July 15, 2007
Morning Service
"How Then Should We Live?"
Presented by Pastor Tim Pasma
Galatians 5.23b-26
Let's take our Bibles this morning and turn to Galatians, chapter 5. I'm going to read verse 22 to the end of the chapter. You follow as I read.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (v. 22-26)
Let's pray.
Father, we now stand beneath the cross of Jesus. We, in and of ourselves, are not worthy to hear a message from You. But because of Your amazing and all-encompassing grace in Jesus, we come to You now with confidence. We are Your children. And we want to look like we are the children of God. You have taught us over these last several weeks what that looks like. You have shown us how the Spirit works in us this fruit. We have come before You, oftentimes, with hearts that confess this fruit is not as full as it should be. And yet, we also come before You in confidence, knowing that Your Spirit will work this fruit in us. Now, Father, beneath that cross we come to You to hear You again. To hear how those who are changing in the likeness of the spiritual fruits should live. And so, we pray that You would guide our thinking. Direct it. And again, Father, not looking at others who might be sitting in this congregation, but looking in our own hearts and asking ourselves difficult questions if necessary. We thank You that You give us grace even in our repentance -- even in our conviction, You give us grace so that we might change. You give us hope, because we would not repent if it were not for hope. We thank You for the instruction that is in Your Word. So instruct us today, we pray by Your Spirit. In Jesus' Name.
Amen.
I remember the first time I spent any length of time at the Iowa State Fair. Becca and I were up at the campgrounds with Alan and Nancy -- sister and brother-in-law. At the Iowa State Fair they have this huge campgrounds, so if you're there for a long period of time, you just camp up there. In order to get down to the fair, you take the trolley. the trolley is almost always a John Deere tractor pulling a wagon with benches on it.
And as the trolley came up, Alan and I hopped on that first day and we sit down next to these people. And my brother-in-law starts a conversation with this guy sitting next to him. Just starts talking away. And before we even get to the gate of the state fair, they're deep into some subject, and so forth.
When we got off, I asked, "So, is that an old friend of yours?"
And Alan said, "Nope. Never met the guy before in my life."
Well, I was shocked. Where I come from, you know, you never just strike up a conversation with a complete stranger!
You see, I grew up in the North Country, where we're naturally cold. [laughter] You know, you don't even make eye contact with strangers, much less just strike up conversations with them! And Alan had grown up in the affable farm country of Iowa, where everyone waves at each other when they're passing one another on the road, if it's a gravel road -- which is 90% of the roads out there!
So I was this retiring, somewhat cold person. And he was this outgoing, easy to talk to guy. You see, the way we lived -- the way we responded, the way we were -- depended on our background. And that background made us what we were.
And we lived on the basis of what we were. I lived this kind of quiet, "don't talk to people unless you get to know them" kind of person -- and he was just the opposite!
Now, the Apostle Paul here for us describes the fruit of the Spirit -- that is, the way we are. He has described the characteristics of a person who has the Spirit of God working in him. That is, he has described a Christian in verse 22 and the first part of 23.
The spirit of God has worked in God's people, making them the sort of people that are described here.
Now, since the Spirit of God has done this marvelous work in us, how then should we live? If this is what we are, how then should we live? What can we conclude now that we know what the Spirit has and can do in our lives?
Here's what God tells us: Given what the Spirit has done in you, live unconstrained, unforced lives -- last part of verse 23. Live crucified lives -- verse 24. And live spiritual, ordered lives -- verses 25 and 26.
That's how we are to live. Given the way we are -- given the fact that we are a people who are characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control -- how then should we live?
Well, first of all, he says, "Live unconstrained, unforced lives." He says, "Against such things as these -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control -- against such things, there is no law."
That is what you would call an understatement. He's understating the fact for purposes of exaggeration. It's an understatement!
In 1982, British Airways flight number 9, which was a 747 jumbo jet, flew through some volcanic ash somewhere over Indonesia -- and all four engines on that jumbo jet went out. The captain -- and this is famous. This statement is famous in aviation today. The captain came on the intercom today and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our best to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress."
That is an understatement. That's an understatement! It's like that skit on Monty Python where the army officer has just lost his leg and he's looking at the place where his leg used to be and someone says, "Y'all right, sir?"
And he says, "Stings a bit!"
