Anyone who has trusted Jesus Christ as Savior is “A new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). So says the holy Scriptures. Old refers to the old lifestyle—the corrupt sinful nature every human being is born with. No one is exempt. “For there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:22,23). Sin means “to miss the mark.” Anything that falls short of God’s glory is sin. The Bible also makes it clear that “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). These Scriptures are showing us why there is the need for a change.
God Almighty, in His mercy, love, and grace has provided the complete “remedy” for man’s sinful condition in the Person of His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and HIs death and shed blood on the Cross. The writer to the Hebrews states “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). Jesus Christ took our place on the cross, “For our sake he [God] made him [Jesus] to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
All my sins were laid upon Him,
Jesus bore them on the tree;
God, who knew them, laid them on Him,
And believing thou art free.
In coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord, a spiritual relationship is established. Christians must always be mindful that God saves because He desires that we have this relationship with Himself. The Bible tells us that God is a “jealous God.” And He cautioned His ancient people Israel that they should not have any other gods before Him. The Scripture says “(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exodus 34:14). Even God’s “name is Jealous.” God has every divine right to be jealous since He is the only true and living God who provided salvation for us.
God has no equals and He is not in competition with anyone or anything. Let God be God, for He and He alone is God—sovereign, almighty, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. And He tells us, “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am He. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. “I, I am the LORD, and beside me there is no savior. (Isaiah 43:10,11).
God and God alone
Will be the joy of our eternal home
He will be our one desire
Our hearts will never tire
Of God and God alone.
(Steve Green:For God and God Alone (1986).
The believer’s God is holy, just and righteous. Hence, He says to His children, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). “You shall be holy” means living a life that is separate or ‘set apart’ for God. Our allegiance is to Him. Our attitude and behavior must reflect Him. Why then do some Christians appear to “become weary in well doing? And as the apostle Paul expressed his concern to the Galatian Christians who started off well in their faith and commitment to the Lord but ‘stumbled’ because of false teachings. Paul writes. “You were were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from Him who calls you“ (Galatians 5:7,8). The Galatian beliers started off well in their worship and service to God. But they “stumbled” because of false teachings.
In his commentary on the subject, William MacDonald writes, “Legalism is disobedience to the truth. The Galatians had made a good start in the Christian life, but some one had hindered them. It was the Judaizers, the legalists, the false apostles. By accepting their erroneous teachings, the saints were disobeying the truth of God. Legalism is not a divine teaching. Persuasion here means belief or doctrine. Him who calls you refer to God. Thus the belief that circumcision and law-keeping should be added to faith in Christ does not come from God but from the devil” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1892, Thomas Nelson Publishers).
One of the problems Christians have always faced is the rampant ungodliness that exists in the world around us. This is seen on billboards, television screens, books and magazines, the worldwide web, daily talkshows, on the job, and the list goes on ad infinitum. All these have the power to attract their targets.
The believer in Christ is saved so that he can live a godly life. And it all starts with the mind. Paul points out the huge difference between the mind that is set on the flesh and the mind that is set on the Spirit. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot” (Romans 8:5-7). It is also noteworthy that “the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God.” It cannot be otherwise because a Christian who is preoccupied with the things of the flesh will never please God in such a state.
It was Martin Luther who said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” How true this statement is. And how applicable to us as Christians. Where there is the will, enthusiasm, and passion to live godly in this present world it will happen. This can be accomplished by allowing God’s word to have free course in regulating your behavior and thought processes. Also, take the time to pray. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths”(Proverbs 3:5,6). Glory to God.