Tag: Lord

21.d. “And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

 

 

 

Romans 13:11  Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.  

Matthew 16:3   And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

 Matthew 24:42-44    Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3    Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

 Revelation 22:12   “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

 Revelation 22:20   He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

 Matthew 25:5-7   As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.

 Mark 13:35-37   Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—  lest he come suddenly and find you asleep.  And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

 1 Corinthians 15:34  Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

 1 Corinthians 7:29-31   This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short.

 2 Peter 3:13-15   But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

Because we know the danger of the times and we anticipate the soon return of Jesus, we should be all the more energetic and committed to a right walk with God instead of a sleep-walk with God.  People talk in their sleep, walk in their sleep, hear things in their sleep, and even think in their sleep (dreaming). We can do many religious or things that seem right in our own eyes and still be asleep toward God, it is important for every Christian to make sure they are truly awake and active in their life before God. (Guzik)

It is a very dangerous state of mind to be in, seemingly being awake.  People who see you might even think you are awake.  You do things that would give the appearance that you are awake.  You say things that sound like you are awake. But in all truth and reality, you are asleep in and to things of God.  When we sleep we are resting our bodies and mind. While we sleep we are not aware of things that happen or that have happened.  We can wake to find a severe storm has come and gone in the night.  How many times have you heard, “I slept right through it”?  “Didn’t hear a thing.”  We may even say that it was a good night’s sleep.  We may say that we slept like a baby.  Though our mortal minds and bodies need sleep and rest, our spiritual should never be in that state.  From the morning to evening our spiritual awareness should never be found asleep.  “Study God’s Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night…”, “but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night.” “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” 

What are the signs of being asleep?  Neglect, complacency, paying little to no attention, disregard, ignore, set aside, lazy, self-worth, self-reliance, pride, contentment, carelessness, self-contentment.  When we are asleep to things of God and the Word of God we become more and more spiritually unaware.  What we do, what we say, and what we think looks like those who, for all practical application, are in a comma concerning things of God and His Word.  Though our fleshly bodies and minds need sleep our spiritual lives do not and should not ever be in the state of sleep.  Jesus gave warnings about being found asleep when He returns. Paul gave warnings about being found asleep and gave encouraging words to stand fast, remain true, every grown in our knowledge and understanding of Jesus Christ, keeping our eyes focused on Jesus, continually be looking and anticipating Christ’s return.  The day is coming.  Jesus is returning. Will He find you asleep?

21. “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

Psalm 34:11   Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

 Proverbs 4:1   Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

 2 Timothy 3:15    and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

 Proverbs 8:17    I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

 Isaiah 28:9   “To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message?

 Proverbs 22:6    Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

 Ecclesiastes 12:1   Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

 Ecclesiastes 11:9-10   Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.  Remove vexation from your heart, and put away pain from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

 Psalms 32:8   I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

 Psalms 111:10   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. 

 Proverbs 1:7    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 Proverbs 2:1-9     My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,  making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;  he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,  guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.  Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path;

 

Think about how much time we invest in learning in our modern society. We begin with one year of kindergarten, then twelve years of graded school, then four years of college, then up to five years of graduate school. Then, for some professions, like the medical field, there are three to seven more years of specialty training. Some people spend twenty years or more learning because education is valuable and usually contributes to greater success in life. But how often do we think about learning to fear the Lord? That is, do we consider growing deeper and deeper in our relationship with Him as a “curriculum” of sorts? A curriculum that lasts a lifetime? This was a common theme in the nation of Israel. Citizens of Israel were expected to be taught how to fear the Lord—how to honor Him, trust Him, love Him, worship Him, and more. And the main vehicle for that learning was the Word of God—the words of His law (Deuteronomy 31:12-13). When you read and study your Bible, think of it as learning to fear the Lord—a curriculum that lasts a lifetime. (David Jeremiah)

It is foolish to think a person could or would become a doctor, lawyer, electrician, plumber, engineer, teacher, or another profession, by the mere fact of stating that you are.  To become one of any of these requires an intentional choice to begin to learn, continue to learn, and gain the knowledge and understanding and the necessary and on-going skills to apply it.  People are tested and certified as competent and given licenses to practice in various fields of study and vocation.  Some specialize and become experts in a particular vein of their field of study.  It all takes time, commitment, and dedication.  Some may even commit to continual learning in their field until the day they die.  This commitment and dedication are viewed as having been beneficial to society in some way, either to the whole or to a group, as in an engineer who works for a company that designs and builds medical equipment, or a lawyer who works for a firm that defends the rights of the abused, or a teacher/professor who instructs on a particular requirement for a degree, etc….  They have committed to having an impact in others’ lives by their commitment to knowledge and understanding in their field of expertise.  

