The PRODUCT OF GOD's LOVE[In The Aftermath of Mercy]-II—Ephesians 2:1-10
After ‘Dodging a Bullet’
Attention:
Law Enforcement Officers:
Many of them come face-to-face with death every day.
But how does that encounter effect their daily lives?
Do they stop enforcing the law?...NO! Rather, their lives are of secondary importance to their ministry as law enforcement! They continue undeterred.
Also, Law Enforcement train daily in preparation for such encounters. Otherwise they would be devastated in trying situations.
Likewise, Christians(officers of Christ Jesus) secondarily consider their own physical lives. Likewise, God’s people do not stop being servants of Christ when faced with death. Likewise they spend their entire lives ‘training’ in preparation for such encounters....
And as a result do not lose their effectiveness by retreating into themselves but maintain it by retreating into Christ Jesus Himself as the Rock of their Salvation!
Need:
Christians wrestle with death & life on a daily basis.
But what is the result of such confrontation? What happens in our hearts when faced with life or death decisions?
Do you look at life differently after being freed from death? Does life in Christ take on new meaning as we come face-to-face with physical & spiritual death & loss?
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The apostle Paul explained that the Ephesian Christians were saved because God loves.
Man’s Salvation is the Product of God’s Love.
OR...
Salvation is available because God loves.
What does salvation of God’s love produce?
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Earlier we found that The Product of God’s Love is...
1. The CURE For DEADNESS(:1)
2—The Product of God’s Love is...
The CURE For A WAYWARD WALK(:2-3)
Explanation:(:2-3)
:2—“in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”
For Christians, our former deadness in trespasses & sins(:1) manifested itself plainly in our life before Christ. As a result, at that time(without Christ) we walked “according” to” “the course”(‘the spirit of the age’) or way that “the world” determined.
1Cor. 2:12-14—“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
The “course/age/way of this world” is not to be taken lightly or nonchalantly. This is particularly so because the world’s way is that which is determined “according to” the devil himself!
Like “the air” itself, the devil’s way is a constant. It surrounds us. It is ever influential & available in this world. Thus the devil is considered to wield “power.” He is “the prince” of that “power” or authority. Of course he is only allowed that authority by God & only for a short time, knowing that even the devil’s limited authority will ‘ultimately’ in the end, accomplish God’s work. It’s not that God ‘approves’ of the devil’s workings.
Rev. 12:12—“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, & you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth & the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
2Cor. 4:16-18—“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Heb. 10:36-39—“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come & will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.”
The “spirit” of “the world” & the spirit of “the prince of the power of the air” are one & the same. Thus the devil is that very “spirit who” even “now”—at Paul’s writing—is at “work.” That “spirit”(the devil himself) & that “spirit” which coincides with & flows from him, is the self-same “spirit” which operates “in” those very people who stubbornly abide in direct “disobedience” to God & His way.
“In/Wherein”2X(See :3, 10)—en—Preposition—1) In, by, with etc.. Strong—a primary preposition denoting (fixed)position(in place, time or state), & by implication--Instrumentality(medially or constructively), i.e. A relation of rest(intermediate between eiv[into, unto, to, towards, for, among] & ek/ex[out of, from, by, away from]).
“Once/In Time Past”(See :3)—pote—Particle—1) Once i.e. Formerly, aforetime, at some time. Strong—indefinite adverb, At some time, ever.?From—pou—genitive case of an indefinite pronoun pov(some) otherwise obsolete(compare posov); as adverb of place--Somewhere, i.e. Nearly.—&—te—a primary particle(enclitic) of connection or addition; Both or Also(properly, as correlation of kai).
“Walked”—peripatew—Verb—1) To walk—1a) To make one's way, progress; to make due use of opportunities, 1b) Hebrew for, to live—1b1) To regulate one's life, 1b2) To conduct one's self, 1b3) To pass one's life. Strong—To tread all around, i.e. Walk at large(especially as proof of ability); figuratively--To live, deport oneself, follow(as a companion or votary).?From—peri—1) About, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near. Strong—properly, Through(all over), i.e. Around, With respect to.—&—patew—To trample(literally or figuratively).
“According to”2X—kata—Preposition—1) Down from, through out; 2) According to, toward, along. Strong—a primary particle; prepositionally--Down(in place or time), in varied relations(according to the case [genitive case, dative case or accusative case] with which it is joined).
