2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. WHAT THIS WORLD NEEDS IS CHRISTIANS WHO WOULD HELP THE WORLD TO BECOME CHRISTIAN, RATHER THAN TRYING TO MAKE THE CHURCH BECOME WORLDLY.
THE WORD OF GOD PLAINLY INSTRUCTS US TO LIVE A CLEAN AND GODLY LIFE. TITUS 2:12-15 SAYS, "TEACHING US THAT, DENYING UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY LUSTS, WE SHOULD LIVE SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, AND GODLY, IN THIS PRESENT WORLD; LOOKING FOR THAT BLESSED HOPE, AND THE GLORIOUS APPEARING OF THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST;WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR US,THAT HE MIGHT REDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY, AND PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF A PECULIAR PEOPLE, ZEALOUS OF GOOD WORKS. THESE THINGS SPEAK, AND EXHORT, AND REBUKE WITH ALL AUTHORITY. LET NO MAN DESPISE THEE."
THE WORD OF GOD FURTHER INSTRUCTS US IN 2CORINTHIANS 6:17-18, "WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPERATE, SAITH THE LORD, AND TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN THING: AND I WILL RECIEVE YOU, AND WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAITH THE LORD ALMIGHTY."
WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE WORLD INFILTRATING THE CHURCH IF WE WOULD OBEY ROMANS 12:1-2, "I BESEECH YOU THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD; BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD." 2CORINTHIANS 10:5 SAYS, "CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, AND EVERY HIGH THING THAT EXALTETH ITSELF AGAINST THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, AND BRINGING UNTO CAPTIVITY EVERY THOUGHT TO THE OBEDIENCE OF CHRIST;"
OBEDIENCE IS THE VERY BEST WAY TO SHOW THAT YOU BELIEVE.
BY PASTOR BILL GOOD, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, GREENFIELD, MO. |
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