Okay -- that's an understatement! And that's what Paul is doing here. "Of course there's no law against such things as these, Paul!"
Looking at the fruit of the Spirit, you realize that this is the kind of conduct that every lawmaker would love to see! This is what people would love to see!
"Against such things there is no law" is like saying this -- what he's saying is this: "People who exhibit the Spirit's fruit need no law -- with its threats -- to restrain evil behavior, and they need no law -- with its rewards -- to encourage them in doing good." They don't need the law, with its threats, to restrain evil behavior -- and they need no law, with its rewards, to encourage them to do good.
Where the Spirit of God works, you find nothing to restrain. Such people need no law saying such things as these: "If you murder someone, there's a price to pay." Why not? Because such people as these will love their neighbors. they will pursue peace. They will be patient, kind, and good -- not to mention gentle and self-controlled. They don't need a law that threatens them with bad things if they murder -- because they're not going to be that kind of people.
And you don't want to restrain that sort of thing. Keep the law out. "Against such things as these, there is no law."
Where the Spirit of God works, you do not have to encourage people with rewards to live a good life. When you look at that list, what is missing? Not much. Everything you could possibly want to accomplish in people can be found in Spirit-led people! They are models of the good.
Look -- these kinds of people don't need the promise of an "A" on their report cards to do well. Or to work hard, I should say. They don't need the promise of an "A" on that report card to work hard. Because the Spirit of God produces in them faithfulness and self-control. That is, they are trustworthy, dependable people who stay at the hard work and will not be distracted by all that tempts them away from that work. You see?
That should be what happens from the inside out. Not the outside in.
"Well, wait just a minute, Paul!" someone might object. "Almost immediately after you say these things, you start laying down a code by which we must live!"
Look at the next chapter.
"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him." (v. 1) There's a command. All right?
"Carry each other's burdens", verse 2.
Verse 4: "Each one should test his own actions."
Verse 6: "Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor."
Verse 7: "God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The man who sows to please the flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction."
Verse 9: "Let us not become weary in doing good." As we have opportunity to do good!
There's a whole code there, isn't there?
"So, Paul, what are you saying then? If we don't need a law by which to do these things, then why in the very next chapter do you start laying out a code by which we must live?"
That's a good question.
Well, let's explore some answers. First of all, remember that we have been freed from any code that will make us acceptable to God. It doesn't matter where the code is found – Old Testament or New Testament – obedience to that code is not the basis for our acceptance by God. That's what he's already said. He's labored the point in chapter 3, for example, verse 10:
"All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.' Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, 'The righteous will live by faith.' The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, 'The man who does these things will live by them.' Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'" (v. 10-13)
So we know this much: We've been freed from any code that makes us acceptable to God. We are only acceptable to God by faith in Jesus Christ. Not because of anything we have done! No matter how obedient, we are not made acceptable to God by the quality or the quantity of our obedience. We are acceptable to Him through Christ alone!
So we know that much.
But I think we need to ask this question: Why do we obey the commands that God has given us? There are obvious commands that we obey, but why do we obey?
Do we obey because of threats made, or do we obey because of rewards promised? Turn over to Colossians chapter 3 for a moment. This illustrates this.
Why should we obey this code that he gives us? Is it because the code makes threats? Is it because the code promises great things if we do that? Well, look at chapter 3 of Colossians. He wrote this a few years later. He's developed his thought more, if you will. He's grown, if you will, as an apostle, even. And now, he gives us a little more insight. Colossians chapter 3, verses 1 through 4:
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Now – here comes the commandment.
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (v. 5)
Why should you put those things to death? Because your life is hidden with Christ. That's why. Because you're identified with Christ, that's why. We obey because our lives are already hidden with Christ and we're already seated with Him – and because we're with Him, when He appears, we will appear in glory as well!
We don't get that reward because of our obedience! It's because those things are already true. Therefore, obey. Look over at the same chapter, verses 9 and 10:
"Do not lie to each other—" Because if you lie, then God going to cut your tongue out! Is that what it says? No, that's not what it says. It says:
"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."
We obey because we have already been renewed in the image of our Creator, and we must now put on the practices that go with that image.
This is one of those times where – you know – you're supposed to live up to your image. Okay? You're supposed to live up to your image, then!
Why? Look, we've already put on the new self, now put on those things that reflect that you're a new person. See, there's no threats. There's no rewards. It's just, "Because you've got this new image, live up to it."