Oh that it was so with Christians, where continual commitment, dedication, and seeking to understand and gain knowledge of how to live to honor, glorify, follow, trust, rely and obey God all of their days.  When people commit to a job or profession they start by learning precept upon precept and continue this process until they have achieved the minimum requirements to gain certification or licensure.  Too often Christians believe they have obtained the minimum requirements to gain eternal life and they stop their dedication and commitment to gaining understanding and knowledge of God.  How foolish would it be for a person to think that after completing kindergarten that they have learned it all and there is no longer any more understanding or knowledge to be gained?  Yet, some Christians believe this to be true.  Likewise, how foolish would it be to graduate from college after 4-8 years of study and then not continue to grow, learn, and stay on top of new developments within their field?  And, even more, foolish is the person who does not apply or make any effort to apply the knowledge and understanding they have taken the time to gain.  To end our lives in a state of neglect and complacency toward understanding and knowledge of God is to enter eternity with disregard for God and Jesus Christ His Son.  Don’t end your life with this disregard.  Spend time in His Word.  Seek and desire to know more and more about how to honor, glorify, worship, follow, trust, and obey Him.  Certainly, The creator of all there is, is worthy of all we have and all we do.

20.y. “Let him seek peace and pursue it.”

Romans 12:9  Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Psalms 55:21   His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords.

 Psalms 36:4   He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

 Proverbs 8:13   The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

 Proverbs 26:25   when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;

 Ezekiel 33:31   And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

 Psalms 34:14    Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

 Amos 5:15   Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

 Psalms 101:3   I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.

 1 Peter 3:10-11  For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;  let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.

I like where David says “ I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”  He has purposed in his heart to know what is good, true, and right and by knowing this he is able to discern what is evil and worthless.  Though he sees it and though others are doing or following after it, it will not cling to him.  He has purposed in his heart to keep his life from evil and to do that which honors and glorifies Jesus Christ.  

How is a person to know what is worthless and how to keep it from clinging to us?  “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”  We need to be able to recognize and discern the difference between that which is worthless and that which is right, true, pure, honorable, and lovely.  God’s Word will always bring to mind the difference.  Sometimes this wisdom comes immediately and other times it is a work in progress.  The problem is that God’s Word does not reside in the hearts and minds of many.  Meditation on His Word is what is able to soak in on a Sunday morning a couple of times per month.  There is so much distraction in the world today.  It is at our fingertips all our waking moments and unless there is a purposed restraint it will consume our hearts and minds.  It is in this consumption that we become neglectful and complacent to the Word of God and things of God.  Take an inventory of what is worthless in the world.  Make a list of what you see as worthless.  Spend some time looking at God’s view of what is worthless in this world.  Seek and desire to know the difference.

20.t. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Today marks the 43rd anniversary of the day, by the grace of God, I came to the understanding of my sin, the need for salvation, and my trusting in, clinging to, and relying on Jesus Christ (belief).  This was my new creation, born again, birthday.  It is a special day for which I will eternally be thankful.

Romans 11:29  For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 

 Numbers 23:19    God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

 Malachi 3:6   “For I the LORD do not change

 Habakkuk 2:3   For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

 Luke 21:33   Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 Titus 1:2    in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

 Hebrews 6:18    so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

 James 1:17   Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Herbert Lockyer, in his volume All the Promises of the Bible,’ tells the story of Everett R. Storms, a schoolteacher in Canada, who made a detailed study of promises. According to Time,’ Storms, of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, reckoned the figure of 30,000 to be too high (since it is roughly the number of verses making up the Bible31,]73). During his twenty-seventh reading of the Bible, a task which took him a year and a half, Storms came up with a grand total of 8,810 promises (7,487 of them being promises made by God to humankind). W. E. Vine says that a promise from/of God is “a gift graciously bestowed, not a pledge secured by negotiation.”  I believe this to be true of all promises inline with Jesus Christ, redemption, salvation, forgiveness, joy, hope, faith, understanding, wisdom, love, peace, rest, courage, power, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and others that are promised to those who would humbly surrender, honor, glorify, believe, trust, follow, and obey Jesus Christ.  However, there are other promises that do not reflect the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners, eternal life, heaven, and the bestowal of blessings.  These are promises of God’s condemnation, wrath, anger, fury, and judgment.  Too often, we give these no thought.  We do not proclaim the coming judgment, wrath, anger, and fury of God against all who would deny, reject, or by some other means not fully and wholly trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus Christ for their salvation, redemption, and forgiveness.  God promised all who try to get to heaven, other than through Jesus Christ, will be judged, lacking, and will be cast into the lake of fire forever and ever.   There is an urgency for understanding these two paths of promises.  Without understanding the reason for and the results and outcome of sin, a person will never see the need for confession, repentance, forgiveness, redemption,  or salvation.  Without an understanding of God’s Holiness, Love, Wrath, and Anger, how is a person to understand the need for Jesus Christ?  How is a person to understand the greatness of God’s grace, love, and mercy without understanding the effects of sin in the eyes of God?  How is a person to know God’s hatred of sin without the perspective of God’s judgment of it?  

