Did you know, Christian, all things are lawful to you but all things are not helpful?

For centuries saints have been mulling over this saying and intellectually arriving at diversities of meaning and explanations.

Why, Christian, is something this simple so difficult for a majority of believers to discern?

Christian, your spirit knows all things and desires all things which are of God. Your flesh knows all things and desires all things which are of the world. Your soul chooses who you will obey, the voice of God (which is in your spirit) or the voice of your flesh (which is your human nature).

Christian, the moment you made your decision for Christ, you died. That is, your spirit man died to sin and came alive to righteousness. The righteousness of God which is in Christ Jesus.

You are a new creation created in Christ Jesus having His life in you, which is eternal. You are in Christ Jesus, Jesus is in you, and being in Jesus, you are in God. I’m speaking of in this moment in time and forever more, not of something which will happen sometime in the future.

Now, and until your flesh sleeps, your spirit and your flesh are at war with one another each desiring control over your soul where decisions are made concerning your conduct on earth.

As a new born believer your flesh will win many of these battles. You are a babe and remain carnal. As you grow in Him, in His Word, you mature and grow stronger in spirit. As you grow stronger in spirit your decisions for good magnify your good works and you become more representative of Him who was slain for you.

Have you never heard you are set apart and cleansed through the washing of water by His Word ?

Therefore, why is it so hard to understand all things are lawful for you but not all things are helpful? If all things were not lawful for you then you would have fallen from grace with your first sin following your decision for Christ. Christ will not be crucified for you again.

These sins can not separate you from the love of God. However, sin is not helpful in bringing you to a place where you become an effective witness of Christ our Lord.

Be careful not to use this liberty as opportunity or justification for sin. Although all things are lawful do not allow yourself to come under the power of any sin.

Coming under the power of sin returns you to the state you were in prior to your salvation which is habitual sin. You were delivered from that. You were changed. You were given power over all addiction to sin. He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Listen to and obey that Voice which is in your spirit. Trust Him and grow in Him.

Taking from an old Army slogan . . . “Be All You Can Be” in Christ Jesus our Lord. Seek that you might excel in the edifying of the Church which is the body of Christ. Awake to righteousness and do not sin. Be holy for He is holy.

Blessings,
Tch