FALLEN
When I say Fallen you might immediately think of the 1998 film starring Denzel Washington. Hard for me to believe that was a 1998 release. 27 years ago. OUCH! But that is not what I am referring to. But the term that Christianity uses to refer to the state or condition of mankind. In Christian theology, the term "The Fall" refers to the biblical account of humanity's disobedience to God, resulting in the loss of innocence and the introduction of sin and suffering into the world. (Biblestudyforyou.com) I find this an excellent and truthful way to describe it. The first created humans, not a myth, believed a lie rather than God's command to them, and God subjected all of creation, including humanity to futility, that is the emptiness or meaninglessness of human endeavors apart from God. The book of Ecclesiastes, goes into detail where it highlights the vanity and purposelessness of life without divine alignment. It is the inability to achieve lasting fulfillment through human efforts alone. (Bible Hub)
That is the sorry state in which every cute and cuddly baby is born. If you rebel against this Christian doctrine I invite you to watch our local or national news each day to witness what much of the world calls the basic goodness of mankind. Many of these brutal crimes including murder committed by young men and boys. (PS: Take note kids: Scripture says "Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.") Man was created in the image of God, but that image has been tainted by the corruption of sin. Mankind is inclined to do evil. Its in our nature. And because the first created human beings chose to listen to that serpent of old, satan, the devil....DEATH came into the world. (Romans 4:12-15)
Okay then what is SIN? **The Bible defines sin as the breaking or transgression of God's law. It is also described as disobedience or rebellion against God, as well as independence from God. The original translation means "to miss the mark" of God's holy standard of righteousness. Sin includes a failure to do what is right, and it also offends people; it is violence and lovelessness toward other people, and ultimately, rebellion against God. The Bible teaches that sin involves a condition in which the heart is corrupted and inclined toward evil.** (Learn Religions)
There you have it. We all "miss the mark" when it comes to God's standard of Holiness. We are all born with the propensity to disobey God's law. We are born into the world as tainted created beings with the predisposition to disobey what God has determinted is evil in His sight. Wait a minute you say? I've never....yada yada yada etc. etc. etc....You may spout off a litany of various actions and deeds that you think you never committed. Especially wih murder being the number one. Ok let's see what scripture describes as a transgression of the Bibles Holy and Righteous God.
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers (gossips, spreading rumors), backbiters (backstabbers) , haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things (new ways of sinning), disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)
That's the apostle Paul, through the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit, revealing exactly what is considered a grevious sin against God. Notice the first sin mentioned, sexual immorality, is the one glorified by our world today. It makes a prominent appearance in the majority of our entertainment (movies, TV, Internet) and itself becomes an entertainment to many held in its grip. Yet in the economy of God is a grievous sin deserving of God's wrath.
In simple terms, sexual immorality is essentially the engagement in sexual acts outside of the sanctity of marriage, the divine union of creating and fostering life. As you can see that covers a wide range of our entertainment and the various news of the day.... every single day. "Lust Turns To Murder." Could be the title for a new soap opera. The human condition is inclined to do evil. And its only gotten worse. God does not take sin lighty and each and every human being will give an account of himself to God. You will either stand before God in your own righteousness. Which is sorely lacking. Or covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ the only name under heaven by which any one can be saved.
He who believes and trusts in the Son and accepts Him [as Savior] has eternal life [that is, already possesses it]; but he who does not believe the Son and chooses to reject Him, [disobeying Him and denying Him as Savior] will not see [eternal] life, but [instead] the wrath of God hangs over him continually.” (John 3:36 AMP)
And speaking of Jesus Christ. Let's start off our study with His knowledge and observation of how humans should or should not behave according to Jewish tradition. This is interesting scripture for certain jews were complaining to Jesus that His disciples did not wash their hands, in a certain fashion, before eating. Supposedly commanded by God. Which we find out was actually a human tradition created by certain men and thus became a practice the jews abided by before they ate. Jesus made it very plain that they were speaking about a practice that was never commanded by God. But the tradition of men. (though I will add washing hands is of the upmost importance when it comes to sanitary issues. Health and cleaniness....the jews were concerned with the avoidance of ceremonial pollution. They shrank not from dirt, but from defilement.) Jesus turned the issue on its head. He proclaimed you don't become defiled by what goes into the body but by what comes out of a person. From within, from the heart. (the place where feelings and wisdom reside) The scripture is in Mark 7 verses 14-16 "When Jesus had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Then Jesus explained what He meant by these words in verses 20-23 saying "“What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.
