Dichotomy of the Flesh vs. Being a New Creation In Christ

I am thinking aloud here, because I know how many of us, who believe in Jesus Christ,  would just like to not be bothered by our sin.  We would like to have the perfect responses and reactions to every situation in life;  however, that is not reality.  Because we are human, even if we truly know Jesus, we still deal with the flesh.  Paul talked about this in Romans, and apparently there are 3 different views about whether Chapter 7 was talking about someone who has been redeemed.  If you want to know more about those explanations of Romans 7, google them or find a Bible reference book.  Personally, I know I am a Christian and I believe Jesus is the only way to go to heaven.  However, I am not going to pretend that all my thoughts and all my actions in life are untarnished by sin.  I am growing and persevering.  I am pressing toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:14  However, I know there is a dichotomy going on here, because I am a new creation, but I still have to overcome sin in me.  So why is that?  That is why I wrote this.  It is not the best writing I have ever done, but I am not trying to be a perfect theological teacher right now.  I am thinking aloud about a problem we all deal with.  Come on.  Be honest.  I am sure you still do not do Everything perfectly.  

I just had a weird thought--well maybe not so weird. If it was so simple that we could just turn on a switch when we give these things over to God (us, our families, our habits, our thoughts, our deep inner selves), would we continue to turn to Jesus? Or, would we be complacent and happy in our perceived righteousness, not seeing how much we need Him?

Even though salvation cannot be stolen from us, we still contend with the flesh that we live in here on Earth. Because of the very nature of sin, it seeps in, even though we do not want to be sinful, even in our "righteousness", which can so quickly turn into hypocrisy.  However, if it were always easy to do the right thing, to think the right thing, or to say the right thing, would we turn to Him for help? Would we even see our need for salvation because of already being righteous (which we are not)?  Remember, I am talking about dealing with still being in our flesh.  

Part of my turning to God for help is my inability to always be the person I want to be in my heart. I think part of having peace may be accepting that there will always be this dichotomy of perfection vs. imperfection at the doors of our hearts, until we go to be with God. Romans 7:20 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 (NIV).  

Someday, it will be easier. I really do look forward to the time spoken of in Romans 13: 8-20. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (NIV). 

I have peace, because I know I am not on my own.  I have a Savior.  I do not have to depend on my own ability to always be perfect to know that God loves me and He will accept me. I am feeling my own imperfection as I read over what I have written;  however, I am trusting God.  Moreover, I feel like someone needs to hear this:  someone who is already a follower of Jesus, but is presently struggling.  There may also be someone who needs to know that we have all fallen short of God's glory.  Someone needs to know what the following verse says.  

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Prayer:  Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for your everlasting mercy and kindness towards us.  Thank you for providing a way for the struggle we have as humans.  Many of us desire to be righteous and to please you, yet we are confronted with our own sin on a daily basis.  Thank you for salvation through Jesus Christ.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to you, except through Him.  Thank you that we can trust you daily, even when we fall short again. Thank you for your great patience.  You are amazing and wonderful.  Hallelujah!  Amen.

How Does Your Light Shine?

Jesus Christ's light should be seen in those who call themselves Christians.

Image Courtesy of  9comeback / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today, as our pastor taught from Philippians, this passage shone out like like a beacon to me.  Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children  of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world by holding on to the word of life... (Philippians  2:14-15a, NET).  It made me question things I see happening on the internet.  One of the big things that concerns me is what I see taking place on social media.  People who say they are Christians, are publicly mocking candidates running for political office.  It is getting nasty with the name-calling, which is crude and rude.  In fact, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction in most of the stories, because they are bent according to the opinions of the writers.  It is the same with the news media on television.

However, the crux of this information flow, coming from many of those who call themselves Christian and whom I believe to be true believers, is I am seeing ugliness not light on all sides of the political spectrum.  If  those who claim to be believers in Jesus act just like the unsaved, it makes me wonder what kind of lights we are in this dark world.  Can we not state our reasons for who we think is the best candidate without posting pictures and memes meant to denigrate another human being?

I wonder how many of us are praying for candidates in the different political parties, whether we agree with their principles or not.  Do you remember that Jesus told us to pray for our enemies?  I know that some of you actually consider the other candidate an enemy, because you are sure that person is going to be the end of the country.  And, he or she may be--I do not say that lightly, nor do I want that.  What I do know is we already know from God's word there is an end to everything that is coming, but we do not know exactly the time or day.  According to the Bible, only God the Father knows when the end is coming.  We may see signs, but will not know until it happens.  However, until then, it our job as believers to be Light.

