Many people are confused and misapply scripture not understanding the transformation that took place to the apostles after they received power when they were spiritually baptized by the Holy Spirit.

Instead they want to focus on the disciples before they were clothed with power [lack of faith, hard heart (not a new heart), lack of understanding, slave to the sin of the bad heart] because this is the weak old man that they are only able to identify with instead of the transformed apostles of power after pentecost.  Many deny themselves the power of God and freedom from the power of sin in the life that they war against because the sin still dwells in the thoughts of the bad heart they still have.  Thus they are always in a struggle with some sin in their heart that wages war against the soul.  This isn’t the promise of the person who has been baptized in the Spirit with Christ.
 
In seeking to justify their continued weakness in the flesh and slavery to sin (inability to overcome), they point to passages that describe the “old man” or those who are weak in the flesh because they have not been born again by the power of God to the “new man” having become partakers of the divine nature and filled to all the fullness of God.  [Listen to episode on Romans chapter 6, 7, and 8 for the full context of the contrast between the two men].  Listen to the gospel and result that happens in our life as Peter describes it in 1 Peter episode.
Let me point out some examples of the lives of the 12 disciples before they became apostles by the Holy Spirit of God.  You want to be this person of weakness who still has eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear, does not understand the scripture, still carries about the sin in the hard heart?

​BEFORE SPIRITUAL BAPTISM
After the disciples observed many miracles of healings, casting out demons, etc … look at what happens and what Jesus says about them:
Mar 4:38-41 38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Hush, be still." And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They became very much afraid and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"
 
Then after feeding the five thousand, there was another event which occurred when Jesus was walking on the water.  Look at what the word of God says:
 
Mar 6:51-52  51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
 
 
Jesus had to explain all the parables to them because they didn’t understand:
 
Mar 4:9-13  9 And He was saying, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." 10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, "To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, 12 so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN." 13 And He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How will you understand all the parables?
 
Mar 7:14-18 14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, "Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16 "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear." 17 When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 18 And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him,
 
Mar 8:1-4 In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and said to them, 2 "I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. 3 "If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance." 4 And His disciples answered Him, "Where will anyone be able to find enough bread here in this desolate place to satisfy these people?"

• The disciples still didn’t understand even after the feeding of 5000 and then he feeds the 4000

 
Mar 8:15-21 15 And He was giving orders to them, saying, "Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 16 They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? 18 "HAVING EYES, DO YOU NOT SEE? AND HAVING EARS, DO YOU NOT HEAR? And do you not remember, 19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?" They said to Him, "Twelve." 20 "When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?" And they said to Him, "Seven." 21 And He was saying to them, "Do you not yet understand?"

• The disciples still had a hard heart, still did not understand, still had blind eyes and deaf ears.

 
Mar 8:31-33 31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's."
 
 
 
Mar 9:10  10 They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.

• The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus meant when he said the son of man is going to rise from the dead.  They didn’t understand fully.  Their minds were not fully opened.  They had not been born again or baptized with the Holy Spirit yet.

 
Mar 9:31-34 31 For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later." 32 But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him. 33 They came to Capernaum; and when He was in the house, He began to question them, "What were you discussing on the way?" 34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had discussed with one another which of them was the greatest.

• Luk 9:44-46  44 "Let these words sink into your ears; for the Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." 45 But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement. 46 An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.
• Luk 18:31-34  31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 "For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again." 34 But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.

 
 
Mar 10:13-14 13 And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, "Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
 
Mar 10:24-27 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."
 
 
 
Mar 14:27-30  27 And Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away, because it is written, 'I WILL STRIKE DOWN THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP SHALL BE SCATTERED.' 28 "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." 29 But Peter said to Him, "Even though all may fall away, yet I will not." 30 And Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, that this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you yourself will deny Me three times."

• Peter didn’t have the Holy Spirit yet, but Jesus knew that after he received power he would then follow Jesus to death.
• Joh 13:36-38 36 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered, "Where I go, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later." 37 Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You." 38 Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly, I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times.

 
Mar 14:37-41 37 And He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? 38 "Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." 39 Again He went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him. 41 And He came the third time, and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough; the hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
 
After Jesus was raised from the dead, they continued in doubt.  The Holy Spirit still had not been poured out.
 
