The
world system has become so jaded that almost nothing is viewed as
wrong. Our society has been conditioned over time to accept sin. A
spirit of “inclusion” has been embraced by many churches so as
nobody feels excluded. Everybody must be accepted regardless of their
relationship with God or manner of living.
Gradually
the enemy has crept in and performed his despicable work, undermining
the very foundation of our existence. From the beginning, our social
order was built upon the family unit. God's design for the family has
been manipulated to fit every desire and convenience imaginable to
mankind. God has His Standard which cannot be manipulated to please
anyone! The Word of God calls for the sinner to repent of their sin,
turn from their sin and follow after the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul
wrote to Timothy of the evil in the last days in 2 Tim. 3:1-5
identifying the total depravity of the human state. "This know
also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2. For men
shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud,
blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3. Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4. Traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5. Having a
form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn
away." As Christ's return draws near, the depraved conditions
will increase. "But evil men...shall wax worse..."v.13.
Paul describes mass corruption and lawlessness. The warning is that
the condition of the world ultimately presses into the Church.
"Having a form of godliness but denying the power..."v5.
Having the resemblance of Christian service but without the spiritual
dynamic of the Holy Spirit. Peter said, "These are wells without
water, clouds that are carried with a tempest..."2 Peter 2:17.
The barrenness of this false religion mocks the thirsty soul by
promising refreshment but can not deliver. Perhaps Jude states it
best in vs.12-13, "These are spots in your feasts of charity,
when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear; clouds
they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit
withereth, without fruit twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging
waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to
whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever."
In.
Eph. 6:11 Paul instructs the Church to "put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil." The emphasis is on the "whole armor of God" in
its completeness providing power against "the wiles of the
devil." In Romans 13:12-14, he writes "...put you on the
Lord Jesus Christ…"
Paul
addresses the armor of God as a complete covering. Its completeness
corresponds to the divine perfection of Christ's humanity. We are "to
grow up unto Him in all things." Eph. 4:15. We are to put on His
image in all the harmony of truth, righteousness, peace and faith. We
are to receive the spiritual energy and power of Christ as the
"Word." Jesus Christ is the solution to the present human
condition! He is the embodiment of our power and authority to defeat
the "flesh."
If
we are to win this war and the Church will most certainly have
victory over sin, then we individually must put on Christ. We must
seek for and receive the power of the Holy Ghost to permeate every
fiber of our being so that we become an extension of Christ Himself.
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