So, where does this leave me in the application of what being a light means?  It means live like the salt of this earth.  Be in this world, but do not be of this world.  It means to let Jesus' light shine in me, as I interact in my daily life.  Even though, I am flawed, I should be becoming more like Jesus in everything, so His light is a beacon to those who are lost.

Let your light shine! 

Faith

One of my friends was doing a Bible study with her teenager. He wanted to know what her Facebook friends thought James 2: 18 means.  

One of the first things I thought of was that Jesus said, You will recognize them by their fruits. Then he said, Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. (Matt. 7:16-17)  
But then I also thought of the fact that we are all sinners, and it is Not works that saves us. It is the act of accepting God's free gift (grace) that saves us, and that takes Faith. Galatians 5:6 says, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love." They will know we are Christians by our love, and we have to have faith to know God.

So, I could say it is complicated, but only because we make it so. We have to believe like a child does, which is simply and completely. Of course, I know that it seems complicated when we let sin enter into our lives: however, I don't know about you, but when that happens, I am always reminded of God's free grace, as well as the fact I should forgive others as He has forgiven me. Also, I need to live out my faith, and be a doer of the Word, not just a hearer.

Prayer: 

Father God, I praise and glorify Your Holy Name. You are love. And because of You, I feel loved. I pray that I will live my daily life in a way that pleases you. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen

God Is In Control

It has been a while since I have written here, but it struck me how appropriate this Psalm is to the time we live in.  Sometimes, we feel insulated as we watch the news, but in our heart of hearts, we know the hatred being spread by the Enemy.  The Enemy I speak of is the evil one Satan, whose name I do not even like to say.  He is the root of evil.  At least, that is what I believe.

Man can choose who to follow.  If we do not choose the one and only God, who sent Jesus his only begotten son, we have chosen by default.

However, that is not what I speak of today.  I speak of an earthly enemy, who I believe is demon-possessed, because the atrocities they are committing are beyond what you and I can even bear to think.  How their followers can continue to be led by their leaders is beyond me.  I am sure when they realize what they are into, it is by fear.

However, Evils too horrible to contemplate have happened before, and the psalmist David, addressed the subject.  I have highlighted and colored certain words and sections that stood out to me.  I am not going to say anything about them.  The words speak for themselves.  

His Eye Is On The Sparrow
Photo by Jeff Ratcliffe / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

God, the Creator of the Universe, is here all around us, holding us, loving us, and to some He is saying, "Trust me.  Believe in me.  I sent my Son to die for your sins.  Believe in him.  Believe in me.  We are One."  To those who have not believed, I ask that you do not wait until it is too late.  We live in perilous times:  we must admit that or we lie to ourselves.  However, we do not have to fear with Jesus in our hearts.  He died and rose from the dead, then ascended into heaven.  He is returning.  He shall wipe away all  tears from His Beloved, His Bride, those who truly have trusted in Him. 

Psalm 36 New International Version (NIV)

¹ I have a message from God in my heart
    concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:^[b]
There is no fear of God
    before their eyes.

² In their own eyes they flatter themselves
    too much to detect or hate their sin.
³ The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;
    they fail to act wisely or do good.
⁴ Even on their beds they plot evil;
    they commit themselves to a sinful course
    and do not reject what is wrong.

⁵ Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the skies.
⁶ Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
    your justice like the great deep.
    You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
⁷ How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!
    People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house;
    you give them drink from your river of delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

¹⁰ Continue your love to those who know you,
    your righteousness to the upright in heart.
¹¹ May the foot of the proud not come against me,
    nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.
¹² See how the evildoers lie fallen—
    thrown down, not able to rise!

Prayer:

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, may you be lifted up, may your Son be praised.  Thank you for the gift of life, and the promise of life everlasting.  Thank you for your peace and your comfort.  May your Holy Name be praised always.  May we Rejoice Always and Pray Without Ceasing.  Hallelujah.  Glory be to the Highest.  Peace on earth to all men.  We look forward to the peace to come, Father.  Give those who fight evil courage to do what is right and to do the hard things, Father.  We lift up our leaders to You, that they may follow a path of your leadership.  Whatever happens, Lord, we know that You are the One in Charge.  The Victory is already won.  Amen.