THE PROCESS OF A TEMPTATION: HOW TO MANAGE BAD THOUGHTS

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 …for though in the flesh we walk, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not pertaining to the flesh, but pertaining to the natural ability of God towards the tearing down of fortresses; pulling down logics and every high thing lifting itself up against the experiential knowledge of God, and taking captive every thought into the obedience of Christ.


How do you control the thoughts in your mind?

So often we struggle with thoughts that are of a “lacking in character” type, which flood our minds all day long. Perhaps they are thoughts that we will never do because ultimately our conscience would not permit such an action; nonetheless, we struggle with them. Perhaps we would do them if the opportunity presented itself knowing full well that we should not be involved with that type of action. Or perhaps they are thoughts that seem to be impossible to resist. They take over our minds, making us feel guilty and unworthy before God for even allowing such a thing in our minds, not to mention actually doing them.

We need to remember that our battle is not a battle of the flesh; we are not waging war against fleshly enemies. Our enemies are spiritual and affect our way of thinking. When it comes to how we deal with thoughts in our minds we need to realize that the thought is not a sin, or even a trespass. The thought in itself is nothing until we make it something.

In James 1:12 we are told how we are tempted by a desire to do something that lacks in character. First, the lust has to enter your mind, hence, a thought. Then, you have to accept the thought as your own. The thought is the bait. It is the means by which either your sin nature, Satan, or the world system seeks to gain control over your frame of mind. The bait intends to draw you out of your safe place, which is a place where your mind is framed on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. It does this by getting you to accept the thought and commit in your mind to perform the thought, which is a trespass. A trespass will ultimately result in a sin when the opportunity arises for the act to be committed and is thus followed through.

Because these desires can be so strong, to defend ourselves we tend to fall into trying to put a law up against them to control them, rather than taking the way of escape. I should not be thinking such thoughts! No! I refuse to think this way. Or something along those lines comes up in our mind to combat the thought. It may seem like this is a good way to deal with a bad thought, but the problem is we are setting a “do not” law upon ourselves and not applying the proper defense against the attack. That law will ultimately give the sin nature strength to overcome our mind. We can get so afraid of dealing with a thought that we focus on saying, "no"; rather than processing the thought correctly and bringing it into captivity with who we are in Christ.

The grace from God child trains us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, in order that we should live with a saving frame of mind while manifesting godliness in this now age, which is the present evil age. We live in a time when the manifestation of character that is unbecoming of any human is not only committed on a normal basis, but seeks to engulf all around it by involving them in the act by either getting them to participate or approve of such ungodly character. Part of this child training is learning how to deal with and properly process thoughts that enter into our minds. Remember, the thought is not a sin, the thought is not even a trespass. It is only the bait that is seeking to get us to bite so that we accept it as our own, which is a trespass against God because we did not take the way of escape, so that ultimately we will perform the act that lacks in character and fulfill the desire.

When a thought comes into our minds, we need to appropriately process the thought. We need to identify what type of thought it is. Is it a good one or a bad one? Sometimes to make the determination we need to develop the thought in our mind and consider the outcome of such an action. Other times there is no doubt that the thought is a bad one. Each thought that enters your mind should be considered and weighed as to its value. There is nothing wrong with this process, it does not make you unrighteous before God, as a matter of fact, by evaluating the thought you are then able to use the means that God has given you to overcome the enemy that is attacking you. If it is a bad thought, the next step is to identify which one of your spiritual enemies is causing the lust. We determine this by the type of desire. The better we know the methods of our enemies the fast we can identify the source of the temptation. At this point, do not say NO! to the thought; rather, take the proper way of escape. If it is a lust from the flesh, set your mind on the thing above. Remind yourself that you are dead to the sin nature and alive to God in Christ, count this to be true, yield your members to righteousness rather than unrighteousness. If the source is from Satan or one of his demons, put on the full armor from God. If the world system is the culprit, recognize that you have been crucified in Christ to the world system. Although you are in the world, you are not of the world. We may use the world, but not abuse it. This will prevent taking our love that is to be directed at the saints and directing it at the world system.

