The false teachers kept trying to see freedom to weak Christians, and that freedom was freedom to sin.
They used the grace of God as their empowerment for their
arguments. “Doing whatever you please is
not freedom – it is the worst kind of bondage,” my commentary
said.
Those false teachers kept making false promises. Peter compared them to wells without
water. As a result, people could never
feel satisfaction. “There is in mankind an inborn thirst for
reality, for God. ‘Thou hast made us for
thyself,’ said Augustine, ‘and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.’ People attempt to satisfy this thirst in many
ways, and they end up living on substitutes,’”
my commentary added.
This freedom was offered by false Christians, who were in
bondage to money, fleshly lust, and pride.
“In the Bible, freedom does not mean having it your way. That attitude is the very essence of
sin. The freedom that Jesus Christ
offers means enjoying fulfillment in the
will of God … Through the Word of God, we discover the truth about
ourselves, our world, and our God. As we
face this truth honestly, we experience the liberating power of the Spirit of
God … Temporary reformation without
true repentance and rebirth only leads to greater sin and judgment … Sinful
tendencies don’t disappear when a person reforms;
they merely hibernate and get stronger
… True holiness is more than conquering temptation; it is conquering even the desire to disobey God.”
Father, I know that You have saved me and changed me. When I am tempted by my old life, remind me
that I am facing more than conquering temptation. Help me to see that I must always be about
conquering even the desire to disobey
You.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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