A License to Sin

Since Paul’s time, there is a rash of Believers that think that grace gives us a license to sin. The question in most hearts is, “How much sin can I get away with and still be a Christian?” Actually, Paul pointed out that no Christian can live in habitual sin (Romans 6:2). It is impossible, because the Holy Spirit convicts us of our need for holiness. We died to sin through Christ; therefore, sin no longer makes us happy or fulfilled (Romans 6:2).

There is no sin in Christ, and we are in Him; therefore, there is no desire to sin left in true Born Again Believers (1 John 3:5). If we live in sin, it is because we do not know the true Lord Jesus Christ. We may have repented because of conviction, but we are not truly converted (1 John 3:6). There is no real change in us. Our spirit is still dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). Those who are born of God cannot willfully live in the practice of sin, because our spirit is Born Again (1 John 3:9).

There is a spiritual realm, which most people never see. We are like Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, who focused on the natural armies about to annihilate them. He was a nervous wreck and could not understand why Elisha was so cool, calm and collected. Then, Elisha prayed that Gehazi’s eyes would be open to the spiritual world around then. Gehazi’s fear of the armies surrounding them melted at the sight of the entire host of heavenly horses and chariots of fire that surrounded the enemy army (2 Kings 5:14-17).

God desires people who will fix our focus and passion on Him (Psalm 57:7, 108:1, 112:7), those who will worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). We can have the faith and courage to believe that the impossible is possible, once we look at life from the eternal perspective rather than the earthly, carnal one (Matthew 19:26; Colossians 3:2). However, this is only achievable when we are branches connected to the Vine of Christ (John 15:5).

Then, the life of God’s Spirit flows through us. We are slaves of righteousness now, instead of slaves to sin (Romans 8:2, 6:18). We please God by walking in faith in His faithfulness (Hebrews 11:6). We do not strive to keep the law, because we are set free from the law of sin and death by the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 8:2). We abide in Christ as a way of life and we have no other desire, goal or focus (1 John 2:28). We enter into God’s rest now and throughout eternity (Hebrews 4:1, 10-11).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we are already dead to sin and the flesh, and our life is now hidden with You in God (Colossians 3:3). You are our whole life (Colossians 3:4). We desire nothing more in this life than to live it in You. We want to serve You as a vessel for Your honor. Thank You for setting us free from sin and death (Romans 6:23). Now, raise us up to walk in the regenerated life, which comes only from You (Romans 6:4).

Thought for the Day:

Walk in the Light, even as Jesus is in the Light. – 1 John 1:7

A New Way of Life

 

God loves the prayers of His Saints. In fact, God considers our prayers, and our gifts to the poor, as an offering directly to Him (Acts 10:4; Matthew 25:45). God does not require us to pray in any certain way, at any certain time or using any certain words. The Bible suggests that we pray from our heart in Jesus’ name, in order to invoke all of His power behind our words (John 14:13). In reality, prayer is not an action, but a way of life. It is our communication with our Living Lord.

The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing. This means that we live every moment of our day as a prayer to God. We commune with His Spirit to find out what He has planned for each moment of our day (Ephesians 2:8-10). In fact, the Holy Spirit actually prays for us according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27). We really have need of nothing, because He promises to provide all of our needs, as we seek first His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).

Christ makes us complete in Him (Colossians 2:10). Prayer enables us to separate our self from the roller coaster of life by entering into God’s rest (Hebrews 4:10). He lives in us and also through us at home, work, church and in our community. He gives us the gifts and spiritual fruit we need to accomplish His will for our life (Acts 2:38; 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11; Galatians 5:22-23). He even enables us to forgive others, so that He can forgive us (Mark 11:25).

We cannot overcome this world, unless the Spirit does it for us (1 John 5:4). Therefore, walking in the Spirit is the foundation for every other discipline and gift God desires for us to receive. The more we walk in the Spirit, the less we desire anything offered to us by the world, the flesh and the devil (Romans 5:16, 25). This works on the same principle as dispelling darkness from the room. The only way to accomplish this feat is by turning on the Light (1 John 1:5-7).

Prayer:

Father God, the closer we walk to You, the further the devil stays away from us, the less we want to sin and the more we accomplish Your will for our life. You chose us before You created the world. This both humbles and excites us. Help us to walk holy and blameless in Your sight (Ephesians 1:4). Teach us to develop prayer as a way of life, which never ceases. Draw us close to You, and never let us go (James 4:8). Remind us that You created us to work for Your Kingdom, not for our own goals, ambitions and desires (Ephesians 2:10).

Thought for the Day:

We desire to walk firmly rooted and built up in Christ, living in His will and brimming over with thankfulness. – Colossians 2:7