October 31st, 2023
Grace is unmerited, by definition. We’re saved by His mercy, not because we’ve done anything to deserve it (Titus 3:5), but we do have a part to play! When Jesus breathed his last on the cross, He died for every human being that would ever live and made provision for everything we could ever need. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone will accept Him and walk with Him. It also doesn’t mean that everyone who starts walking with Him will keep walking with Him. After being saved by grace, we do have to live differently. Just because you’ve had one encounter with God doesn’t mean you’ve arrived! Paul himself said,
“I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
We are responsible, as believers, to keep God’s word and guard ourselves from the doctrines of the world. 2 Peter 1:10 says,
“Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.”
Hebrews 3:12 says,
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”
The Bible teaches that it’s possible to experience the goodness of God and turn away. 2 Peter 2:21-22 says,
‘It would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”’
It would have been better for them to have never known the truth than to know it and throw it away. That’s because we’re responsible for what we know. That shouldn’t scare us, but it should fill us with passion to remain steadfast!
Jesus said in John 10-28-20:
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”
See, there is no danger of anyone “snatching” us from the house of God. God is more than able to protect us (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and keep from stumbling (Jude 1:24-25). There is only danger if we choose to walk outside of His protection. Sin is deceitful, but if we remain in His
Word, we cannot be deceived, because we’ve been given the Spirit of Truth! (John 14:17)
In 2 Peter 2:13-14, Peter wrote about those who are among believers, but live like the world.
He says,
“They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls.”
James 1:13-15 says,
“Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
The ONLY way you can walk away from God after you’ve encountered Him is if you choose to feed your flesh. Sin can only entice an “unsteady soul.” The Bible teaches that the flesh and the Spirit are opposed to one another (Galatians 5:17). You can’t feed both your flesh and your spirit. If you try to pacify your fleshly nature while seeking God, you’ll be doubleminded and “unsteady.” The steadfast soul, on the other hand, has determined to seek His kingdom only and is immune to the draw of the world. Galatians 5:24 says,
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
If you fully give yourself to God, you cannot be drawn away. In fact, if you crucify your flesh completely, the things that used to draw you will actually repulse you. Your flesh will always want to go back to the world, but it can be crucified. Your sinful nature is destroyed by then blood of Jesus! Galatians 6:14 says,
“Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Has the world been crucified to you and you to the world?
Holy may seem like an old word, but it’s the word the angels have been crying out before the throne for all eternity. When we see Him, all we’ll know to cry is “holy, holy, holy.” Holiness isn’t an archaic idea. It’s the result of a life spent in His Word and at His side. Living in holiness means being separated from the world, not to escape, but to be close to Him. James 4:4-5 says,
‘Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?’
God is jealous over His church because He loves her so much! It's easy to keep His Word when we love Him, in return. All of the law is summed up in loving Him, completely. It’s impossible to be deceived by the flesh or the world if we’re crucified to it. A steady soul cannot be enticed by the darkness! As we walk by the Spirit, we cannot gratify the desire of the flesh. As we devote ourselves to Him and bury ourselves in His Word, we will grow in grace by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can’t sustain a move of His Spirit without living in holiness according to His Word. If we try to keep His Word because we think we have to, we’ll eventually fall away. However, if we’re always falling more in love with Him, we’ll keep His Word without trying. His instructions will be written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). Holiness isn’t legalism; it’s obedience. Holiness isn’t religion; it’s passion. Holiness isn’t law; it’s love.
“I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27).
We are responsible, as believers, to keep God’s word and guard ourselves from the doctrines of the world. 2 Peter 1:10 says,
“Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities, you will never fall.”
Hebrews 3:12 says,
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.”
The Bible teaches that it’s possible to experience the goodness of God and turn away. 2 Peter 2:21-22 says,
‘It would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”’
It would have been better for them to have never known the truth than to know it and throw it away. That’s because we’re responsible for what we know. That shouldn’t scare us, but it should fill us with passion to remain steadfast!
Jesus said in John 10-28-20:
“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.”
See, there is no danger of anyone “snatching” us from the house of God. God is more than able to protect us (2 Thessalonians 3:3) and keep from stumbling (Jude 1:24-25). There is only danger if we choose to walk outside of His protection. Sin is deceitful, but if we remain in His
Word, we cannot be deceived, because we’ve been given the Spirit of Truth! (John 14:17)
In 2 Peter 2:13-14, Peter wrote about those who are among believers, but live like the world.
He says,
“They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls.”
James 1:13-15 says,
“Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”
The ONLY way you can walk away from God after you’ve encountered Him is if you choose to feed your flesh. Sin can only entice an “unsteady soul.” The Bible teaches that the flesh and the Spirit are opposed to one another (Galatians 5:17). You can’t feed both your flesh and your spirit. If you try to pacify your fleshly nature while seeking God, you’ll be doubleminded and “unsteady.” The steadfast soul, on the other hand, has determined to seek His kingdom only and is immune to the draw of the world. Galatians 5:24 says,
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
If you fully give yourself to God, you cannot be drawn away. In fact, if you crucify your flesh completely, the things that used to draw you will actually repulse you. Your flesh will always want to go back to the world, but it can be crucified. Your sinful nature is destroyed by then blood of Jesus! Galatians 6:14 says,
“Far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Has the world been crucified to you and you to the world?
Holy may seem like an old word, but it’s the word the angels have been crying out before the throne for all eternity. When we see Him, all we’ll know to cry is “holy, holy, holy.” Holiness isn’t an archaic idea. It’s the result of a life spent in His Word and at His side. Living in holiness means being separated from the world, not to escape, but to be close to Him. James 4:4-5 says,
‘Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?’
God is jealous over His church because He loves her so much! It's easy to keep His Word when we love Him, in return. All of the law is summed up in loving Him, completely. It’s impossible to be deceived by the flesh or the world if we’re crucified to it. A steady soul cannot be enticed by the darkness! As we walk by the Spirit, we cannot gratify the desire of the flesh. As we devote ourselves to Him and bury ourselves in His Word, we will grow in grace by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can’t sustain a move of His Spirit without living in holiness according to His Word. If we try to keep His Word because we think we have to, we’ll eventually fall away. However, if we’re always falling more in love with Him, we’ll keep His Word without trying. His instructions will be written on our hearts (Hebrews 8:10). Holiness isn’t legalism; it’s obedience. Holiness isn’t religion; it’s passion. Holiness isn’t law; it’s love.
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