Mar 16:11-14  11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. 12 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13 They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. 14 Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.
 
Mat 26:32  32 "But after I have been raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
Mat 28:7  7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."
Mat 28:16-17  16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
 
Joh 20:9 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
 
 
Luk 24:15-16 15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
 
Luk 24:25-31  25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. …  31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
 
Luk 24:36-49  36 While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be to you." 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate it before them. 44 Now He said to them, "These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 "You are witnesses of these things. 49 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
 
 
 
 
Joh 2:21-25  21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.
 
Joh 12:16  16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
 
Joh 7:37-39  37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

• You will notice Jesus actually commands (greek imperative mood command) them in the present tense to get water from him and to drink now.  They were not told that they were actually going to have to wait.  The author tells us separately in the gospel narrative in vs 39.  It is important to understand these things.  People who don’t understand these things make speculative assumptions that people already received and were baptized with the Holy Spirit through Christ even though we are told they have to wait till after Jesus is glorified.  This is discussed more in the following passages.

 
Joh 14:15-31  15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. 16 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. 20 "In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?" 23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. 24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me. 25 "These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28 "You heard that I said to you, 'I go away, and I will come to you.' If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 "Now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe. 30 "I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in Me; 31 but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.

• Another example of Jesus prophesying that these things won’t happen until the future after he goes to the Father.

 
 
Joh 15:26-1  26 "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, 27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
 
Joh 16:7  7 "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
 
Act 1:4-5  4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
 
Act 2:33 33 "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
 
 
Some may ask:
 
Then how were they able to cast out demons on other activities?  Because Jesus gave them authority, that doesn’t mean they were born again, they still hadn’t received the Spirit.

• Mat 10:1 Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 

 
 
 
Then how did Peter know who Jesus was later on in the gospel?  God reveals things by His Spirit.  See 1 Corinthians 2:10-16.  Because God reveals His wisdom through His Spirit.  The Spirit of God convicts the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment and draws us out of darkness into light.  As the Spirit reveals truth we must humbly accept it in faith.  Then we can be clothed with power and be born again into a new creation.

• Mat 16:16-27  16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, nd whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ. 21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. 22 Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You." 23 But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's." 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 5 "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.

-  Sam


​

It is sad how many people don't understand when God is speaking about those who are living a vain life.  Most of these discussions are applied directly to a people who say they are the people of God.  God even applies them to those who He calls His people before He destroys them because they refused to respond to the discipline of God.
 
I have heard more people quote from Ecclesiastes 7:20, Romans 3:10, 1Jn 1:8, etc ....   The list goes on and on.  Yet these people do not have context of the book and many times even the chapter.  The result is foolish speculations, disputes about words, and controversial questions which God warns against those who understand nothing and are deprived of the truth.  They advocate a different doctrine not agreeing with sound words (those of Christ) or the doctrine that conforms to godliness.  (1 Tim 6:3-5)
 
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and does not sin.
 
Rom 3:10-12  As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one."
 
 
As you can see, the statements from both Ecclesiastes and Romans are the same.  Yet many people don't understand the context and teachings of God from his word both in the book where the passages are plucked and in addition for the case of Romans, the OT scripture from which the passage was taken.
 
Read Psalm chapter 14 from where some of the passages of Romans CH 3 are taken and you will see it talks about the "fool" who does not know God.  Those in darkness who are excluded from God.  Those who do NO good.  They only do evil.  Think of the moral atheist.  This is how God sees them.  Many people would agree in the eyes of man there are many moral atheist who do "good", the same good deeds you see Christians performing.  But they don't understand when you still have a bad heart with wicked thoughts to go along with the good thoughts, you are defiled and still have a bad heart.  This is discussed in the episode "God requires a new heart" (part 1 and part 2).  
 
Psalm chapter 15 then contrasts the "fool" with the righteous man who DOES do good, and DOES NOT do evil.  It is this man that will abide with God!
 
