January 20, 2018 TWO CHOICES ONLY
Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.”
Romans 8:5 “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with respect to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its lustful desires; and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
For the believer, there are only two choices. It is impossible to ignore, or be neutral concerning these two choices. Either of the two choices has far reaching consequences. And, these two choices cannot not be blended. The choices are clear; one choice leads to life, the other choice leads to death-spiritual and possibly physical death. A major part of the New Testament is an admonition, and instruction for believers to make the choice that that God intended and the choice that the Holy Spirit in us makes possible. Even though the choice we have to make is a huge life-changer, the Scriptures make the choices simple to understand. As believers, we walk according to the Spirit, or according to the flesh-not according to both. When the scriptures refer to the ‘flesh’, it is referring to that part of man that rejects God, that is unrenewed, and that insist on living in such a way that satisfies self. In contrast, to walk by the Spirit, is to be led by the Spirit of God that indwells each believer, not fulfilling the desire of the flesh. In the believer, there is an ongoing war between the Spirit and the flesh. Galatians 5:17. At the point of salvation, the believer is given new life-a new man- and all bondage to sin is broken. Because God did not make us as robots with no power to make choices, we must make the choice as to whether we live by the flesh or by the Spirit. The scriptures admonish us to put off the old man and to put on the new man which is in the likeness of God. Ephesians 4:22-23. The antidote to fulling the desire of the flesh is to walk by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16. This putting off the old man and putting on the new man is something we do on an ongoing basis-a way of life. The good news is that God has made us new, has given us new hearts, spirits, and minds, and has given us His Holy Spirit to equip and enable us to walk according to the ways of God. Ephesians 4:22 tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. For this reason, we must search the Scriptures and learn of our new identity in Christ in order that we may know what is available for us to put on! The New Testament is replete with promises for the believer who walks according to the Spirit. Let us make sure that we know who we are in Christ, and let us continually be putting off the old man and putting on the new man.
Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:5-6 “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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