Can we say the words and then live anyway we want to live? You ask Jesus to forgive you and save you, now you've said the words and you figure you can go on with your life as it was before. The Scripture tell us that we are a new creation, so how can we continue as we were before coming to Jesus. I have talked with people who tell me they are saved and yet they continue to walk in the flesh. We are warned that if we live in the flesh, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Galatians; 5:19-21
(Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.)
The key word in Paul's warning is to practice these things. All Christians will commit sins, but what is meant here is the habitual indulgence in these sins. Living this life style and being unrepentant will put you into this habitual practice. How can we live like the world and then be a witness to the world about Jesus Christ? How can we tell them that it is wrong to live like this, if we live like this? We are told what we should do to keep from fulfilling the desires of the flesh.
Galatians; 5:16-17
(I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these things are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.)
The flesh here is not just simply the physical body, but the mind, will, and emotions which are all subject to sin.
The key here is being led by the Spirit. How do we know if we are walking in the Spirit?
Galatians; 5:22-23
(But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.)
Galatians; 5:25-26
(If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.)
If we are in any habitual sin, we need to repent and confess our sin and ask God to forgive us and to help us live in the Spirit. We cannot continue to live in the flesh and do it's will and be pleasing God.
Romans; 8:5-8
(For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.)
Give your life totally to Jesus and live in the Spirit. It is the only way you will be able to please Him and do His will. You can't have it both ways, you will either walk by the Spirit or you will walk by the flesh. You know what walking in the flesh will lead to, it isn't the kingdom of God.
God Bless You!
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