Some deny that a body with flesh, a man, died on the cross to redeem our sinful flesh. That's what the gnostics believed: that only a phantasm was on the cross! It's imperative that Christians acknowledge that a man called Jesus was truly crucified in our place, and because he was bodily resurrected, then we all have that hope. Without the sacrifice of "flesh" there is no hope!
Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:"Sinners "walk in the flesh". It's "the flesh", the other god, who sinners endeavor to please. With Jesus, all it takes is "faith" because we believe in him and his "fleshly sacrifice", and that's how we worship him. How do we worship the "god of self", called "The Self" and "The Flesh"?
Here are some of the things men do to please and appease their "god of the flesh":
Galatians 5:19 "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."Because we do things to please "the flesh" in contrast to "Thou shalt have no other God's before me.", sinners "which do such things shalt not inherit the kingdom of God". Those who are the "children of God" have an inheritance. Those who are of "the flesh" don't have an inheritance because their true father is the devil:
John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."And guess what "children of the devil" forfeit? God's inheritance! Why? It's "the lusts of your father ye will do"! Now let's look at some of those "lusts" sinners do to appease and pleasure their father:
- Adultery: Infidelity to the marriage partner. It comes first because it is so sacred an institution. Husbands and wives are a unit exclusive of any others. Triangulating destroys that unity. Marriage is symbolic of the Christians unity with Christ, our groom. If people are true to God's institution of marriage, is it likely that they'll be true to Christ, their bridegroom?
- Fornication: This is "whoring around" and is symbolic of having relations with other gods. Revelation 2:20 speaks of the church at Thyatira and tells them that they have fornicated by bringing the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes into the church. That is sexual activities and its toleration, just as Balaam did in times of old! Their own flesh is the god with whom they fornicated. Therefore, fornication is something God hates!
- Uncleanness: These are unrighteous things. Since baptism washes away sin and is cleanness, uncleanness is letting the natural man rule.
- Lasciviousness: That's acts of crudeness and ludeness. It's being trashy. It's doing things the pagans do! It's engaging in smut and pornography and many other titillating things.
- Idolatry: It's merely pleasing one's Self". Sometimes there are material figurines which are symbolic, but idolatry is placing the Self before God.
- Witchcraft: Doing the deeds and will of principalities who are at war with God. There are no "good witches". White witches look as if they're "good" to deceive people into accepting them. All witchcraft is evil and repulsive to God. Faith and trust must be in God, not nefarious impostors!
- Hatred: This is not only despising God, but fellow human beings as well. Hatred is the key sin which demonstrates disdain for God. Its opposite is love. Since "love" is to be our reaction to God's salvation, "hate" is not being grateful to God for his grace.
- Variance: That's doing abnormal things. Variances may not be at odds with the world, but they are with God's will. Homosexuality was the "norm" in Sodom and Gomorrah, but is at odds with "the kingdom of God".
- Emulations: This is doing what others do. It's copying the world rather than following Christ. It's "When in Rome do as the Romans do!" because people do those things even when not in Rome. God tells us not to do the things the pagans do!
- Wrath: This is unrighteous anger. For example, wrath is road rage. It's how we manifest displeasure at the actions of others. It's our failure to realize that others don't worship our little god; the Self.
- Strife: That's being disagreeable with our fellow men. Rather than seeking common ground, it's finding fault. Strife is the cause of divorce because different world's collide. Two people have different gods (two Selfs) and each of those gods are striving for control. Who wins "The War of the Roses"? There is one winner... Satan!
- Seditions: That's disobedience to authority, from God on down! Rejecting the regulation of police officers when in their line of duty is "sedition" and is sinful. Why are mobs not blessed? Because of their seditions!
- Heresies: Adhering to doctrines not taught in scripture as God's teaches. When people accept evolution, that's heresy because, in effect, it is a doctrine that teaches that God is a liar! Heresies start with neglecting God's will to accommodate society. It's being mislead by false doctrines!
- Envyings: It's coveting what others have. It's wanting what's theirs without the effort of earning things for yourself. Socialism is an ideology based on class envy.
- Murders: Killing when not at war. Yes, abortion IS murder.
- Drunkenness: Not being "sober" either because of the use of alcohol or drugs.
- Revelings: Mob's disrupting the norm. Behaviors unacceptable to God.
These not only are offensive to God, but are sinners ritualistic worship of their Self under their priest Satan.
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