According to Messiah Jesus this is the nature of all men from birth. King David realized this truth when he wrote "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me" in Psalm 51:5. King David proclaimed that all human beings are born with a nature inclined to evil actions. Yet even before that Genesis 6:5 tells us of the nature of mankind just before God destroyed the world with the flood that "the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Jesus also said to the people "you being evil" that even they could still give gifts to their children. (Matt. 7:11) The state of mankind is evil/wicked from their youth. Jesus made it plain it's practices that come out of a man that defiles Him. For everyone is born with a sinful nature.
“No one is righteous—
not even one.
No one is truly wise;
no one is seeking God.
All have turned away;
all have become useless.
No one does good,
not a single one.”
“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“They rush to commit murder.
Destruction and misery always follow them.
They don’t know where to find peace.”
“They have no fear of God at all.”
Romans 3:10-18 Paul quotes The Old Testament Scriptures: Pss 14:1-3; 53:1-3 (LXX); Ps. 105:9 (LXX) 140:3; Ps. 10:7 (LXX); Is. 59:7-8; Ps. 36:1....
The apostle James admonished the people of God, in the epistle bearing His name. Telling them "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?
What exactly does friendship with the world mean ? It represents the whole system of humanity. (its institutions, structures, values, mores) as organized without God. God regards a friend of the world as an enemy. Likewise the world does not tolerate friends of God. (The Apostle James in chapter 4:1-5 of his letter) Friendship with the world, James says, is hatred with God.
The Apostle John reiterates that same theology with the words, "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, (cravings of sinful man), the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (boasting of what we have and do)--comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17) John reminds us the present world is passing away. Life is just a vapor, a mist. We're here for a little while then pass away. If one sets his sights for aquiring more and more things, pleasures, and desires one reaps a harvest of instability, that person stumbles in the darkness of sin. And because he has put his trust in the things of this world faces a similar end. The old adage still holds true today. You can't take it with you. It is appointed once for a person to die. Then the judgement
The Apostle Peter told those addressed in His second epistle that the divine power of the Lord Jesus had given to them all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him, giving them exceedingly great and percious promises. That they were to be diligent to make their call and election sure. Just how would that be evident to them? Peter advised them with the words giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:2-8) To have Virtue is to practice moral purity. Unbiblical practices such as Sexual immorality, adultery, profane the body, with a loss of intergrity that could very well lead to lies to those you know and love. Destroying cherished relationships and with the final result a painful divorce. And even the separation of friendships.
In His letter to the Galatians Paul explained to them that our biggest problem was the corrupted bodies we inhabit. He stressed that the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. The cravings of sinful man are exposed by God in the Holy Scripture. Paul stresses that the flesh wars against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh. Without Christ Jesus righteousness is impossible and not even wanted, people just sin on without any thought of eternal retribution for their transgressions. It's that anything goes mentality. If it feels good do it. (A common expression from my younger days of which at one time I cheerfully endorsed.) I worked with a fellow many, many years ago. His favorite precept was, "he who dies with the most toys wins!" Even before I was a Christian I thought, "How stupid a saying is that." Because you're still dead! It seemed to me he believed anything goes in this life. Go for the gusto for when you're dead. You're dead. And thus nonexistent. But the Bible teaches that we have an eternity awaiting us. Either in the presence of God and the glory of His power. Or absent from God in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels. (Rev. 20:11-15)
There are those who became Christians later in life and experienced all that the world offers. Many people carry a lot of baggage. Memories may haunt and trouble even the most devoted believer. Yet for those who still wrestle with their past I offer up these Holy Spirit inspired words of scripture from the blessed Apostle Paul in Phil 3:13-14 "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." We have been forgiven. The tainted slate of sin has been washed clean by the blood of Christ at calvary. Rejoice! I say rejoice. For were washed, you were sanctified, (set apart for God) you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
It is a struggle to do what is right in the eyes of a Holy God. People lean toward doing wrong because evil is attractive. Bible teacher Steve Brown of Key Life, in a conservation I had with him now so many years ago said something simple, yet profound and true, "we sin because we like it."You could say SIN comes naturally. Paul explained that to the Galatians in chapter 5 of his letter where he wrote: "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."