So the next time a bad thought comes into your mind, do not be afraid of it. Process it correctly, apply the proper defense against it and bring it into captivity. God has promised that He will not put on us more than we can handle but with all temptations, He gives us a way of escape so that we can bear up under them.

Colossian 3:1-3; Titus 2:11, 12; Galatians 1:4; Romans 6:1-3, 11, 13, 18; 7:9; Galatians 6:14; 1 John 2:15, 16; John 17:14; 1 Corinthians 7:31; 10:13; Ephesians 6:10-18

Knowing God’s Will for Your Life

Can we know what God’s will is for our lives?  This is a question that has been asked by many Christians. How do I know if something is the will of God for me? God’s will sometimes seems to be vague and hard to perceive; however, when we look into Scripture we find that as Christians we are to know the will of God. Not just to know what it is, but to also understand it. Ephesians 5:17; Colossians 1:9.

We know that God has determined certain things, but what about the day to day things. How do we know what God’s will is each day?

Understanding what the will of God is, is a good place to start. There are two types of “wills” in Scripture. As a matter of fact, we ourselves have two types of wills also. We have a desirous will and a determinate will. Just because we have a desire does not mean we will always fulfill it.

You may have the desire to parachute, but when the times comes you choose, that is determine, not to jump out of the plane, or perhaps not even get into the plane. What if the opportunity never comes around for you to go parachuting?

In Scripture there is the desirous will and the determinate will of both man and God. In Matthew 1:19 Joseph determined that he would not disgrace Mary, his wife to be. In 1 Corinthians 12:11 we are given a Spiritual gift by the determination of the Holy Spirit. Our gift is not something that we choose, or through our desires can change. In our lives, if we determine to be rich we will bring upon ourselves many temptations that are foolish and harmful, 1 Timothy 6:9. (There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, that is not what Scripture is saying here. It is the determination to be rich, which means you have set your mind to fulfill the desire of wealth, but at what cost? any?).

It is by God’s determinate will that we have been brought forth by the Word of Truth, James 1:18.

The determinate will is a desire that we decide to bring to completion.

What does determinate will have to do with our lives and understanding God’s will for our lives? There are things that God has determined will happen. Such as the completion of our salvation; the judgment of Satan; the rule of Christ, etc. And yes, at times His determinate will tells us what He has determined for us, often times in the future. These facts are necessary to know; however, it is His desirous will that tell us what we wants for us now.

You must desire something before you can determine to do it. In Ephesians 1:1 God desires to place Paul as a Apostle. The position that Paul held was by the desirous will of God the Father. Our bounds have been marked off to the placement of sons in Christ Jesus by God’s desirous will, Ephesians 1:5. The position that we have before God is a place where He desired us to be. Jesus came to earth to provide a means by which we are saved through the desirous will of the Father, Hebrews 10:7. Scripture did not come by the desire of men, but rather by the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:21.

God has desires for each and everyone one of us. Not only does He has desires, He expects us to know what these desires are and to fulfill them. In salvation God has provided us with everything that we need to live godly, that is, to live our the character of His Son through our lives. This included the ability to know His desirous will, not just what He has determined will happen. We do seek God’s will out of our own strength either, so don’t think that by fasting and prayer you will know God’s will for it is God who makes us fit to do His will, not us, Hebrews 13:21. Even Paul knew this and in His communication with the Father requested that the saints would be filled with the full experiential knowledge of God’s desirous will for them, Colossians 1:9. God also expects us to understand what His desirous will is and not be foolish, Ephesians 5:17. We have a renewed mind in Christ, not a mind that is being renewed which many translations state in error in Romans 12:2. No, we have a mind that is renewed in Christ and by using this mine we can test each situation that comes our way as to whether or not it is the desirous will of God.

That is all good, but how do I determine God’s will for my life? How does He reveal it to me? There is nothing in Scripture that tells me what I am to do, where I am to work, who I am to marry, so how do I know what God’s desirous will is for my life? It is true that there is no section of Scripture that has your name on it and tell you what to do. However, that does not mean that there is no Scripture that tells you what God’s desirous will is for your life.

