|
|||
|
As we study the New Testament and especially the book of Hebrews, it
seems to cry out to us “better! better!” We have it a lot better than
the Old Testament saints had it. The book of Hebrews speaks about what
we have now as being better than the angels! It speaks of a better hope,
a better testament, a better covenant, better promises, better
sacrifices, and a better resurrection! We are told that God has
“provided some better thing for us,” and that the blood of sprinkling
“speaketh better things than that of Abel.” The message is clear that
what Jesus did for us improved everything so that it is easier to
understand and live for him here and now. And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Mark 7:20-23 When man’s heart is right with God his soul, his spirit, and his body
are straightened out. Salvation cannot affect only part of the man. The
body affects the soul and spirit. For example, when you are physically
sick or hurting it is harder to be spiritual. Your mind is not clear
because it is so occupied with the pain and discomfort of the body. It
is also detrimental to our spiritual state when we are too taken up with
pleasure, because it has the same effect in distracting our mind.
Likewise, the soul and spirit cannot be sick and not affect the body.
Sin shows on the countenance of a sinner. Their body suffers because of
the sin of their soul. When the soul is well and satisfied the body is
also affected. You cannot be right on inside without showing it on the
outside. Some folks say that “what is on inside is what matters,” but
what is on the inside will affect what is on the outside. It seems that
a lot of folks want us to believe that your soul can be right and
healthy while your body is wretched and sinful. This is just not true,
and it certainly doesn’t fit with the teaching of the New Testament of
the better covenant. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; Heb. 10:16 This same verse is repeated in Heb. 8:10 and Jer. 31:33 This is a promise of God in the Old Testament of something He was going to do to make us better able to serve him – He would put his law in our hearts. But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; Rom. 10:8 God also promised to send the Holy Ghost to dwell in our very bodies. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:16-17 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. John 16:7-13 So how can we claim to be so weak and helpless against the enemies of our soul? Where did this modern religion come from that is nothing more than a pity party where we all get together and cry on each other’s shoulders because of our weaknesses and defeats? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Rom. 8:37 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4 Am I saying that we will not have trials, temptations, and troubles?
No, of course not! As long as we are on this earth we are subject to
temptation and all the troubles and trials that are common to man. BUT
there is victory for the true Christian because of the better covenant
provided for us! There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Cor. 10:13 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. Psa. 112:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1 John 5:4-5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Pet. 1:5 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, Jude 1:24 So when a person says that they are saved, but they just can’t help
sinning they are contradicting the Word of God. If they truly can’t help
it, it is because they do not have the Word of God or Spirit of God
dwelling in them. |