“Course/Age/Ways”—aiwn—Noun Masc.—1) For ever, an unbroken age, perpetuity of time, eternity; 2) The worlds, universe; 3) Period of time, age. Aiwn is usually better expressed by age, it is the world at a given time, a particular period in the world's history. Kosmov has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. A similar meaning is often attached to aiwn, it means the spirit of the age, often in an unfavorable sense. Strong—properly--An age; by extension--Perpetuity (also past); by implication--The world; specially(Jewish)--A Messianic period(present or future).
“World”—“World”—kosmov—Noun Masc.—1) An apt & harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government; 2) Ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. The arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1Pe 3:3; 3) The world, the universe; 4) The circle of the earth, the earth; 5) The inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family; 6) The ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, & therefore hostile to the cause of Christ; 7) World affairs, the aggregate of things earthly—7a) The whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow & frail & fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God & are obstacles to the cause of Christ; 8) Any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort. Aiwn is usually better expressed by age, it is the world at a given time, a particular period in the world's history. Kosmov has very frequently an unfavorable meaning, denoting the inhabitants of the world, mankind in general, as opposed to God. Strong—Orderly arrangement, i.e. Decoration; by implication--The world(in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]). RWP—“The whole cosmos of men, including Gentiles, the whole human race.”
“Prince/Ruler”—arcwn—Noun Masc.—1) A ruler, commander, chief, leader. Strong—present participle of arcw[to be first(in political rank or power)]; A first(in rank or power).
“Power/Kingdom/Authority”—exousia—Noun Fem.—1) Power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases—‚1a) Leave or permission; 2) Physical & mental power—2a) The ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises; 3) The power of authority(influence) & of right(privilege); 4) The power of rule or government(the power of him whose will & commands must be submitted to by others & obeyed)—4a) universally--4a1) Authority over mankind; 4b) specifically--4b1) The power of judicial decisions, 4b2) Of authority to manage domestic affairs; 4c) metonymically--4c1) A thing subject to authority or rule—4c1a) Jurisdiction, 4c2) One who possesses authority—4c2a) A ruler, a human magistrate, 4c2b) The leading & more powerful among created beings superior to man, spiritual potentates, 4d) A sign of the husband's authority over his wife—4d1) The veil with which propriety required a women to cover herself, 4e) The sign of regal authority, a crown. Exousia is primarily liberty of action; then authority -- either as delegated power, or as unrestrained, arbitrary power. Strong—Privilege, i.e. subjectively--Force, capacity, competency, freedom, or objectively--Mastery(concretely--Magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence.
“Air”—ahr—Noun Masc.—1) The air, particularly the lower & denser air as distinguished from the higher & rarer air; 2) The atmospheric region. Strong—“air”(as naturally circumambient). Used 7X.?From—ahmi—To breathe unconsciously, i.e. Respire; by analogy--To blow.
“Spirit”—pneuma—Noun Neuter—1) The third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father & the Son; 2) The spirit, i.e. The vital principal by which the body is animated—2a) The rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides, 2b) The soul; 3) A spirit, i.e. A simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, & possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, & acting—3a) A life giving spirit, 3b) A human soul that has left the body, 3c) A spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. An angel—3c1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men, 3c2) The spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels & equal to God, the divine nature of Christ; 4) The disposition or influence which fills & governs the soul of any one—4a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.; 5) A movement of air(a gentle blast). Strong—A current of air, i.e. Breath(blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively--A spirit, i.e. (human)--The rational soul, by implication--Vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman)--An angel, demon, or (divine)--God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit. RWP—‘“The Spirit” is the use of pneuma as metaphor.”?Pneuma corresponds to Hebrew—xwr. A)quch—Breath, i.e. by implication--Spirit, abstractly or concretely--The animal sentient principle only, which is distinguished from, B) pneuma—The rational & immortal soul, & C)zwh—Mere vitality, even of plants. These terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew...A)vpn, B)xwr & C)yx.
“Now”—nun—Adverb—1) At this time, the present, now. “Now”, marks a definite point or period of time, the (objective)immediate present. Strong—a primary particle of present time; “Now”(as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective--Present or Immediate.
“Works/At Work”—energew—Present Active Participle—1) To be operative, be at work, put forth power—1a) To work for one, aid one; 2) To effect; 3) To display one's activity, show one's self operative. Strong—To be active, efficient. Used 21X.
“Sons/Children”—uiov—Noun Masc.—1) A son—1a) Rarely used for the young of animals, 1b) generally used of the offspring of men, 1c) in a restricted sense, the male offspring (one born by a father & of a mother), 1d) in a wider sense--A descendant, one of the posterity of any one,—1d1) The children of Israel, 1d2) Sons of Abraham, 1e)) used to describe: One who depends on another or is his follower—1e1) A pupil. Strong—apparently a primary word; A “son”(sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.