Look down at verse 12. This is my favorite one. You've heard it a hundred times. Here's a hundred and one.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
We obey because we have already been chosen – because we already are considered holy – because we already are loved. It does not say: "Put these things on so that you can be chosen – so that you are holy—so that God loves you more!" He says, "You're already loved – you're already holy – you're already chosen! So now, put these things on."
Notice – there are no threats to restrain us, nor are there rewards to coax out of us obedience. Rather, he says to us, "Do these things because your life is hidden with Christ. Do these things because you're being created in a new image. Put on the practices which reflect that new image. Because you're already chosen, because you're already loved, because you're already holy – do these things." See, there are no threats.
We live, then -- in light of the Spirit's work in us – unconstrained, unforced lives. This is the obedience that flows out of us, because the Spirit is changing us and producing this fruit in us. All right?
So, he says -- with that in mind -- live unconstrained, unforced lives.
"All right, Paul, you've made your point," you might say. You might say to him, "People led by the Spirit are freed from the law. I get the point. Over and over and over you've made the point that in Christ we've died to the law and so we are free from it. You've said, 'For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified for Christ.' You loudly proclaim, Paul, 'It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again with the yoke of slavery.' Okay, Paul. We get the point. So God's people have been freed from the law. All right, then answer this question for me: Since God's people have been freed from the law, what will keep your churches from being nothing more than a gathering of wild, unruly people? They've got no – if you say there's no threats and no rewards, then what is going to keep your churches from becoming nothing more than a bunch of unruly people?"
And his answer is the same for that question as it is for the law. You know what it is? His response is this: the cross.
The cross! You see, the cross not only delivers us from the law, it delivers us from the flesh as well! Verse 24:
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."
Paul, in effect, says here: live crucified lives. You have died to the law in Christ. And in Christ, the flesh has also been crucified.
Now, listen. Here's what happened in the old scheme of things. The law commanded: "Love God and love your neighbor – or else." Isn't that right? Isn't that the basic summation of the law?
"Love God with all your heart, soul and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. And if you don't, you die."
How did the flesh respond to that? The flesh said, "I will live for myself. Not for God. Not for my neighbor. Regardless of what you command. Even with the threat – I'm not going to do it."
Right?
So God says, "Love Me and love your neighbor or else." And the flesh says, "Get out of here. I don't have to live by Your law. Forget it."
All right?
Well, you can see the problem, can't you? If the law's crucified, then you've got flesh saying, "Hey! I can do whatever I want! It doesn't make any difference!"
Ah, but here's what he says. At the cross, not only are we delivered from the old code, but we are also delivered from the principle that fueled our rebellion against that old law. The very thing that was behind my rebellion has also been killed!
So, I am free not only from the law, but I'm free from the very energy that fueled my rebellion! That has been killed as well!
Isn't that amazing? The cross is the answer for everything! Delivered from the law, and delivered from rebellion to the law. Both are true.
And this is a complete crucifixion. It's not just the flesh, but the flesh with all its passions and desires – the very impulses of the flesh that fuel the envies and the dissensions and factions and the idolatries. Not just idolatry, not just dissension, not just faction – but the envies and the jealousies and the anger that's behind all that. That's been crucified as well. The very principle that controlled you has been killed, so you can live differently.
So you can live differently. You live a different life, because the old ways of thinking – the old ways of belief, the old ways of value, the old ways of affection – have been crucified. What once directed you has been rendered powerless. What once fueled your rebellion has been killed.
My favorite movie of all time – my number one on my top ten list – is [laughter] –I'm seeing if my children can respond to the question correctly. And the answer is – correct – "Twelve O'Clock High". Best movie ever made in the history of movies. It's the story of the American bomber squadrons in World War II.
It's the story of the 918th Bomber Group. They're having a hard time. They're losing groups like crazy, and they're becoming known as a "hard luck crew". A hard luck outfit.
Along comes General Frank Savage, played by Gregory Peck. And his commanding general says, "Do you know what the problem is?"
He goes, "Yeah, it's the leadership."
He says, "I'm going to ask you to do something I wouldn't ask anybody but you." He says, "Do you know what it is?"
He says, "Yeah, you want me to go down and command the 918th."