If you want to know what God wants you do to with your life, you need to start with what Scripture reveals as God’s desirous will for all Christians, for if you are not doing that, how can you possible be living in God’s will?

So what is revealed? The first, and foremost is God’s desire that you present your body as a living sacrifice in Romans 12:1, 2. This is your reasonable service since He purchased your body. A living sacrifice is one that continually serves so long as it lives. He owns your body, you need to recognize that and live accordingly.

We are to ask, for ourselves, according to the will of God. Communication with God is important, and is something that God wants us to do, 1 john 5:14, 15. When we communicate properly, that is, from our position in Christ, whatever we ask for is not going to be against His desirous will. Therefore , we can have confidence that He hears us and we will receive that which we have requested. Don’t think that God is here to grant you all of your wishes, He is not a genie. If you ask and do not receive, you should look at why you are asking. Are you asking so that you can consume it of your own fleshly lusts?

It is God’s desirous will that we suffer in some situation because of a good testimony, 1 peter 4:19. There are times when we will be persecuted because we are doing what is right or reprimanded because we are manifesting the character of Christ (for His name sake). However, these should not be shameful time, for through our suffering we can give a good testimony of who we are in Christ. Don’t forget, we are appointed to suffer for Christ’s name. Suffering for doing good is not something that should be strange to a Christian. Be careful though, do not suffer for doing wrong, for there should be shame in that kind of suffering. And do not think that if you suffer because you have done wrong that you are suffering for Christ. 1 Peter 3:17; 4:14, 15, 16.

Through doing good, we are to muzzle the ignorance of foolish men, 1 Peter 2:15. We are not to use our liberty that is in Christ as a cloak of evil; rather, we are to us it to serve God. Besides, when we suffer for Christ, it is actually a thing of grace, not something that should be taken shamefully, 1 Peter 2:19

God desires what we have a attitude of gratitude in all things, for all things, and for all people, 1 Thessalonians 5:18. This is not to say that you must be happy no matter what comes your way. Only that when you recognize that God is in control of your life and leads you into situation for your benefit, you have be grateful, even when those times are extremely difficult. We are not promised health, wealth, and happiness here on earth. But we are promised that God will never leave us nor forsake us and that He only wants what is the best for us.

It was God’s desirous will that Jesus would deliver us from this present malignantly evil age, Galatians 1:4. Through Christ death, burial, and resurrection we have been delivered, even though we now live in it. This present age is an age where evil (that which lacks in character) spreads. This is an attitude that is not content with doing things that lack in character; rather, it is one that wants you to be involved in those activities and aggressively seeks for you to be apart of its, actions.  We have been delivered from it in Christ Jesus and should therefore live a life that is in contrast to it.

Rather than being conformed to a life of legalism, it is God’s will that we are transformed by the renewedness of our minds, Romans 12:2. This transformation is one that shows outwardly what is already inwardly. Rather than putting on an outward appearance of someone that we are not, which any time a Christian attempts to live by any quality of law he or she is doing, we should manifest Christ’s character. (not living by law does not mean not obeying any laws, it is not living a life that through law tries to show God or others how righteous you are through your actions. God has a standard by which we are to live, and that standard is who we are in Christ.)

Abstain from fornication, 1 Thessalonians 4:3. This world presents fornication as something that is not only ok to do, but expected .We are not to be apart of that type of life style. Fornication is a sin that is done against your own body and it is something that should not be named among the saints of God. If you cannot control your desires, marry so that you are not living a life that is contrary to God’s desirous will.

We are to use our Spiritual gifts. God gave you a gift for the edification of the saint. If he did not want you do use it, He would not have given it to you. 1 Corinthians 12:18 states that our gifts are given by the determination of the Holy Spirit. They are given so that as we fellowship with other saints we can use these gifts for edification.

How we serve is also another desire of God. We should not serve others with eservice, rather we should serve as slaves of Christ. Not as though we serve man for man’s glory; rather, we should give ourselves to other Christian and the Lord, Ephesians 6:6,7, and do His will from our hearts.