“Disobedience”—apeiyeia—Noun Fem.—1) Obstinacy, obstinate opposition to the divine will. Strong—Disbelief(obstinate & rebellious). Used 7X.?From—apeiyhv—Unpersuadable, i.e. Contumacious.—From—A(as a negative particle) —&—peiyw—To convince(by argument, true or false); To pacify or conciliate; To assent(to evidence or authority), To rely(by inward certainty).
:3—“among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh & of the mind, & were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Those who were then Christians in Ephesus had at one time lived their lives by the lusts of the flesh. “The lusts” is plural, meaning that there are many means by which “the flesh” does indeed “lust.”
A “lust” is an innate desire or craving for what is forbidden of God.
Giving into these “lusts” accomplishes/produces/does(“fulfilling”) the “desires” of both “the flesh” as well as that “of the mind” that has been surrendered/given to the control of “the flesh.”
Thus Paul’s conclusion is that by having refused Christ in the past, the Ephesians had “naturally” been “children” who had allowed themselves to be the target of God’s “wrath.”
They were headstrong wayward children who would not obey. By maintaining such an attitude they had willingly placed themselves in harms way.
Before coming to saving faith in Christ, the Ephesians were no different from all “other” lost people. They were under the same condemnation as everyone else who will not turn from themselves to God.
“Among”(See :2, 10)—en—Preposition—1) In, by, with etc.. Strong—a primary preposition denoting (fixed)position(in place, time or state), & by implication--Instrumentality(medially or constructively), i.e. A relation of rest(intermediate between eiv[into, unto, to, towards, for, among] & ek/ex[out of, from, by, away from]).
“Whom”—ov, h , o—Pronoun—1) Who, which, what, that. Strong—the relative (sometimes demonstrative)pronoun--Who, which, what, that.
“Also”(See :1—“and”)—kai—Conjunction—1) And, also, even, indeed, but. Strong—apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative & sometimes also a cumulative force; And, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection(or composition) with other particles or small words. “We”—hmeiv—Pronoun—1) Us, we etc.. Strong— Nominative Plural of egw. We(only used when emphatic).
“All”—pav—Adj.—1) individually—1a) Each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; 2) collectively—2a) Some of all types. Strong—apparently a primary word; All, any, every, the whole.
“Once”(See :2)—pote—Particle—1) Once i.e. Formerly, aforetime, at some time. Strong—indefinite adverb, At some time, ever.?From—pou—genitive case of an indefinite pronoun pov(some) otherwise obsolete(compare posov); as adverb of place--Somewhere, i.e. Nearly.—&—te—a primary particle(enclitic) of connection or addition; Both or Also(properly, as correlation of kai).
“Conducted/Had...Conversation/Lived/Had...Conduct”—anastrefw—Verb—1) To turn upside down, overturn; 2) To turn back; 3) To turn hither & thither, to turn one's self about, sojourn dwell in a place; 4) metaph.--To conduct one's self, behave one's self, live. Strong—To overturn; also--To return; by implication--To busy oneself, i.e. Remain, live. Used 11X.?From—ana—Preposition—1) Into the midst, in the midst, amidst, among, between. Strong—a primary preposition & adverb; properly--Up; but by extension(used distributively)--Severally, or locally--At(etc.).—&—strefw—To twist, i.e. Turn quite around or reverse(literally or figuratively).
“In”—en—
“Lusts/Desires/Cravings”—epiyumia—Noun Fem.—1)Desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust. Epiyumia representsThe active side of vice. Epiyumia is more comprehensive in meaning than payov; epiyumia is (evil)desire, payov is ungovernable desire. Epiyumia is the broadest of these words(payov, ormh, orexiv). Its meaning may be good, but it is usually bad. It denotes any natural desire or appetite, usually with the implication that it is a depraved desire. Strong—A longing(especially for what is forbidden).?From—epi—properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution[with the genitive case], i.e. Over, upon, etc.; of rest(with the det.)--At, on, etc.; of direction(with the accusative case)--Towards, upon, etc.—&—yumov—Passion(as if breathing hard).
“Flesh/Sinful Nature”2X—sarx—Noun Fem.—1) Flesh(the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones & is permeated with blood) of both man & beasts; 2) The body; 3) A living creature(because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or beast; 4) The flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, & therefore prone to sin & opposed to God. Strong—Flesh(as stripped of the skin), i.e. strictly--The meat of an animal(as food), or by extension--The body(as opposed to the soul [or spirit], or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or by implication--Human nature(with its frailties [physically or morally] & passions), or specifically--A human being(as such).
