Amazon.com
eBook & paperback
Volume 9 ... #5
We Who Are Born of God
The apostle John said the outstanding truth about those born of God ... John said:
I Jn. 5 ... 18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know HIM that is true, and we are in HIM that is true, even in HIS Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
*****
We, who are born of God, keep ourselves by the Spirit of God who dwells in us. We feel our flesh trying to rise up and be offended and be angry, but we refuse to allow our flesh to rule over us as we once did.
Paul describes it as "keeping under our body" ... or keeping our flesh under the control of the Spirit of God.
I Cor. 9 ... 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
*****
Galatians 5 ... 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh:and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance:against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
*****
Those things the world covets seem so strange to us who are born of the Spirit of God.
We know "our kingdom" is not of this world. (Jn. 18)
We look for new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. (II Peter 3) We know this present earth will never be righteous. We set our goal to live in peace while we remain here and to keep ourselves without spot by choosing the way of God over the way of the flesh.
We are kind to those persons we once hated and despised, knowing we have been spared by mercy of God.
We purpose to do no ill to another person.
We speak truth of God in love given opportunity.
Because we are children of God now, we do all these things opposite to our flesh.
We are new creations, born of God by HIS Spirit, given HIS Spirit, separated from the world by the will of God.
Live in peace! Be continually thankful to God.
*****