Knowing what is the riches of the indwelling Christ is also another desire that God has for you, Colossians 1:27. You are in Christ, you have the hope of glory. You should not only know this, but experience it in your every day life. We experience it by learning to feel at ease with who are are in Christ. We need to take our opinion of ourselves and line it up with God’s opinion of us, and live according to His opinion.

It is also God’s desire for us to live the remaining time in His will, not in the lust of men, 1 Peter 4:2. Do not live a life that is consumed by lust; rather, live one that seeks to know and do God’s will for He has made is possible, and desires that you know His will for your life.

Present your body as a living sacrifice

Ask for yourself according to His will

Suffer for a good testimony and do not be ashamed

Muzzle the ignorance of foolish men by doing good

Give thanks in all things

Abstain from Fornication

Be transformed by the renewedness of your mind

Use your Spiritual gift

Give yourself to other Christians and the Lord

Experientially know the riches of Christ in you

Live the remaining time in the will of God, not the lust of men.

 

These are God’s desires for you. If you are violating any of these you are not fully living the way God desires you to live. These passages specifically speak of God’s desirous will for all Christians. There are other passages that also state how we are to govern the manner of our lives. It all comes down to living according to who you are in Christ. By using the renewed mind that God has given you, and not violating what you already know is God’s will for your life, you can and should know what the will of God is for any an all situation in your life. After all, it is His desire that you fully know His will.

Prophets and Prophecy

There are many people today that claim to be prophets in one way or another. Whether it is by saying they have received a message from the Lord, God impressed on them something about you, or outright saying they are a prophet, they claim to speak for God.

Throughout our history God has used prophets. They have brought men revelation from God often times regarding the future. According to Deuteronomy chapters 13 and 18 a Prophet was to speak the words given to him by God and none else. If he added to the words, he was to be put to death by the people.

In the Old Testament prophets were needed as a way for God to reveal to man what was expected of him and at times what the future holds. Even in the beginning of the Church prophets where giving revelation from God to the Church. Acts 11:28 gives an example of a prophet revealing that a famine would come.

However, Scripture also reveals in 1 Corinthians 13 that prophecy will cease. Why will prophecy stop? When will it cease? Are there prophets in the Church today?

What is prophecy? Is it equivalent to preaching the Word of God? To fully understand the difference between preaching and prophecy we need to look at the original language that Scripture was written in. In Greek, since we are in the New Testament at this time, used two distinct words for prophecy and preaching. To preach is to herald a message. Proclaiming the Word of God does not include additional revelation. It is speaking about what has already been written. There are multiple Greek words that are used for how the message of the Gospel is presented. The more dominate word, when it comes to the message of Christ, mean to bring good news, or gospelize. Either way, the messenger is bringing a message.  As for prophecy, it means to tell before hand. The Greek word is a combination of a preposition which means before and the word for “tell” or “to bring to light by speech”. The purpose of revelation is to present something that will happen in the future that is unknown. As you can see, preaching and prophecy have two different meaning and are used in totally different ways. Therefore, preaching is not the same as prophesying.

Since the purpose of a prophet is to reveal something that will happen in the future, that has not been revealed, when will prophecy cease? According to 1 Corinthians 13:8, 9 it will cease when that which is complete comes. “Love never fails, but whether prophecies, they will be rendered ineffective, or speaking in another language (tongues) they will cease, or the word of knowledge, it will be rendered ineffective” Prophecy ceases, or is done away with become the full revelation has been given. “For now we experientially know in part, and out from a part we prophecy, but when the complete will come, the out from a part will be rendered ineffective.” Once we have the full revelation, there is not need for prophecy. There is nothing left to reveal.

The Church no longer needs prophets because God has given us all the revelation that He has chosen to reveal. We have the completed Bible. God is not adding anything more to it. Only the Church has been given this privilege throughout the history of mankind. Therefore, only during the dispensation of grace, which directly relates to the Church, is there no need for prophets. What will a prophet bring? Remember, prophecy is to bring revelation from God. Now that God has revealed everything, what more is there to bring?