These transgressions should not be the normal behavior for God's people. So Paul tells them to walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. And he adds "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. If we live in the spirit let us alo walk in the spirit. (Gal. 5:19-23) It's not an easy task. We are buffeted by the world, the flesh and the devil. But know this: pray in the spirit, for "the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:27) So draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)
The God of the Bible yeans for a relationship with you. He loved you enough to send His Son Jesus Christ into this world. The Word who was in the beginning with God and was God, The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus the Messiah walked upon the earth and declared that He is The Way, the Truth and the Life. No One comes to the Father except through Him. (John 14:6) Think about this. Jesus had glory with the Father before the world was. He existed in the spiritusal domain in perfect harmony and unity with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. And for reasons only known to God and because His power is endless. God ordained that He would express His vast and unlimited knowledge, imagination and infinite creativity to His glory and mankinds appreciation through their worship of God. Simply put God created the material universe and everything that exisits simply because He could. It was in God's nature to do so. And we see that in a small way in the creativity of mankind.
I heard one pastor say many years ago, when Jesus came to earth, took on a body of flesh, blood and bones it was like descending into a cesspool of filth. A rather harsh condemnation of this world but I would say accurate. The One who was with God and was God left the perfection, righteousness, beauty and glory of heaven to willingly sacrifice himself. To be made an offering for sin in our place. Jesus always did the Fathers will because He loves Him. Jesus always pleases God the Father. We're told it was "the Father who so loved the world of fallen mankind that He gave His Only Son, so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish. But have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." It truly is the greatest story ever told to and for a lost and dieing race of vile, wicked, ungrateful, blasphemous, selfish, depraved indivduals who by nature hate God and don't want to hear His truth. " In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].)" (John 1:4-5) The world of man hates the light of Jesus Christ for it reveals that their deeds are evil. People want to live their lives in the deep excesses of sin. Blinded by the god of this age, satan, the devil, that dragon of old, and follow the course of this world, the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience and are by nature children of God's wrath. As were those who were at one time without Christ and without God in the world. But were His enemies.
"It's not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning sacrifice form our sins." (1 John 4:10) That's why Jesus took on human flesh. To save his people, drawn by the Father to the Son, by grace through faith, and not of themselves, salvation a gift of God through the mercy of a God who shows forth His love through a loving Son who always does what the Father wills. Jesus lived the perfect, righteous, sinless life none of us ever could live by ourselves. For God made Him who knew no sin to be a sin offering for us. So that in Christ we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21) Yeshua: Fully God YES. Yet, also fully man; born of a virgin, born under the law. To fulfill the law and the prophets.
It is easy to say this about Jesus but it wasn't easy for Christ Jesus to do. He can sympathize with our weaknesses, for he was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15) Did you ever think about this. God knows exactly what you are going through. He understands your temptations, your weaknesses, your fears. He experienced the pull of sin yet never sinned. He is not unware of a persons passions and desires. It saddens me to know such details of our saviors taking on human flesh. Jesus got hungry as we do. He felt real pain and suffering. If he cut his finger he would bleed as we do. He was ridiculed, mocked, people accused Him of being insane, out of His mind. Crowds followed Him then deserted him. The religious leaders of His day accused Him of blasphemy, for they said, "You a mere man make yourself out to be God." (John 10:33) The priests challenged His teaching, wanted Him dead because He said He was God (John 5:17-18) Some even made fun of Him.(Matt. 9:24; MK. 5:40; 10:34; Matt. 27:29; :41; Luke 16:14) Then they put Him on a tree, nailed Him to a cross, and the judgement and wrath against sin from God the Father was poured out on Christ Jesus. I don't believe anyone can comprehend the enormity of that. He did it so that we by confessing and repenting of our sins, believing that God has raised Jesus from the dead. That we may be born again, born from above. not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.Thrusting in the only name under heaven by which we can be saved.
Many followed Jesus for a while, but for the wrong reasons. (John 6:22-26 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.") They saw the signs, and miracles, the healings of the sick and raising of those who had died. They experienced His preaching and teaching and replied no one ever spoke like this before. For he spoke with authority. But many followed Christ for the things of this world that he could provide like food. (Matt. 14:13-21) But when it came to a true faith and trusting in the Messiah and living the Holy life God demands they deserted Jesus. For He said some very hard, strange and difficult things (John 6:53-58) and it just confused many people, thinking He was not the promised Messiah they first believed He was. Which caused many of them to turn away.