So, Gregory Peck goes down. General Savage goes down and takes command of the 918th Bomber Group. And in one pivotal scene – a very important scene in the movie – General Savage is briefing the crews. And here's what he says:
"You've been looking at a lot of air lately, and you think you ought to have a rest. In short – you're sorry for yourselves. Now, I don't have a lot of patience for this 'What are we fighting for?' stuff. We're in a war. A shooting war. We've got to fight. And some of us have to die. I'm not trying to tell you not to be afraid – fear is normal. But stop worrying about it and about yourselves. Stop making plans. Forget about going home. Consider yourselves dead already. Once you accept that idea, it won't be so tough."
Wow. "Consider yourselves dead already. Stop making plans. Don't even think about going home. Consider yourself dead."
Do you think that changes the way people will do things? "I'm going to quit worrying. I'm going to quit worrying about going home. I'm dead. I'm just going to live what I gotta do now." All right?
That's the point he's making here. The flesh has been crucified – so start living like that. Start living like that. You're no longer subject to the rule of the flesh with its passions and desires. It's been crucified. It's been killed. All right?
Now, he doesn't address this in the book. "Well, why do I still struggle?" Well, it's still fighting a guerrilla warfare out there. It's still harassing you. All right? But consider it dead. Don't live according to that principle any more.
Now, he goes on then and adds something further. It's not just good enough to kill it. He goes on, then, to say in verse 25:
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
Let's look at that carefully. Here, he says, "Live spiritual, ordered lives."
Live spiritual, ordered lives. The Spirit – and not the flesh – now becomes the animating principle, the dynamic of your life, the control room of your life. And he says, first of all:
"Since we live by the Spirit."
All right. Look up at chapter 5, verse 16. If you have an NIV, it says:
"And so I say, live by the Spirit…"
I would suggest to you -- in chapter 5, verse 16 -- that you take a pencil and you cross out "live". That's a bad translation. And you ought to write, "Walk". Because the word there is "walk". The translators of the NIV wanted to bring across the point that, you know, walking means living – but they kind of messed up the metaphor that he's using there. Plus, it gets confusing when you come to verse 25.
See, "Since we live by the Spirit" is an entirely different word! So the one in 5.16 should say "walk by the Spirit", but in verse 25, it should say "live by the Spirit."
What's he trying to say? He means that the Spirit is the source and the sustaining power of the believer's life. Of your new life. The Spirit is the source and the sustaining power of the believer's life.
In other words, first of all, you were born by the Spirit. He regenerated you. He brought you to life. He gave you a new heart. You were born of the Spirit, and the Spirit sustains that new life in you. He gave it to you, and He sustains it.
That's what Paul means at this verse when he says, "Since we live by the Spirit." The Spirit is the source and sustaining power of our life. All right? The Spirit, first of all, is like our mothers. He gave birth to us. And the Spirit is like food and hydration. He sustains that life.
You know, if I quit eating today and would never eat again? I would probably die in about six months. Well – some would say, within a week or so. But given my size, about six months. But, I would eventually die. Life would not be sustainable without food and water. It would end.
The Spirit is like that. He sustains the spiritual life in me.
I recall at a NANC conference one year. After the evening session, going out with John McCaughnahey. I don't know if you remember, but John McCaughnahey was one of our speakers. I love John. I look John up at every NANC conference, because he's a crazy man. And he's a crazy man that knows how to put theology in the right terms.
And I'll never forget – we're walking out of this restaurant. And he turns around, and he looks at us. And he says, "Now, remember, you guys – when you go to bed tonight, the only way you wake up as a Christian is by the power of the Holy Spirit." You would lose it when you're sleeping if it weren't for the power of the Spirit in you! Isn't that true?
The Spirit sustains your life – the fact that you wake up tomorrow still a Christian can be attributed to the power of the Holy Spirit! He sustains that spiritual life in you.
We live by the Holy Spirit – therefore, by definition, we live spiritual lives. Spiritual means by the Spirit. Every Christian is a spiritual person – he's been born and sustained by the Spirit. Spiritual does not mean another notch or two above other Christians. Every Christian is a spiritual person. He's been born and sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit.
So, we live this spiritual life.
Now -- because the Spirit gives and sustains our spiritual life – we now have the responsibility – verse 25. We now have the responsibility to keep in step with Him. We must keep in step with Him.
The same word is used in Romans chapter 4, verse 12, if you want another way of looking at it. In Romans chapter 4, verse 12, the very same word is used when the Apostle Paul here – and it is translated this way for us:
"And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised."
