Author: Bible Community Church

Are You From God? | 1 John 4:4-6

You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1 Jn 4:4-6

In the era before today’s age of individualism, a person’s identity was inherently linked to his lineage. The question ‘Who are you from?’ indicated who you were and where you were from. Spiritually speaking, knowing who we are from tells not only of our origin but also of our destination. Man is either from God or from Satan. In this ongoing series in the first book of John, the apostle outlines the marks of those who are from God- those whom God elected before the foundation of the world to be redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, kept in love by the power of His will, and separated from the passing world to belong to God alone. (Eph 1:4, Jn 1:12-13)

Those from God overcome. Satan has no dominion over the Christian, because Jesus’ crucifixion freed us from our bondage and will to sin. Jesus Himself declared, “It is finished” – ‘It’ refers to the atonement of our guilt before God. (Jn 19:30) How can you overcome? As you defend your faith with a deep conviction of the Word of God, you can overcome evil spirits. (Ps 119:42, 11:3) God’s Word is the foundation of our confession, and by it we can discern truth from error through the Holy Spirit who enlightens us. The gospel is our greatest offense and defense to overcome false teachers, and we must be resolved to give up our life rather than to compromise Biblical truth. We can do this only by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us. He is our source of strength, and He is infinitely more powerful than he who is in the world. The Holy Spirit shows His power through the effecting work of Scripture, raising the dead to life both spiritually and physically. (2Tim 3:16, Jn 6:63, Rom 8:11) He is always with those who are from God, empowering them to overcome every evil spirit.

Those from God speak and act contrary to false teachers. In Apostle John’s day, the false teachers of pre-Gnosticism and Docetism denied Jesus’ humanity because they argued that since Jesus is good, and all flesh is evil, Jesus could not have truly manifested the flesh. False teachers today continue to deny the truth of Jesus Christ, while preaching a false and dispensable gospel. They despise the suffering and death of Jesus, and hate the narrow gate His disciples are called to go through to follow Him. They have a love for money, rather than God, and the heart of this fallen world is open wide for their soothing messages concerning their immediate, earthly problems. Those who are from God preach the gospel, honoring Christ as Lord. (Phil 3:7-9) We must exercise faith according to the solid truth that is the Word of God. Though our natural selves will desire to go against God’s Word, we can speak and act according to the Word of God in love with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Those from God listen to and obey God’s Word. As stated previously, those who belong to Christ pay attention to the Scripture and receive the whole Word as it is. Are you listening and obeying God’s Word? God has appointed leaders and pastors to shepherd His church and teach His Word. We must respect the speaker who handles accurately the Word of God, and we must constantly examine ourselves to avoid spiritual error. (Jn 10:4,27; Heb 13:7) If you attend church with a degrading view of God, salvation, and the seriousness of sin, it is alarming indication of teaching that cannot produce saving faith. You must resolve to flee such teaching and teachers and situate yourself under a good teacher who teaches unadulterated truth from the Word of God (Matt 7:21-24) If you find it difficult to understand and obey God’s word, ask yourself whether you have been truly saved – he who is not from God will not, or rather cannot comprehend the Word of God even while listening to the Word being preached.

As we examine ourselves under the light of Scripture, let us remember that the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, is with us. He is ready to help us as we repent of our sins and turn to Him. Let us therefore continually strive to maintain a biblical view that bears much spiritual fruit, which evidences that we are truly the children of God.
0