Perhaps some will say that prophecy now brings revelation of what God wants us to do with our lives. However, according to Romans 12:2 to understand what God’s desirous will is for our lives we are to use the renewed mind that we have and test each situation to determine if it is approvable. That is, to determine if it is something that agrees with what we already know is God’s will for our lives. What are the things that we already know? Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, Romans 12:1; Be transformed by the renewedness of your mind, Romans 12:2; Use your Spiritual gift, 1 Corinthians 12:18; Give yourself to the Lord and to other believers, 2 Corinthians 8:5; Serve the Lord, Ephesians 6:6, 7; Be set apart and abstain from fornication, 1 Thessalonians 4:3; Be thankful for and in everything, 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Experientially know the riches of the glory of the indwelling Christ “Christ in you”, Colossians 1:27; Ask for yourself according to His will, 1 John 5:14, 15; Do good in every part of your manner of living, 1 Peter 2:15; Suffer in some circumstances for your consistent testimony, 1 Peter 3:17; 4:19; Live the remaining time in the will of God and not to the flesh, 1 Peter 4:2. By weighing each situation you face in your life against these, you will know if you should be involved or not. You do not need a word from God to know. He has already provided you with all you need to know His will for your life.

What about the future? God has revealed in Scripture what will happen to the saved and unsaved. You, as a Christian, will be seated at the right hand of God. All sinners will stand before the Great White Throne and be judged for their sins. We also know of the end of this dispensation, the rapture, and the tribulation period. Also God has revealed the next dispensation, the millennial kingdom (the dispensation of the fullness of times, Ephesians 1:10).

Paul revealed the entire counsel of God to the Ephesian elders, Acts 20:27. Therefore, within the Bible we have all of the revelation that God is giving. It is the entire revealed Word of God.

Not to mention, God has provided us everything we need to live godly, 1 Peter 1:3. We do not need more revelation, we just need to use what has already been provided for us.

Therefore, anyone claiming to be a prophet from God is, according to Scripture, lying. For God is not giving any more revelation. We now have the complete revelation; therefore, that which was out from a part, is no longer necessary. Prophecy, speaking in another dialect (tongues), and the word of Knowledge have ceased.  These where revelatory gifts that have been rendered ineffective because we now posses the entire revealed Word of God.

A Thing of Grace

In the context of  1 Peter 2:18-25, Peter continues to write concerning the manner of conduct that Jews should have before the Gentiles.

(Note: Peter is directing his comments at Jews who are Christians. This is why we can apply this to our lives without violating Scripture even though we are Gentiles who are Christians. In Christ there is no Jew or Gentile, both races are of the household of God where there is no distinction between races, Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 10:32. So although Peter is referring to how the Jews of the dispersion were to conduct themselves before Gentiles, he is speaking of Christian conduct before unbelievers. All Christians should have a good conduct before those who are not saved.)

It is the will of God that by doing good we should silence the ignorance of foolish men, 1 Peter 2:15. We do this by putting ourselves in subjection to those how have authority over us and by not giving into temptation. In verse 18 Peter states that slaves should be subject to both good and bad masters.

Slavery in the Roman empire was much different than what we have known slavery to be in this day and age. Slavery was not about owning people, but how the society worked. And often times, slaves were treated very well. They were educated, and could even earn their own money. However, if you were a slave, Peter states that you were to put yourself in subjection to both the good or gentile masters and the crooked masters. This is not the same as being an employee today. We are not bound to serve our bosses, we have the choice of leaving and finding another job. However, that does not mean that we should not respect the position those in authority hold or that we will not suffer because we choose to act in a proper way when the boss wants us to do something that is wrong. If a boss is doing something that is crooked, we have the right to leave, these slaves did not; therefore, they needed to put themselves in subjection to their masters regardless of what type they were.

This is actually a thing of Grace because these slaves, if they where under a crooked master, would have to suffer because of what their masters where doing. 1 Peter 2:19 “For this is a thing of Grace, if a man for conscience towards God endure grief, suffering wrongly.”