So, we could say, "walk in the footsteps of the Spirit". Or, it has the idea of marching in step with the Spirit. Either following His footsteps or keeping in step with Him – marching in step.
Since the Spirit has given us new life and new capacities, keep in step with Him. Follow in His footsteps. So, we live an ordered life. A spiritual, ordered life. We live an ordered life by keeping in Step with the Spirit.
Now, the question comes: How do we keep in step with the Spirit. Here, he is saying what he has said before – verse 16.
"So I say, walk by the Spirit…."
Verse 18:
"…if you are led by the Spirit…"
Okay? So keeping in step, he's essentially saying, "Walk by the Spirit. Be led by the Spirit."
What does that mean? How do I keep in step with the Spirit? Well, first of all, I keep in step with the Spirit as He reveals to me the cross of Jesus Christ. As I look at Jesus crucified, I know that I have been redeemed. That I belong to God. It delivers me from despair when I start – I love "Before the Throne". Frankly, I feel like singing that song every single Sunday. Because that second verse just cuts to my heart.
"When Satan tempts me to despair.,."
What do I know? Jesus intercedes for me. He's taken care of my guilt. So I don't despair in my sin. Oh, I get really upset in my sin, and sometimes I get that close to despairing. But I know that I am forgiven. I am not guilty before the Judge. I can grow. I'm not earning anything from Him at all.
So the Spirit displays Jesus so that I don't live a life of despair – and I don't live a life of self-righteousness. That is, counting on my righteousness.
The Spirit has given the definitive Word of God by which you must live. How do you listen to the Spirit? [lifts Bible] This. This is the Spirit's Book. These are the Spirit's words.
Peter tells us that these men of God were moved along by the Spirit of God as they wrote these things. This is the Spirit talking to us!
My mentor in the faith, Pastor Goode, once said, "Don't expect the Spirit to spend 2600 years writing the Bible, only to ignore it and give you some other word."
No. Here's the Spirit. He's given us this Word. I need to listen to the Spirit by His Word.
How else do I walk in the Spirit? The Spirit has written the law of God in my heart, and so there is a resonance – a harmony between what's happening here [touches chest] and the commands that I find out here.
The Spirit produces faith in you, so that you are not gaining your righteousness by human effort. But by faith.
The Spirit energizes you when you step out in obedient faith.
The Spirit is present with you every moment, and He is ready to help you when you need it. And His power is available to you when you ask for it. Prayer is a vital means of walking in the Spirit – or keeping in step with the Spirit.
All of those things keep me in step with the Spirit.
"Now, hang on here," someone objects. Someone says to me, "If the Spirit gives new life and produces His fruit, then why does He command us to keep in step with the Spirit? Shouldn't that just happen? Shouldn't that just happen? Why does He command now to keep in step with the Spirit?"
Listen carefully. Paul never speaks of the Spirit's work apart from a believer's act of involvement. And, he never speaks of a believer's obedience apart from the Spirit's activity. The two are wedded together. You can't separate them, or you can't get rid of them.
Just think of it this way, all right? Grammar time. You ready for a grammar lesson? Two words. Indicative and imperative. All right? Time for Mister Rogers now: "Can you say that with me?" [laughter]
Indicative and imperative. The indicative is a statement of fact. Right? What's the statement of fact in this verse?
"Since we live by the Spirit…"
Statement of fact. We live by the Spirit. Or let me put it this way. In this context, this statement of fact is what God has accomplished. Your spiritual life is given and sustained by the Holy Spirit – with no help from you. This is what God has accomplished for you.
The imperative is a statement of command. Statement of fact is indicative. Imperative is a statement of command: What God expects from you.
And what is it? "Keep in step with the Spirit."
Now, here's the point. The indicative does not cancel the imperative. And the imperative does not overturn the indicative. See, what we want to do is say, "Either it's indicative or it's imperative." And the Bible doesn't operate that way. It says, "The statement of fact does not cancel the command to obey. But the command to obey does not overturn the statement of fact."
In other words, because you live by the Spirit, keep in step with Him. Or, to put it this way, become what you are. All right?
Let's see, that's probably the thousandth time I've used that phrase. Become what you are. You are spiritual – now, live like it! Keep in step with the Spirit, now!