Testing the Spirits | 1 John 4:1-3

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.  1Jn 4:1-3
 
There are best-selling books under the Christian genre whose writers deny the sufficiency of the Bible. These individuals claim to have unique experiences of hearing the voice of Christ, of which many Christians believe to be true and biblical. We live in a modern Dark Age- there is much information available to us, but many people are still in the darkness, unable to discern right from wrong. (2Tim 4:4) In a world laden with anxiety, fear, and confusion, as everyone seeks for something tangible that will provide comfort and peace, many false prophets have gone out to beguile masses with false teachings. Though we face constant calls towards wide ways that lead to hell, God fully equips His beloved church with His Word to discern what is of God, and what is not from God. In Apostle John’s letter to the church, three duties are outlined to help every believer remain faithful through the end times.
We must discern every spirit. Christians have the Spirit of God- we should not be deceived by believing every teaching, but rather, we must test every spirit with caution and discernment to see whether they are from God. Jesus repeatedly warned His disciples of false prophets, and throughout Scripture, men of God boldly confronted false teachers of their wicked ways. (Matt 7:15, 2Tim 4:14-15) We must likewise deliberately and carefully test every teaching we encounter, because while false prophets are all around us, it is often hard to detect whether they are from God. (2Cor 11:14)
We must examine by testing. Scripture is the foremost standard to determine what is wrong or right- it is the basis for biblical Christology along with every other doctrine of Christianity. We test every spirit by the Holy Spirit. (1Cor 12:3) Believing in Jesus Christ as Lord is impossible by man’s own understanding or will- it is a supernatural gift of God. How else can one explain the lives of martyrs, who willingly died for their faith in Christ? God puts His Spirit into man’s heart, where under any circumstance, he can not deny truth. The Holy Spirit’s only aim is to glorify Jesus, by opening the hearts of men to hear the voice of Christ through the Scriptures. (Jn 14:26) He continually compels us to go through the narrow gate of self-denying discipleship. Scripture is the only standard to discern any teaching by the Holy Spirit. (Jn 14:6, Matt 7:13-14)
We must know biblical Christology to discern whether a teaching is of God or of Satan. We must believe the God of the Old Testament was incarnated into the man of Jesus Christ. (Jn 20:28) He is the God-man who was crucified in our place for the law we had broken, and He is the only Savior who died and rose again as Lord of all. There is salvation in no other name, and while every other religion teaches salvation is by man’s works, God declares salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone. (Rom 10:9-10, Acts 25:19) All who deny Jesus’ humanity or deity will follow the antichrist. We must therefore stand firm, never ceasing to know Christ more.
We must stay vigilant. Apostle John declares that the spirit of the antichrist is now in the world. This fallen world is not a lasting home for the Christian. While we must be faithful in work, raising families, and daily dealings, the most important task is to remain vigilant in guarding ourselves against the evil one. (1Jn 5:19, 1Pet 5:8) Many great men and Christian institutions have fallen as they allowed false teachings to destroy the very foundation of their faith, leading them to deny the authority of Scripture. (Acts 20:29)
Today’s problems are not political, social, or cultural- they are all theological. The world has failed to test every spirit; it has turned away from the Lord. We are living in these end times, and Jesus has warned us that it will only get worse. Therefore, let us all the more be like the Bereans, examining the Scriptures daily to discern every spirit.(Acts 17:11) This is how we will remain faithful to the end.
0

How to Cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit | Galatians 5:24-26

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Gal 5:24-26

Upon conversion, we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to bear spiritual fruit. In our ongoing study in Galatians, we have seen that by the power of God’s grace, we can walk by the Spirit while killing off our fleshly desires. In contrast to God’s grace, the Law cannot help us bear spiritual fruit. The Law only leads to woe because its sole purpose is to convict us of sin so that we may turn to Christ. When it comes to working out our salvation and cultivating spiritual fruit in our lives, everything depends on our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Illumined by this blessed truth, we need to ask ourselves – how do we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?

You must know how close you are to Christ to cultivate spiritual fruit. How do you view your relationship to Jesus? Only those who belong to Christ Jesus have the desire to crucify the flesh. All of us have gone astray- before our conversion, we had no interest or love for Christ. We were blinded and led by Satan with the rest of the unbelieving world. (1Jn 2:16) But when we received Christ as our Savior, God gave us new lives- He has transformed us to hate every kind of impurity and captivated us with the love of Jesus.

Do you belong to Christ Jesus? Those who belong to Jesus have surrendered their will to receive Christ on His terms. They hate and deny the self to follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior, desiring to love Him by obeying His word. (Matt 6:24, Acts 20:19, 24) Jesus’ disciples abide in Him, for apart from Christ, they can do nothing. By remaining in the gospel, their relationship with Christ deepen, and they are steadfastly engaged in searching out and crucifying the flesh. Crucifixion was an agonizing and drawn-out way of execution int he Roman times, and crucifying the flesh is just as painful and slow. But we know that as we starve the flesh of its desires through godly habits, we weaken its influence in our lives. We must recognize Satan’s schemes, His temptations, and our own weaknesses in our lives in order to stand firm and resist him. (James 4:7) As we remove all that causes us to be tempted, we must renew our minds and remain in God’s Word continually. (Ps 101:2-3, Job 31:1) When temptations come our way, we are able to flee and depend fully on Christ through prayer. This is the work of cultivating spiritual fruit- removing the power of sin as we surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Having received a new way of life, we are able to cultivate spiritual fruit. Is your life supported by the Holy Spirit? What makes this life worth living? If you live by the Spirit, with His power working in you, you will walk by the Spirit as an outward expression of your heart’s condition. We live by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Zech 4:6) We have been regenerated by Him- we were spiritually dead and depraved, but He has made us alive in Him. The Holy Spirit’s presence in our heart is the only thing that sets Christians apart from the rest of the world, but it is everything that we need. We have the Holy Spirit, and He sanctifies us through His work in us, producing saving faith in us despite our sinful disposition. (Jn 3:8)

