For the last couple of weeks we have been looking at what God really hates about sin. And we found that it is slavery to it that God really hates. It’s what it does to us and not the naughtiness of any act God hates.
And we found that this is why God said of Jacob and Esau “Jacob have I loved but Esau I hated. Because Jacob represents the freedom from sin by the choice to live in the spirit. And Esau represents the man who lives according to the natural God given senses of the flesh that were given by God to man so that he could relate to what has been made. But, when only living by those senses keeps him unable to relate to God in a way that leads to the promise of eternal life that Jacob represents.
And we learned that when we think of grace it is not a free pass for sinning. Nor does it mean that because of grace we don’t get what we deserve. Read Acts where Ananias and Saphira both died instantly when they lied to the Holy Spirit. Or in Paul’s epistles where he speaks of giving people over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.
No, grace is not a license to sin, and it doesn’t mean not getting what we deserve. Deserve has nothing to do with God’s love. But, only the gift of life that flows from His love. Attained by man only one way. And that is trusting in Jesus and His resurrection.
What happened to Ananias and Saphira and the man who was excommunicated in 1Cor.5 are examples of how God’s wrath is the no side of God’s love. And shows us that there is greater responsibility in grace than there ever was for the Jews who were under the law. Because to whom much is given much is required.
And what we have been given is much more under grace than what was given to those who were under the law. Just think of it. God has made us sons who trust in Him under grace. This never happened to any of those who lived under the law, or for anyone else at any time before Jesus died and rose again.
And because of our sonship we have a constant companion and teacher in the indwelling Holy Spirit. And unlike David who prayed to God that the Holy Spirit would not be taken from him(Ps.51:11), we have God’s guarantee in Heb.13:5 that the Holy Spirit will never leave or forsake us.
And the spirit created in us by God when we trust in Him that communes with the Holy Spirit is the seal of God for which Paul reminds us saying, “grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Unto the day of redemption. Not just if and until we do something bad. Or as some say stop believing.
Which grieving happens when we live by making choices through the desires and God given senses of the flesh. Rather than as the believer and son of God should, through the wisdom and knowledge bestowed on us by the Holy Spirit communing with our spirit saying that we are sons of God.
And if it were possible for the believer to stop believing in Jesus it can only be because he never really believed in Him in the first place. This is what John tells us in 1John3:9 when he said, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” And what he also told us in 1John2:19 saying, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
Paul teaches this clearly when he writes in Rom.8:16,17 saying, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
See how much has been given to us that those who went before us, according to the plan of God from before He made the world, that before this dispensation never had? This is why we must live accordingly as Paul says in Eph.4:13-16, “13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
This “perfect man” Paul speaks of is one who is led by the Spirit of God. One who leaves the old way of thinking that causes us to live by the desires of the God given fleshly senses behind as Rom.12:1,2 says. Because he now lives by the leading of the Holy Spirit of God.
This “perfect man” is one who has learned the difference between good and evil “by reason of use” of the word of righteousness as Paul said in Heb.5:14,
“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Adding in vs.13 that “one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.” Which is also why Paul exhorts Timothy in 1Tim.3:6 about those who would attain the office of a bishop saying, “6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”
By this we see that the man of God must grow in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord. So that he can become the mature believer God wants him to be. Making use of the much he has been given so that as Jesus was teaching in the parable of the mustard seed, the fowls of the air, which are the unbelievers we encounter as we share the gospel, will be able to find refuge in the comfort our words, in God’s words, that only His word can provide.
So be fruitful man of God as Jesus said in the parable of the sower found in Mark4 and Mt.13, as you put to use the much that you have been given. Sharing the gospel with everyone who will listen. Knowing that it is not you who saves them. Rather it is the words you use then being used by the Holy Spirit to draw them to repentance.
A repentance from a life lived by the dictates of the natural man. Who lives according to his God given desires and senses. To trusting in Jesus who makes us sons of God by creating a spirit in us that we never had before.
So that by the power of the spirit we can put under subjection to us, as Paul said in 1Cor.9:27, those things that are not beneficial in our lives in Christ. So that we be not castaways. Which does not mean we lose salvation. But, only that we can not represent Jesus in that capacity any longer. Having our reputation marred by those things that are not of the Spirit. But, are of the flesh.
We must always remember this because salvation once attained can never be lost or given up. Paul taught this plainly in 1Cor.3:14,15 when he said after telling them about works that he compared to gold, silver, and precious stones. And to wood, hay, and stubble which will burn in the fire of judgment saying, “14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
This is the greater judgment by which believers are judges because to whom much is given much is required. Not one of no salvation. But, one that realizes what might have been if only we had given more priority to the things of the spirit rather than things of the flesh.
And to have this opportunity a man must first trust in Jesus. Because it is only when we trust in Him that we have a spirit created in us that makes us God’s children and heirs to His kingdom.
Jesus called this being born again when what is born of the flesh is by our free will choice born of the Spirit of God. Paul said this happens when we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus. And believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead.
Do this and you will be a child of God and heir to His kingdom. Do this and you will have eternal life now. And immortality at the resurrection from the dead. Do this… and I will see you there or in the air!