For 1 John Chapter 1, most people don’t know the first chapter is written to those in the church who are deceived and think they have fellowship with God even though they still walk with darkness in their life.  They are so blind because they only know how to go and pick a single verse or two and not understand the whole chapter and the whole book.  Go listen to the episode on 1 John and John 3:16.
 
Now, let me point out some things in Ecclesiastes that many people are blind to, because they don't seek to understand the principle teachings that God wants to communicate.  They are attracted and can only seem to see the things that justify what they want to believe because they are unwilling to acknowledge that they may be deceived and not have fellowship with God.
 
Ecclesiastes:  The book is written to point out all the vanities of the world.  There are very few statements of God's truth, but many statements of vanity as viewed through the wisdom of the world.  This is a reflection of Solomon’s life of vanity .  At the very end we are left with the truth of God that is not vanity and is what we are to put our trust in:
 

• Ecc 12:13  13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

 
 
Many people are ignorant of the fact Solomon fell away from God.  Look below at the prayers offered for Solomon and the conditions.  Then look at what God says about Solomon at the end of his life:
 
Prayer / Instruction for Solomon
 
1Ki 9:3-9  3 The LORD said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built by putting My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 4 "As for you, if you will walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and uprightness, doing according to all that I have commanded you and will keep My statutes and My ordinances, 5 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, 'You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.' 6 "But if you or your sons indeed turn away from following Me, and do not keep My commandments and My statutes which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, 7 then I will cut off Israel from the land which I have given them, and the house which I have consecrated for My name, I will cast out of My sight. So Israel will become a proverb and a byword among all peoples. 8 "And this house will become a heap of ruins; everyone who passes by will be astonished and hiss and say, 'Why has the LORD done thus to this land and to this house?' 9 "And they will say, 'Because they forsook the LORD their God
1 Chronicles 28:9  "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.
 
1Ch 29:17-19  17 "Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I, in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to You. 18 "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You; 19 and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision."
 
Solomon’s Fall
 
1Ki 11:4-12  4 For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been.… 9 Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not observe what the LORD had commanded. 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, "Because you have done this, and you have not kept My covenant and My statutes, which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you, and will give it to your servant. 12 "Nevertheless I will not do it in your days for the sake of your father David, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.
 
 
 
Ecc 1:2-3   "Vanity of vanities," says the Preacher; "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?

• Are the things of God vanity?  Or is it the things of the world that are vanity?
• Does the labor of the world profit a man?  Or is it the labor for the kingdom of heaven profit a man?  (Titus 3:8, 1 Tim 4:7-10, Math 16:23-27, 1 Corinth 13:3)

• It should be clear, those who are in Christ and no longer live for the world but for God and the Kingdom of heaven DO NOT live a life of vanity or labor for that which does not profit.

 
Ecc 1:18  Because in much wisdom there is much grief, and increasing knowledge results in increasing pain.

• Does the wisdom and knowledge of God result in grief to those who are sons of God? 
• There is a clear difference between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God (1 Corinth 2:1-16, 3:18-19)

 
Ecc 2:3  I explored with my mind how to stimulate my body with wine while my mind was guiding me wisely, and how to take hold of folly, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven the few years of their lives.
 
Ecc 2:8-11 8 Also, I collected for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself male and female singers and the pleasures of men-- many concubines. 9 Then I became great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me. 10 All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my reward for all my labor. 11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was vanity and striving after wind and there was no profit under the sun.

• We see that Solomon now reflecting on his life, it was all vanity.  No profit

 
Ecc 2:14-18 14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that one fate befalls them both. 15 Then I said to myself, "As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity." 16 For there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And how the wise man and the fool alike die! 17 So I hated life, for the work which had been done under the sun was grievous to me; because everything is futility and striving after wind. 18 Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.

• In the eyes of the world, one fate exists for the wise man of the world and the fool of the world, death.  But this isn’t the case for someone who has the wisdom of God.  There is a much greater treasure and hope such that death in the is world is just the beginning of the eternal.
• A man who labors for the world produces a fruit of the world and is envious when it is simply left to another man after he dies.
• This is why Solomon says he hated the fruit of his labor and acknowledges his life of vanity.

 
 
 
Ecc 3:18-20  18 I said to myself concerning the sons of men, "God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts." 19 For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. 20 All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust.

