I agree wholeheartedly. BUT..... there is a huge difference between a man declaring he is without sin, inferring self-effort and a state he has arrived at by his diligence, and the man who declares by faith that God is keeping him from falling. This man has his wyes fixed upon Jesus and His promises. It is not pride, nor arrogance. It is faith and brings glory to God, as far as whether this is a statement of pride or a statement of great humility, it all depends upon who you are looking at as the source of strength to see it accomplished.
So, a question. What do you think of a man who boldly declares that His God will not allow him to be tempted above his abilty to resist? Who declares that he is not in the flesh and owes it nothing? Who stands upon the truth that we have been delivered from the power of darkness?
Is such a man a heretic or a child of God pleasing his Father because of his trust in the Father's promises to him?
If we lined up the promises He has plainly declared to us, read them off one by one and asked ourselves if we believe them to be even possible, let alone true, how would we answer?
Yes, we must watch, for our enemy never rests, seeking ways to get us to sin. But we must watch as we stand on the high ground of victory, declaring that our Jesus has made us victorious over the world the flesh and the devil. This, brothers and sisters, is the shield of faith that will quench all those flaming arrows that satan shoots at us.
We ARE new. We ARE victorious. Sin does NOT have power over us. And glory to God, we are about to see His people arise up and believe it.
However, if we try to fight our way up to status of overcomer, and to by self discipline try to take the high ground, then we are declaring we are still old natured men, trying to "be good", we are doomed to another lap or two in the wilderness of unbelief till we finally arrive at the point where we understand we have NO strength. Without a shout of faith at the devil and his temptations, then the high ground, the highway of holiness, becomes unattainable to us.
Let us be like Joshua and Caleb and not be swayed by the multitude around us that tells us holiness is only a goal we can never hit. How can everyone else be wrong? Well, the bones of 599,998 Israelites that left Egypt are bleaching somewhere in the desert for they simply refused to believe the promise that our God has made us as to real victory, giants or no giants. We will find that overcoming all satan throws at us is impossible in this life. unless we finally throw off the shackles of unbelief and step out of our boat to believe Him. But when we do? Remember Samson? Once mighty, reduced to grinding corn to the delight of his enemy. But he cried out to God, believed again and pulled down strongholds. Our turn.
When the men came to Jesus and asked Him what they must do to work the works of God, let us note that He did not tell them to try with all their might to stop sinning. Nor to fast nor to get more diligent? He did not tell them to stop watching 6 hours of mind numbing television a night, nor did He tell them to fo witness and then they will see results. He did not tell them to put a parental block on themselves when they turned on your computer? How about find a nice accountability partner who is bound just like you? Nooooooo!!! LOL
He told the inquirers one thing, just one simple thing, as the answer for us as to how to do God's will.
"Believe on Him whom He has sent."
That, brothers and sisters, is wisdom from above. Do we have heavenly ears to hear? I pray so.
blessings,
Gideon
