Passage of the Day: Romans 7: 14 - 17 … 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
My Journal for Today: John MacArthur, in today’s entry from Strength for Today, begins with a stark statement – almost a warning. He writes, “Believers (in Christ as Savior/Lord) have been freed from sin’s power, but not from its presence.” And as a Christian, like myself, I’d almost bet you readers here with me just said, “AMEN!”
In the garden at Gethsemane the night before His passion on the cross, Jesus warns His disciples to watch and pray as they deal with the temptations of sin. He said, and we read it in Matt. 26: 41, “… the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”
Again, do I detect another “Amen?!”
Well, nowhere in Scripture is this feeling of inadequacy in dealing with sin more apparent than in the soulful lamentation of Romans 7: 14 – 25, linked here from which today’s passage was extracted. Some have wondered how a mature, experienced Christian, let alone an Apostle, such as Paul was feeling so weakened when he wrote that passage. How could he pen such a message of self defeat? And you may ask how Paul could follow the languish of Romans 7 with one of the greatest declarations of Christian victory and power over sin in the New Testament – found, of course, in Romans 8. Well, I used to wonder that too, until I finally realized that Paul was using a rather standard preaching/teaching technique in Romans 7 – the use of self identification to persuade his writers about the importance of the matter he was describing, and that is the retained presence of sin in the life of any Christian. And to that all of us Christians again would say, “Amen,” wouldn’t we?
In today’s passage, we see Paul, the converted zealot for Christ, describing himself as one who must continually deal with his own weaknesses when it comes to his own sin nature. Who cannot identify with such weakness – the seeming inability to do what God would have us do in avoiding sin? But Paul, in writing Rom. 7: 14 – 25, was merely setting the stage for his great and powerful treatise on Christ’s victory over sin and our power, in Christ, to overcome its presence [i.e., Rom. 8].
So, as we read and identify with Paul’s life-long struggle with his own sin nature, we should never forget that, as Christians, we should be living in the reality of Romans 8 rather than the lament of Romans 7. And we can [!]; but we must, as Paul also writes in Romans 13: 14, “ …clothe [ourselves] with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." And assured by the truth of Romans 8, we can do just that in the power given to us by Christ and His Spirit, allowing us to put off the rags of sin (as we read in Colossians 3) and to put on Christ’s robes of righteousness, given to us freely by His grace and through His Spirit.
What about us, as Christians? Are we choosing to live in Romans 7, giving quarter to our sin nature, … choosing to wear those sinful rags? Or are we choosing to live in Romans 8, where we can wear Christ’s glorious Robes of Righteousness, showing the world that our surrender to Christ is our power over sin?
My Prayer Today: Well, today Lord, I choose to live and walk with You in the truth of Romans 8. Amen
Showing posts with label avoid sin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label avoid sin. Show all posts
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
October 24, 2011 … The Fearsome Foursome
Passage of the Day: Romans 7: 5 [ NIV] … 5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death.
Romans 7: 5 [NASB – key terms in bold/underlined] … 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by The Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
My Journal for Today: Today’s verse (Rom. 7: 5, offered above in both NIV and NASB versions, reveals the horrific and evil chain of events created by the fall of mankind, resulting in a human nature, which, when activated by our free will can – and does – lead to death. Here we read (mostly using the NASB in this journal entry) the four terms (in bold and underlined above) which characterize those who are not in Christ or Christians who choose to rebel from God’s way/will. The four, listed in a sequential order that John MacArthur uses for a point about the outcomes of sin are … the law, the flesh, man’s sinful passions, and [spiritual] death. Taken in that order, in today’s Strength for Today entry, MacArthur speaks of how these four operate to separate man from God, which, is an excellent operational definition of “sin.”
THE LAW is ever present, indestructible and eternal, to reveal our weakness and sin, which thereby activates man’s FLESH, … which then provides a channel for man’s Adamic and/or carnal nature (i.e., the SINFUL PASSIONS), leading to choices which result in separation from God (i.e., spiritual DEATH). This chain of horror is what John MacArthur calls the “fearsome foursome,” which continually operate to undermine man’s relationship with God. The latter, of course, holds the lost from God’s saving grace; and it holds the saved sinner from a fruitful life in Christ.