Living by the Spirit is living by faith. We were dead, but the life of Christ is now in us. We were blind, but now it is by faith we see and believe. Faith gives us the desire and resilience to fight against sin and unbelief, and it is by faith we are able to go out to wherever God calls us, fully resting upon His Word. Faith assures us of God’s steadfast love for each of His children, and faith is an expression of our love for God. (Dan 3:17-18)

To live by the Spirit is also to live by the Word. A mark of true obedience to Christ is having a hunger and thirst for the Word of God. Furthermore, all Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit(2 Tim 3:16), and it is now the only instrument the Holy Spirit uses to speak to us. Therefore, meditating on God’s Word is essential to living by the Spirit. Mediation leads us to have the mind of God, a life saturated with Scripture, and a heart enlivened by His living and active Word.

As we live by the Holy Spirit, may we walk by Him, bearing the fruit of love for Christ and love for man. The fruit of the Spirit is a beautiful gift from God for His children- the world is constantly striving to have love, joy, and peace, but God has freely given it to us in Jesus Christ. Let us, therefore, with thankful hearts, live by the Spirit and walk by Him, testifying to others this free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
0

Living Under the Holy Spirit | Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another. Gal 5:22-26

What must I do to be saved? This is life’s deepest existential question, one that every religion attempts to answer to calm man’s restless and guilt-ridden soul. It is the question the jailer desperately asks Paul and Silas upon witnessing their steadfast faith despite dire circumstances, and it is fully answered with grace and power by the Spirit-filled apostles. (Acts 16:22-30) What makes Christianity distinctive? In a hopeless world ladened with sin and adversity, Christians are able to handle all circumstances in ways beyond the world’s expectations because of the Holy Spirit who dwells within them. We are united with Christ through His Spirit, who faithfully leads us with divine power. (Eph 5:18-19) As we continue forward in the book of Galatians, we examine the power of the Holy Spirit who sets apart believers to a miraculous, fruitful, and triumphant life before God.

Living under the Holy Spirit is miraculous. True spirituality is possessing the Holy Spirit of God as a result of receiving salvation through Jesus Christ. Before receiving Christ, all are dead in sin, without any hope of having a relationship with God. But God Himself, by His sovereign choice, regenerates the dead by imparting new life into the believer through the Holy Spirit. (Eph 2:1, 4-6) Regeneration is a miracle. We cannot save ourselves by our own efforts; it is purely by God’s grace. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin as we hear the gospel, turning us away from sin, and into Christ. (Jn 16:8-9) In the face of all temptations to fall away from God, we are kept in faith by the Holy Spirit. God’s love never falls short in dealing with our constant sin, for He alone is faithful to finish what He began. This is truly miraculous- though we are of man in our flesh, we are of God by the Holy Spirit, experiencing the riches and grace of God every day.

Living under the Holy Spirit is fruitful. Those under the Holy Spirit are in abundance- Christians always have something to give. The Bible likens every man to a tree that is able to bear fruit. (Matt 7:19) It is by the Holy Spirit we can be productive to praise God, win souls to Christ, and do good deeds. (Heb 13:15, Col 1:10) Bearing fruit is essential to spiritual life- it reveals the quality of your relationship with Jesus, and proves whether your salvation is genuine. (Jn 15:4, Matt 7:15-17)

Love- This is the most important fruit by which all other fruit grow. Agape love is possible only by God, for God is love. Only those who have experienced God’s love in Jesus Christ is able to practice this sacrificial love. Love gives at whatever cost, seeking the highest good for the one loved. If you do not love, you do not have the Holy Spirit within you. (1Jn 3:16)

Joy- Joy is not an emotion; it is being alive to the fact that God is alive and sovereign over all. It is complete submission to God, a fruit of communion with Him. (Phil 3:8) Christians must be joyful- it is our testimony to the world that God causes all things- Thy will be done. (Rom 14:17)

Peace- Man has no peace because God hates and will judge the sinner. If you have peace with God, you will have peace with yourself. (Rom 15:13)

Patience- Patience is another expression of love. Jesus entrusted Himself to the Father completely and remained quiet even under persecution. We must not supersede God by losing our patience with others.

