17/02/2012 - WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

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Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations?

Colossians 2:20

Man was created in the image and likeness of God to walk with Him and live in His presence; however, when Adam sinned he was expelled from the divine presence. Today, those who convert, despite descending from the first man, should no longer accept being deprived from contact with the Lord, for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive (I Corinthians 15:22). However, the situation of those who have not yet converted is tragic because they do not have God, and therefore, even if they are religious and strive to do good deeds, they will not have the divine help in times of trouble (John 3:36; I John 5:12).

Those who are born again need to understand that because they have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior they died to sin and, therefore, to sufferings, disease, poverty and other works of evil (Romans 6:1-11). Upon the death of Christ on Calvary, we were freed from the dominion of darkness, so we must not be subject to the whims of the evil one because with the new birth we have put off the old man and have put on the new man. However, in order to receive the benefits of what Jesus did for us, it is necessary to resist the lies that the devil has spread throughout the world according to which we are but mere forgiven sinners and that we are no different from other people – whether they are saved, or not.

If you have accepted Jesus as Savior you should believe you are already dead with Christ. As to the first lessons that people come up with trying to please God, they are nothing but deception. In fact, those born in God’s family are free from any debt that man had contracted because our debts were nailed to the cross. All our trespasses were wiped out (Colossians 2:13-14). So, do not submit to any religious requirement. Be strong and refuse any ordinance created by anyone. These things can have a form of godliness, but they are cruel and demonic.

Accept only what the Word of God says because it comes from the lips of the one who can help us have a successful life (II Timothy 3:16-17). With the illumination of the Holy Spirit we understand what the Scriptures say. Without the vision of the Lord men stumble in all situations. In their eagerness to reach the Creator, they come up with a number of things that do not work because they have no spiritual value.

It is very important that you make up your mind about whether you live in the world or in God’s presence (I John 2:15-17). Those who live in the world are only concerned with material things; they are dominated by the passions of the flesh, by human and religious ordinances. The unconverted are in a very problematic spiritual state because they are still guided by the prince of the power of the air and therefore they are prone to committing the worst sins (Ephesians 2:2-3). The saved ones, on the other hand, must rid themselves of useless things created by people who never had an encounter with the Almighty. He who knows the Lord is sufficed by His Word.

In Christ with love,

R. R. Soares