[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]CHAPTER 5. [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]TRUE HOLINESS IS THE RESULT OF WORKING FAITH, NOT FROM WORKS OF THE LAW.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] I am quite blown away by this quote from Chapter 5:[/FONT]
"Our lack of strength consists not in a simple lack of executive power, but in the lack of a willing mind and heart to practice true holiness and righteousness."
As much as I - and I think most people - would like to blame God for being unable to obey Him properly due to a corrupt nature, this is all wrong. The problem isn't that we are "unable" to obey God. The problem is that we "don't want to obey God." That is the real issue. We can't sit here and shake our collective fist at God and blame Him for an inability to stop sinning. The reality is that God has given us every physical thing necessary in order that we might obey Him. We all have a brain and a body that we can utilize for obedience. The problem is that we don't want to obey. This is a very humbling thing to learn... (I believe I have known this in the past, but it feels like a new revelation)
As Christians, when we learn that we need to obey God, we go about trying to reform our behavior. We never realize that it's our desires we need to change, only our behavior. We are motivated to change our behavior for fear of eternal condemnation. But what will motivate us to change our desires? Is fear of Hell enough to change our desires? (Of course, many people believe they do desire to obey. It's only after years of defeat that the finally begin to realize that they sin because they want to).
Anyway, a scripture comes to my mind:
Colossians 3:2 (KJV)
2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The solution that the Bible offers to our desire problem, is to set our affections on heavenly things. Our affections and desires - I assume - must be one and the same.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"These convictions may stir them up, not only to make a high profession, and to utter rare sayings concerning God and godliness, but also to labor with great earnestness to avoid all known sin. They will attempt to conquer their lusts, to perform universal obedience to God in all known duties, and to serve Him with their lives to the utmost. They may even try to extract out of their hearts some kind of love to God and godliness, that, if possible, they may escape the terrible torments of hell and acquire everlasting happiness by their efforts. Yet all their love to God is but forced and artificial. They have no hearty liking to God or His service and they consider Him a hard Master. To them God's commandments are grievous, and they complain and worry inwardly at the burden of them. Were it not for fear of everlasting fire, they would have little regard for the enjoyment of God in heaven, and they would be glad if they might have the liberty to enjoy their lust without danger of d-a-m-nation."[/FONT]
Boy oh boy! That paragraph above sure sounds like me! Anyone else feel the same?
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"Many of these labor and work more in God's service than many of His dear children, yet God does not accept their service, because their best performances are slavish and without any childlike affections towards God. These men are not at all under obligation to the goodness of their natures for these counterfeit shows of holiness, or for the least abstaining from the grossest sins."[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Reminds me of the scripture where they say: "Oh Lord, we did all these wonderful things like cast out demons and feed the hungry and all of that." Jesus says to them: "Depart from me, I never knew you."[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Quest
[/FONT]
"Our lack of strength consists not in a simple lack of executive power, but in the lack of a willing mind and heart to practice true holiness and righteousness."
As much as I - and I think most people - would like to blame God for being unable to obey Him properly due to a corrupt nature, this is all wrong. The problem isn't that we are "unable" to obey God. The problem is that we "don't want to obey God." That is the real issue. We can't sit here and shake our collective fist at God and blame Him for an inability to stop sinning. The reality is that God has given us every physical thing necessary in order that we might obey Him. We all have a brain and a body that we can utilize for obedience. The problem is that we don't want to obey. This is a very humbling thing to learn... (I believe I have known this in the past, but it feels like a new revelation)
As Christians, when we learn that we need to obey God, we go about trying to reform our behavior. We never realize that it's our desires we need to change, only our behavior. We are motivated to change our behavior for fear of eternal condemnation. But what will motivate us to change our desires? Is fear of Hell enough to change our desires? (Of course, many people believe they do desire to obey. It's only after years of defeat that the finally begin to realize that they sin because they want to).
Anyway, a scripture comes to my mind:
Colossians 3:2 (KJV)
2Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The solution that the Bible offers to our desire problem, is to set our affections on heavenly things. Our affections and desires - I assume - must be one and the same.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"These convictions may stir them up, not only to make a high profession, and to utter rare sayings concerning God and godliness, but also to labor with great earnestness to avoid all known sin. They will attempt to conquer their lusts, to perform universal obedience to God in all known duties, and to serve Him with their lives to the utmost. They may even try to extract out of their hearts some kind of love to God and godliness, that, if possible, they may escape the terrible torments of hell and acquire everlasting happiness by their efforts. Yet all their love to God is but forced and artificial. They have no hearty liking to God or His service and they consider Him a hard Master. To them God's commandments are grievous, and they complain and worry inwardly at the burden of them. Were it not for fear of everlasting fire, they would have little regard for the enjoyment of God in heaven, and they would be glad if they might have the liberty to enjoy their lust without danger of d-a-m-nation."[/FONT]
Boy oh boy! That paragraph above sure sounds like me! Anyone else feel the same?
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]"Many of these labor and work more in God's service than many of His dear children, yet God does not accept their service, because their best performances are slavish and without any childlike affections towards God. These men are not at all under obligation to the goodness of their natures for these counterfeit shows of holiness, or for the least abstaining from the grossest sins."[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Reminds me of the scripture where they say: "Oh Lord, we did all these wonderful things like cast out demons and feed the hungry and all of that." Jesus says to them: "Depart from me, I never knew you."[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica] Quest
[/FONT]