Foolishness, or Power?

     For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
                              1 Corinthians 1:18NASB

     The world is filled with people seeking to overcome their problems. There are as many self help books, motivational gurus, talk show hosts, counselors, psychologists, pills, and so on, as there are problems to overcome.
     Sadly the world pursues hopeless solutions while scorning the only thing that can deliver them from the real issue of sin.
     The cross of Christ is considered foolishness by the wise of every age. Man has invented gods to worship, and rituals of every sort in an attempt to ease his guilty conscience.
     It has never been a popular thing for the world to view the turmoil in the hearts of men as a sign of their lost condition. It is not popular today to call all the rebellious behavior that runs so rampant, what it really is, sin.
     We have come to a place where what was once viewed as sinful behavior, is now seen as a thing to be tolerated, accepted, and even embraced. Political correctness runs in opposition to good morals.
      The world desperately attempts to break addictions to no avail. We try to medicate, we try therapy, we go to support groups, but sin still rules in the hearts of men.
     Jesus Christ is the only one who can set the prisoners free. He who the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:34-36). The message of the cross is indeed foolishness to the world. Religion is viewed as a crutch for weak minded people. But the cross of Christ is where the victory is found.
     This is where the bondage is broken. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Sin is destroyed in the life of the believer as He identifies himself with Christ, through repentance and faith. (Romans 6:6-7). Our surrender to the Lordship of Christ requires us to live the crucified life, where we have no plans or purposes of our own. Now only Christ lives through us in power (Gal 2:20, 6:14).
     Once again, this appears as foolishness to a self sufficient, wicked world system. Christ crucified, living in me is the answer. You can have victory over the sin in your life. You can be set free from the bondage and addictions that control you. You can be free from the guilt that haunts you. You can be reconciled to God. 
     Come to the cross.
    

The Just Judgment of Christ.

     "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who did the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."
                               John 5:25-30 NASB

     Be sure of this fact. One day we will all stand before God, to face judgment for how we have lived in this lifetime. We have this lifetime only in which to live our lives, and once we die it is over. We cannot change our lives, we cannot go back and try to undo all of our wrongs. We can be certain that we will stand before God's judgment to receive what is due us according to our deeds (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Cor 5:10; Romans 2:5-13; Rev 20:12-13, 22:12).
     You can count on God to be perfectly just and fair to everyone who appears before Him. See what the Psalmist has to say about God's absolute justice.

     He summons the heavens above, and the earth, to judge His people: "Gather My godly ones to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice." And the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is judge.
                       Psalm 50:6 NASB

     The heavens declare the righteousness of God. As a righteous judge, He will make no mistakes, He will not be swayed by any excuses, bribes, or show any partiality.

     Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.
                  Psalm 89:14a

     Righteousness and justice are what His rule is founded on. It is impossible for God, the holy, righteous judge, to render an unjust decision. It cannot be any other way. This is a great comfort to those who love and follow Him, those who have suffered at the hands of evil men. At the same time it should strike a holy fear in the hearts of all those who do not know God, nor obey the gospel (2 Thess 1:4-10).
     Paul speaks of the justice of God. 

     Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 
     But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.
     Who will render to each person according to his deeds.
                             Romans 2:4-6 NASB

     God is patient, waiting for souls to come to repentance, to turn their hearts from selfish, sinful pursuits, to Him and His service.
     The blame lies squarely on us. We are the stubborn unrepentant ones who will not give up our sins and follow Christ. God will be perfectly just on that day when the books are opened and our deeds are laid bare for all to see. 

     Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.
                                   Romans 3:19 NASB

     God's broken law will be the standard on that day. We will not be able to say that we are good people at heart. We will not be able to say that we are not truly sinful, or wicked. We will have no excuses. We will not be able to blame others, or claim we were born that way, or even that God made us that way. Every mouth will be closed on that day as God judges us according to our deeds, lining our lives up against His holy standard found in His law.
     The law that condemns idolatry, blasphemy, the dishonoring of our parents, dishonesty, theft, murder, covetousness, and adultery, will be the standard that God will use as He righteously judges our deeds.
     Where does this leave you or I, as we all know that we have broken some if not all of these commandments. This only shows us that we have wicked hearts, as it is out of the heart that these evil deeds proceed (Mark 7:20-23). 
     Our only hope lies in the offering of Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us, to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 2:2). For those who confess and forsake their sin, there is mercy and forgiveness. Our past is forgiven, forgotten by God. If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us (1 John 1:9). We can be forgiven and start over with a clean slate. We do not have to stand before God with our past condemning us, if we are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). 
     We now have the ability to walk in a manner that pleases God. We do not have to fall into the same pattern of sin that previously ruled our lives. We have victory in Jesus to live above the power of sin. By allowing the Holy Spirit to empower and lead our lives, we find that the righteous requirements of the law are now fulfilled in us (Romans 8:4). 
     The new covenant promises us that the law will be written upon our hearts (Hebrews 10:16-17). In other words, we will want to do the things that God requires of us in His law. We will love Him, and desire to please Him. Such an individual with a love for God, who orders his life by the Holy Spirit's leading will find himself fulfilling the law as he loves his neighbor as himself (Romans 13:8-10).
     This is the new birth, a new creation in Christ. A sinful person forgiven and transformed. Such a one will not dread the judgment, but will look expectantly for the return of Christ (Hebrews 9:28).

