It is not possible for someone to have been changed into a new creation by God and still have the traits of a rebellious person.
Rebellious people project onto others their own sinful traits.
A rebellious person judges others but never self-reflects to keep themselves cleansed from the sin of pride. The rebellious person will accuse those they judge as someone who judges. They assign to others their own traits.
A rebellious person hates humility. They cannot tolerate anyone who walks humbly with Christ. They will even accuse the humble person as having pride, the trait the rebellious person displays often. They see all the fruit of the Spirit as weakness even though at the same time claiming they have them.
These rebellious ones never forgive anyone but expect forgiveness or even deny their own sin. They plot revenge against those they accuse, without ever speaking to their target.
Rebellious ones are mean and rude but blame others for the chaos they cause, they are always victims in their own minds.
These rebellious people unleash unwarranted anger on those who will not play their game. If they cannot cause us to be unhinged by their antics they will enlist others to join them in their smear campaign against those they disdain.
Rebellious people are continually jealous of the one they wish to bring down in the eyes of everyone else. They have stories about their target that didn't happen or half-truths in which a little was true and the rest was a lie, making the whole story a lie.
Those who walk disobediently with malice in their hearts must repent or they will see the hell fires.
1 Samuel 15:23 "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
Proverbs 17:11 "An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him."
Acts 5:29 "But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men."
We must not allow rebellious people to provoke us into becoming like them. The longer we are around someone the more we take on their characteristics, this is why it is crucial that we choose friends who love the Lord with all their heart.
Born-again believers edify one another caring deeply about is and enjoy we care about them.
Rebellious people pretend they care when it suits them but are embarrassed when we show concern about them. They hate empathy, kindness, and all the fruit of the Spirit because it comes from the Holy Spirit and they are convicted by it.
Galatians 5:22-23
"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."
Born-again believers love this fruit because Christ lives in them. Those who treat this fruit with contempt are those who are jealous of anyone who has the fruit.
Rebellious people want to feel superior to others and are deeply incensed when confronted with the fruit and the Holy Spirit in the born-again believer.
When we know this we do not have to take it personally and we can more easily walk away from it to preserve our walk with God.
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 "33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.…"
Proverbs 13:20 "One who walks with wise people will be wise, But a companion of fools will suffer harm."
Let's walk with the wise, if there are no wise close by, then walk with Christ alone, no one is wiser than He.
