Do you understand that Christ gave himself entirely for you? Do you understand that He didn’t think twice to obey God?
Right. But if we understand all these things, why are we so reluctant to give up our carnal desires and live completely for Him? Why, even though we know Jesus’ sacrifice for us, do we sometimes continue to live a shallow gospel?
This was a question that my leader asked me. This led me to think a lot about my devotion and obedience to God. I would like to talk to you about it.
Selfishness
After hearing this question, I started to think and realized how selfish I have been! I have done God’s will and kept His commandments when it suits me. When I realize that in order to do God’s will, I will have to give up my carnal desires, I ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit and listen to my flesh.
This is absolutely unfair and selfish! I want Christ’s sacrifice to be saved. But I am not willing to give up my life as a sinner, to be grateful and to glorify Him who saved me. For myself and with my own strength, I will never have the will to live and fulfill the will of God, because I am a failure and a sinner.
“or all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 3:23
But still, when we are flawed, sinners and transgressors of the Law of God, the Lord shows His love and mercy for us!
There is still hope
For ourselves, we can never really achieve salvation and be delivered from the bondage of sin. But through Jesus’ love and sacrifice, we have another chance!
“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”
Romans 7: 24-25
It is clear that salvation comes purely and simply through Jesus Christ! He is the only one who has the power to save us, through his sacrifice.
However, after we understand and receive Christ’s salvation, radical changes must occur in our lives. We must be 100% transformed by the action of the Spirit of God in our lives!
Metanoia
The word “metanoia” means a change in mentality. For the Greeks, it meant a fundamental change or alteration or, more literally, transcendence (“goal” – above or beyond, as in “metaphysics”) of the mind (“noia” – of the “nous” root of the mind).
For Christians, “metanoia” is the complete change of direction, where we repent of our sins, turn around and change the course of our lives, now centered on Christ.
“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”
Acts 3:19
Conversion should bring us confrontation! From the moment that Christ enters our hearts, the comfort we have in our sins must be destroyed! There is no room for Christ and sin in our hearts.
This is by no means easy! It is something extremely difficult and I confess that it has been like this for me: a daily and incessant struggle against myself. I have fallen several times, but I have learned to truly repent and ask God for strength and boldness to face my sins.
Boys need to become men of Christ and stop doing boyish things. Girls need to become women of Christ and stop doing girls’ things. Don’t let your desires take over you, but let go of your sins and live to honor and glorify the name of Christ.
Grace and Peace.
Follow the JFA Bible on social media: @bibliajfa. If you have not yet downloaded our app, just search for “Bible Offline” by Mr Rocco in the app stores (Google Play Store and Apple App Store).
