Christianity or Not?
Spirituality is entirely about the Spirit, which is separate from the material world. The Spirit is without sin. To whatever degree we are involved with materiality, we are to an equal degree, unspiritual. Let me explain.
Some part of each of us is sinful by nature. It is nearly impossible to live in this world without coveting material things like food, clothes, shelter and many other possessions. Although one man, Jesus, did live by the grace of God and the gifts of others without coveting the material world. Think about this, the Apostle Paul, a devout follower of Jesus Christ, in Romans 7:8, wrote “But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment (ref: Do not covet … Exodus 20:17 and Deuteronomy 5:21), produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead“. The law he references is the commandment, without which, coveting would not be a sin. “Do not covet,” is simply one example.
To sin is unspiritual. Sins are of the body, Spirit is not of the body. John 1:12 says “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name (both past tense), he gave the right to become (future tense) children of God–“. These are important distinctions because 1 John 3:9 says “no one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he can not go on sinning, because he has been born of God“. No distinction is made about an exact moment when someone is born of God or “becomes” a child of God. Actually, quite the contrary is evident. It is however, very clear that when that moment occurs, to be received by God, His child must be without sin (Mark 9:47).
In summary; we are all by nature sinful. In order to one day be accepted before God (the Father) in His house, we must be purified (without sin). Jesus alone redeems those who believe in Him and who hold to that belief through their purified condition of heart. Here, we (believers) are God’s imperfect representatives while still totally His creations. In heaven, at a date and time of His choosing, God will accept those of His creations who’s names are written in the book of life and resurrect their spirits unto Him, to be His children, in His eternal family (Luke 20:36, Romans 8:14-16). “To err is human, to forgive is Devine,” Alexander Pope 1688-1744 English writer. To be forgiven is Christianity, to be unrepentant is not.
JC CALKINS with COMMON SENSE 4 UNCOMMON PEOPLE
No Comments