When a person takes the time to think about the different sins that Paul the Apostle lists in the book of Galatians chapter five and verses nineteen through twenty-one, one wonders if anyone should enter the kingdom of God. Every person is guilty of these infractions in one way or another. They are as follows:
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
The amazing thing about these listed areas, and there are more in other places, is that Jesus referred to these sins as being “spiritual” and not only “physical”- if a person breaks one of these laws within themselves rather just outwardly, they are guilty. For example, Jesus said,
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
It is the “spirit” of murder that makes a person guilty and not just murder itself. That was the purpose of the law – to show how every person is guilty before God. That's where John comes in. In 1 John 1:7 John declares,
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
No matter how guilty, no matter how evil, no matter how many times, and no matter how far a person has strayed away from the law of God, he or she can be cleansed from “all” sin. The key is to walk in the light as He is in the light. In other words, submit to Him. Walk with Him, and no longer walk after the deeds of the flesh that dwell within every man and woman who lives within the world.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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