God is not finished with me yet…

 

Our group Bible study is in Romans, but we often bring in thoughts from other parts of the NT, particularly the conflict we have between that old nature of sin and the new nature God gave us of Christ and His righteousness. 

This morning’s reading describes how the freedom we have in Christ must not be interpreted as freedom to do whatever we want — because that “I want” is often an old nature thing. As one of our group said, learning to walk in the Spirit means learning to listen to God. My ‘good’ ideas are not always His ideas.

Part of the problem is that the Bible often describes sin in extremes and the desires of the flesh as a list of gross activities that most Christians try to avoid. I know I want to serve God but the ideas I have can be motivated by a desire for self-glory, but even that desire is fleshy and can injure the faith of others.

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. 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 5:13–18)

The law of God is helpful to discern the bad stuff that creeps in, but because some of that is more subtle than the lists, I can miss it as being fleshy. I’m prompted to look at the list of spiritual fruit and let it help me pinpoint some of the opposites.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22–23)

Love’s opposite is usually hate, but it could be ignoring needs that love would otherwise supply. Joy’s opposite can be anxiety and worry. Peace can easily be replaced by being over-burdened for others, which could be interpreted as a godly thing even though it can also be lack of trust in God. Patience easily gets replaced by “I must do something” when God is not asking me to do anything but trust Him. Again, listening to His voice is really important!

Kindness is an action. Doing nothing could be the opposite, or being mean, or gossiping about the needy person. Goodness has similar fleshy counterparts including ignoring those who could use my help, or a call, or even a hug or a smile. The opposite of faithfulness could sound like, “Oh, I forgot” or other forms of apology about ignoring responsibilities. Gentleness and harshness seem obvious, but just the lack of it says much. 

One dictionary says this: Gentleness refers to a virtue that characterizes one’s internal disposition or spirit. This term is  exclusive to Christians and never used to describe a person outside of Christ. It is accompanied by “love” and precedes “self-control.” James 3:13 relates it to the quality of being “wise” and Ephesians 4:2 puts it alongside “humility.” It is the opposite of being hostile or pugnacious — looking for a fight. Gentleness is required of the Lord’s servants to instruct “opponents with gentleness.” From this, I can see that gentleness is about being humble rather than assertive or pushy.

Self-control is often considered something ‘self’ does, but this is a fruit of the Spirit so it’s opposite sounds like “I couldn’t help it” — or any excuse of the flesh for doing something that is selfish and sinful. The passage goes on to add this: “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”(Galatians 5:25–26) The flesh opposes this too — with pride, or with trying to get a rise out of others, or being discontent from a longing to have what others have.

Paul sums it up: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:7–9) Fleshy living yields more of the same. Spirit-filled living reveals that I have eternal life.

PRAY: Lord, this exercise in words and their opposites convicts me. Doing good involves my whole being. Sometimes I think I’m dedicated wholly to You, but again realize You still have much to expose and cleanse out of my life.

Sheep and Goats

The difference between the people of God and folks who are not is sometimes blurry. That is, a helpful and generous person who is not a Christian can look better than a Christian who is disobeying God and walking in the flesh. At times, my own life is more like that of a pagan than it is like one who follows the Lord Jesus Christ. 

We who are Christian might say that we are forgiven, as if that is all the difference necessary. Is this just a poor excuse? God gave us new life in Christ and we are supposed to live it, not go back to our former ways. The Bible is filled with commands to “put off” the old nature and “put on” the new nature that is created in Christ Jesus and given to us by grace through faith. We are supposed to be different from those who do not believe.

When I meet new people, their faith or lack of faith is usually obvious. That is, I usually can discern those are Christian and those who are not by the way that they talk or live. Yet at times, this is muddied for the above reasons. Only God knows for sure.

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

God knows, yet He wants our identity as His children to be known to others also. This verse says we should leave sin behind us. Other verses says the same thing…

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him” (Malachi 3:16–18).

While a changed life is important, spending time with one another is also a mark of faith. Those who are not believers are not interested in being with Christians. While some may attend a Bible-believing church for a time, their hearts are not in it. They might find another “church” that is liberal or teaches falsely, or just stop altogether. Being ‘nice’ people is important to them, but being godly and trusting Christ for that godliness is not.

Malachi quotes the Lord’s declaration that one day He will make it clear. Like the gospel accounts where Jesus speaks of sheep and goats being separated (Matthew 25:32-46), here God speaks of making up or bringing forth those that He values, His jewels, so that the world will know who is who. At the time of judgment, the people of God will be spared and all will know who belongs to God and who does not.

As for now, perhaps the biggest distinction is about service. Whom do I serve? Is it myself? Or is it the Lord? Do I do what I do to give me pleasure and glory? Or do I do what I do to the praise of His glory? 

When I am walking in the flesh, the answer is obvious. When an unbeliever lives a sinful life, the answer is obvious. However, when the distinctions in behavior are blurry and I am not even certain what I am doing, never mind the motivations of others, God always knows. In the end, in “that day” when He gathers up His treasures, He will spare those who believe in Him. Eventually, He will make clear those who serve Him and those who do not.

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Lord, even as a Christian I am aware of the many times that I do things for myself rather than for You. Forgive this disobedience, but more than that, make me deeply aware of my need to depart from sin and esteem Your name, serving You with all my heart. Far better that others can see the distinction of a sold-out, believing life now than waiting until that judgment day when You separate the sheep from the goats.