Spirit or Attitude... August 1, 2012
Today I overheard a Bible teacher on radio indicate we as the chil-
dren of God would be rewarded for deeds performed during this life
time according to our attitude. If we perform our deeds with a good
attitude we will be rewarded. If we have the wrong attitude or moti-
vation there will be no reward.
During the past 40 years I have been taught an important principle,
along with thousands who were exposed to teaching of Dr. Bill Bright,
founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, about the Holy Spirit in the life
of believers. Our efforts in this life are blessed as we are controlled
and empowered by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. Subsequent Bible
study and leadership of Godly pastors has helped clarify my under-
standing of this principle. (There is still much to learn...)
If my understanding is correct, the attitude in the heart of one who
does good deeds is controlled by the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ. Since
we have Spiritual life here and now as the result of Jesus Christ, who
takes up residence in our mortal bodies at conversion, the issue: Are
we walking with Him in such close communion, that He works in and
through us to "do His good pleasure?” Our Lord has predestined us
to “good works” who walk by faith, and “according to the Spirit;” not
by sight, nor “according to the flesh...” We will be rewarded for acts
performed under His influence power in our lives. It is accomplished
as the Spirit takes up residence in our lives, mortifies, or (puts to
death) the deeds of flesh, awakening us to the work of the Spirit of
God on/in our lives. He has planned what we are to do, and we must
give Him control of our lives to: (1.) Show us His will, (2.) Enable us
to do the deed, and (3.) Perform the work in us. When we are alive to
Spirit leadership and no longer walk in the flesh, but according to the
Spirit. The deeds we do are actually God, working in and through us
to do His "will and good pleasure." (Philippians 2: 13) In the flesh it
is impossible to do His will or to please Him. (We do, Maintain full
knowledge of what we are doing and we are voluntarily compliant in
every good work.
The question arises; what about the instances when we do things
contrary to Scripture, obviously outside the will and purpose of our
Lord? There are times when we, children of God, fail to honor His
will. This occurs as we relapse into the natural desires of the flesh,
and do not respond to the leading of His Holy Spirit. This generally
happens as sin comes into our lives. When this happens, the Holy
Spirit convicts the child of God of the “sin,” and one who is "Spiri-
tual" responds with Godly sorrow, repenting of the action(s) taken
against God's will. When we repent or turn from sin, back to our
Lord, fellowship is restored and forgiveness is given as indicated in
1 John 1:9. "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive
us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” In verse 8
of the same chapter, Scripture states, “If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.”
This is a doctrine held by some groups. According to this belief,
the child of God, walking in the Spirit does not sin. Others take
exception to this teaching, holding that although God has made it
possible for us to live above sin, we as His children, should never
think of ourselves in this light. We must consider ourselves to be
weak, “chief of sinners,” along with the apostle Paul; " Walking
humbly with our God." According to this group, we are quite
capable of sinning. The second group believes 1 John 1: 8-9 was
and is directed to born again children of God. For purpose of this
study, we will abstain from that discussion.
Finally, the preponderance of Scripture s eems to teach sal-
vation as a once for all experience and sanctification to be progres-
sive works of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ in the life of the
believer. In other words, as we are indwelt with the Deity, the gro-
wing awareness of His presence and being in the process of beco-
ming more like Him. This causes one to give more and more con-
trol of life to Him. This results in a degree of personal purity and
an almost imperceptible change in our lives, causing us to be
more like Christ in thought, word and deed. We must die to self
to live in Him. We are not accepted by our Lord because of the
change of our heart attitude. We have change of attitude because
we have been accepted by the Lord God and are in Christ Jesus
our Lord and He is in us. Praise Be to God...HE IS GOOD!!!
6/15/12 don porter edited 2.18.13, 4.08.17
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