But, beware of getting out of step with the Spirit. Verse 26. Here's a good example, where he tells us how to get out of step with the Spirit.
"Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
Have you ever learned to march? Some of you have been in the military, you learned to march in the military. Some of you were in marching band in high school. Or maybe you were in the Boy Scouts or something. But most of us, at one time, learned how to march in step as a group. Everybody marching – swinging their arms at the same time – right foot, left foot… you know? Everybody doing it the same. Okay?
Have you ever seen anybody out of step? You go to the football game and the band's marching by and there's someone who's just out of step? It's ugly, isn't it? It's just ugly! Does not look good!
That's what happens when you get out of step with the Spirit. It gets ugly. That's what he's saying in verse 26.
It's ugly! You've got conceited people provoking and envying each other when you get out of step with the Spirit!
When you get out of step, you get conceited. Pride raises its ugly head in the congregation. You think you're always right. You believe that you will never struggle with that sin that someone seems to have trouble with. That's not going to be your problem. Oh, no. "No, sir. That's not going to be my problem. What is wrong with that person!"
So, in subtle ways, conceit gains a foothold. And so, you start provoking one another. Provoking one another means a hostile turning against one another. Envy is turning away from one another.
So, in this conceit, you have this hostile turning away from one another. You know with absolute certainty that your position is right and you will turn against anyone who holds the opposite opinion in the congregation.
Because you would never struggle with overeating – or adultery, or anger – you feel entirely capable of judging someone else and their sin.
Folks, that is conceit. That is pride. In fact, you can not disconnect what he says here with chapter 6, verse 1. You see, because you're not going to struggle with that sin, you feel entirely capable of helping your brother who is struggling with that sin. You're going to let him know exactly what he needs to do to deal with it.
What does he say in 6.1?
"Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently." Gently. "But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
Watch out. When conceit enters the picture, you get out of step. It gets ugly. And there is judgmentalism and harsh correction happening.
Or envy takes hold. That's a turning away of one another. Put yourself in the place of that brother who is struggling with that particular sin, and you make it known. You know what happens to him?
He starts saying, "I could never be like her. I could never be like him." And they start to envy you. And they turn away. "I can't be like you. We've got nothing in common." All right?
You see, it gets real ugly when we get out of step with the Spirit.
So, he says, keep in step with the Spirit. Listen to Him and His Word. Keep the cross before you. Remember, He's the one that gave you life. You didn't earn it. You didn't get that on your own. He produced that by His Spirit. Live spiritual, ordered lives.
Well, folks – here we are again at the cross, the decisive point for all of us. At that cross, Jesus died for the guilty so that sinners could be reconciled to God and He could be reconciled to them. It took the death of His Son, but at the cross, He did more than just die for sin.
Isn't that true? He conquered the very fuel of sin, called the flesh. At the cross, the flesh was crucified. It was at that cross that Jesus decisively defeated the flesh – the force and energy of evil. And because Jesus conquered the flesh, we can – indicative – and must – imperative – live crucified lives.
But Jesus also sent His Spirit to change us. Because of that Spirit, we can – and must – live unconstrained lives. That is, lives that honor God – not because of threats and rewards, but because we have been changed.
And because we have the Spirit, we can – and must – live spiritual, ordered lives: lives energized by the Spirit so that we can keep in step with Him.
See, we can – and must – live a different sort of life because of Jesus and the Spirit Who is at work in us.
Father, we confess to You that, too often, we want to lean one way or we want to lean the other – when You have given us both. We want to lean sometimes toward the indicative and say, "Well, there's nothing for me to do. The Spirit is working in us." Or sometimes, Lord, we lean too much the other way and we hammer at ourselves and at one another, "Get your willpower going! Get up for the battle – let's go!" When in fact, Father, both are true. We can live this way, and we must live this way – but both of those are only true because of Your work in us by Your Spirit and by the cross of Jesus. And so, Father, I pray that we would understand – we can and we must. Help us to walk out of here today with both humility – because we know that we give in to that crucified flesh too often, that flesh that does not dominate us but tricks us and fools us – Lord, give us humility because of that. But, Lord, give us confidence because of what You have done for us in the Spirit of God. God, we just ask for Your help. We pray for it. This is the kind of people we want to be. Give us that, we pray. For, Lord, when we live like this, we will stand out. Help us, in Jesus' Name.
Amen.