| The CROWN of CHRIST - Understanding the Times in the Light of Scripture |
| P I E T Y - Personal spirituality is a matter of Biblical self-government. |
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You are made of a body & a soul.
Human beings are not just animals; we have souls as well as bodies. (Genesis 2:7)
Just as our bodies are composed of many organs and tissues, our souls (also called
spirits) include many faculties such as the mind, heart, will, conscience and
understanding.
Many people these days make the neo-platonic mistake of equating the spirit with
"spirituality" and the body with "carnality" or sin. But the Bible teaches that the
demons (fallen angels) are completely evil - and that we can serve God with our
physical bodies (1 Cor 6:19&20)
Human beings are not just animals; we have souls as well as bodies. (Genesis 2:7)
Just as our bodies are composed of many organs and tissues, our souls (also called
spirits) include many faculties such as the mind, heart, will, conscience and
understanding.
Many people these days make the neo-platonic mistake of equating the spirit with
"spirituality" and the body with "carnality" or sin. But the Bible teaches that the
demons (fallen angels) are completely evil - and that we can serve God with our
physical bodies (1 Cor 6:19&20)
So we mustn't fall into the pagan idea that the way to be "spiritual" is to join a monastery or recite a mantra
until our brains go blank. God wants us to serve Him with our intellect and our physical activities.
(Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30)
salvation - past, present & future
The Bible speaks of salvation in three tenses. First, there is the new birth, or regeneration. If we have
trusted Christ to save us, then we have been saved in the past. Our salvation is complete because Jesus
finished the work of paying for our sins on the cross. (2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:5)
Second, there is the on-going process of sanctification - pursuing holiness with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We must not confuse this gradual growth, which involves our struggle against sin, with our justification and
forgiveness which are 100% the work of Christ. (1 Cor 1:18, Heb 7:27)
Finally, there is the complete salvation that awaits us in heaven, when we will be completely free of sin.
(1 Peter 1:5)
THE WORLD, THE FLESH & THE DEVIL
The Bible lists three great enemies of our souls: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of
life.(1 Jn 2:16) Gluttony, drunkenness and sexual lust are examples of the sinful desires of the body.
Greedy desires for wealth and power would be eye-lusts. And the pride of life is the arrogant presumption
that we are the boss of our own life - which leads to suicide, abortion and other self-centered sins. The Devil
tempted Jesus from each of these three angles, but Jesus was sinless and resisted. (Luke 4) Jesus is our
example - we should strive to grow into his image as the Man who obeyed God perfectly. (Rom 8:29)
GOD'S GOOD LAW IS OUR GUIDE
Many modern Christians reject God's law as if it were no longer in force. But it is God's good law that tells us
what sin and virtue are! (Psalm 19:7, Romans 7:12, 1 John 3:4) Holiness is not about avoiding alcohol or
the movies, but about loving obeying God. (Jn 14:15)
Each of God's ten commandments is a guide to holy living. First, we are to worship God alone. Second, we
must worship Him as He has instructed, not with our own silly inventions. Third, we must honor Him by
speaking respectfully of Him and His works. Fourth, we need to spend the Lord's Day (Christian Sabbath) in
worship, not work or play. Fifth, we must respect our superiors, cooperate with our equals, and lead our
inferiors with love and gentleness. Sixth, we should support the lives and heath of others. Seventh, we
ought to respect marriage and all other covenants by avoiding adultery, fornication and lust. Eighth, we must
work to pay our own bills instead of living off of others. Ninth, we need to tell the truth and protect the
good reputations of others. And tenth, we must avoid inward "coveting"; the secret desire to sin is sin
already! (Rom 7:7)
valuable solutions to SATAN'S tricks
The Puritan pastor Thomas Brooks warned about 12 tricks that the Devil uses to get us to sin. We often repeat
these excuses to ourselves when we want to disobey God.
1. "Sin looks fun." - but it is just bait with a hook hidden inside it! It will poison us in the end.
2. "Sin looks good." - but it is only painted up to trick us. It's more dangerous because it's fake.
3. "This is only a small sin." - but small sins lead to worse, disobey God & sent Jesus to the Cross!
4. "Even David & Paul sinned." - but these godly men didn't make sin their lifestyle! They suffered the
consequences and repented.
5. "God is full of mercy." - but He is just also. If we are hypocrites or unbelievers, He will condemn us.
6. "I can repent later." - but can you? Sin has a way of tightening its grip on us.
