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Good & Evil - part 2 of 2 Hebrews 5:14 (KJV) “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Today everyone is learning about good and evil, but without the tree of life it will destroy us in the end. Genesis 3:22 (KJV) “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.” “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.” To partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil does not cause one to practice evil. It is not the tree of “evil” but the tree of knowledge – “to be able to judge.” True growth in Christ is to enable us to judge good and evil – to embrace the good and to renounce the evil. Apart from the ability to exercise Divine judgment we are not able to eat strong meat (or become mature). If we are to minister effectively to others, we must judge righteously to keep people from being snared. Many teach today that when Christ comes into your life He takes away the evil. No He doesn’t! You will always know evil and good throughout all eternity. Maturity says I know how to deal with it according to God’s plan. As long as I am partaking of the tree of life, I will be able to judge right from wrong, good from evil. Adam and Eve did not know this, so they covered themselves with fig leaves. God did not intend that man should run around naked. God intended to cover mankind with His righteousness. When we partake of His righteousness, we are covered with His splendor. Romans 8 tells us we cannot continue in sin or we die spiritually. There are three aspects we must consider: 1st – the guilt of sin - Jesus 2nd – the compulsion to sin - Spirit 3rd – our obedience to God – Father God This is our progression into maturity. We can’t do one thing about the first – the blood atonement made by Jesus Christ on the cross takes care of that - if we accept it. There is only one way to deal with the second. We must cooperate with the Spirit of God. And there is only one way to deal with the third. Ask God our Father to give us a heart of obedience. This is righteousness. There is too much emphasis on what God does without the part that we must do. We can’t remove evil, but we can confess our sins and ask God to help us to turn from it. That is our responsibility. Righteousness is not inherent in any religious act. Righteousness is inherent only in obedience to God. Righteousness comes only as we please God. Righteousness does not come by outer court ministry – USEFULNESS. It doesn’t come with inner court ministry – IMPORTANCE. But it comes with the Holy of Holies ministry – PLEASING THE FATHER. Religion tells us what we can and cannot do so that we will be termed righteous. True salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ is continually seeks how to please Him, not by any set of rules, but from faith in Him. The scriptures tell us what is right and what is wrong. As long we look to the Spirit of God, He will help us identify how and what to do – that is being led by the Spirit of God. We do not live according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit (Rom.8:4). Too many simply teach that if we put our faith in Christ for salvation, Christ’s righteousness is imparted to us. But they ignore the qualifier: Who do not live according to the sinful nature, but according to the Spirit. IT IS NOW TIME for us to ask God to help us grow in the ability to distinguish between good and evil, and to be able to embrace the good and to renounce and resist the evil. The power of the Holy Spirit is given to us if we will but be filled; thereby we overcome sin. This is the fullness of the Godhead. 1 Kings 3:9 (KJV) “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” We have a sinful nature. We must present our bodies as living sacrifices, we must seek to ask Him how to obey. We must consciously fast on occasion so we might know the power of the spirit over the flesh. Sons of God will continually put to death their sinful deeds. Then eternal life will be sown daily as we walk in the Spirit, confessing our sins as we are made aware of them. That is acknowledging the Lord in all your ways. Then He will direct your steps. That’s what it means to live in the Spirit, and there is no condemnation to those who do so. Then ask to discern good and bad so that others may grow up. Be able to judge righteous judgment. Why is all this so important? We must be made aware of what is sinful and what is righteous, what is filthy and what is holy. To know the difference is to discern between good and evil and to become innocent before God. Revelation 19:8 (KJV) “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” -Pr. Steve March Newsletter 2002 | Good & Evil part 2 of 2 | Pursuing God Pastor's Journal March 2001 | Roots of Revival part 1 | As Real As It Seemed |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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