The word “thankworthy” is the same word for grace. Grace is God’s attitude whereby He gives us a benefit without consideration of merit.

Wrongfully suffering because we are doing good is something that we do not deserve. This is a thing of Grace. God allows us to join in the suffering of Christ, for He suffered because of the good that He did. And of course since we share in His suffering, we also share in His glory,1 Peter 4:13; Philippians 3:10.

The suffering that Peter is talking about is pain that is caused by an intense desire. It is not suffering persecution or suffering from being under pressure; however, suffering can be caused by persecution or being under pressure. Suffering here is more like, desiring to be quench due to extreme thirst.

These slaves were doing good things that their crooked masters did not want them doing and were therefore being treated harshly because of it. However, if they were sinning, it was not a thing of grace for them to remain under a master that caused them to suffer. They deserved the suffering.

It is the same with us today. If we are treated harshly because of our sins, should we get credit for staying under the suffering that is caused by the harsh treatment?

For what kind of report is there if while sinning and being treated harshly, you remain under it? But if while doing good and suffering you remain under the harsh treatment, this is grace from God, 1 Peter 2:20.

When it comes to Christians, when we continue to do what is good and are treated harshly by others who do not want to do good, by suffering because of our good conduct  God shows us grace. Not what you would normally think of as grace is it? Grace is usually something that is thought of as good and peaceful, not suffering for doing good; however, it is.

Now Peter goes into the example that Christ left for us. An example that we should follow.  Christ committed no sin, nor was there any deceit found in His mouth while He was slandered and caused to suffer; rather while He was slandered, He did not slander; while He suffered, He did not threaten. but, He committed Himself to the one who righteously judges and as a result bore in His own body our sins upon the tree in order that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousness, by whose stripes we were healed.

This healing is not physical, although I have heard it stated that way many of times. The context does not allow it to be physical. We are not talking about physical healing here; rather Peter is talking about having died to your sin nature and now able to live unto righteousness. The healing is Spiritual.

Because of what Christ did, we are alive unto God in Christ. This is the healing that Peter is referring to here. We are free from the authority of the sin nature and able to live righteously unto God. Therefore,we should follow Christ’s example and not give into temptation; rather, we should suffer for having a good conduct before all men knowing that when we suffer it is a thing of grace.

(For more information on how we died to sin, and the affect it should have on our lives, look back to some of the older posts where I wrote about the sin nature, our new position, and living spiritually. Sunday, November 4,2007 is on the sin nature)

Suffering for Doing Good

(I am going to skip forward a little bit in the book of 1 Peter to caught up with were I am at, I will go back and fill in the gaps as I have time.)

Peter has been writing about the issues the saints of the dispersions in 64 AD were facing in their new homes. These issues stemmed from temptations that were caused by their new surrounding, cultures, and people that they now had to deal with on a daily basis. People that thought it was strange that the Christians were not involved with the same works of the flesh that they were doing as an every day part of life.

As Christians we should not circum to temptations that cause us to live in a way that is against who we are in Christ; rather, we should live a life that characterizes who we are in Christ,  even when it seems that no one else is, that we are the odd ones, or when others are falsely accusing us.

1 Peter 2:12 “having your conduct good among the nations that where as they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they will behold, glorify God in the day of examination. “

In the day when we are examined by those who speak evil of us, our conduct will speak against what they say and through our conduct God will be glorified. For it is the desirous will of God that by doing good we should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Our freedom in Christ should not be used as a cloak to do those things that lack in character. Rather, it should be used to serve God.

Christ set us free from the law, we are not under grace; however, that does not mean we should use grace as a means to continue fulfilling the desires of the flesh; rather we should use it to serve God. 1 Peter 2:16; Romans 6:1-3.

Translation Problems

Lately I have been studying in 1 Peter. What a wonderful book on expounding the troubles we have from living a Godly life.

