Exhortation and Repentance · Holy Living

Shameless?

5 min read, approximately

Jeremiah 17:10 ASV
“I, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

Surely no one has greater love than the Lord! (John 15:13, Ephesians 5:2). To expose himself to accusation, endure such cruel punishment and death on a cross so that, despite our actions, we could have redemption, forgiveness of sins, and abundant life… is priceless (Hebrews 9:28)

“Then he released Barabbas to them, and after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified. The governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the headquarters and gathered the whole company around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They placed a crown woven from thorns on his head and a reed in his right hand. Kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying: Hail, King of the Jews! They spat on him, took the reed, and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they removed the robe, put his own clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.” (Matthew 27:26-31)

“After this, knowing that everything was now accomplished, Jesus said, to fulfill Scripture: I am thirsty. A jar full of vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in vinegar, placed it on a hyssop stalk, and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said: It is finished. Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30)

He did all this:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

He did not look at our actions; what mattered to him was that you and I might be saved.

In Christ We Are New Creations

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Therefore, after such an immense sacrifice, the Lord requires this of us:

“I say, then: Walk in the Spirit, and do not satisfy the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh oppose the Spirit, and those of the Spirit oppose the flesh. They are in conflict with one another, so that you do not do what you wish.” (Galatians 5:16-17)

Yes… it is true that our actions once arose from the desires of the flesh, but:

“… He has now reconciled you through death in his physical body, to present you holy, without blemish, and blameless before him” (Colossians 1:21b-22)

In other words, there must be a change in us. This should mark a before and an after in our lives, because:

“Whoever remains in him does not sin; whoever sins has neither seen him nor known him. Little children, let no one deceive you: whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. Whoever practices sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. Whoever is born of God does not practice sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot sin, because they are born of God.” (1 John 3:6-9)

Please, we cannot shamelessly delight in sin and make Jesus Christ’s sacrifice meaningless!

“What, then, shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? By no means. We who have died to sin—how can we still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

If our minds have become so corrupted or dulled that we live a double life, today is a good day to draw near to the Master, stop practicing our former deeds, and ask for forgiveness. But let us hurry…

“Put to death, therefore, what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, uncontrolled passions, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these things, God’s wrath comes upon the children of disobedience. You too once walked in these ways when you lived in them. But now put away all these things as well: anger, rage, malice, blasphemy, and obscene words from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old self with its deeds and put on the new self, which is being renewed in full knowledge according to the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:5-10)

Be Careful… God cannot be mocked! We received life and life in abundance… To keep living shamelessly, or to walk as children of the King?

_**Remember to stop by the Songbook

May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!