Kindness- Christians act graciously for others’ well-being, especially towards their enemies.

Goodness- Christians are good to others, always beneficial and useful.

Faithfulness- Christians remain faithful to Christ in all things until death.

Gentleness- Gentleness is to be meek and humble. It is to keep a true view of oneself, to have poverty of spirit, and absence of pride. It is to think about ourselves before judging others, and handling all matters in love and truth. (Matt 7:3)

Self-control- Christians have been tamed, able to excise restraint in all things. (1Cor 9:27)

Living under the Holy Spirit is triumphant. “… Against such things there is no law.” As we bear the fruit of the Spirit, the law can not condemn us, because we are perfect and justified in the eyes of God. The law can not save, nor can it bear fruit of the Holy Spirit. Its purpose is to show you your sin to bring you to Christ. The fruit of the Spirit is your victory over sin, the law, and its condemnation.

We must be filled with the Holy Spirit as we aim to have the lordship of Christ in every area of our lives. As we continue to examine ourselves under God’s Word, the Holy Spirit will enable us to be faithful, triumphant, and fruitful in Christ.

0

Living Under the Flesh | Galatians 5:19-21

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.  Galatians 5:19-21

The flesh is a cursed principle working unceasingly in every man to oppose the will of God. Its potency, powers, and passion are bent towards sin and Satan, and the fruit of its deeds are death and destruction. Unbelievers and believers alike have the flesh- unbelievers are completely and unknowingly under the flesh because they are spiritually dead, whereas the flesh is weakened, yet still active in believers. (Rom 8:8-9) As we examine why the deeds of the flesh are so deadly, we can gain a deeper understanding of why we must entrust our souls to God and walk by the Spirit daily.

The deeds of the flesh are evident. Sin is no secret- even though fallen man suppresses the truth of God’s existence, man knows his sin. (Rom 8:19) This is the basis of God’s final judgment . God sees every sin committed by man, and He can not forget or ignore it. (Lk 8:17) Every wrong is exposed to God, who perfectly knows even the thoughts and intentions of man’s heart. (Hos 7:2, Gen 6:5) This is why sin is deadly- every sin is accounted for by a just and holy God, who knows, sees, and  remembers every sin committed before Him. Furthermore, the deeds of the flesh are evident by our conscience, because we feel guilt when we sin. Our conscience is a gift from God. It is our innate ability to know what is wrong and right. As man lives in denial of truth in an attempt to suppress his guilt, he hardens his conscience, until his calloused conscience eventually feels altogether indifferent towards sin and righteousness. (Rom 1:18, 1 Tim 4:1-2)

What are the deeds of the flesh? Paul’s outline of the works of the flesh can be categorized into four groups- sexual, spiritual/religious, social, and physical.

– Sexual (immorality, impurity, sensuality) These sins include fornication, adultery, uncleanliness, evil thoughts, and unbridled sexual acts.
– Spiritual/Religious (idolatry, sorcery) No lordship of Christ, loving anything/anyone more than Christ; witchcraft, astrology, and drug use fall into this category of sins.
– Social (enmity, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envy) hatred, harsh words, comparing yourself to others, sudden anger, wrath, selfish ambitions, disrupting peace, causing disunity, and jealousy leading to violence are deeds of the flesh.
– Physical (drunkenness, carousing) These sins refer to being drunk from alcohol, and losing all inhibitions as a result of being drunk.

