The children of the devil live to please themselves instead of choosing a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. God wants us to pursue holiness. He wants us to live the Holy Spirit filled life. True Christian believer who has truly come to know Christ will be free from sin, they will be holy, in thought, in word and in deed. God's power is at work in us (Eph. 3:20). Through Christ, we ARE dead to sin (Rom. 6) and we ARE crucified with Christ; He lives in us (Gal. 2:20).
God says that we need to know the truth, Trust and obey God, Recognize and resist deception (Colossians 2:8) and Stand firm in Christ. God’s freedom refers to the spiritual freedom we have in His Kingdom, not to the physical or earthly "freedoms" of the world. When people are not in Christ, they are still guilty of sin; their destiny is to be burned like worthless, dead branches. But when people are forgiven of sins, they come into Christ and no longer stand under condemnation. As long as we fear God and keep His commandments, our eyes stay focused on God and our savior Jesus Christ, we cannot go wrong.
“Walking with Jesus, we may be hated, imprisoned and killed for our faith, but such assaults do not infringe on the freedom we enjoy in Christ.”
No one who abides in him keeps sinning. No one who sins knows who He really is…for God is holy and righteous. (1 John 3:5-9)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1
Some of us might say that God is all-forgiving so he will forgive us when we keep on sinning against him. Look at our own attitude toward sin! Some of us think that because we call Jesus "Lord" and have acknowledged him as "the Savior" that this will allow us to keep on sinning, but still be forgiven. But Jesus said, "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46). We might feel "safe" because we supposedly know the truth. However, the Bible says that if we persist in going our own way, God will never be willing to forgive us even if we feel safe now (Deut. 29:19-20). Jesus came to destroy sin, the works of the devil.
Again some of us may say We can obey God sometimes, but of course we will still sin." So, many professing believers EXPECT to continue to sin and therefore they do because without faith in God to keep them from sin, they will surely fall. "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him" (Titus 1:16). They have a form of godliness going to church every week and being "spiritual" MOST of the time, but when it comes down to it, they have not accepted God's provision to overcome sin and thus they deny the power to be godly. If the Christian refuses to admit the sin and instead chooses to call it a "mistake" and does not seek the forgiveness of God then he or she is in danger of falling under the wrath of God (Heb. 10:26-31). And do not try to cover up your sin. For, "He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy" (Prov 28:13). And after you have confessed and repented of your sin, trust God to give you the grace and strength to overcome it in the future. "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace" (Rom 6:14). God says that EVERYONE who sins is a slave to sin.
We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:2
"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (Rom. 6:18).
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him" (I John 3:6).
So these people are like seed sown along a path: they "hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts" (Luke 8:12).
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matt 7:21-23).
Hence let us clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Romans 13:14). All of this is given to us as a choice. We can choose this day whom we shall serve. Will we serve our own motives and desires or will we serve Christ by putting on His nature and character? Will we pursue the motivations of His heart through servant-hood or will we allow selfish ambition to continue to rule our thoughts.
May God bless you all for the rich love and beauty that springs from your spirit!
