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Friday, February 13, 2015
Dumb or Wisdom Which One?
I am convinced "dumb", in people, more times than not, is a choice. Rebellion breeds stupidity. The more someone refuses the truth the less intelligent they become. The possibility of becoming a discerning person diminishes dramatically the older we get, as we refuse truth.
No one gets dumber as they grow older by virtue of time, those who appear to, were increasing in foolishness because of the rebellion they nurtured for years before they got to the place of idiotic irrationality.
Have you ever met someone you could just not reason with on any level no matter how hard you tried? I have met people who fought and argued nonsense all their lives, got to a place where they could no longer think in intelligent terms even if they wanted to. It was as though God saw them refusing knowledge and reason so long, that He turned them over to their ignorance with no chance of ever coming out of it.
Romans 1:28 "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,"
While I understand that the Romans passage is referring to a depraved mind that has been given over to their depravity, I also understand that immorality is not the only sin that can be treated this way. Rejection of God's principles long enough, can produce in someone the inability to think in reasonable, rational and intelligent ways.
This is something to ponder and pray about. Do we want to become foolish in our old age because we rejected the principles of God, or do we want to become wiser and more discerning as we age gracefully?
No one gets dumber as they grow older by virtue of time, those who appear to, were increasing in foolishness because of the rebellion they nurtured for years before they got to the place of idiotic irrationality.
Have you ever met someone you could just not reason with on any level no matter how hard you tried? I have met people who fought and argued nonsense all their lives, got to a place where they could no longer think in intelligent terms even if they wanted to. It was as though God saw them refusing knowledge and reason so long, that He turned them over to their ignorance with no chance of ever coming out of it.
Romans 1:28 "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,"
While I understand that the Romans passage is referring to a depraved mind that has been given over to their depravity, I also understand that immorality is not the only sin that can be treated this way. Rejection of God's principles long enough, can produce in someone the inability to think in reasonable, rational and intelligent ways.
This is something to ponder and pray about. Do we want to become foolish in our old age because we rejected the principles of God, or do we want to become wiser and more discerning as we age gracefully?
Wiser or Dumber, We Get to Choose!
I am convinced "dumb", in people, more times than not, is a choice. Rebellion breeds stupidity. The more someone refuses the truth the less intelligent they become. The possibility of becoming a discerning person diminishes dramatically the older we get, as we refuse truth.
No one gets dumber as they grow older by virtue of time, those who appear to, were increasing in foolishness because of the rebellion they nurtured for years before they got to the place of idiotic irrationality.
Have you ever met someone you could just not reason with on any level no matter how hard you tried? I have met people who fought and argued nonsense all their lives, got to a place where they could no longer think in intelligent terms even if they wanted to. It was a though God saw them refusing knowledge and reason so long, that He turned them over to their ignorance with no chance of ever coming out of it.
Romans 1:28 "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,"
While I understand that the Romans passage is referring to a depraved mind that has been given over to their depravity, I also understand that immorality is not the only sin that can be treated this way. Rejection of God's principles long enough, can produce in someone the inability to think in reasonable, rational and intelligent ways.
This is something to ponder and pray about. Do we want to become foolish in our old age because we rejected the principles of God, or do we want to become wiser and more discerning as we age gracefully?
No one gets dumber as they grow older by virtue of time, those who appear to, were increasing in foolishness because of the rebellion they nurtured for years before they got to the place of idiotic irrationality.
Have you ever met someone you could just not reason with on any level no matter how hard you tried? I have met people who fought and argued nonsense all their lives, got to a place where they could no longer think in intelligent terms even if they wanted to. It was a though God saw them refusing knowledge and reason so long, that He turned them over to their ignorance with no chance of ever coming out of it.
Romans 1:28 "And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,"
While I understand that the Romans passage is referring to a depraved mind that has been given over to their depravity, I also understand that immorality is not the only sin that can be treated this way. Rejection of God's principles long enough, can produce in someone the inability to think in reasonable, rational and intelligent ways.
This is something to ponder and pray about. Do we want to become foolish in our old age because we rejected the principles of God, or do we want to become wiser and more discerning as we age gracefully?
Grace Not Works!
Grace does not "teach us to say, "not to sin" as some believe. When we become born again, Christ changes us into a new creation. The desire for sin is taken out of our hearts.
Our flesh wars against our spirit in this, but does not control us. The idea that we have to work hard to overcome sin after we are born again, shows we are still in the flesh. When we trust in Christ, He does all the work in us. When we confess our weakness in an area, to Him, He then will begin the work of cleansing us from that.
When we fail because we are weak in our flesh, then Christ, in us, disciplines us. We have consequences that turn us back to obedience.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Did we see this in Ephesians: "we are HIS workmanship."
We do not work to get salvation and we do not work to keep salvation. When we trust in Christ, He changes us and then we trust Him for everything else after that. We are commanded to seek Him, then He will cleanse us.
Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."
Hebrews 13:21 "Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Again, notice He is doing the work in us.
When we stray into sin because of the weakness of our flesh, then He redirects us.
Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."
When we become born again God treats us like children in His family. He does not throw us away, or give us back, He disciplines us, often with serious consequences, even life time consequences, so that we do not forget what He taught us.
Galatians 5:13-25 "13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."
God instructs believers in Galatians to more fully walk in the Spirit. When we take our eyes off of Christ and allow the flesh to take over, then we are in danger of disobedience. Those who live a lifestyle of sinfulness without conscience even defending what they do, are very likely not born again. Those who have been changed into a new creation by Christ are ashamed when they sin and eventually come out confessing it and forsaking it.
1 John 3:9 "No one who is born of God practices (keep on sinning) sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot continue in sin, because he is born of God."
1 John 2:1 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;" This passage is written to believes.
God is referring to born again believers as "His little children." We need discipline from time to time, even life long infirmities to keep us focused on Him.
Christ is in heaven as our advocate. Non-believers don't have an advocate with the Father only believers do. Christ is telling the Father, "that one is mine, and that one and that one."
John 8:47 ""He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."
Those who belong to Christ hear His discipline and confess their sin to be cleansed. That cleansing is an ongoing lifelong process. God speaks of believers who are born again when He says what He does in 1 John 1:9.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
2 Timothy 2:21 "…20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.…"
God is telling us to stay away from the things that are bad influences, because our flesh is weak, our walk can be hindered by them.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
Instead of making "New Years resolutions", we ought to be asking God to purge all those things out of us that are dross, not useful and a hindrance.
We cannot be successful if we are attempting to do what only God can do. We are to desire cleansing, and seek God to be the one to do it in us. If we do not have victory over a sin, then likely we are attempting to do it ourselves instead of seeking God to be the one to do it.
When God does something, it is perfect and it is permanent.
Psalm 73:26 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."
2 Timothy 2:13 "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."
We don't even know how to pray as we should.
Romans 8:26 "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;"
When we trust Christ, it ought to be for salvation and everything else after that.
Our flesh wars against our spirit in this, but does not control us. The idea that we have to work hard to overcome sin after we are born again, shows we are still in the flesh. When we trust in Christ, He does all the work in us. When we confess our weakness in an area, to Him, He then will begin the work of cleansing us from that.
When we fail because we are weak in our flesh, then Christ, in us, disciplines us. We have consequences that turn us back to obedience.
2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Did we see this in Ephesians: "we are HIS workmanship."
We do not work to get salvation and we do not work to keep salvation. When we trust in Christ, He changes us and then we trust Him for everything else after that. We are commanded to seek Him, then He will cleanse us.
Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."
Hebrews 13:21 "Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Again, notice He is doing the work in us.
When we stray into sin because of the weakness of our flesh, then He redirects us.
Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."
When we become born again God treats us like children in His family. He does not throw us away, or give us back, He disciplines us, often with serious consequences, even life time consequences, so that we do not forget what He taught us.
Galatians 5:13-25 "13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."
God instructs believers in Galatians to more fully walk in the Spirit. When we take our eyes off of Christ and allow the flesh to take over, then we are in danger of disobedience. Those who live a lifestyle of sinfulness without conscience even defending what they do, are very likely not born again. Those who have been changed into a new creation by Christ are ashamed when they sin and eventually come out confessing it and forsaking it.
1 John 3:9 "No one who is born of God practices (keep on sinning) sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot continue in sin, because he is born of God."
1 John 2:1 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;" This passage is written to believes.
God is referring to born again believers as "His little children." We need discipline from time to time, even life long infirmities to keep us focused on Him.
Christ is in heaven as our advocate. Non-believers don't have an advocate with the Father only believers do. Christ is telling the Father, "that one is mine, and that one and that one."
John 8:47 ""He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God."
Those who belong to Christ hear His discipline and confess their sin to be cleansed. That cleansing is an ongoing lifelong process. God speaks of believers who are born again when He says what He does in 1 John 1:9.
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
2 Timothy 2:21 "…20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.
21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.
22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.…"
God is telling us to stay away from the things that are bad influences, because our flesh is weak, our walk can be hindered by them.
1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."
Instead of making "New Years resolutions", we ought to be asking God to purge all those things out of us that are dross, not useful and a hindrance.
We cannot be successful if we are attempting to do what only God can do. We are to desire cleansing, and seek God to be the one to do it in us. If we do not have victory over a sin, then likely we are attempting to do it ourselves instead of seeking God to be the one to do it.
When God does something, it is perfect and it is permanent.
Psalm 73:26 "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."
2 Timothy 2:13 "If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."
We don't even know how to pray as we should.
Romans 8:26 "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;"
When we trust Christ, it ought to be for salvation and everything else after that.
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