These are the deeds of the flesh of which we are all guilty. They are warning signs of God’s sure judgment for those who practice them. (Mk 7:20-22, Rom 1:29-31)

God warns us of His sure judgment. God warns us of His judgment because His judgment is real and certain. We must not take God’s warnings lightly- as we recount what fell upon Adam and Eve, Sodom and Gomorrah, and the whole world during the Flood, we can know God’s judgment is severe and brutal. (Gal 6:7, 2 Pet 3:8-9) God warns us in order for His elect to be saved. Those who heed God’s warning can avoid calamity by repenting and placing their faith in Christ. Jesus is the only refuge from God’s impending judgment- by faith alone, you can abandon the deeds of the flesh and draw near to God as His reconciled child. (Heb 11:7)

The deeds of the flesh are detrimental to the hope of our salvation. If you are practicing the deeds of the flesh today, you are not saved. We must examine ourselves- salvation is present tense. If the impact of the gospel does not mark the pattern of your daily life, you may not have saving faith. Practicing the deeds of the flesh kills all hope of salvation- it steals all heavenly affections, renders you tasteless and worldly, and hinders all fellowship with the church. Sin will quench your passion for God, and will only increase your desire for the deeds of the flesh. How deadly are the deeds of the flesh! Believers must not simply deny the deeds of the flesh, but should bear fruit contrary to its works. We must therefore walk by the Spirit- as we walk in deep communion with God, meditating on His Word with our hearts fixed on Him, He will guide us into a path of righteousness that grows brighter and brighter until full day.
0

The Power of Walking by the Spirit | Galatians 5:16-18

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Galatians 5:16-18
There is nothing that qualifies a believer’s life apart from the power of God’s indwelling Spirit. There is no exception- it is only by the Holy Spirit we can be what God planned for us to be. The apostles were mighty men of God- highly esteemed for their deeds of faith- but even they faltered when they failed to walk by the Spirit. (Gal 2:11-12) In this ongoing study of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, we examine three benefits of walking by the Holy Spirit daily.
As you walk by the Spirit, you can act as true believers. If we desire to walk like Christ, we must walk by the Spirit. Following Jesus is very simple and clear- we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to walk by Him every day. Christian life becomes complicated, burdensome, or dull when we carry out the desires of the flesh, but the Holy Spirit helps us in this time of need. He exposes the nature of our enemy– the flesh- showing us its corrupt desires and lusts that are meant to destroy us. He exposes the true nature of our depravity. There is nothing good in our flesh- it rejects the saving righteousness of God in Christ, with a sole aim to corrupt and condemn us before God. (2 Cor 5:21) It is always evil, always satanic, and it is deserving of God’s eternal punishment. (Gen 6:12)
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit exposes the flesh’s allies. The flesh is always stirred up by sin. It drives us to be enslaved under Satan’s power, delivering us into the hands of a fallen world. We can not underestimate the power of Satan and the world, nor overestimate our holiness and devotion to God. (1 Jn 2:15-16) We are sinners living with the flesh, and it is God’s grace alone that upholds us in faith and devotion. We must therefore all the more strive to mortify the flesh every day. (2 Tim 4:10) The Holy Spirit also exposes those who love the flesh, even among believers. He exposes the damages done by the flesh. In the case of Esau and Jacob, Esau was driven by the flesh- He ignored God’s order and sovereign Will, and forsook self-control to appease his appetite. He married non-believers, and disobeyed his parents. Esau’s disobedience caused his descendants to be cursed by the Lord, framing a devastating picture of the consequences of walking by the flesh.
As you walk by the Spirit, you can be obedient. Believers have a constant desire to be more like Christ, but face an equally constant result of failing to obey. We want to obey, but in reality, we don’t obey much. Why? Before our conversion, we were dead to the Spirit, and alive only to our flesh. There was no struggle. But as the Holy Spirit now dwells in us, the Spirit and the flesh continually strive against one another. (Rom 7:18-20) The flesh desires for us to die; the Spirit works so that we may live. There is enmity between the flesh and the Spirit, with no possibility of peace or reconciliation. This constant battle leaves no rest- when we sin, the Holy Spirit convicts us, and when we try to do good, we still see unending sin in all we do. Wretched men that we are! This is why we absolutely need the Holy Spirit. Our Lord Jesus unceasingly walked by the Spirit, using the Word to overcome Satan’s temptations in perfect obedience. (Matt 4:1-4) If we desire to follow after Christ, we must walk by the Spirit by going into Scripture. God knows all things, and He has prepared every answer for every circumstance in His Word. We must read, wrestle, understand and obey the Word to walk by the Spirit.
As you walk by the Spirit, you are not under the law, but under grace. Believers are no longer slaves to sin, for we now serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (Rom 6:17)  There is no grace in the law. The purpose of the law is to pinpoint our sin, so that we may turn to Jesus for salvation. As the law exposes our sin, the Holy Spirit leads and guides us into the grace of God in the gospel. If you fail to walk by the Spirit, you remain under the law. Putting yourself under the law by duty and performance may satisfy for a time being, but the law inevitably steals all hope and joy. If you are led by the Spirit, He will constantly carry you into the gospel of Jesus, in which everything is sweet under God’s freeing grace. This is the essence of Christian life- let us live in the grace of the gospel of Jesus, obeying Him, and resisting the flesh by walking in the Spirit.
0

