We should stand for the truth and not compromise. Aggressive arguing, harsh language, and even hatred are more and more common.īelievers should not target and single out certain sins and attack people who commit those sins. There is an almost militant “us against them” attitude. In recent years, I have been saddened by many professing believers’ behavior toward the lost, either in the real world or in the anonymity of the online one. And we must be welcoming and loving to those who are still lost.
Christians must not judge those that come from rough backgrounds. Every believer was once dead to sin and is alive only by grace. Every single one of us is in the same boat. All of us lived among them at one time – In the church, there is no room for a “better than thou” Pharisaic pride. When God created people, He said, “man and woman.” He created two genders, not the fifty-eight genders that Facebook supports.Ĥ. Satan is trying to undercut the traditional family and cause people created in God’s image to lose their identity. One current example is the LBGT movement. And those things that disagree with Scripture must be discarded no matter how many people support it. Whatever we hear must be compared to Scripture. Therefore we must always practice discernment. We need to understand that Satan is active and using these resources to undermine Biblical truth. It is to say that he is working through these outlets to spread his lies, temptations, and doctrines.Ĭan you give examples of how Satan uses media to influence people?Īpplication: Believers must be wary. This is not to say that these are all Satanists or 100% working for him all the time. He makes use of every tool at his disposal: the internet, television, print media, newspapers, magazines, and academic institutions. Human governments and culture are under his sway. Satan is active in this world, leading (misleading) it against God. His kingdom is equated with the “ways of the world,” and Paul says that he is working in those who are disobedient. Here Paul also teaches that Satan’s kingdom is in this world. When he tempted Jesus, he took Him to the top of a mountain and offered to give him the kingdoms of the world. Of the ruler of the kingdom of the air – Satan has dominion over this world. If a person claims to have given his life to God and yet lives exactly the same way as before, then there is a good chance that the decision wasn’t genuine.Īpplication: What sin do you struggle with now that you also struggled with prior to coming to Christ? How can you get victory?ģ. Paul implies here that every believer’s life has a clear change in direction after they are saved. After salvation, they did not live the same way as before. In which you used to live – The Ephesians had a radical life change after they were born again. Therefore we must live by the strength and wisdom which He provides.Ģ. And we should not think that we can finish by our own efforts that which He started in our lives with His power. Our salvation and life transformation is completely due to God’s grace in our lives. Did Lazarus take credit for his resurrection? A dead person gets no credit. All have turned aside together they have become worthless no one does good, not even one.Īpplication: Our salvation is not due to ourselves. Romans 3:10-12 – as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one no one understands no one seeks for God. Neither can he take initiative to seek after God. A mere change in trajectory is insufficient.Īlso, a spiritually dead person cannot see or understand the things of the Spirit. Even the good that we do is as “filthy rags” in God’s sight. Prior to salvation, people have no ability to please God in any way. A dead person does not just need a change of scenery or extra motivation. There was no spiritual goodness and no life.
Being “dead in sins” describes their spiritual condition. You were dead in your sins – Paul describes the Ephesians’ former life prior to their conversion. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.ġ. Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
John 15:19 – If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. John 3:3 – Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. Can you see this behavior in your previous life? How about now?.Why were we “children” or “objects” of wrath?.
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