When studying Scripture, you often run into textual problems that need to be considered. Most of the time, the evidence is overwhelming for a particular reading, which makes it easy to be confident in the translation; however, there are also times when you run into translation problem. Translation problems tend to cause a lot more problems with people's beliefs because everyone  sees them, but unless you are looking at the Greek, you cannot tell there is a problem. One such problem can be found in 1 Peter 1:1. In the three major translations used today (KJV, NASB, NIV) the word "elect" is put in the wrong place. This is not a textual problem it is a translation problem.

In the Greek, 1 Peter 1:1 and 2 read "Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ to the elect strangers of the dispersion according to the foreknowledge of God Father of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia in the sanctification of the Spirit because of obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, may grace and peace be caused to increase to you." However, in each one of the translations I mentioned the word "elect" is moved down the sentence and the foreknowledge of God is applied to it. The NIV even adds an extra "elect" that is not in the original text to ensure their readers apply elect to foreknowledge.

Why the problems? There is no textual problem with elect and its position in the sentence; grammatically it is impossible to apply foreknowledge to elect. (Elect is an adjective for strangers. Foreknowledge is in a prepositional clause that modifies dispersion.) The problem is not the text, rather the theology of the ones who translated it and those who decided to follow the translation rather than the grammar.

Are we elect or are we elect by the foreknowledge of God?

The Christian's Enemies

There are three enemies in all Christian's lives that seek to affect the Christian's ability to manifest godliness. Each one of these enemies has its own method to distract the mind of the Christian from his or her position in Christ, which ultimately produces actions in his or her life that are contrary to the standard that God has for Christians. Although we are going to concentrate more on one of these enemies, which is Satan, we will take a quick look at them all to remind us of how we defeat them to go on to live a victorious Christian life.

The sin nature is our old nature that comes from the result of Adam's sin and trespass, Romans 5:12-21. This nature produces the works of the flesh, which are contrary to the fruit of the Spirit; the works of the flesh are produced by our Old Nature, Galatians 5:19-21, the fruit of the Spirit is produced through our New Nature by the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22,23.

How to defeat the sin nature – Know, reckon, yield

Experientially knowing this, that our Old man has been co-crucified, in order that the body of the sin nature should be rendered ineffective, no longer to be slaved to the sin nature. Romans 6:6

…consider yourself to be dead to the sin nature, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11
Death is separation, it is not annihilation. When physical death comes, the person does not cease to exist, the soul and spirit are separated from the body. Spiritual death, which was caused by Adam's trespass, caused the spirit of all of mankind to be separated from God. Salvation restores the connection of our spirit to God so that was can receive the things of the Spirit. In this state, we are separated, or dead to, our Old Nature and it no longer rules our lives. Rather, we are slaves to righteousness.

…do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to the sin nature, but present yourself to God as living out from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:13
The world system

Satan designed the world system to control man's sin nature. He created it when Cain slew Able to prevent the sin nature from getting completely out of control. Genesis 4:8; Luke 11:50, 51a. The desires of the world system are the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, 1 John 2:16.

Victory over the world system

To have victory over the world system, we need to stop directing love at the things it offers. This love is the same love that is produced by the Holy Spirit through us when we are living out from our new nature. By misdirecting this love to the desires of the world system, we begin to sacrifice for the things of the world system. To have victory, we need to stop loving the things of the world system, 1 John 2:15-17.

Now, since we have to live in this world system - it controls how we do commerce, our money, our jobs, etc. – we are to use the system, but now abuse it, 1 Corinthians 7:31. Using it, without abusing it, boiled down to no allowing it to control your thoughts and desires. There is nothing wrong with have the latest product, so long as you are not constantly seeking after the latest. One of my own weaknesses is computers. If I have a system that performs everything I need, then there is no need for me to purchase the latest system. I have a dual core system, now there are quad core systems out. Although I love the idea of having a really fast computer, the system I have now is more than sufficient to perform the duties I have for it. Really, if I think about it, the only reason I would get a new system at this time is for the sake of saying I have the new system, which would be abusing the system. Now, when it is time to purchase a new system, I may get the latest system – depending upon what it offers. This would not be abusing the world system. I would then be using the system to provide a need, rather than fulfill a desire for something I do not need, but want just for the sake of having it.