One of the most difficult saying of Jesus "Eat My Flesh Drink my blood " which was used as a metaphor of faith and trust in Him:: Earlier In John 6 we read, Jesus fed the 5,000 (John 6:1–13). The next day, the same multitudes continued to follow Him, seeking another meal. Jesus pointed out their short-sightedness: they were only seeking physical bread, but there was something more important: “Food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (verse 27). At this point, Jesus attempts to turn their perspective away from physical sustenance to their true need, which was spiritual. This contrast between physical food and spiritual food sets the stage for Jesus’ statement that we must eat His flesh and drink His blood. Jesus explains that it is not physical bread that the world needs, but spiritual bread. Jesus three times identifies Himself as that spiritual bread (John 6:35, 48, 51). And twice He emphasizes faith (a spiritual action) as the key to salvation: “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life” (verse 40); and “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life” (verse 47).
Jesus then compares and contrasts Himself to the manna that Israel had eaten in the time of Moses: “Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die” (John 6:49–50). Like manna, Jesus came down from heaven; and, like manna, Jesus gives life. Unlike manna, the life Jesus gives lasts for eternity (verse 58). In this way, Jesus is greater than Moses (see Hebrews 3:3). Having established His metaphor (and the fact that He is speaking of faith in Him), Jesus presses the symbolism even further: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh. . . . I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. . . . My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. . . . Anyone who feeds on me will live because of me” (John 6:53–57, NLT).
To prevent being misconstrued, Jesus specifies that He has been speaking metaphorically: “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63). Those who misunderstood Jesus and were offended by His talk about eating His flesh and drinking His blood were stuck in a physical mindset, ignoring the things of the Spirit. They were concerned with getting another physical meal, so Jesus uses the realm of the physical to teach a vital spiritual truth. Those who couldn’t make the jump from the physical to the spiritual turned their backs on Jesus and walked away (verse 66).
The book of Hebrews references the way that God uses the physical things of this earth as a way to help us understand and apply spiritual truth. Hebrews 8:5 says that some tangible things are “a copy and shadow of what is in heaven,” and that chapter explains how the Old Covenant, so concerned with physical rites and ceremonies, was replaced by the New Covenant in which God’s laws are written on our hearts (verse 10; cf. Jeremiah 31:33.)
When Jesus said we must “eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood” (John 6:53), He spoke, as He often did, in parabolic terms. We must receive Him by faith (John 1:12). “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6). We understand that we need physical food and drink; Jesus wants us to understand that we also need spiritual food and drink—and that is what His sacrifice provides. (Got Questions:What did Jesus mean when He said we must eat His flesh and drink His blood?)
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans proclaimed" For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Romans 2:28-29) The jewish people were hung up on the phyiscal act rather that the spiritual regeneration of the heart. without being born again, born from above no one can see the kingdom of God. "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever...because
“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
But the word of the Lord endures forever.”
Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:23-25)
Scripture teaches that we must all stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Those who have not Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord We will be judged by what they have done while in the flesh. If even just one sin has been committed. They will hear "depart from me, I never knew you. Away from me you doers of evil." The faith of the unrighteous is terrible indeed. Called the second death. Anyone not found written in the Book of Life will be cast into the lake of fire. (Rev. 20:11-15)
The Apostle Peter in dealing with the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, whom he called the elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ was bold and honest with these people. Who before Jesus Christ called them from darkness to light and from death to light, and saved them by grace through faith, they practiced many sins that were seen as perfectly normal for the people of that time. As they also do to many of our population today.
Peter went on to say, ":Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (The Apostle Peter in 1Peter 4:1-5)
Things are changed in a Christians life when one is born again/born from above. When one is regenrated by God the Holy Spirit. When God the Father draws them to His Son through God's Word. We can understand what God wants from us, what we should pursue, how we should behave, what we should set before our eyes, and what relationships we should entertain. Everything changes. The veil of spiritual darkness is removed. We who were once blind can now see God's truth. And we become children of God. For If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor. 5:17)
In the church in Corinth, Paul was dealing with a people who were steeped in immorality and perversion that extended into their religious life. There are writings that suggest that temple prostitutes were quiet prominent in the corinthians worship practices. Paul address that when he wrote "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-10) Corinth was a city steeped in idolatry, with numerous temples and a culture that revolved around pagan worship.
In the letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul addresses sexual misconduct among the members of the early Christian community, specifically mentioning those who frequented prostitutes. "Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.The city of Corinth was a place of temple-sanctioned prostitution, and Paul and his companions preached the gospel despite the presence of such activities. (Biblicasl Archaeology Society)
Finally in conclusion I leave you with the encouragement Paul the Apostle gave to the Corinthian believers in chapter six....concerning the spell of deception that some were under iin Corinth. "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles(pagans, heathen) do, in the futility (vanity/uselessness) of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a coninual lust for more. That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:17-24)
Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come,
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
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