| John 8:36 "So if the son has set you free, you will be free indeed." ... Yes we are set free at the NEW BIRTH...the un-regenerated man is absolutely unable to do good, to free himself from sin. Romans 3:11 There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God (NASB) But if we are Born Again and Free from the control of sin...why do I still sin? God has consoled me with this scripture from Hebrews 12. This is one of the ways we KNOW that we KNOW HIM. As long as I an in the flesh, I will sin. I will fall into sin...not make the pattern of my life to seek after sin. But when I sin...I am broken...God disciplines the son He loves... He doesn't chastise the sons of disobedience now, only at the judgement seat. The Un-Regenerated man isn't worried about how his sin has crushed the Lord -trampling under foot the grace of God...he may feel loss at the consequences his sin is bringing in his life, but it doesn't lead to repentance...the un-regenerated man doesn't have the Holy Spirit to remind him or correct him of his sin. I am reminded that I am on a journey of sanctification...Jesus is making me into what He wants me to be...to be MORE like my Savior. I can best see this journey as a hiking trail up a mountain. I struggle along the trail...trip up and fall down, The LORD picks me up and dusts me off as a Father picking up His son on a hiking trail. "Let's go on up the trail together." Yes there are bumps and scrapes...but I never go off the trail - falling off the mountain side or turn back to go away...and it is the only hiking trail you never reach the top while wearing this Earthly "skin suit"...Only when we are Glorified. But it is a journey with CHRIST...He is my guide on the trail and with me every step of the way. << Hebrews 12 >> New Living Translation |
God’s Discipline Proves His Love
1Therefore,
since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life
of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially
the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the
race God has set before us.
2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.a Because of the joyb awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;c then you won’t become weary and give up.
4After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
“My child,e don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”f
7As
you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as
his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by
its father?
8If
God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means
that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
9Since
we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we
submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and
live forever?g
10For
our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they
knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might
share in his holiness.
11No
discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But
afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who
are trained in this way.
No comments:
Post a Comment