“God’s Answer to the Sinful Nature”

(part 2)

“You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.”
Galatians 5:13

When we conclude that “asking forgiveness” is an acceptable substitute for exercising self-control, it will not be long until we use the liberty it brings to indulge the sinful nature! In very short order, we will begin to see “asking forgiveness” as a sort of spiritual reset button! Rather than exercise self-control, or one of the other fruit of the Spirit, in a given situation, we choose to indulge our flesh. We opt to push the forgiveness button rather than exercise any spiritual discipline.

Suppose you struggle with watching inappropriate shows on television. One day your spouse is gone, the kids are at school and you are alone with your television set. You pick up the remote and begin to scan through the channels. As you are flipping past one of the channels you catch a glimpse of a couple “less” than fully dressed. Knowing that you do not need to watch those kind of shows you continue flipping through the channels. All of a sudden your flesh begins to say… “Let’s watch it!” Eventually, you find yourself back to that channel. This time you decide to see what is on. The Holy Spirit cautions you again! Instead of heeding His lead, you determine to cater to your flesh. Later you begin to feel the weight of remorse for your disobedience. You realize you are out of step with God. However, you do not repent. (And by repent, I mean, take action to prevent being drawn in by it again.) Instead, you simply ask God to forgive you. Believing that this will bring you back in step with the Holy Spirit!

When we attempt to substitute “asking forgiveness” for “exercising the fruit of the Spirit” we cheapen the grace of God, negate the need for repentance and make a mockery of the cross of Christ. In essence, we are telling God… “I am interested in Your forgiveness, but I am not interested in pleasing you!” Remember, just as the works of the flesh gratify the desires of the sinful nature, it is the fruit of the Spirit that gratify the heart of God.

I think it is good for us to bear in mind that the God we serve is just as much a “Just” God as He is a “Forgiving” God. This may get me in trouble with some religious folks, but I don’t think God is as “good” as some of you are making Him out to be! We put ourselves in a dangerous position when we start to believe that our unwillingness to exercise self-control will be adequately covered by God’s grace.

Romans 14:10-12 tells us:

“For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Some of you have been out of step with the Holy Spirit for a long time. You have found yourself “asking forgiveness” over and over, but you continue to find yourself indulging the sinful nature. My counsel to you is to stop trying to perfect “asking forgiveness” and start exercising the fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus shed His blood so that our sins could be forgiven, but He gave us the “fruit of the Spirit so that we can live a life that is pleasing to Him.




Pastor Scott Burr http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com