DAILY WORD "...and the truth will set you free.."

Man can definitely not save himself, being dead in sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1). Man is estranged from the womb, (Psalm 58:3); is shapen in iniquity (Psalm 51:5), his heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), he is controlled by Satan (Ephesians 2:2) and the law of sin and death continually works in his members (Romans 7:23). He is under a curse (Galatians 3:10) and his understanding is darkened (Ephesians 4:18). Every imagination is evil continually (Genesis 6:5); he is filled with all unrighteousness (Romans 1:29) and is corrupt from head to foot (Isaiah 1:6). In fact, the whole world around us is depraved and wicked. 

The Bible says, "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin". So how can we live a life free from sin? The answer is a change in the human nature. Jesus' death means the burial of our old sinful nature and His resurrection made it possible for our spirit to be alive again. In John 8:34 we read that Jesus ransoms us from the slavery and bondage of sin and changed our sinful nature. Without this change no man can be righteous. Goodness varies from one person to another, but no one can be righteous without the new birth.

Jesus said, in John 3:3 "Except a man be born again of water and spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God." Jesus is talking about a spiritual birth, a change of man's nature. It is different than the physical birth; it is a new creation, created in Christ Jesus. You can't see it, but you can see its effect; in fact Jesus described it "like the wind". The old sinful nature is gone, the new one has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new birth is an end of the old nature and a new beginning. It is a creation, a reversal of nature (supernatural); it is a transfer and another chance, a break, a change.  The newborn Christian grows and grows toward “the measure and full stature of Christ.”

Man is a triune being, composed of;

Spirit: The part of man by which he is capable of God-consciousness.

Soul: The part of man by which he is capable of self-consciousness

Body: The part of man, by which he is capable through his senses to have world-consciousness or physical-consciousness.

The new nature will change your wicked attitude; you will become more sensitive to the things of God. For example, the old nature required "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth", but the new nature says "Resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." The old nature taught "Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy", the new nature of Christ teaches "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" …. "For if you love them which love you, what reward have ye?"

This new birth cannot be seen, but sensed. You will notice that you have become a new person just wanting to please God, a new person that is directed by the word of God. And the more you read the Word of God, the more you realize that this is what Life is all about, You will become part of God and you will feel that you have gained the whole world and there is nothing that you want more than pleasing Him, our Great and Loving God. Amen.

Reading: Please read all of Matthew 5, 6 and 7

"Lord, your word says that I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world; please show me how to actively participate in the culture around me so that I shine the light of your love for all to see."