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Originally Posted by BobVigneault  I think that more important than the questions is the motivation for the questions. This is where you will find the solution to the tension that these questions cause.
Do you ask because you wonder about your own election?
Do you ask because you sense you are not like other believers on the path?
Do you think you are missing something, a blessing or the answer to a mystery"
Do you feel unworthy of the blessings of salvation?
These are all good motivations and questions we ought to ask ourselves regularly.
The problem is that in trying to answer these question our hearts, our nature, will try to codify or build of list of things we must do in order feel assured that we are truly spiritual. How many of the commandments must we follow in order that God will be pleased with our performance?
The solution is NOT to look to ourselves for God pleasing life. Self-evaluation is good and necessary not because we can track our betterment, but because it drives us back to Christ and His gospel.
Christ has lived the God pleasing life. When we find ourselves lacking, it is one, a result of the Spirit's work in us in sanctification, and two, a motivator to look to Christ. My life, my true life, my God pleasing life is hidden in Christ.
Do you watch too much TV? Praise God that you will ask the question. If you have to ask then the Spirit is shining his light on an area of your life that may need some re-evaluation. But don't try and hold another to what the Spirit has convicted you of.
Most importantly, whatever change you decide to make in your behavior, do it solely out of honor to the Father through the finished work of the Son by the power of the Spirit. In this way, whatever you do proceeds from faith. (That which does not proceed from faith, is sin.) Be motivated by gratitude for the finished work of Christ and never that you might, in your flesh, be more acceptable to God. |
Brother Bob -
I believe the admonition can go both ways. On the one hand we should not seek to avoid things believing they may be the secret to happiness or godliness. Monasticism came out of that mindset. On the other hand we should not indulge in everything that God created because we have liberty. Antinomianism is the logical conclusion of that thinking.
My brother may stumble with going to the movies, whereas I have no such problem. I may be tempted in the presence of alcohol, but my brother may drink responsibly. Bob quoted Paul's words to the Romans and they bear repeating, "For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."
Firebrand preaching will never replace the time we spend in the scriptures. Even if a preacher is correct, a believer who is not convinced by scripture will be driven back and forth by every convincing sermon they hear. We must search the scriptures diligently. As we do so, we will find Christ on every page. As we find Christ, the scriptures will be like a cool breeze, refreshing our soul.
In our post-modern world, even our desire for peace and godliness becomes subjective. We have forgotten, and for some of us have never experienced, the simplicity of Christ. Our Lord said:
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Matthew 11:28-30 28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. 30 "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."
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Brother Bob's post caused my mind to dwell on these things. Shall we not take on our Lord's yoke and learn from Him? For it is in Christ that we shall find rest from our weariness.