Unless You Walk by the Spirit | Galatians 5:16-18

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:16-18

As we survey church history and recount the amazing works of godly men who labored to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ, no amount of intellect, status, knowledge or wealth could have ever enabled them to do what they did. Without the Holy Spirit, men are powerless to do the works of God. In this portion of Scripture, God commands us to walk- and to keep walking- by the Holy Spirit. To walk means to live– to live by the Spirit is to live under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit, as He directs us to do God’s will. (Rom 6:4) We walk by the Spirit as God’s will becomes our utmost desire, impelling us to live a life guided by Him.

Scripture uses different phrases to refer to walking by the Spirit:

Walking by God. The Holy Spirit is not a force; He is a Person in the Trinity. He is God. He directs us, speaks to us, and reveals His Will to us. The Holy Spirit is the One who unfailingly sanctifies all believers to present us perfect and complete before God. (Phil 1:6) He helps us understand truth in our hearts. We know we walk with God because the Holy Spirit dwells within us, securing us as He accomplishes the complete will of God. (1 Cor 3:16-17)

Walking by Jesus. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Jesus. (Rom 8:9) The Holy Spirit and Jesus are distinct persons, yet the Holy Spirit dwells in us to make Christ known, loved, honored, and praised in perfect accord. Jesus is no longer physically living on earth, but He remains with us always through the Holy Spirit. (Jn 15:26, Matt 28:20) The Holy Spirit came to fulfill the work of Christ to the end. (Jn 14:26) He enables us to receive, understand and believe the words of Jesus. He sustains us in saving faith as we believe in Jesus- not by our own effort, but only by the Holy Spirit who helps us believe in things unseen.

Walking by faith. Christians walk by faith. We have an assurance of things hoped for, and an understanding of reality that goes beyond circumstances and conditions. (2 Cor 5:7, Matt 4:4) Jesus does not require us to balance our physical and spiritual needs- He commands us to wholeheartedly pursue the kingdom of God, with the promise that He will provide all our physical needs to live. Faith is from the Holy Spirit- it results in obedience, as the Holy Spirit sustains us and leads us to see the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus Christ. (Phil 3:4-6,8; 2 Tim 4:7-8)

As we examine the accounts of notable men of faith- Enoch, Abraham, and Noah- we see that it was by the voice of God these mere men were called out and enabled to walk by the Spirit. (Heb 11:5,7-8) God’s inerrant, infallible Word upholds the same power and quality throughout all generations of men. (2 Tim 3:16-17) Scripture alone is necessary to teach and guide us today, because Scripture is alive and active by the Holy Spirit who works in our hearts through His Word. We are to meditate on the Word of God until our hearts are full- this is the life of walking by the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we are empty and poor. No religious embellishment and self-effort can count for anything before a holy God. But our God has given us His Spirit and His Word, and as we walk by the Spirit of God, He will lead us to a truly victorious life through sanctification.

0

A Test of Biblical Freedom | Galatians 5:13-15

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. Galatians 5:13-15

Throughout history, man’s innate desire for freedom has driven countless wars between nations. The Bible says only Christians are truly free. Freedom is a divine gift from God, given to those He chooses to save. However, like the Galatians, many Christians do not know how to apply their freedom biblically. From this portion of Scripture, Apostle Paul provides four tests by which you can examine whether you are properly enjoying your freedom from God.

