Wednesday, December 10, 2014

2 Peter 2:17-22 The Worst Kind Of Bondage

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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