“Then said Jesus unto him, Get you hence, Satan: for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve (vs10).”
It is written that we shall worship God in Jesus Christ, and not Satan. We will not go too far in this world, living in sin. We will not deny the gospel of God’s grace, but we will believe unto the end. We have been born again into, “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (I Pet 1:3-5).
The Son of God’s obedience was perfect. He never did anything wrong, never lifted up His soul in vanity, and only did what pleased God. Through His obedience, we BELIEVE God who gives us GRACE over sin (Rom 6:14).
First, we hunger in this world – “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry” (Matt 4:2). The Lord Jesus, because of sin, has pain to endure in this world that He did not bring upon Himself. The believer, just by being in this world has the TEMPTATION to take matters into our hands, because we have needs. But, like Christ, we do not, trusting God to care for us – “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you” (I Pet 5:7). He knows what we need in marriage, in the family, in the job, and in every aspect of life. Thus, we live by HIS word, rather than by OUR needs and feelings, for He CARES for us.
Secondly, we don’t sin that grace might abound – “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Matt 2:5-7). We don’t say, “God saves, so I’ll live unsaved. God forgives, so I will sin. And God gives power, so I’ll live as I see fit, and power is mine, if He wants me to have it”. No, we use God’s grace to SERVE God, which is how grace is received. We “reign in life” by the obedience of Christ and being justified by faith: God gives us His power over sin (Rom 5:17). The “sin that grace might abound” attitude does not believe God in truth. To believe God is to believe Him for His salvation, which is what He gives (Rom 10:13).
Someone says, “I believe on Christ, and now I can live in sin”, but to BELIEVE on Christ is to be SAVED by God with His salvation, revealed in the scripture. I can’t live in sin and say “saved by grace”.
Thirdly, We are tempted for a season, and then Satan departs, “Then the devil leaves him, and, behold, angles came and ministered unto him” (Matt 4:11). This LIFE is but a light affliction, because it is but a moment, and the DEVIL will depart eternally into the lake of fire (II Cor 4:17-18).
We are tempted down here, but not above what we can handle, for Christ is strength over sin and Satan. We have enough in God to defeat Satan, for we haven’t been left to our wisdom and the deceptions of Satan, for, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).
Let us believe who we are in Christ, receive strength to worship God by the acceptance we have in the Beloved and by the redemption and forgiveness that we have received. Receive GRACE freely and GRACE will chase away Satan.
The Son of God’s obedience was perfect. He never did anything wrong, never lifted up His soul in vanity, and only did what pleased God. Through His obedience, we BELIEVE God who gives us GRACE over sin (Rom 6:14).
First, we hunger in this world – “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry” (Matt 4:2). The Lord Jesus, because of sin, has pain to endure in this world that He did not bring upon Himself. The believer, just by being in this world has the TEMPTATION to take matters into our hands, because we have needs. But, like Christ, we do not, trusting God to care for us – “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you” (I Pet 5:7). He knows what we need in marriage, in the family, in the job, and in every aspect of life. Thus, we live by HIS word, rather than by OUR needs and feelings, for He CARES for us.
Secondly, we don’t sin that grace might abound – “Jesus said unto him, It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Matt 2:5-7). We don’t say, “God saves, so I’ll live unsaved. God forgives, so I will sin. And God gives power, so I’ll live as I see fit, and power is mine, if He wants me to have it”. No, we use God’s grace to SERVE God, which is how grace is received. We “reign in life” by the obedience of Christ and being justified by faith: God gives us His power over sin (Rom 5:17). The “sin that grace might abound” attitude does not believe God in truth. To believe God is to believe Him for His salvation, which is what He gives (Rom 10:13).
Someone says, “I believe on Christ, and now I can live in sin”, but to BELIEVE on Christ is to be SAVED by God with His salvation, revealed in the scripture. I can’t live in sin and say “saved by grace”.
Thirdly, We are tempted for a season, and then Satan departs, “Then the devil leaves him, and, behold, angles came and ministered unto him” (Matt 4:11). This LIFE is but a light affliction, because it is but a moment, and the DEVIL will depart eternally into the lake of fire (II Cor 4:17-18).
We are tempted down here, but not above what we can handle, for Christ is strength over sin and Satan. We have enough in God to defeat Satan, for we haven’t been left to our wisdom and the deceptions of Satan, for, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4).
Let us believe who we are in Christ, receive strength to worship God by the acceptance we have in the Beloved and by the redemption and forgiveness that we have received. Receive GRACE freely and GRACE will chase away Satan.
No comments:
Post a Comment