Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
When things are diametrically opposed, they are in direct opposition to each other and at the furthest and most opposite extremes of the spectrum, just like the North and South Poles of the earth that couldn’t be any further apart than what they are. From a Biblical standpoint there are two things that are in complete opposition to each other, one is the Holy Spirit of God and the other is the evil spirit of darkness. They are like two different armies that are positioned on a battlefield and ready to go to war with each other. Those who are filled up with the Holy Spirit will stand up and resist the works of darkness, but on the other hand those who are filled up with a carnal mind will actively resist and oppose the things of God.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
When the Corinthian Church was involved with fornication, the Apostle Paul was actively opposed to what they were doing, and he rebuked them for it. When the church was filled with pride and lacked contrition, the Apostle James was actively opposed to what they were doing and rebuked them for it. When the Pharisees and other religious leaders were filled with pride and hypocrisy, Jesus actively opposed what they were doing and rebuked them for it. The Holy Spirit is diametrically opposed to the works of darkness, and the carnal mind is at enmity with God.
Romans 8:1-14 (KJB) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after 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, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.
Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
In order to be saved eternally, the Apostle teaches that we must be “in Christ Jesus”, which means that we need to walk in the Spirit rather than in the flesh. In order to walk in the Spirit one must wholeheartedly submit themselves to the will of God. Many people have reduced the Christian Life to simply confessing Jesus as their Lord, but Christianity is much more than just lip service, because it requires stepping onto the narrow path of Scriptural Truth and becoming a humble and obedient doer of God’s will.
James 1:21-25 (KJB) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Jesus explains that at the judgment, some people will cry out Lord, Lord, but the facts are that they never truly served Him as the Lord of their lives. Although they might have claimed to believe in Jesus for the cameras in a publicized press release, that in and of itself is not enough to get to heaven. Repentance has to take place inside of a person’s heart, otherwise people are going to perish. You must turn away from everything that is outside the teachings of our faith and completely renounce sin in your life. Many people are going to claim that they knew the Lord Jesus but the facts are that they never really did. They never repented of their evil works and because of this He will deny even knowing them at the judgment.
Matthew 7:21-24 (KJ,B) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus condemned sinfulness in the flesh, so that people would recognize that they had better repent! In our study passage the Apostle teaches that righteousness can be fulfilled in us, when we walk in the Spirit, rather than the flesh, which comes down to making the solemn choice to serve God rather than the sinful nature. Life is filled with choices, and you will have to choose which direction to take. You can either walk on the wide road that leads to destruction, or get onto the narrow path of Christ Jesus, but anyone who decides to become a Christian will have to mortify the deeds of the flesh, and this doctrine is where sincere and false Christianity part ways. Numerous false prophets in the world will line their pockets because they preach the assurance of salvation, and that nothing can change the fact that you will be in Heaven someday. But there are numerous things that can affect one’s Eternal salvation, one of which is the refusal to mortify the sinful desires of the flesh. The Apostle taught the church that if you live according to the flesh you will die, and it doesn’t matter if you claimed to be a Christian or not!
James 1:12-15 (KJB) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
The old sinful creature that you once were, along with all of the sinful activities that you were once involved with must be put to death if you ever want to get to heaven.
Galatians 5:24 (KJB) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
There is good and there is evil, there is light and there is darkness, and you will have to choose which side you are going to stand on. If you want to get to Heaven someday you will have to reject the carnal mind for the mind of Christ, because as far as the North Pole is from the south, they will always be….
……..Diametrically Opposed
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.♥️
https://tlkjbc.com/written-sermons/
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2055335/episodes
https://www.facebook.com/share/14RHGVBBHbG/
tlkjbc.com
Note: Any copies may be printed and freely distributed among those who have no internet service. There is no AI creative involvement in my writings, and must be left intact because they are very personal to me. These are not to be sold, and are made public only for the free benefit of Spiritual knowledge to those who are genuinely seeking the will of God.
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 