God’s Word says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  “The wages of sin is death.” “If their name is not written in the Lambs book of life they were cast into the lake of fire.” “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”   “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Believing in God’s grace, mercy and love also mean that there must be an understanding for the reason of needing it.

20.r. “Let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.”

 

Romans 11:20   They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness.

 James 2:19     You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

 Hebrews 3:12     Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

 Revelation 3:17     For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

 Hebrews 3:19   So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

 Hebrews 4:6     Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,

 Hebrews 4:11   Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

 Isaiah 66:2    All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

 Hebrews 4:1     Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.

Paul said, “note the severity and kindness of God”.  We have a natural thought that clings to God’s kindness but sidelines and thoughts to His severity of judgment, wrath, and anger.  We cling to “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” but we give little thought of His wrath and anger against unbelief, trust, faith, and obedience in/on Jesus Christ.  Paul saw how easy it was for believers to fall into disobedience.  He saw how they became complacent and neglectful of things of God.  They became lukewarm towards seeking and desiring to honor and glorify Him.  Over and over again Paul urged people to remain steadfast and to not forget the grace, mercy, kindness, and love of God.  Paul had to be dismayed when he would return to towns he had once been and had seen great numbers of people believe in Jesus Christ, only to find they had become neglectful and complacent in their devotion to God.  Paul so how easy it was for the heart of man to fall away from being fully committed and living for God every moment of every day.  God’s kindness and severity remain true and steadfast.  We do well to our hearts, minds, soul, and our daily lives in line with the Word of God at all times lest we become disobedient through neglect and complacency.

20.m. “Has God rejected his people?”

Romans 11:1   I ask, then, has God rejected his people?

Psalms 77:7     “Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable?

Amos 9:8-9    Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the LORD.  “For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.

Hosea 9:17   My God will reject them because they have not listened to him; they shall be wanderers among the nations.

When a person, city, town, state, or nation has an attitude of deadness towards spiritual things of God it is easy to see how people would ask Has God rejected His people?  These “people” are those who should know God and what is pleasing to Him.  Rather than have an attitude towards spiritual things of God, they have replaced this attitude with an attitude of human origin – doing what is right in their own eyes – and they have a deadness towards things of God.  In this deadness, their eyes have become blind and their ears deaf.  It is not that God has rejected them first and they had no choice, but rather, they chose to reject God and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ.  It is in this state of rejection that Paul says “has God rejected his people?”  Is there no hope for them?  Has it been set in stone? Loving parents will discipline their children for willful disobedience.  Does this mean the parents have rejected their child?  Does this mean the parents have abandoned their child?  God will discipline in order that some may come to their senses and call out to Him and when they do He is there with open arms.  Others will remain the course they are on and continue rejecting the spiritual things of God.  They will keep trying to perform their way into good favor with God.  They will try to do it on their own, doing what is right in their own eyes and thereby remaining spiritually dead in these attempts of self-reliance.  Though they may feel good about themselves, they are blind and deaf to God’s rejection of them. Any human claim of being good enough to receive salvation through Jesus Christ is to reject the sufficiency in what He has done.  Sin carries the penalty of death in this life and carries forward into eternity with eternal hell and torment.  Though the curse of sin results in our physical death, it does not need to result in eternal hell and torment. We can have eternal life in heaven.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  Spiritual blindness and deafness happen when we try to add anything other than complete humble surrender, belief, trust, reliance, and obedience in/on Jesus Christ.  In no way can we ever be right with God by any other means or approach to salvation.

20.k. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:8   “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 Mark 16:15-16    And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

 Acts 10:43   To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

 Galatians 3:5    Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith

 Acts 13:38-39    Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,  and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

I must admit I am intrigued by the difference between believing and believing in and on Jesus Christ.  I imagine there are those who believe Jesus Christ.  They believe He is the Son of God.  They believe He was sent by God. They believe He died and rose again.  They believe He is coming again.  The believe there is a heaven and a hell.  They believe the bible is God’s Word.  They believe doing good is right.  They believe in some form of justice for the guilty and innocent.  And yet, for all of this belief, they fall short of what it means to believe on/in Jesus Christ.  The difference is they believe about Him but not in/on Him.  One is an intellectual understanding, belief, and knowledge of the subject – Jesus Christ.  To believe in/on Jesus Christ is completely different.  It is life -changing, life-altering, life-leading, and true peace and joy giving faith.  The bible says this is being born again, made new, and being a new creation.  This newness of life comes from believing in, trusting in, clinging to, relying on, surrendering and yielding to, and obeying Jesus Christ. A persons life is changed.  