“Fulfilling/Gratifying”—poiew—Verb—1) To make—1a) with the names of things made--To produce, construct, form, fashion, etc., 1b) To be the authors of, the cause, 1c) To make ready, to prepare, 1d) To produce, bear, shoot forth, 1e) To acquire, to provide a thing for one's self, 1f) To make a thing out of something, 1g) To (make i.e.)render one anything—1g1) To (make i.e.)constitute or appoint one anything, to appoint or ordain one that, 1g2) To (make i.e.)declare one anything, 1h) To put one forth, to lead him out, 1i) To make one do something—1i1) cause one to, 1j) To be the authors of a thing (to cause, bring about); 2) To do—2a) To act rightly, do well—2a1) To carry out, to execute, 2b) To do a thing unto one—2b1) To do to one, 2c) with designation of time--To pass, spend, 2d) To celebrate, keep—2d1) To make ready, & so at the same time to institute, the celebration of the passover, 2e) To perform: to a promise. Poiew denotes "to do", prassw - "to practice”; poiew to designate performance, prassw intended, earnest, habitual, performance; poiew to denote merely productive action, prassw definitely directed action; poiew to point to the action result, prassw to the scope & character of the result. These words are often used interchangeably. Strong—apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; To make or do(in a very wide application, more or less direct).
“Desires/Thoughts”—yelhma—Noun Neuter—1) What one wishes or has determined shall be done—1a) Of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ, 1b) Of what God wishes to be done by us—1b1) Commands, precepts; 2) Will, choice, inclination, desire, pleasure. Strong—from the prolonged form of yelw; A determination(properly, the thing), i.e. actively--Choice(specially--Purpose, decree; abstractly, volition) or passively--Inclination.
“Of”2X——
“And”—kai—
“Mind”—dianoia—Noun Fem.—1) The mind as a faculty of understanding, feeling, desiring; 2) Understanding; 3) Mind, i.e. spirit, way of thinking & feeling; 4) Thoughts, either good or bad. Dianoia meant originally activity of thinking, but has borrowed from nouv its common meaning of faculty of thought. It is more common than nouv, & has largely replaced it in its usual meanings. Strong—Deep thought, properly--The faculty(mind or its disposition), by implication--Its exercise. Used 13X.?From—dia—1) Through, With, In, Throughout, During, By, By the means of; The ground or reason by which something is or is not done, By reason of, On account of, Because of for this reason, Therefore, On this account. Strong—Through(in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional).—&—1)The mind, comprising alike the faculties of perceiving & understanding & those of feeling, judging, determining; 2) A particular mode of thinking & judging, i.e Thoughts, feelings, purposes, desires. Nouv is distinctly the reflective consciousness, “the organ of moral thinking & knowing, the intellectual organ of moral sentiment.”(Cremer). Strong—probably from the base of ginwskw[to know]; The intellect, i.e. Mind(divine or human; in thought, feeling, or will); by implication--Meaning.
“Nature”—fusiv—Noun Fem.—1) Nature—1a)The nature of things, the force, laws, order of nature—1a1) As opposed to what is monstrous, abnormal, perverse, 1a2) As opposed what has been produced by the art of man: The natural branches, i.e. Branches by the operation of nature, 1b) Birth, physical origin, 1c) A mode of feeling & acting which by long habit has become nature, 1d) The sum of innate properties & powers by which one person differs from others, distinctive native peculiarities, natural characteristics: the natural strength, ferocity, & intractability of beasts. Strong—Growth(by germination or expansion), i.e. by implication--Natural production(lineal descent); by extension--A genus or sort; figuratively--Native disposition, constitution or usage. Used 14X.
“Children”—teknon—Noun Neuter—1) Offspring, children—1a) Child—1a) A male child, a son, 1b) metaph.—1b1) The name transferred to that intimate & reciprocal relationship formed between men by the bonds of love, friendship, trust, just as between parents & children, 1b2) in affectionate address, such as patrons, helpers, teachers & the like employ: my child, 1b3) in the NT, pupils or disciples are called children of their teachers, because the latter by their instruction nourish the minds of their pupils & mold their characters, 1b4) children of God: in the OT of "the people of Israel" as especially dear to God, in the NT, in Paul's writings, all who are led by the Spirit of God & thus closely related to God, 1b5) children of the devil: those who in thought & action are prompted by the devil, & so reflect his character, 1c) metaph.—1c1) Of anything who depends upon it, is possessed by a desire or affection for it, is addicted to it, 1c2) One who is liable to any fate—1c2a) thus--Children of a city: it citizens & inhabitants, 1c3) The votaries of wisdom, those souls who have, as it were, been nurtured & molded by wisdom, 1c4) Cursed children, exposed to a curse & doomed to God's wrath or penalty. Teknon gives prominence to physical & outward aspects of parentage. Teknon & uiov both point to parentage. Teknon, however, emphasizes the idea of descent, giving prominence to the physical & outward aspects; while uiov emphasizes the idea of relationship, & considers especially the inward, ethical, & legal aspects. Strong—A child(as produced).?From the base of—timwria—Vindication, i.e. by implication--A penalty.
