; for both which we have an example, and powerful motives, and ability to perform also, from the death and resurrection of Christ. And our justification; Christ was bruised and crucified as a sacrifice for our sins, and by his stripes the diseases of our souls are cured. Here is man's sin; he goes astray; it is his own act. His misery; he goes astray from the pasture, from the Shepherd, and from the flock, and so exposes himself to dangers without number. Here is the recovery by conversion; they are now returned as the effect of Divine grace. This return is, from all their errors and wanderings, to Christ. Sinners, before their conversion, are always going astray; their life is a continued error.
1 PETER 3: 8-12...
8+++To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
9+++not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
10+++For,
“THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS,
MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT.
11+++“HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD;
HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
12+++“FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS,
AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER,
BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”
Though Christians cannot always be exactly of the same mind, yet they should have compassion one of another, and love as brethren. If any man desires to live comfortably on earth, or to possess eternal life in heaven, he must bridle his tongue from wicked, abusive, or deceitful words. He must forsake and keep far from evil actions, do all the good he can, and seek peace with all men. For God, all-wise and every where present, watches over the righteous, and takes care of them. None could or should harm those who copied the example of Christ, who is perfect goodness, and did good to others as his followers.
15+++Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16+++For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
17+++The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory; but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature.
1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: wrong desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures.
2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness.
3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honour and applause.
The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world; but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken. Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself, but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it.
TITUS 2: 11-14...
11+++For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.
12+++It trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
13+++as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
14+++He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel, is for all ranks and conditions of men. It teaches to forsake sin; to have no more to do with it. An earthly, sensual conversation suits not a heavenly calling. It teaches to make conscience of that which is good. We must look to God in Christ, as the object of our hope and worship. A gospel conversation must be a godly conversation. See our duty in a very few words; denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly, notwithstanding all snares, temptations, corrupt examples, ill usage, and what remains of sin in the believer's heart, with all their hinderances. It teaches to look for the glories of another world. At, and in, the glorious appearing of Christ, the blessed hope of Christians will be complete: To bring us to holiness and happiness was the end of Christ's death.
Jesus Christ, that great God and our Saviour, who saves not only as God, much less as Man alone; but as God-man, two natures in one person. He loved us, and gave himself for us; and what can we do less than love and give up ourselves to him! Redemption from sin and sanctification of the nature go together, and make a peculiar people unto God, free from guilt and condemnation, and purified by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is profitable. Here is what will furnish for all parts of duty, and the right discharge of them. Let us inquire whether our whole dependence is placed upon that grace which saves the lost, pardons the guilty, and sanctifies the unclean. And the further we are removed from boasting of fancied good works, or trusting in them, so that we glory in Christ alone, the more zealous shall we be to abound in real good works.
There is a LOT of decrying 'good works', because works can't SAVE us, HOWEVER, good works REVEAL HIM IN us, and our NEWNESS; in other words, 'good works' PROVE that we ARE OF HIM, IN HIM, and ON THE PATH of RIGHTEOUSNESS, as we exist TO SERVE HIM, and others, and AIM to increase in LOVE FOR HIM, and others, AND IS the 'good fruits' which we bear FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of all! FAITH and good works, which IS FAITHFULNESS ARE HAND IN HAND, and ONE! Since we have nailed to the cross the 'old' being, and are now in the 'new' being, we ARE better, and more productive in what is right, just, and good, NOT for show, or attention, but because it IS innate TO whom we now are, IN HIS NAME, and HIS EXAMPLE!!!
Evil IS increasing, therefore, it IS TIME for HIS people to get to work, and to inspire! As morals, ethics, sound standards, and principles die out, it IS our work to KEEP them in the forefront, and to trigger the conscience of others THAT they consider WHY and HOW the *GODLY* WAY IS THE RIGHT WAY, and THE BLESSED WAY! And ONLY WITH HIM can we SHINE OF HIM, of LOVE, and of THE NEED for such to continue, and navigate us PAST the wickedness of this world...
We ARE HIS HOLY Priesthood, which implies a LOT more than we have yet to adhere to! NO WHERE IN THE WORD are we given the go ahead to be one with the world, and partake in the darkness! INSTEAD, we are BID TO SHINE OF HIM, which MEANS we become MORE, and MORE, and MORE LIKE HIM, as we FOLLOW HIM, and take on our TRUTH AS CITIZENS OF HEAVEN, while relinquishing the holds the world has/has had on us!!!
It IS a CONSTANT effort, and participation TO win the race against the factions of this world, and time! We can NOT afford to slack off, or tire! We are to EVER be studying, learning, embracing, and utilizing HIS WILL, and WAYS; WHILE LETTING THE HOLY SPIRIT LEAD us TO the finish line!!!
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
No comments:
Post a Comment