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March 4, 2017 BEING A NON-CONFORMIST
1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lust which were yours in ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
It is abundantly clear form scripture that at the point of salvation, we are made new, as seen is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things have passed away. Behold, the new has come.” It is also clear form scripture that it is possible for a believer not to walk in newness, but to be conformed back to the old self. In Galatians 3:1-2, Paul asked this question: “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out for you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? We often hear about being conformed to Christ, but let us hear the admonition not to be conformed to our old man. Our being made ‘new creatures’ is no small miracle. Because God has made us new and given us a new identity, we can now ‘resemble’ God in our thoughts and in our actions. Sad to say, but most believers have been exposed to teachings that emphasize our sinful nature and have neglected the fact that we have been freed from the power of sin. In fact, it would seem odd to many and cause someone to question anyone who said that they were living a ‘holy life.’ Yet, God tells us very clearly that we are to be holy in all of our behavior, just as He is holy. We do not become holy by keeping rules or by self-effort; we have been made holy by God, and because He has made us holy, we are to now live holy lives. Rather than taking pride in our ‘holiness’, we are humbled when we understand that being holy is not by our own doing, but by His grace and mercy extended to us. Holiness shows up in practical ways: holiness speaks the truth, thinks pure thoughts, does the honorable thing, and refrains from evil. Being holy does not rob us or take from us, or diminish our life, but in fact brings a new dimension of life that fulfills our deepest longings; God designed us to be holy. Because of what Jesus accomplished by His life and by His death and resurrection, we now have the privilege of being holy people in all of our conduct. Part of being holy is recognizing what is unholy; if and when we sin, the Spirit will quickly point it out so that we can confess it and keep on living in holiness.
Hebrews 10:22: “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Romans 8:12-13: “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Blessings,
Buddy
.
March 4, 2017 BEING A NON-CONFORMIST
1 Peter 1:14-16 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lust which were yours in ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
It is abundantly clear form scripture that at the point of salvation, we are made new, as seen is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things have passed away. Behold, the new has come.” It is also clear form scripture that it is possible for a believer not to walk in newness, but to be conformed back to the old self. In Galatians 3:1-2, Paul asked this question: “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out for you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? We often hear about being conformed to Christ, but let us hear the admonition not to be conformed to our old man. Our being made ‘new creatures’ is no small miracle. Because God has made us new and given us a new identity, we can now ‘resemble’ God in our thoughts and in our actions. Sad to say, but most believers have been exposed to teachings that emphasize our sinful nature and have neglected the fact that we have been freed from the power of sin. In fact, it would seem odd to many and cause someone to question anyone who said that they were living a ‘holy life.’ Yet, God tells us very clearly that we are to be holy in all of our behavior, just as He is holy. We do not become holy by keeping rules or by self-effort; we have been made holy by God, and because He has made us holy, we are to now live holy lives. Rather than taking pride in our ‘holiness’, we are humbled when we understand that being holy is not by our own doing, but by His grace and mercy extended to us. Holiness shows up in practical ways: holiness speaks the truth, thinks pure thoughts, does the honorable thing, and refrains from evil. Being holy does not rob us or take from us, or diminish our life, but in fact brings a new dimension of life that fulfills our deepest longings; God designed us to be holy. Because of what Jesus accomplished by His life and by His death and resurrection, we now have the privilege of being holy people in all of our conduct. Part of being holy is recognizing what is unholy; if and when we sin, the Spirit will quickly point it out so that we can confess it and keep on living in holiness.
Hebrews 10:22: “let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Romans 8:12-13: “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh, for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
Blessings,
Buddy
.
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