“Wrath”—orgh—Noun Fem.—1) Anger, the natural disposition, temper, character; 2) Movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but especially anger; 3) Anger, wrath, indignation; 4) Anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself—4a) Of punishments inflicted by magistrates. Strong—properly--Desire(as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. by analogy--Violent passion(ire, or [justifiable] abhorrence); by implication--Punishment.
“Just/Even”—kai—
“As/Like”—wv—Adverb—1) As, like, even as, etc. Strong—probably adverb of comparative from ov, h, o; Which how, i.e. In that manner(very variously used).
“Others/The Rest”—loipoi—Adverb—1) Remaining, the rest—1a) The rest of any number or class under consideration, 1b) with a certain distinction & contrast--The rest, who are not of a specific class or number, 1c) The rest of the things that remain. Strong—Remaining ones.?From—a derivative of leipw—To leave, i.e. fail or be absent.
Argumentation:
Lk. 1:5-7—“There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, & her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments & ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, & they were both well advanced in years.”
The father & mother & of John the baptist are described as both “righteous” & “blameless.”
Jn. 6:53-66—“Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man & drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh & drinks My blood has eternal life, & I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, & My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh & drinks My blood abides in Me, & I in him. As the living Father sent Me, & I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, & are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, & they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, & who would betray Him. And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.” From that time many of His disciples went back & walked with Him no more.”
Col. 2:18-3:4—“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility & worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, & not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished & knit together by joints & ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations--“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using--according to the commandments & doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, & neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, & your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Gal. 5:19-25—“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, & the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions & desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Ps. 119:9-12—“BETH. How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes!”
1Thess. 2:10-12—“You are witnesses, & God also, how devoutly & justly & blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, & comforted, & charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom & glory.”
Eph. 5:1-2—“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us & given Himself for us, an offering & a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
Eph. 5:8—“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
Gal. 5:13-16—“For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite & devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, & you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”
Rom. 13:12-14—“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, & let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry & drunkenness, not in lewdness & lust, not in strife & envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, & make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
Eph. 4:21--5:13—“if indeed you have heard Him & have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, & be renewed in the spirit of your mind, & that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness & holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, & do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, & evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us & given Himself for us, an offering & a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication & all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ & God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, & truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.”
Rom. 8:1-9—“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin & death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life & peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
2Cor. 5:4-7—“For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
Illustration:
A flashlight gives light to your world/My favorite flashlight—LED Feit Electric Flashlight—3 ‘C’ batteries, 4 settings, heavy but compact, hard to break, reliable, etc./It allows me to comprehend the world’s reality versus viewing it with uncertainty—It keeps me from guessing at what might be very different from what I may only imagine to be there/With that flashlight, I can ‘get to the ‘outhouse’(as it were) without stepping on a snake’, or tripping over a bush, or twisting my ankle in a hole!/The CURE For A WAYWARD WALK
A Wayward Walk can cause you to:
•Open a bar, a bar & grill, or a grill & bar, rather than a ‘family’ restaurant.
•Plant tobacco or hops rather than corn or soybeans, or cotton, or asparagus, or peas, or tomatoes, etc.
•Search Facebook for pornography rather than for friends & family.
•Fuss & whine rather than Build up & Edify others.
•Take ‘this’ position rather than ‘that’ position.
•‘Be a victim’ rather than an advocate of God in the world.
Conversely, a Christ-like walk determines godly & thus proper decision-making in your life!
Application:
?You living with A WAYWARD WALK?...or are you just treating symptoms?
?Are you experiencing the Product of God’s Love?
CONCLUSION:
Visualization:
Law Enforcement officers facing death daily, undeterred.
Officers of Christ Jesus facing death daily, undeterred.
Action:
The Product of God’s Love is...
2. The CURE For A WAYWARD WALK(:2-3)
1. The CURE For DEADNESS(:1)
Presented 10/28/2018am to:
FBCCbelle
206 Storrs Ave. SW(SE Ave. A)
Carrabelle, FL 32322