The Witness of the Spirit.

     The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

     By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
                     1 John 3:24, 4:13 NASB

     As Christians, God has set our bodies apart to be temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19). It is His purpose for us to abide in Him, and He in us.
     Paul tells us that the love of God is poured out within our hearts, by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Think of your life before you met Christ. At some point you felt the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, as He showed you your sinfulness, and need for the Savior (John 16:7-11; 1 Thess 1:5). I can remember the unrest and turmoil as I struggled against the Holy Spirit's work in my life before I surrendered to Him.
     An amazing thing happens as we repent, and by faith cast ourselves upon God's mercy through Christ Jesus. We have peace. The condemnation we felt is now gone (Romans 5:1, 8:1). Once we are forgiven, and the Holy Spirit enters our hearts, He bears witness with our spirits that we are now children of God (Romans 8:16; Galatians 4:6).
     Now instead of convicting of us our sin, instead of driving us to the cross for mercy, the Holy Spirit comforts us, brings us peace, fills our hearts with love, and confirms to us that we belong to God as His children.
     It is a wonderful thing to have a clean heart, a conscience at rest. When we felt the guilt of our sin we had no faith. We were unable to approach God with confidence, but now this has all changed (1 John 3:21).
     I ask you, "Do you have this witness of the Holy Spirit, that you are a true child of God?" You can have this witness, and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are indeed born again.

Are You Guilty of Murder?

     We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
                               1 John 3:14-15 NASB

     Once again John turns to the love of our Christian brethren as proof of our salvation (1 John 3:10-11, 14). If we cannot love those with whom we share the fellowship of Christ, how can we say we have eternal life abiding in us?
     John goes beyond the act of actually killing somebody, and says that to hate a brother is to murder that brother. Listen to what Jesus said about this very same thing.

     "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not commit murder' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, 'You good for nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says , 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."
                         Matthew 5:21-22 NASB

     Likewise, James warns Christians that when they treated fellow believers with partiality they were committing sin. He also makes the connection to murder as Jesus, and John do.

     But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not commit murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
                             James 2:9-11 NASB

     This really makes one think soberly! God looks at the inward motives and attitudes that we hold in our hearts. We may not actually kill a person physically, but to be unjustly angry, to harbor feelings of hatred, and to show partiality, is the same in the eyes of God, who declares that NO MURDERER HAS ETERNAL LIFE IN HIM. 
     Think of all the racial prejudice in the world today. Think of how we so often despise others of lesser means than us. The poor are often treated as inferior by those who are better off than they. This is exactly what James was pointing out in the Church he addressed.
     John goes on to say that if we see a brother in need, and we can meet that need, but we close our heart towards that brother, we cannot possibly have the love of God abiding in us (1 John 3:17). This shows that we do not care about that brother, he means nothing to us, we are despising that brother in our hearts. 
     This should make us think and examine our hearts and actions to see if we can truly say we know Christ, we are born of Him, we have eternal life in us. 
     Love does not merely consist of feelings and emotions, but in deeds and action (James 2:14-17; 1 John 3:18). It is useless to wish someone well, but to refuse to help them.
     These passages deal primarily with the love of Christian brothers and sisters. Jesus also commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and shows us that our neighbor can be anyone we come across that needs our help (Luke 10:27-37). We are to treat one another as we would want to be treated (Matt 7:12). Jesus goes so far as to command that we love our enemies (Matt 5:43-48). This seems a hard saying, and indeed it goes against the way of the world. Only those who are born again of the Spirit of God are able to fulfill such an exacting command.
     

A Changed Life, Proof of Our Salvation.