• In the eyes and wisdom of man, the statement above is correct.  But this is not true for those who have and abide in the wisdom of God.
• Psa 49:20  20 Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.
• 2Pe 2:12-14 12 But these, like natural beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak blasphemes of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
  • Note:  These people feast with true Christians because they are hidden reefs that are not readily apparent.  These people promise others freedom (1 Pe 2:19) while they are still slaves of sin.  There are so many people who think they serve God, but blaspheme His truth and are slaves of sin.

 
 
Ecc 4:1-4 Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter-- On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, more than the living who are still alive. 3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun. 4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.

• Again, all this is the vanity and wisdom of the world. 
• Those who are son’s of God have the God of all comfort to comfort them.
• Those who have found God, are blessed to exist. 
• A man of God who has been born again is not the man who envies his neighbor.

 
Ecc 6:1-6 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men: 2 A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is an evil affliction. 3 If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he-- 4 for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. 5 Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice-- but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place?

• So if we live a life for God and suffer martyrdom as Christ, the prophets, and apostles; but we don’t get a proper burial than it would be better for us to have been born dead and not lived?  This isn’t the wisdom of God, it is the wisdom of man, of vanity. 

 
Ecc 8:14-15  14 There is a vanity which occurs on earth, that there are just men to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. 15 So I commended pleasure, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

• Again, wisdom of the world.  The world will recognize a distinguishment between a righteous man and wicked, but in the eyes of God there is none who does good and who does not sin.  Because the righteous man of the world is still the wicked man in the eyes of God.
• Those of the world have nothing better to do than to pursue and commend pleasure.  To them, that is what God gives to them.  We know that this is not true for a true Christian.  We don’t pursue the world and the pleasures of the world; but the eternal things in the heavens.

 
Ecc 9:2-10  2 All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. 3 This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: that one thing happens to all. Truly the hearts of the sons of men are full of evil; madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. 4 But for him who is joined to all the living there is hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun. 7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. 8 Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

• More vain wisdom of the world (or devil).  Don’t forget, the devil preaches the word of God in deception telling people they have peace with God when there is no peace.
• Does the bible teach that we only have hope while living in this earthly life and that after we die we have no more reward?  No it teaches that the hope we have today is for the life after we die.  We look forward to the end of this life desiring to be with the Father and the Son forever.
• Again, vain wisdom will tell you that once your life ends you will no longer get to enjoy the pleasures of this life, so make sure you live life now and be filled with love, hate, and envy before its gone.  The devils wisdom will also deceive and tell you that you have peace and favor with God
• So your portion in life is to enjoy all the days of vanity, spending your life in love-hate-envy?

 
 
 
In summary, people need to first look at the entire book and the principles of what God is saying, especially when he contrasts the life of a fool or the old man vs the new man; wisdom of the world vs the wisdom of God.  Sadly most people cannot give you an outline of the book from which the blaspheme the word of God by falsely holding to individual verses and vain/empty speculations or thoughts of men.

-Sam


​

Romans 7:13-25, one of the most blasphemed and distorted passage from the bible.  Why does this occur?  Because people are unwilling to seek God's wisdom through His word and explanations, but they seek to take passages and then add in their context so they can twist the word of God to fit their life and justify that even though they are still a slave of sin, they have peace with God.

Let's examine these passages and compare them with what God has already established as Truth in His word.  Let us not rely on our own thoughts or life, but on God's word.  If you life does not conform to God's word, then it is YOU who are WRONG.  Stop trying to twist and distort God's word to justify your life as reflecting that of a true Son of God when you are still a slave of sin.