A conviction of your freedom. You must have a fundamental understanding and conviction of your freedom in the Lord. According to v. 13, you have been called by God. Our freedom is a divine gift- it is our salvation. God has predestined us out of many others to be saved, and He has called us to a purpose- to deliver to the lost this heavenly freedom. (Matt 4:18, Rom 8:28-29, Eph 2:10)

Freedom is the practical side of salvation. We can only feel the significance of this freedom as we understand how amazing God’s salvation for us is. The wages of sin is death- God cursed Satan because of sin, and man likewise deserved God’s judgment for sin. But instead, God has given us the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Gen 3:18-19, Gal 5:1) What a freedom! We need this conviction to fight against the very things that threaten our freedom in Christ. Our flesh is the constant enemy- our old nature is inclined to sin, and Paul urges us to give no opportunity to the flesh. Armed with the conviction that God has chosen you for freedom, guard your heart against the power of indwelling sin. (Jn 3:6)

Resistance against flesh. The second test of freedom is our battle against sin. Christian freedom is freedom from sin, not a freedom to sin. God has freed us from the enslavement of Satan, sin, and flesh. How can you know you are resisting the flesh?

– Do you obey God’s will? If you are not obeying God’s Will found in the Word, you are obeying something else. As you follow the will of God, you will consequently resist the flesh. (Rom 12:2)
– Do you use the means of grace? It is by God’s Word and by prayer that we fight for holiness. (1 Tim 4:5, James 5:13)
– Do you resist Satan? God’s Word equips us with everything we need to resist Satan. (James 4:7, Eph 6:13)
– Do you confess your sin? God has made us to be self-conscious of sin- we now know our sin, and are able to repent. (1 Jn 1:9) He has placed in us a love for Him, the church, and fellowship.
– Do you focus on Christ? Does Christ fill your heart? As we continually resist the flesh, we become more like Christ. (2 Cor 4:16)

Practicing love. This is the most important test of freedom. We are free not only to be holy, but we are free to love. Jesus had total freedom, but He limited Himself and died on the cross in our place to show His love for us. He gave us His freedom. If our love does not reflect Jesus’ humility and sacrifice, then our freedom is not of Him. (Phil 2:3-4;6-8, Heb 2:9)

Church unity. Unity is a measure of healthy freedom. The church is one body under the lordship of Jesus. We have been freed not by keeping the law, but we have been freed by Christ for good works, and it is by love we can now fulfill the law in the Lord. (Gal 5:14) By the gospel, we love God, and the Holy Spirit bears the fruit of love in us. Unity is sequential to love, for church unity can not exist apart from love. Let us take care to maintain harmony within the church through the gospel- if we fail to love the Lord, we will fail to love one another.

As we examine ourselves through these four tests of freedom, let us recognize and repent of all that holds us from enjoying the freedom we have in Jesus. It was for freedom Christ has set us free; therefore let us stand firm against all yokes of slavery. (Gal 5:1) In Christ, God has given us this heavenly freedom to have full satisfaction, joy, and glory in Him.
0

The Offense of the Cross | Galatians 5:11-12

But if I, brothers, still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! Galatians 5:11-12

From the beginning, the message of the cross has never failed to stir up anger, offense, and uproar among its hearers. It is the message that brought persecution upon the church, and it is the only message the church carries to this day. In confronting the Galatians for accepting circumcision as a means for salvation, Apostle Paul zealously defends the pure gospel of Jesus Christ.

Why is the cross so offensive?
– The message of the cross claims you can do nothing; God can do everything. Man’s effort, intellect, and power counts for nothing towards salvation, for salvation is by Christ alone. (Rom 10:4)

– It confronts human depravity, challenging hearts with the need for repentance. Man can not do anything to satisfy God. (Rom 3:23, Acts 6:51, 54)

– It is narrow and intolerant, declaring that Jesus is the only way for salvation. (Acts 4:12)

– It demands transformation. It is meant to turn man from unrighteousness to righteousness, to transform sinners into saints. (Acts 2:38, 40)

– It confronts human pride. Man boasts in his philosophies, social status, and religiosity, using whatever grounds to reject the gospel message. (1 Cor 1:23, Jn 19:10)

– The cross is offensive to those who are perishing. Man searches for every reason to avoid the gospel, and their rejection is a sign of their hell bound state. We are saved and transformed only by the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)

