Likewise...check this out...
Submitted by Chris on July 23 2000 13:58:15
In reply to Hey - heavy argument.... submitted by Forgiven on July 23 2000 04:17:48
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Hi Forgiven, I do not think that you are a failior at interpretation, but I suspect that you may be making a mistake that many Christians have made since the early church. When we read Col. 3:5, at first glance it DOES look like it is actually up to us to "put to death whatever belongs to your earthly nature; sexual imorality, impurity, lust...etc.", however, you will notice that it never goes on to tell us HOW to do such a thing. That is, until we get to verse 12 (actually there is a hint at it in verse 10, but for now let's look at verse 12.). In verse 12 we read that we are God's chosen people "holy and dearly loved". Then it goes on to say that we must "clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humlity, gentleness and patience." (This was hinted in verse 10..) Now, what exactly ARE these things...compassion, kindness, humility...etc? Lets look in Galatians chptr. 5, verses 22 and 23. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, goodness, faithfullness....etc." The same kind of things we read about in Col. 3, right? But now, in Galatians, these virtues are described as the "fruit of the Spirit". What "Spirit" is it the fruit of? Of course, we all know that the author is refering to the Holy Spirit. But, again, how do we produce this "fruit"? It tells us that we must...but how. Now, at first glance, one might conclude that by "simply" getting rid of the "acts of the sinfull nature" (described in Galatians 5:19-21, and also in Col.3:5) would be the way to go. And so, we would naturally assume that by will-power, we can do this. But I believe that THIS assumption has become our bigest mistake. Think about this....if you or I or anyone, could "put to death" these things that "belong to our earthly nature" by our own power, or will-power, why would we ever need the Spirit of God? Also, if we COULD do it alone, why aren't we? Is it because we are all just bad, horrible people who just don't WANT to? Or is it because we are a people who CANNOT through our own power? In Col. 2: 23, it gives us an answer to this question.... "Such regulations (or attempts to make ourselves "right" before God under our own power....the very thing that "regulations" are designed to do) indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with thier self-imposed worship, thier false humilty and thier harsh treatment of the body (sounds like will-power, dosen't it?), but they LACK any value in restraining sensual indulgence (like sexual immoralty, impurity, lust, etc...found in Col. 3:5) So what are we to do? Well, I do not believe that it is what WE can do, but what God can do through us! Lets lok further in Colossians and I think it will explain this. Look at verse 12 of chapter 3..."Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience...etc." Now look at verse 15...THIS tells us HOW to do such a thing..."Let the peace of Christ rule in your heart, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And BE THANKFULL. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly....." You see, it IS up to us, as Children of God, to let His peace rule in our heart, to be thankfull, and to let His Word dwell in us richly, or in other words, to make His word important in us. As we, as His Children, learn to do these things (which is the same as "putting His Kingdom first" in our lives), we will THEN experience the wonderfull "fruit of the Spirit". And by gaining the fruit of the Spirit, we are then able to "put to death the things of the flesh" You see, I strongly believe that most Christians have been taught to "put the buggy before th horse". That by somehow putting to death the works of the flesh, they can obtain the fruit of the Spirit. I do not think it really actually works this way. We must first ALLOW the Spirit to become THE POWER in our lives (by "letting His peace rule in our hearts", by "being thankfull" and by "letting His Word dwell in our hearts, or, dwell in us richly") first, and THEN the "fruits of the Spirit" will become more and more evidant in our lives. And when the Fruits of the Spirit become strong, we will easily be able to "put to death the works ofthe flesh". We CAN do this through the Holy Spirit, by FIRST ALLOWING Him to become our power,or our life, if you will. Well, I have just preached myself silly again, but I hope I have made some sense. God bless you, brother, you are in my prayers big time!!! Love in Christ Jesus, Chris |
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