First off, why is the knowledge of different power sources important?
1) We have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:15-16). This essentially means that God has given us the ability (although it has to be grown into) to discern all things (including people around us). Why do we want to do this? When we figure out what’s going on we can show them the love, teaching, and reproof necessary specific to them, to show God to them so that God may be glorified and the person be…encouraged.
2) Piggybacking off of number 1, all things that they do will flow from the power source they come from. Think about it. The fruit (or works) of the flesh are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders,[drunkenness, revelries, and the like (Galatians 5:19-21, KJV) while the fruit (or works) of the Spirit love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). See the stark contrast between Spirit and flesh?
<
Why human reasoning? Because all those things seem pretty humanistic when we think about it. Every time someone in the Bible (or throughout history) was left to their own devices some sort of humanism came up. Well there are two essential kinds of human reasoning, and they are as follows:
Secular humanism: Secular humanism is a mindset of human reasoning that disallows God to show up in the business. They don’t desire God, but view humanity as “basically good” but has to work up a few flaws. What’s the flaw in this system? When someone goes back and works through the same set of flaws over and over again in humanism, they find themselves “broken” and immediately go into circles that would lead them to justify their behavior or allow them to blend in or fit in.
Religious humanism: Religious humanism is much different (and more dangerous than) secular humanism in that many operating out of religious humanism think they are connected to God. Based on that trip to the judgment seat after we die (Hebrews 9:27), that’s going to be a rude awakening for these folks. Why? Because religious humanists take a “god”, any “god”, and they use this “god” to justify their behavior patterns (to again say they are “basically good”). God has a set of Standards (Exodus 20:4-18, the Ten Commandments) and Matthew 22:37-39, but yet we can never meet them (Romans 3:23, Romans 7:7, 1 John 1:8-10). We must rather make our behavior submit to God, as opposed to the other way around…and have the appropriate God as represented by His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). In other words, the Word is designed to both uplift AND convict.
Godliness/The Spirit/Kingdom: The Kingdom says that humanity is no good and needs a Savior. It also says that those who received this Savior (Jesus Christ) will have everlasting life and have a guarantee at the judgment seat (John 3:16, Ephesians 1:13-14). The Law (see above) shows us how much of a “joke” we are next to God’s Standards. Even Adam, who had direct fellowship with God, couldn’t maintain his dominion over all things around him (this was the first commission Genesis 1:28-29, and the first commission to have self-control, Genesis 2:16-17). So thanks to Adam, we shall surely die…unless we get some Christ in our lives and plug into the Power.
Next week I will discuss how the different power sources orient us next to walking with God. Have a good week folks!!
No comments:
Post a Comment