Quick Summary:
 

1. The question being asked is “did the Law which is good and holy become a cause of death for me?”  [Romans 7:13]
   1. The answer is NO, “May it Never Be”.  Instead the cause of death is provided.  It is the sin which dwells in a person or the person who is a slave to sin.
2.  This passage is about the person who is a SLAVE TO SIN.  Establishes the man of sin [Old man: not born again, not a Saint, not a Christian] as the person being discussed.
   1. Verse 14 establishes the person being discussed, the person who is sold as a slave to sin. 
   2. This person doesn’t understand (7:15)
   3. This person doesn’t do good, but only does what they hate (7:15)
   4. Sin is still alive and dwells in the person (7:17)
   5. They are unable to do good, only evil (7:18-19)
   6. Sin is alive in them resulting in the evil works they do (7:20)
   7. They know the right thing to do (7:21-22)
   8. The word of God will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness.  The Law brings about the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20)
3. The man who is a slave of sin:  the members of his body are producing sin and making him a prisoner of the law of sin (7:23)
   1. Thus this man of sin cries out in desperation:  “Wretched man that I am!  Who will set me free from the body of this death?”
   2. He then gives the answer:  Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord (7:25)
4. Summarizes the state of this man of sin [The old man, non Christian]
   1. Their mind they know and agree with the “Law of God”. 
   2. This man is a slave to the law of sin in their flesh (or body)

 
As you look into the verses before and after this passage, God has already defined who has eternal life or who is born again and who isn’t.  He shows how the man who is still a slave of sin has NOT been baptized with Christ.  The man whose members produce sin is the man who has NOT been baptized with Christ.  The man who still walks in sin will be judged and receive the burning wrath and anger of God. 
 
Book of Romans Background:

1. Romans 3:9-20  Established that all men born into the world (Jews and Gentiles) are all under sin. 
   1. None righteous
   2. No one understands
   3. No one does good
   4. The only do evil
   5. This is the same man described who is a slave of sin we discussed in Romans 7:13-25
   6. This is a quote taken from Psalm CH 14 which discusses those who don’t know God.  The fool, who doesn’t understand, does no good, only does evil …
   7. Psalm CH 15 next chapter then discusses the “righteous” man, the one who will abide with God.  The one who does NO evil, only does good.  Sounds opposite to the unrighteous man, because IT IS opposite.  They are 2 different people.  One blessed and one condemned.
2. Romans Chapter 2 established that only those who are able to “do good” will receive eternal life and escape the judgment of God.  It is later revealed this is the man who has the law of God written in his heart and has the Spirit (the new man, born again, crucified with Christ), not the man that TRIES to live according to written rules [commonly referred to as “works of the law”], who serves God in falsehood while he is still a slave of sin and thinks he has peace with God.  Still has a bad heart with sin in it that he can’t remove because he doesn’t understand the truth and has put his faith in a lie.
   1. Rom 2:5-8  5 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, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation
   2. Rom 2:9-10  9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Gentile, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile.
   3. Rom 2:13 13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.
   4. Rom 2:14-15 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts …
   5. Rom 2:28-29  28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
3. It is only through the “Law of Faith” (Romans 4:27) that the written Law can be established (Romans 4:31). 
   1. This the same as the “uncircumcised man” who is able to “keep the requirements of the Law” and  thus now has “circumcision imputed to him” or another way of saying he is now a true Israel and of the Spirit on the inside [Romans 2:26-29]
4. Romans Ch 6 answers the question “Shall we continue to sin so that grace may increase?”  The answer is as expected “No – may it never be.”  However most people do not know the reason why.
   1. Reason:  Because you died to sin.   If you died to sin, how is it possible that you continue to live in sin? (Romans 6:2)
   2. Romans 6:3 then explains how someone dies to sin, because apparently they “did not know” what baptism is, or that a Christian is now dead to sin and what that means.
   3. Baptism into Christ (Romans 6:3-5)
      1. 2 parts to baptism, being united with his death (1st) and then also with his life (2nd).
      2. The result is we are now to walk in or to live a NEW life with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. (Romans 6:4).  See also Ephesians 3:16-20
5. Baptism explained
   1. The body of sin is done away with (Romans 6:6)
   2. No longer a slave from sin (Romans 6:6)
   3. Now free from sin and justified from sin (Romans 6:6-7)
   4. We are dead to sin (Romans 6:11)
      1. We DO NOT obey the lusts of sin anymore (Romans 6:12)
      2. The members of our body are not used for sin anymore (Romans 6:13)
   5. We are now alive to God and live for God (Romans 6:11, 13)
      1. The members of our body are now used for righteousness to serve God (Romans 6:13)
   6. Those who still sin have the outcome of death (Romans 6:16-23)
      1. Still slaves to sin
      2. Ashamed of what they do
      3. Cannot stop
   7. Those who have been baptized into Christ are not slaves to sin, but are slaves to work righteousness, and the outcome is eternal life (Romans 6:16-23)
      1. Slaves to righteousness
      2. Obedient from the heart
      3. Produce the fruit of righteousness
      4. Put to death sin in their members
6. Adulteress Example (Romans 7:1-6), [Note: Israel who believed in God, but would continue to sin was destroyed by God and called an Adulteress repeatedly – read OT.]
   1. 1 woman (us)
      1. 1st husband (law of sin)
      2. 2nd husband (Christ)
   2. If we being married to the first husband (sin) and attempt to unite ourselves to new husband (Christ) without the first husband being put to death, we are called an adulteress
   3. Baptism into Christ results in the Holy Spirit removing the bad heart of sin and giving us a new heart with the law of God written on it.
   4. Until the Spirit puts to death sin in our lives and fills us with the fruit of the spirit/righteousness, we cannot bear fruit for God.
   5. Once we have died to the sin which we were slaves to, we are then released (free) from sin and we can now live in the Spirit, produce fruit for God, and walk / live in the newness of life
7. How are we freed from the body of death, how did it happen?  We have the answer restated in Romans Chapter 8
   1. The Law of the Spirit (8:3)
      1. This law of the Spirit also was the life in Christ Jesus
      2. Jesus had the same body of weakness (the flesh) as we had
      3. Jesus was able to overcome and be an acceptable sacrifice through the Law of the Spirit at work in him.
      4. “man of flesh” + “Spirit and power of God” = a man who can overcome sin and live righteously   
   2. The Law (written Law)
      1. The commandments of God cannot overcome the sin that dwells in a man born into the world, because his body is weak being only flesh.
      2. “man of flesh” + “written Law” = Man still a slave of sin, but convicted of the sin in his life that he cannot stop sinning
      3. A man in his weakness (the flesh) can try to obey God’s commands through the written Law [commonly referred to as “works of the Law”], but is unable to because the “Law of sin and death” is stronger in his body (weak flesh)
   3. The Spirit [Law of the Spirit] united with a weak body [flesh] is made strong by the power of God in the inner man and is able to overcome the Law of sin and death, so as to free a man from sin and allow him to now live in righteousness.  This is through receiving the gift of God (Holy Spirit) through faith in what God can do and will do.  There had to be a sacrifice for sin first, because God cannot dwell in an unholy temple (our bodies), thus the sacrifice and then the cleansing of our body from sin.
   4. What person can meet [fulfill] all the requirements of the law?
      1. The man who now WALKS or lives in the Spirit and NOT the flesh (Romans 8:4)
      2. Only the man born again by the spirit (“Law of the Spirit of Life”)
   5. What happens if someone continues to walk or live in the flesh?
      1. They will die (Romans 8:13)
   6. Who then are sons of God?
      1. Those who live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:14)
      2. The body of sin remains dead in their life

Example of Jesus
 There is a difference between existing in the flesh and walking according to the flesh

1.      Jesus was born and existed in the flesh, but did not walk or live according to the flesh.
2.     He walked and lived according to the Spirit
3.      Even through Jesus was born in the flesh; he was also born in the Spirit.  This is why Jesus was able to walk and live in the Spirit, because he was filled with the fullness of God through the Holy Spirit

 

• Luke 24:39  "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
• Romans 1:3  concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
• Romans 9:5  whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

• John 1:13-14 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  and the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• Hebrews 5:7  In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.
• Col 1:19  19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,
• Col 2:9  9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
• John 3:6  "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

 
 
Description of a Christian
 
Thos who have been baptized into Christ have also:

1.      Have been born of the Spirit
2.      Have been filled with the deity and fullness of God
3.      “Flesh” + “Spirit / fullness of God”  = Christian with power of God in their life

 

• Joh 1:16  16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.
• Eph 1:22-23  22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
• Eph 3:19 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
• Eph 4:13  13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
• 2Pe 1:3-4  3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

  So now we DO NOT walk:

• In the old self
• In the flesh
• In sin

 We DO walk in

• The Spirit
• Righteousness
• Love
• Obedience

  
Rom 6:11-13  11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Rom 7:4-6  4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, so that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Rom 8:2-14 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-- 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Rom 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 13:14  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

1Co 3:1-3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you re not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? [Note:  he just stated at the end of Chapter 2 that those who are of the flesh are not spiritual, do not have the spirit, and cannot understand because they are spiritually appraised]

 1 Corinthians 11:29  For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Galatians 2:20  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Gal 5:13-24  13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Galatians 6:8  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.

