Romans 8:12-17English Standard Version (ESV)Heirs with Christ12 So then, brothers,[a] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[b] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Colossians 3:5-8English Standard Version (ESV)
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[a] sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[b] 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Why is it so hard to understand some of the things of God? Why do people try to dilute the Gospel to please the ways of men? I guess when it is all said and done, I struggle with my sin that God has saved me from. I know I am a sinner. I know that my sins have separated me from the love of God. That is, to say, until I came to know Jesus Christ as Lord. I was once lost, but now I am found through Christ Jesus who died brutally on a cross for my sin and for your if you confess His name and believe that he was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on a cross and rose again from the dead you will be saved. Confession is good for the soul. The hardest thing to wrap my head around is that I still struggle with my fleshly desires. The difference is that I no longer desire to please my selfish flesh, but to try to please God. Yet I still succumb to pride and to sin. I confess this sin to God and to my brothers (Men of Faith) and know that God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, has given me the perfect sacrifice for my soul and my sins of the past, present and future are covered by Him.
This being said, I still wonder and test and seek the truth that is found in Scripture. For instance, why does it tell us, who are saved and covered forever by the Blood of Jesus Christ, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Why does it say in the New Testament that those of us who give in to the flesh will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Why does it tell me to put to death the earthly desires of the flesh? Does the Gospel offend? Are we to call out sin or just always show grace? Where is the balance in this?
Why does Scripture tell us to renew our mind? Why does it tell us to pursue holiness? Why does Scripture tell us to repent? Why does the cross have to be so violent? Why did God have to send His only Son to die for our sins and to be beaten and tortured and crucified for our sins? Does God hate sin that much?
These are things that I wrestle with. These are some of the things that I am diligently searching God's word for and looking for his direction of which way to go in the leadership of my family and His ministry.
Repent! For the Kingdom of God is at hand!
Examine yourselves to see if you are still in the faith?
Pursue holiness and flee any form of sexual immorality.
Pray for me,
D