Seeking Jesus First - July 7, 2023

What makes those who practice wickedness so blind to what they are doing? Ignorance? Lies? Self justification?

Wickedness is deceitful. It twists things in a person’s life to tell them that they are justified to act the way they do.

“The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble.” (Proverbs 4:19, NKJV)

Wickedness says whatever it needs to in order to justify itself:

• “It is okay for me to treat others badly because I was treated badly.”
• “I’m powerful, so it is my right to oppress the weak.”
• “I serve everyone in what I do so I can steal or take bribes.”
• “My wife is not honoring me, so…”
• “My husband is not loving me, so…”
• “That person did me wrong, so…”
• “I never had a lot of money, so I can take it from someone who does.”
• “I’ve got to do whatever I have to do to get by.”
• “Other people are doing it.”
• “Other people are doing worse than I am.”
• “That person deserve to be robbed, or killed, or destroyed.”
• “It’s survival of the fittest.”
• “I worked hard to get where I am…”
• “I was born this way.”
• “I was abused.”
• “I was rejected.”
• “I was bullied.”
• “God will forgive me.”

There are so many ways that people justify the works of the flesh. But even if we say, “God will forgive me”, God does not cancel out natural world consequences. You may not face everlasting fiery hell as judgement, but you will reap consequences in your life. God is a good father and He chastens and corrects us as His own children (Don’t misconstrue this statement. God loves us and corrects us with His Spirit and Word, but if we are not listening and repenting, we plant thorns and tares in our own garden and give the adversary openings to steal, kill and destroy.”

“Now the works of the flesh are evident… adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;…” (Galatians 5:19–21, NKJV)

A few verses later…

“Do not be deceived,… whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption….” (Galatians 6:7–8, NKJV)

Look at the list in Gal. 5:19-21. What are the natural world consequences for the works of the flesh? At the very least, Prov. 4:19 says that they will stumble around in darkness.

The word is clear; there is no justification through what we do. Justification only comes through faith in Christ Jesus and His Word. We reckon ourselves to be dead to sin and alive unto God through Christ Jesus. Justification is a result of seeing the person who sinned, as dead on the cross with Christ. And then, seeing yourself as being raised from the dead with Christ Jesus. And then, living and walking by faith in the newness of abundant everlasting life.

Jesus said, “You must be born again.”

We die to the wretched and wicked man that we were without Christ. We live again but with Christ alive in us. Spiritually, it is a new birth - a new creation. And by walking in newness of life, the soul is transformed and becomes completely united with the new spiritual you.

Let’s stop ignorantly lying to ourselves with self justification. Let’s leave the wicked dead man on the cross. Let’s walk in newness of life completely justified by faith in Christ Jesus.

“that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22–24, NKJV)