     We have seen that a person who practices sin is a lawless person, one who has cast off restraint (1 John 3:4). They show by their actions that they actually hate God (Romans 8:7).
     John tells us that Jesus came to take away sins (1 John 3:5), and to destroy the devil's works (1 John 3:8). His purpose was to break the hold that sin has upon the life of a lost, selfish individual (John 8:36).
     Therefore, one who abides in Christ, that is lives in trusting, obedient, submission to Him and His words, will not live a sinful lifestyle anymore (1 John 3:6). They have been set free from sins power over their lives. They now live to please Jesus their Lord in all they say and do.
     Do not be deceived by those who say a Christian can be saved and live a sinful life at the same time. One who practices righteousness is righteous (1 John 3:7). The one who practices sin has not been changed by the power and grace of God through Jesus, and is in fact A CHILD OF THE DEVIL (1 John 3:8; John 8:44).
     God's seed now dwells within the true believer. The law of God has been written upon His heart, a provision of the new covenant (Hebrews 10:16; 1 John 3:9). The true born again child of God does not walk in sin because of the redemptive work of Christ on his behalf. True grace teaches us to forsake our sin and to live sensible, upright lives (Titus 2:11-13).
     This is not to say that it is impossible for a Christian to fall into sin. A Christian may be overtaken in a fault (Gal 6:1), and brought back to restoration. John writes to us so that we do not sin, but if we do we have an advocate in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-2). John is speaking of sin being the exception in the believers life, not the rule. He goes on to say that a saved individual will keep the commandments of Christ (1 John 2:2-6). A born again follower of Jesus lives with the purpose of obeying Christ. They do not seek to hold on to any sin, and if they should fall, they confess it and repent. They grieve because they have offended their God. They do not seek to see how close they can get to sin without losing their salvation. That is a selfish attitude that proves one has no desire to please God, and is devoid of spiritual life.
     A transformed life is the proof of our salvation. Jesus has come to change sinners into saints, to totally change their lives (1 Cor 6:9-11; 2 Cor 5:17).

Lawlessness.

     John has this to say about those who practice sin.

     Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4).

     This is in contrast with those who are waiting for Jesus Christ to return. These are the ones who are purifying themselves in anticipation of seeing Jesus.
     A lawless person is a person who has cast off restraint. The law of God means nothing to them, it is there to be broken at one's convenience. They ignore the fact that Jesus did not come to do away with the law (Matt 5:17-20). Many individuals today believe that in the New Testament age of grace, the law is optional, and if it is disobeyed, God doesn't mind because they believe Christ has obeyed it for us. Actually the moral law of God has not been done away with, and God expects us to abide by it. Listen to what Jesus says about those who live without law.

     Not everyone who says to Me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.
                     Matthew 7:21-23 NASB

     Jesus is plain. If we cast off law, if we chose to live our lives in sinful disobedience to God, He will cast us off on that day when we stand before Him. To hear His words and obey is like building a house upon a rock, but to hear and disobey Him, is like building upon a foundation of sand (Matt 7:24-27).
     The Apostle Paul stated that it was not enough to hear the law, but one must also obey it (Romans 2:13). According to Paul, it is not the hearer who is justified, but the doer of the law. James says a similar thing about hearing the word, and actually obeying it.

     Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
                    James 1:21-22 NASB

     James likens one who hears without obeying the word to a man who looks at himself in a mirror and then walks away, forgetting what he looked like. The one who hears and obeys however, will be blessed in what he does (James 1:23-25).
     You see, when we decide that we do not have to obey God's moral law, we are rebelling against Him. We are casting off restraint, and deciding that we know what is best for us, and we will live our lives without God. We are actually setting ourselves up as our own little god, to the peril of our own souls.
     The point is submission. Do we understand who God is, and who we are, and that we must submit to His authority over our lives? To willingly yield and obey is what biblical faith consists of (James 2:14-26). To say we believe in Christ, but to refuse to submit to Him and His word is an untruth. Paul tells us that such an individual is an enemy of God, and cannot please Him (Romans 8:7-8).
     What does your life look like compared to these verses? Are you living your life with no regard for God's law, or are you living in loving obedience to Christ, showing the proof of your faith?

   

    
  

    

Purified like Christ.

     Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed upon Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
                        1 John 3:2-3 NASB

     As those whose citizenship is not of this world, Christians eagerly await the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20; 2 Timothy 4:8). This is a mark of one who is truly born again. The love that one has for Jesus expresses itself in a longing for His return, just as we long to be united with loved ones who we are separated from in this life.
     The true Child of God knows and understands that God is pure. They understand that He is without spot or wrinkle and they also desire to be pure in their conduct as well. As they await His return they are careful to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
     They understand that to keep oneself pure, it is important to go to His word, and allow it to shape and mold our lives (Psalm 119:8). Keeping oneself pure in this way is not advocating a works based salvation, on the contrary, we are saved from our sins, and called to live holy lives. We are instructed to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13). We are to cooperate with God by yielding to His word, by submitting ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. In this way we purify our lives.
     This is how a Christian lives. He lives to please Christ. He desires to be like his heavenly Father (Eph 5:1). Christ gave Himself to wash us clean, without spot or wrinkle (Eph 5:25-27), and this is the desire of the believers heart, to be clean in his conduct before God, to live a life beyond reproach.
     Someone who claims salvation, but carelessly lives in this world, trusting that God will pass over his sinful conduct, while really not desiring to be clean and pure in God's eyes, is lacking the life of God within his heart.