The nature of the cross is marked by agony, pain, and death. Why did God make Christianity so bloody? From the Old Testament to today, Christianity has been full of blood- not the blood of animals or man, but the blood of Jesus Christ. (Heb 9:22) It was the Father’s will for the Son of God to suffer in order to reconcile us to God. (Acts 3:18, 1 Pet 2:24) The cross can not be removed from Christianity. Without the cross, there is no forgiveness. Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is the only way to escape the wrath of God. (1 Cor 2:2) The cross precedes the resurrection- Jesus died on the cross, and His resurrection fully proved who He was- the eternal God who cannot remain in the grave. In Christ, we are resurrected believers- we have died with Christ, and will be raised with Him. (Rom 4:25) The cross displays God’s amazing love, for while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. In moments when our hearts yearn for love, we need only to look upon the cross. (Rom 5:8) The cross fulfills Scripture that testifies of God’s death and resurrection, and it is the cross that frees us from Satan’s enslavement. (Jn 5:39, Phil 3:10-11)

Our nature is to reject the cross. Only a broken man can love and embrace the cross. Brokenness is what sets Christians apart from the world- you can not be saved until you are poor in spirit and humbled before God. To become poor in spirit is to become completely dependent on another. It is to deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow Jesus. (Matt 5:3, 16:24) All believers are disciples of Christ, desiring to obey the will of God above all in loving obedience to Christ. In every circumstance, we must turn to God’s Word and obey. Without the cross, this transformation is impossible, but praise be to God, for He has made the cross sweet to our souls. It is our gospel, our hope, and our strength to press on to share the truth of the cross with the lost.
0

The Real Face of False Teaching | Galatians 5:7-10

You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from him who calls you. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. Galatians 5:7-10

We are living in an age of deception- the deadly lure of false teaching hangs before us in silent attack, and none of us are immune to its deception. The Galatians were running well in faith, but false teaching crept in to convince them of a false gospel of salvation. As we strive to stand firm on the foundation of Jesus Christ and His Word, we will do well to unveil the real face of false teaching as we continue in Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

False teaching is a blind, relentless evil. No one is guarded against false teaching; it seeks to come before every believer- from Adam, to apostle Peter, to even our Lord Jesus. (Gal 2:11, 1 Pet 5:8, Matt 4:8-9) In order to avoid its blows, we must be humble, always living with the fear of God, knowing and trusting His goodness. The proud are the most vulnerable before Satan, whereas the humble live before God with an open ear and a teachable heart. (1 Cor 10:12, Job 1:21) Furthermore, we must be a man of the Bereans, examining Scripture daily to test everything against God’s Word. (Acts 17:11, Ps 119:105)

False teaching is a persuasive evil, and it does not relent until death. Its goal is to divide you from God’s Word through false teachers administering false religions, while hindering your faith by its persecution, confusion, and temptations. In the context of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, the church was free in Christ- free to be holy, free to mortify sin, free to surrender to Christ. This freedom came from the truth of Jesus, but false teaching threatened their lordship to Christ. How can we recognize when we are under the attack of false teaching? We can look at our communication and communion with God. False teaching does not originate from God- we must hear what God says to us in His Word. For the Galatians’ case, God clearly says salvation is by faith alone. (Jn 10:3) We must understand God’s Word in order to obey it with our intellect, emotions, and will. Disobedience is a sure sign of our defeat against the attacks of false teaching.

Secondly, prayer is a measure of our spiritual health. It is by prayer we build up our companionship with God. Regardless of how lengthy our prayers may be, or where we pray, the importance lies in the heart being centered on Christ, communing intimately with Him. Communion with Christ is the all-powerful defense against false teaching. (Eph 6:18, Acts 16:25)

False teaching is infectious. We must be on guard- it takes only one person to spread false teaching throughout the church. (Matt 16:6) Its messages are deceptive and sweet, fitting all too well with our fallen nature. False gospels are promising, while assuring quick fixes for all the problems of life and the soul. But the true end of false teachings is misery and condemnation. False teachers deny Jesus Christ, obstructing others from God’s only way for salvation. They try to steal God’s glory, and for all this, God reserves the harshest levels of hell for false teachers and Satan. (Rev 20:10, 2 Pet 2:1, Is 42:8)

Despite these serious dangers of false teaching, those who are in the Lord will survive this age of deception. Christian life begins with lordship, and as God works in you, His promise to finish this work will be fulfilled by His power and sovereignty. (Rom 10:9, Phil 1:6) God has endless compassion and desire to save sinners- He does not save us reluctantly, but with full resolve and steadfast love. False teaching distorts the gospel, clouding a pure faith in Christ alone for salvation. Our Lord has warned us to be on guard, so let us be humble, practice the lordship of Christ, and trust in God’s sovereignty. Our God will preserve us, and in His lordship we can be assured of it.
0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