My thoughts today deal with what sin does in our lives. SIN creates spiritual decay to the mind, soul, and body. SIN brings suffering and death. We must submit to God’s instructions. We are nothing in our self (the natural man), but in Christ, we are everything. In Him, we live, move, and have our existence. In Him, in Christ, we are victorious. To be in Him, we must submit to His will, His Word.
To follow Christ means more than obeying and submitting to God’s commandments. To follow Christ is to walk in His ways as written throughout the Bible. To follow Christ means to deny self, selfish desires, and the struggle to put God first. We can do ALL things through Christ that strengthens us. Put on the things that are of good report.
Do not give ANY thought, any place, for those things that are not good or of good report. Yes, this is real suffering. In this way, we as humans carry the same cross through life that Jesus did. Philippians 1:29, For unto you it is given on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake (KJV). There is a struggle that is particularly difficult in today’s world, and that is the spiritual fight that must take place to put down thoughts and actions, threatening the relationship between God and one of His children. To maintain closeness to God, a person must think and act like God does.
The Greek word for Sin is “hamartia” meaning “misses the mark” and in the Hebrew there are many meanings, “hata, pasha- trespass–rebelliousness, aveira- transgression, avone- iniquity-a sin done out of moral failing”.
Paul wrote to Christians encouraging them in 2 Corinthians 10:4-7, (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do you look at things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he [is] Christ’s, even so [are] we Christ’s (KJV).
In other words, we must always evaluate the obvious facts. We must know who we are and whose we are. As believers, we are Christ’s and we are an overcomer. We are not to follow after the natural, carnal ways of man but are to follow after Godly ways, that of holiness, purity, and Godliness. Yes, the Holy Spirit who resides in us will teach us God’s righteousness. In ourselves, we are sinful, but in Christ, we are made anew and righteous, with a new spirit. Simply put, we are a new creature only as we stay in Christ Jesus.
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