But praise be to God [!], we ever live to be moved by our loving and merciful God, Who, “…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions,” [the wondrous truth of Eph. 2: 5]. And all we need to do, in our human state, is to make a choice … to repent in faith and/or to live in faith, believing in Christ’s sacrifice, and receiving His grace (saving grace for the lost and enabling grace for the saved), which breaks the effects of the “fearsome foursome,” resulting in eternal and/or fruitful life.
It really should be a no-brainer choice [for true, born-again Christians, that is!]; but we can make it so difficult at times by choosing self over Savior. What is your choice going to be today?
My Prayer Today: I choose You, Lord! Amen
Romans 7: 5 [NASB – key terms in bold/underlined] … 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by The Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
My Journal for Today: Today’s verse (Rom. 7: 5, offered above in both NIV and NASB versions, reveals the horrific and evil chain of events created by the fall of mankind, resulting in a human nature, which, when activated by our free will can – and does – lead to death. Here we read (mostly using the NASB in this journal entry) the four terms (in bold and underlined above) which characterize those who are not in Christ or Christians who choose to rebel from God’s way/will. The four, listed in a sequential order that John MacArthur uses for a point about the outcomes of sin are … the law, the flesh, man’s sinful passions, and [spiritual] death. Taken in that order, in today’s Strength for Today entry, MacArthur speaks of how these four operate to separate man from God, which, is an excellent operational definition of “sin.”
THE LAW is ever present, indestructible and eternal, to reveal our weakness and sin, which thereby activates man’s FLESH, … which then provides a channel for man’s Adamic and/or carnal nature (i.e., the SINFUL PASSIONS), leading to choices which result in separation from God (i.e., spiritual DEATH). This chain of horror is what John MacArthur calls the “fearsome foursome,” which continually operate to undermine man’s relationship with God. The latter, of course, holds the lost from God’s saving grace; and it holds the saved sinner from a fruitful life in Christ.
But praise be to God [!], we ever live to be moved by our loving and merciful God, Who, “…made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions,” [the wondrous truth of Eph. 2: 5]. And all we need to do, in our human state, is to make a choice … to repent in faith and/or to live in faith, believing in Christ’s sacrifice, and receiving His grace (saving grace for the lost and enabling grace for the saved), which breaks the effects of the “fearsome foursome,” resulting in eternal and/or fruitful life.
It really should be a no-brainer choice [for true, born-again Christians, that is!]; but we can make it so difficult at times by choosing self over Savior. What is your choice going to be today?
My Prayer Today: I choose You, Lord! Amen
Monday, October 03, 2011
October 3, 2011 … The Importance of Confession
Passage of the Day: 1st John 1: 10 [see highlighted verse underlined and in bold] … 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, He [God] is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.
My Journal for Today: I agree with John MacArthur, from today’s Strength for Today, that there is a concerted effort in our post-modern culture to eradicate the concept of “sin” from our personal and cultural consciousness; and I’m afraid, by denial, that is also true in many of today’s churches. However, no human attempts to create a fog of denial can eliminate the truth that the evidence of sin is all around us, which began in the Garden of Eden (see Gen. 3: 11 – 13). That is why the Apostle John is so forceful and direct, exhorting Christians to “fess-up” to our sinfulness (above, as in 1st John 1: 8 – 10).
Today, MacArthur takes his devotional readers through a litany of heroes of the faith who recognized, some more easily than others, that confession and cleansing (see 1st John 1: 9) are essential to maintaining a right relationship with God. Many of you, right now as you read this, may be thinking of David, who needed Samuel’s help to unload his guilt (see 2nd Sam. 12: 13 and Ps. 51: 3 – 4). He had blinded himself in denial to his horrible sin; and he needed the eyes of a wiser believer, in the Prophet Samuel, to open his eyes to his (David’s) need for repentance and confession. One can also read Isaiah declaring his woeful sinfulness (in Isaiah 6: 5); and Daniel, who was such a man of Godly integrity; but he still confessed his sin nature (see Dan. 9: 20). In the New Testament, Peter, who after Pentecost became the leader of the Apostles, declared, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (from Luke 5: 8) And of course, Paul, even after a life which powerfully honored God, labeled himself as the foremost of sinners (see 1st Tim. 1: 15).
So, all these men of God recognized what John ardently taught to us in 1st John 1: 9 … that the only way to be in God’s favor was to be cleansed by open and honest confession. Because, without that we deceive ourselves (1st John 1: 8) and actually label God to be a liar with our defense or denial (1st John 1: 10).