7. "I won't sin, I'll just hang out near it." - but get too close to the brink and you fall in!
8. "Look how happy those sinners are!" - but outward peace and wealth are a curse on the lost.
9. "Look at how much those serious Christians suffer!" - but tiny sin is worse than huge suffering!
10. "I'm not as bad as so-and-so." - but there's always a worse criminal to justify any sin.
11. "I can believe what I want about God." - but doctrinal errors lead to immorality.
12. "I can hang out with wicked people." - behavior is infectious.
For more information, see the original book Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices.
until our brains go blank. God wants us to serve Him with our intellect and our physical activities.
(Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30)
salvation - past, present & future
The Bible speaks of salvation in three tenses. First, there is the new birth, or regeneration. If we have
trusted Christ to save us, then we have been saved in the past. Our salvation is complete because Jesus
finished the work of paying for our sins on the cross. (2 Cor 5:17, Eph 2:5)
Second, there is the on-going process of sanctification - pursuing holiness with the help of the Holy Spirit.
We must not confuse this gradual growth, which involves our struggle against sin, with our justification and
forgiveness which are 100% the work of Christ. (1 Cor 1:18, Heb 7:27)
Finally, there is the complete salvation that awaits us in heaven, when we will be completely free of sin.
(1 Peter 1:5)
THE WORLD, THE FLESH & THE DEVIL
The Bible lists three great enemies of our souls: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of
life.(1 Jn 2:16) Gluttony, drunkenness and sexual lust are examples of the sinful desires of the body.
Greedy desires for wealth and power would be eye-lusts. And the pride of life is the arrogant presumption
that we are the boss of our own life - which leads to suicide, abortion and other self-centered sins. The Devil
tempted Jesus from each of these three angles, but Jesus was sinless and resisted. (Luke 4) Jesus is our
example - we should strive to grow into his image as the Man who obeyed God perfectly. (Rom 8:29)
GOD'S GOOD LAW IS OUR GUIDE
Many modern Christians reject God's law as if it were no longer in force. But it is God's good law that tells us
what sin and virtue are! (Psalm 19:7, Romans 7:12, 1 John 3:4) Holiness is not about avoiding alcohol or
the movies, but about loving obeying God. (Jn 14:15)
Each of God's ten commandments is a guide to holy living. First, we are to worship God alone. Second, we
must worship Him as He has instructed, not with our own silly inventions. Third, we must honor Him by
speaking respectfully of Him and His works. Fourth, we need to spend the Lord's Day (Christian Sabbath) in
worship, not work or play. Fifth, we must respect our superiors, cooperate with our equals, and lead our
inferiors with love and gentleness. Sixth, we should support the lives and heath of others. Seventh, we
ought to respect marriage and all other covenants by avoiding adultery, fornication and lust. Eighth, we must
work to pay our own bills instead of living off of others. Ninth, we need to tell the truth and protect the
good reputations of others. And tenth, we must avoid inward "coveting"; the secret desire to sin is sin
already! (Rom 7:7)
valuable solutions to SATAN'S tricks
The Puritan pastor Thomas Brooks warned about 12 tricks that the Devil uses to get us to sin. We often repeat
these excuses to ourselves when we want to disobey God.
1. "Sin looks fun." - but it is just bait with a hook hidden inside it! It will poison us in the end.
2. "Sin looks good." - but it is only painted up to trick us. It's more dangerous because it's fake.
3. "This is only a small sin." - but small sins lead to worse, disobey God & sent Jesus to the Cross!
4. "Even David & Paul sinned." - but these godly men didn't make sin their lifestyle! They suffered the
consequences and repented.
5. "God is full of mercy." - but He is just also. If we are hypocrites or unbelievers, He will condemn us.
6. "I can repent later." - but can you? Sin has a way of tightening its grip on us.
7. "I won't sin, I'll just hang out near it." - but get too close to the brink and you fall in!
8. "Look how happy those sinners are!" - but outward peace and wealth are a curse on the lost.
9. "Look at how much those serious Christians suffer!" - but tiny sin is worse than huge suffering!
10. "I'm not as bad as so-and-so." - but there's always a worse criminal to justify any sin.
11. "I can believe what I want about God." - but doctrinal errors lead to immorality.
12. "I can hang out with wicked people." - behavior is infectious.
For more information, see the original book Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices.
| SPIRITUALITY is a LAW-KEEPING LIFE |