I fear many believe that the work of Jesus Christ was a blanket forgiveness over all of mankind’s sins and that all who do good things in this life will go to heaven.  They live good lives and can be kind and loving but they never really see a personal need for personal forgiveness of their personal sin.  Their belief in the blanket covering has blinded their personal need for forgiveness.  

Ask God to reveal to your heart if you are believing in/on Jesus Christ or believing about Him.  Only a heart seeking for God to open their hearts, minds, and souls to the wisdom and understanding for the need for forgiveness will see Jesus Christ as redeemer and savior.  It is in this understanding that belief about changes to believing in/on Jesus Christ through faith and trust.  The difference is that this God-given wisdom and understanding will lead to a person calling out to Jesus Christ to save them.  There should be no doubt in your heart, soul, and mind about this.  

20.j. “You humbled yourself before the LORD”

Joel 2:12  “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

 2 Kings 22:19    because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the LORD, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.

 Isaiah 66:2   All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

 

Those of us who love God are also prone to wander away from God. A. W. Tozer used an analogy to explain why that is. He said, “Every farmer knows the hunger of the wilderness, that hunger which no modern farm machinery, no improved agricultural methods, can ever quite destroy. No matter how well prepared the soil, how well kept the fences, how carefully painted the buildings, let the owner neglect for a while his prized and valued acres and they will revert again to the wild and be swallowed by the jungle or the wasteland. The bias of nature is toward the wilderness, never toward the fruitful field.” The same can be said about our relationship with God. No matter how sincere our intentions, the bias of life causes us to wander away from God. We do not mean for it happen. But the very real concerns we have about our families, about our jobs, about our finances cause us to focus on the temporal instead of the eternal. Pretty soon, we find ourselves in a place we never thought we would be. And we wonder, “Is it ever possible to regain our relationship with God? Is it ever possible to restore that intimacy with a God who we have lost our passion for?” (Jeffress)

19.o. “So as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”

Romans 6:13  Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

Colossians 3:5    Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

James 4:1   What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Romans 7:5 When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.

 Isaiah 55:7   let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

 2 Peter 2:13-15   suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.  They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!  Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing,

2 Chronicles 30:8    Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.

1 Corinthians 6:20     for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 

1 Peter 4:2     so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

A person can be “officially” set free, yet still imprisoned. If a person lives in prison for years, and then is set free, they often still think and act like a prisoner. The habits of freedom aren’t ingrained in their life yet.  In the fourteenth century two brothers fought for the right to rule over a dukedom in what is now Belgium. The elder brother’s name was Raynald, but he was commonly called “Crassus,” a Latin nickname meaning “fat,” for he was horribly obese. After a heated battle, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him and assumed the title of Duke over his lands. But instead of killing Raynald, Edward devised a curious imprisonment. He had a room in the castle built around “Crassus,” a room with only one door. The door was not locked, the windows were not barred, and Edward promised Raynald that he could regain his land and his title any time that he wanted to. All he would have to do is leave the room. The obstacle to freedom was not in the doors or the windows, but with Raynald himself. Being grossly overweight, he could not fit through the door, even though it was of near-normal size. All Raynald needed to do was diet down to a smaller size, then walk out a free man, with all he had before his fall. However, his younger brother kept sending him an assortment of tasty foods, and Raynald’s desire to be free never won out over his desire to eat. Some would accuse Duke Edward of being cruel to his older brother, but he would simply reply, “My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.” But Raynald stayed in that room for ten years.  

This accurately illustrates the experience of many Christians. Jesus set them forever free legally, and they may walk in that freedom from sin whenever they choose. But since they keep yielding their bodily appetites to the service of sin, they live a life of defeat, discouragement, and imprisonment. This accurately illustrates the experience of many Christians. Jesus set them forever free legally, and they may walk in that freedom from sin whenever they choose. But since they keep yielding their bodily appetites to the service of sin, they live a life of defeat, discouragement, and imprisonment. Your members are the parts of your body – your ears, lips, eyes, hands, mind, and so forth. The idea is very practical: “You have eyes. Do not put them in the service of sin. You have ears. Do not put them in the service of sin.”  The parts of our body are weapons in the battle for right living. When the parts of our body are given over to righteousness, they are weapons for good. When they are given over to sin, they are weapons for evil. (Guzik)   

It is a test of our claim to be Christians. Does anger have dominion over you? Does murmuring and complaining? Does covetousness have dominion over you? Does pride? Does laziness have dominion over you? If sin has dominion over us, we should seriously ask if we are really converted. It is a promise of victory. It doesn’t say that “sin will not be present in us,” because that will only be fulfilled when we are resurrected in glory. But it does promise that sin will not have dominion over us because of the great work Jesus did in us when we were born again. It is an encouragement for hope and strength in the battle against sin. God has set you free in Jesus. This is encouragement for the Christian struggling against sin, for the new Christian, and for the backslider. (Spurgeon)