I, for one don’t want to be in that company. … Do you?
My Prayer Today: Cleanse me, O Lord, of my sinfulness – even this day. Amen
My Journal for Today: I agree with John MacArthur, from today’s Strength for Today, that there is a concerted effort in our post-modern culture to eradicate the concept of “sin” from our personal and cultural consciousness; and I’m afraid, by denial, that is also true in many of today’s churches. However, no human attempts to create a fog of denial can eliminate the truth that the evidence of sin is all around us, which began in the Garden of Eden (see Gen. 3: 11 – 13). That is why the Apostle John is so forceful and direct, exhorting Christians to “fess-up” to our sinfulness (above, as in 1st John 1: 8 – 10).
Today, MacArthur takes his devotional readers through a litany of heroes of the faith who recognized, some more easily than others, that confession and cleansing (see 1st John 1: 9) are essential to maintaining a right relationship with God. Many of you, right now as you read this, may be thinking of David, who needed Samuel’s help to unload his guilt (see 2nd Sam. 12: 13 and Ps. 51: 3 – 4). He had blinded himself in denial to his horrible sin; and he needed the eyes of a wiser believer, in the Prophet Samuel, to open his eyes to his (David’s) need for repentance and confession. One can also read Isaiah declaring his woeful sinfulness (in Isaiah 6: 5); and Daniel, who was such a man of Godly integrity; but he still confessed his sin nature (see Dan. 9: 20). In the New Testament, Peter, who after Pentecost became the leader of the Apostles, declared, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (from Luke 5: 8) And of course, Paul, even after a life which powerfully honored God, labeled himself as the foremost of sinners (see 1st Tim. 1: 15).
So, all these men of God recognized what John ardently taught to us in 1st John 1: 9 … that the only way to be in God’s favor was to be cleansed by open and honest confession. Because, without that we deceive ourselves (1st John 1: 8) and actually label God to be a liar with our defense or denial (1st John 1: 10).
I, for one don’t want to be in that company. … Do you?
My Prayer Today: Cleanse me, O Lord, of my sinfulness – even this day. Amen
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
January 4 … Guarding Against Sin
Passage of the Day: Ephesians 4: 1 – As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
My Journal for Today: Today, John MacArthur using this repeated verse (i.e., Eph. 4: 1) for his devotional focus in Strength for Today, we begin to look at that phrase “to live a life worthy” and “the calling” to see where a Christian must walk in the world. As we’ve already seen in these first few days of 2011 in my devotionals, the worthiness of the Christian walk is seen in how a Christian learns God’s WAY and WILL, living in obedience to His WORD; and then it’s expressed in the avoidance of selfishness and sin. And to reinforce this biblical truth, we see God’s brief but pointed prescription against sin for the new or growing Christian, found in a passage which I hope you have deeply embedded in your heart: Psalm 119: 9 - 11 …
>>> SCRIPTURE: Ps., 119: 9 How can a young man [i.e., immature believer] keep His way pure? By living according to your word. … 11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
In this brief poetic passage from one of the Psalmists, God has given His followers THE way for a believer to avoid sin; and this way is God’s way; because it’s found in HIS word. Therefore, knowing God’s path of truth from His word allows any believer, who has become well grounded in scripture, to be forewarned and forearmed to avoid the traps Satan will use to misdirect our already deceitful hearts (see Jer. 17:9). God’s word, therefore, becomes His light on our path of righteousness (see Ps. 119: 105).
And when the battles of life come to us, because we’re always surrounded in this life with the ploys and power of Satan, we can, by being well versed in scripture, do exactly what Jesus did when He was confronted by Satan’s temptation in the wilderness (read at the outset of Matthew 4 or Luke 4). And God’s word truly becomes our sword in battle, as Paul instructed in Eph. 6: 17. And if you do a deep study of the Eph. 6, full-armor, passage, God’s word, or the use of His word, makes up most of the elements of armor that we have to defend ourselves against our spiritual enemies in our daily battles (so, take time to study Ephesians 6: 10-18 - linked here in NIV).
Therefore, knowing and following God’s word is our only guarantee, as Christians, of spiritual success; and that’s why God so strongly admonished Joshua to be in, stay in, and live in God’s word (see Joshua 1: 8 below).
