| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net We’ve been talking for some time about this world we live in, and the world God offers us through the redemptive work of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Our root verse of Scripture has been Romans 12:2 which says: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Remember, that when you see the word World in the New Testament, it doesn’t refer to a globe, or a planet, but rather a value system, or world view which is ultimately under the control of Satan. He is called the god of this world in 2nd Cor. 4:4, he is called the prince of this world in John 12:31. In this world today, a judge gave a man probation after he had been convicted of abusing a thirteen year old girl. (I wish this were an isolated incident). People are just choosing to disobey laws they disagree with, and teaching their kids to do so. Although I have some very strong opinions on these issues, I am not going to “soap-box” here, but would rather like to put on display some popular world views and contrast them to the Truth of God. If you are “born again”; if you are trusting Jesus as your savior, then these things are true of you, regardless of how you “feel” about it, or what the world tries to tell you. The World says: “You are a sinner, because you sin”. God’s Truth: “You are a saint (one declared righteous by God) who sins." Eph. 1:1. The World: “Your identity comes from what you have done”. God’s Truth: “Your identity comes from what God has done for you”. Romans 8:1-2, 31-34, 2nd Cor. 1:21-22. The World: “Your behavior tells you what to believe about yourself”. God’s Truth: “Your belief about yourself determines your behavior”. Phil. 3:20, 1st John 5:18, Eph. 2:6, 10, 3:12, and Phil. 4:13. It may seem to you that I am splitting hairs, but these truly are some important truths we need to appropriate in order to live a victorious Christian life. When I get up in the morning and purpose for all I am worth, to live a God pleasing day for Him, I fall on my face. But when I get up and invite Jesus to live through me, I have more peace, and even fun than a grown man should be allowed; – Gal. 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me.” I am so grateful that God’s promises are true – not because I am worthy, but because He is. |
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