Eph 2:1-3  And you were being dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Eph 4:20-24  20 But you did not learn Christ in this way, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus, 22 that, in reference to your former manner of life, you put off the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

Phi 3:17-19 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
 
Col 1:21-23  21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister..
 
Col 2:22-23  22 (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)-- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? 23 These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-humility and neglect of the body, but are of no value against gratifying the flesh.

Col 3:1-10 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, 7 and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Stop lying to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--

Jam 3:13-18  13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

1 Peter 3:18  For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

​1 Peter 3:21  Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
 
1 Peter 4:1-2  Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

1Jo 1:6-7  6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1Jo 2:3-7  3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 7 Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard.

1Jo 2:15-17 15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
 

- Sam

I have many conversations with people telling them about the true gospel of God.  The doctrine that actually conforms to godliness.  Sadly, many of the responses are:

• That isn't what God says
• God can't do that
• We can't be perfect
• We will always have sin

I will then ask then how they think it is okay to still live a life a sin.  The typical response is "I don't want to sin, it is something that we battle.  I pray everyday for God to help me overcome the sin in my life."

Now think about that statement.  They acknowledge they do not want to sin, they want to be changed, they appeal to God to help them ... BUT in their heart they deny that God can remove all sin and set them free.  Out of guilt they pray to God for deliverance, but in their heart they deny the truth and power of God when they say God cannot make you perfect.

Fundamentally, many people do not understand the sin is what lives in the heart.  It is due to the wicked/evil heart that everyone is born with.  No where in the word of God does God say He is only willing to:

• Give you part of a good heart
• Cleanse only some unrighteousness from you
• Make you half a good tree and half a bad tree
• Only remove some darkness, and give you some light
• Only remove some leaven (yeast), but leave some behind

The reason why so many people desperately want to be changed, but CANNOT be changed; is because they don't have faith in what God says he wants to do.  Many people don't know why Jesus died for them.

Reflect on the passages from 1st Peter below and see if these resonate with the gospel that you believe in:

1Pe 1:14-16, 14 As obedient children, no longer conforming to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

1Pe 1:22  22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

1Pe 2:1 Therefore, put aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

1Pe 2:5  5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:11-12  11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. 12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1Pe 2:15-16  15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.

1Pe 2:19-23 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

• This is YOUR example and YOUR purpose.  Do you follow in the same example?

1Pe 2:24  and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. 

• Not everyone had died to sin.  Until you die to sin, you cannot live in the newness of life.  Listen to the episode on Romans 6 on what it means to be dead and freed from sin and now a slave to righteousness by the power of God.

1Pe 3:8-12 8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For "He who would love life And see good days, must keep his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. 11 He must turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil."

1Pe 4:1-2  Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,  so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

• Have you followed the example of Christ.  Do you still sin or have you stopped.  This is referring to YOU!  No longer living the old man, but now by the Spirit according to the will of God!

1Pe 4:15-1  15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

• If you are still a sinner, if you don't suffer according to the will of God; then you are in trouble.

​- Sam
​

If you're like me, you have probably had some shakeups in your life.  Over the last year, many of our lives have been shaken by COVID.  But that paled in comparison to what happened to me and my relationship with God.  If you haven't already listened to the podcast "Proof God Can Do the Impossible," I encourage you to give it a listen.  God has forever changed me, and I will never be the same.  I pray that you look at your life.  Consider whether you are living a life worthy of the indwelling of the Spirit of God or, if like me, your garments were stained, never really cleaned.  Our eternity rests on whether we are truly clean.
Peace and Blessings to You,
​-Kyle