>>> SCRIPTURE: Joshua 1: 8 “Do not let this Book of the Law [i.e., God’s word] depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
It pains me when I hear a Christian say, when confronted with his sin, “I just couldn’t help myself.” My friend, as we’ve seen, we can help ourselves to walk in a manner more worthy of the One we follow, …Christ. He ordered us to follow Him (see Luke 9:23); and the best way we can do this, avoiding sin in our lives, is to follow the exhortation God gave to Joshua (above) to BE IN, STAY IN, AND LIVE IN GOD’S WORD.
If you’re a Christian reading this, have you got God’s word so strongly in your heart that it’s your sword in battle? And if not, what are you going to do about that? It’s your choice; but knowing God’s prescription to avoid sin and walk a more Christ-worthy path (again from Ps. 119: 9-11), I choose to carry God’s ready, sharpened, and practiced sword to do battle against my enemies. I hope you do too; and I’ll let God’s Spirit convict and direct you to become more well prepared for the battles ahead in 2011.
My Prayer Today: Lord, convict me each day to carry Your sharpened sword into battle; and to have strong armor, fortified by the truth of Your word. Amen
My Journal for Today: Today, John MacArthur using this repeated verse (i.e., Eph. 4: 1) for his devotional focus in Strength for Today, we begin to look at that phrase “to live a life worthy” and “the calling” to see where a Christian must walk in the world. As we’ve already seen in these first few days of 2011 in my devotionals, the worthiness of the Christian walk is seen in how a Christian learns God’s WAY and WILL, living in obedience to His WORD; and then it’s expressed in the avoidance of selfishness and sin. And to reinforce this biblical truth, we see God’s brief but pointed prescription against sin for the new or growing Christian, found in a passage which I hope you have deeply embedded in your heart: Psalm 119: 9 - 11 …
>>> SCRIPTURE: Ps., 119: 9 How can a young man [i.e., immature believer] keep His way pure? By living according to your word. … 11 I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.
In this brief poetic passage from one of the Psalmists, God has given His followers THE way for a believer to avoid sin; and this way is God’s way; because it’s found in HIS word. Therefore, knowing God’s path of truth from His word allows any believer, who has become well grounded in scripture, to be forewarned and forearmed to avoid the traps Satan will use to misdirect our already deceitful hearts (see Jer. 17:9). God’s word, therefore, becomes His light on our path of righteousness (see Ps. 119: 105).
And when the battles of life come to us, because we’re always surrounded in this life with the ploys and power of Satan, we can, by being well versed in scripture, do exactly what Jesus did when He was confronted by Satan’s temptation in the wilderness (read at the outset of Matthew 4 or Luke 4). And God’s word truly becomes our sword in battle, as Paul instructed in Eph. 6: 17. And if you do a deep study of the Eph. 6, full-armor, passage, God’s word, or the use of His word, makes up most of the elements of armor that we have to defend ourselves against our spiritual enemies in our daily battles (so, take time to study Ephesians 6: 10-18 - linked here in NIV).
Therefore, knowing and following God’s word is our only guarantee, as Christians, of spiritual success; and that’s why God so strongly admonished Joshua to be in, stay in, and live in God’s word (see Joshua 1: 8 below).
>>> SCRIPTURE: Joshua 1: 8 “Do not let this Book of the Law [i.e., God’s word] depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
It pains me when I hear a Christian say, when confronted with his sin, “I just couldn’t help myself.” My friend, as we’ve seen, we can help ourselves to walk in a manner more worthy of the One we follow, …Christ. He ordered us to follow Him (see Luke 9:23); and the best way we can do this, avoiding sin in our lives, is to follow the exhortation God gave to Joshua (above) to BE IN, STAY IN, AND LIVE IN GOD’S WORD.
If you’re a Christian reading this, have you got God’s word so strongly in your heart that it’s your sword in battle? And if not, what are you going to do about that? It’s your choice; but knowing God’s prescription to avoid sin and walk a more Christ-worthy path (again from Ps. 119: 9-11), I choose to carry God’s ready, sharpened, and practiced sword to do battle against my enemies. I hope you do too; and I’ll let God’s Spirit convict and direct you to become more well prepared for the battles ahead in 2011.
My Prayer Today: Lord, convict me each day to carry Your sharpened sword into battle; and to have strong armor, fortified by the truth of Your word. Amen
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