James 1:14-15
14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
I don't know about anyone else, but this passage says an awful lot. Correct me if I am misunderstanding what James is saying...
Even though I have been born again by the Spirit of God, and have that Spirit living through me, the wicked seeds of selfishness, idolatry, pride,and the like still exist in my heart. And within my heart, there lives a longing to have the manifestation of these 'desires' come to life. I pray that at the onset of conception, the Holy Spirit would destroy the wickedness that tries to rule my heart. How could a fleeting glimpse of false beauty ever compare to the magnificent glory that is Jesus Christ. But, somehow, I know at times that I seem to be enamored by the false beauty. How pathetic am I, and how merciful is Almighty God that He would still allow me the opportunity to receive the grace and beauty that lasts forever.
Famine in the Land. Stop wandering! :-)
6 hours ago
3 comments:
Explain the title??? Am I missing the tie in?
I'm not for abortion of a child, but for killing the process of evil desires mixing with temporal fulfillments of this world that according to James...give birth to sin.
Perhaps I mis-led, or possibly took the whole passage out of context.
I was also fishing for discussion of where our sin originates and where the thoughts become sin, if they are not sin already.
Ahhh.... forgive me in my bronchial sickened state. I am not thinking straight.
I understand what you are saying now. I think you are spot on. I actually heard an interesting message by Piper this week that made me reminisce of an earlier conversation that we had months back.
I do not remember the context of our conversation but I remember discussing God's ordaining of evil (1 Sam. 16). Piper gave a great message on this subject (not on this passage) indicating that God allows evil to take place without being of any sin Himself.
If God is the Alpha and Omega (literally A-Z or beginning and end) and we know that He created Satan and allowed sin to take place. We should then be able to ask the question why?
I think the reasonable understanding to this is exactly what Dr. Piper said concerning Romans 11:33-36.
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
34 “ For who has known the mind of the LORD?
Or who has become His counselor?”
35 “ Or who has first given to Him
And it shall be repaid to him?”
36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Of Him and through Him and to Him are ALL things. This has to include evil.
In NO WAY does God's characteristics or attributes contain anything evil, for He is the exact opposite. But the fact is this: All things exist is for the closing words of Paul in verse 36 --- To WHOM be Glory Forever.
Satan has been allowed to fall for one reason, the glory of God.
Man was given a freewill and chose evil for one reason, the glory of God.
How unsearchable are His ways.
We now live in a time of grace and mercy under the authority of God.
There are two choices during this time on earth:
1) You will glorify God by responding to His mercy by receiving the free gift of Christ, therefore glorifying Him ultimately for His work.
2) You will glorify God by being damned for all eternity because of your rejection of His infinite grace and mercy.
Either way, God WILL get glory. Whether it be in rejoicing or damnation.
Dr. Piper stated this, "The Devil is NOT co-eternal with God". He was created by God, for God and through God. At any moment God with no injustince to anyone can put him out of existance. The devil is doomed and cannot be saved.
Thereore his being allowed to exist now is not that he may have the oppostunity to come under grace through salvation in Christ. This is an impossibility accordning to the revelation of God's word. If this is true, there must be another purpose for his being allowed to hang around here.
The glory of God.
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