1 John 4
4. You, dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
5. They’re from the world and therefore speak from the view point of the world, and the world listens to them.
6. We’re from God, and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever’s not from God doesn’t listen to us. This is how we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
“They’re from the world and therefore speak from the view point of the world”
The “view point of the world” which is spoken by those who don’t know God, is based on man’s darkened “knowledge”, not from Christ the light of the world. “They’re darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.” Ephesians 4:18.
Praise God for opening the eyes of the Saints to see heavenly wisdom and knowledge, He’s given us the Word to divide between soul and Spirit!
Not all men have faith, but God’s given faith and understanding to His children, so that through His Spirit living in us* we can reject the desires of the flesh and it’s foolish reasoning.
*Verse 4:
…the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
I watched a Video Clip this morning, the topic was “Where does morality come from?”. Their view included that “emotions are proxies to drive behaviour”, anger is good because “if you’re going to try to exploit me, I’m going to pop you in the nose, then you’re less likely to do it,… the idea of revenge is good, because you’re less likely to be exploited”.
We’re told to put them to death the acts of the flesh, or otherwise not inherit the kingdom of God. “ sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” Galatians 53:19-21 (NLT)
This theory of “evolution of thought and subsequent action”, dismisses God on the basis of claiming there’s a natural structural development of “moral behaviour” which is said to evolve as a necessity of life; and yet this “developed moral behaviour” is scripturally immoral behaviour, which is the basis of so much death at the hands of men. What a contrast to God’s word, which calls these fleshly thoughts and actions “deeds of the flesh”;
The darkened knowledge of the world fights the flesh with the flesh, anger against anger, hate against hate, selfishness against selfishness; it’s consumed by it’s own foolishness, but God’s way is love, selflessness, and humility; as shown by Christ toward us. Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, pray for those who despitefully use you, deny yourself…
The old man of flesh can’t fully apply these instructions, he’s a slave to the works of darkness (Galatians 4:8), he can’t be delivered from the ways that lead to death by being taught moral values (Luke 16:31), he’s blind to the truth (Matthew 15:14) and dead though living (1 Timothy 5:6); this doesn’t mean that He will necessarily live as “the worst sinner” though; rejection of God can still present as reasonable, nice and very congenial, but congeniality doesn’t inherit salvation, only a repentant heart that has submitted to God’s election through Christ, can be saved. Mankind needs the transforming work of God to set him free.
Romans 6:16-18
But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin,
you’ve come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.
18 You’ve been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
Christians are servants of God; New creations! The peace that comes from this new way in Christ, is life and peace!
Praise God for delivering us from the foolish “knowledge” and actions of our flesh, and bringing us into His glorious light through Christ Jesus!
APO 26June2020 (Thank you dear sister Sylvia)
Study like a Berean! 