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From the evil that abounds through the dominion of darkness in the wicked world around you, by the gracious will of God, you have been rescued. Deliverance is yours, through your faith in Jesus Christ. It is the all consuming message of the Cross; one that the apostle Paul has gloriously described, in his greetings to the church at Galatia, Grace to you and peace from God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, To whom be glory forever and ever, Amen. [Galatians 1:3-5]
It is how the truth of Calvary needs to be applied in your life and mine today, in this present evil age, that only seems to be becoming increasingly more sinister and ugly. For dwelling on the physical suffering that the Lord went through on the Cross, that is described with painful honesty, and truth, in the gospels, is no doubt deeply meaningful, for it cuts right through to the very essence of the meaning and purpose of the life of the Savior. And the apparent injustice of it all can leave you teary eyed and engulfed in sorrow.
But the spiritual implications of it, as revealed in the epistles, also need to be reckoned with, for it is then that the redemption story becomes powerfully whole, and so does your life and mine, to move from a place of tears to joy. A complete understanding of the truth is vitally important in order to reap the benefits of the finished work of Christ on the Cross in your life.
You have been rescued :
God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son… [John 3:16] It is the message of the Bible, the good news of salvation, that you may not perish, but enter into eternal life. And in the verse, ‘world’ refers to humanity, all the people of the world. For, God created man to be the crowning glory, the pinnacle of His creation. It was the entrance of sin in the garden of Eden, through Satan, that saw man corrupted, to hide himself in fear, covering his shame inadequately, to ultimately lose his communion and close fellowship with God.
The world system :
It saw man, from then on, being born with a sinful nature, needing a Savior in order to be cleansed, redeemed and restored. His life became one of painful toil, in a world system that was lust driven and satan dominated. But, Christ has rescued us from it, by triumphing over it through the Cross, that you and I may now live a triumphant life, reign in life through Him. And, the nature, and detrimental effect of the world system is what the apostle John has described in his epistle, emphasizing through it, the need for mankind to be rescued from the cruel and destructive grip of sin. [1 John 2:15-17]
Do not love the world, or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [vs 15] For all that is in the world – the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world.[vs 16] And the world is passing away, and the lust of it. But he who does the will of God abides forever. [vs 17] There is an internal enemy in the heart of every person who has not tasted the joy of salvation, that is sin, and it has an external friend, who is satan. And, lust is the means by which they operate in a person.
Decoding lust :
Lust is the nature that controls and operates in every fallen human being, to dictate his behavior. It is the attitude in him that says, ‘ I want it, and I have to have it, by hook or by crook, whatever be the means to it’.
Lust of the eyes :
It is the greedy longing in a person’s mind, about possessing something, for which he will do anything, including trampling, and riding rough shod, over kith and kin, or anyone for that matter. Whatever may be the hindrance, it would be brushed aside mercilessly and cruelly, and all for selfish ends. ‘Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them..’, is how the Preacher, describes such behavior, in the book of Ecclesiastes.[Ecclesiastes 2:10] And in his own words and experience, he describes the end of it all to be vanity, or a sense of emptiness that brings no satisfaction, once you have it in your life.
Lust of the flesh :
It is a carnal behavior; a term that can be well understood from the fact that the word ‘carnivorous’ that describes a flesh eating animal, is also derived from the same root word. In other words, it goes to describe a person who lives by his animal instincts, so to speak, needing to satisfy every desire that his body of flesh, craves for. And it could involve throwing caution to the winds, and not caring about relationships that matter in life, only to end up hurting and causing harm, even to those who are innocent.
The pride of life :
It is the attitude within a person, who thinks he has it all, and all by his own self effort, and therefore trusts solely in himself. But it is the fool who thinks and says that there is no God, is the forthright statement in God’s word. And Lord Jesus, elaborates upon what his end could be in the parable of the rich fool, showing what God’s response would be to such an attitude and behavior. [Luke 12:19,20]
It all began with sin entering into the life of man, in the garden of Eden. The essence of sin that still continues to reign within a person unless it is dealt with, is a dethroning of God in the heart of man, and an enthroning of his own self, to say without saying, that he himself will decide what is good and evil for his own life, and all of life’s parameters, from issues that are small, to it’s vital and most important ones. And you and I, and every person born into this world, is born with a sinful nature, owing to Adam’s fall. We all come into this world fully loaded, as far as our capacity to sin goes. Even a little child does not need to be taught to do what is wrong, for it comes instinctively; it only needs to be trained to overcome it !
Sin – a deadly virus :
Sin is the most deadly virus, and it’s wages is death, or a separation from God, in your spirit. And from it, you have been rescued, by the Blood of Christ, a redemption that comes to you by grace and through faith. Where the first Adam failed, the last Adam, Lord Jesus Christ has won through His victory on the Cross, and it is why we celebrate, and call this day a ‘good’ Friday. It is because, not just this day, but all your coming days will be good, as you receive and apply Christ’s victory in your life.
For, it is the world and the lust of it, that is passing away, while the one who does the will of God abides forever. [1 John 2:17] And it is His will that you may be delivered from the consequences of sin that can be seen and experienced in the fallen world around you, or the present evil age. For, it was why God gave His Son to die on the Cross, as the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the whole world.
The influence of sin – corruption and moral decay :
If one was honest with oneself, it would be a truth most glaringly evident, as the famous author G. K. Chesterton put it, when asked to write about what was wrong with the world, ‘There is nothing wrong with the world, but there is everything wrong with me’. Sin touches the very soul of a person, leading to corruption and rottenness in it, a moral decay, that man cannot deal with and rectify on his own. Education and a right background only make him a refined sinner. But it is a right understanding of the grace of God that can transform a person, from being a sinner, to enter into God’s purpose for his life.
Being a partaker of His divine nature :
But all that you need for life, and more importantly, your transformation into godliness, is what has been made available to you, through the knowledge of Him who has called you by glory and virtue By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust. [2 Peter 1:4] It is therefore possible in the gracious knowledge of Christ to escape the pollution of the world. [2 Peter 2:20] And also to keep oneself from being tainted by the world, so that your religion may be, not just a form of godliness, but one that is pure and without defilement. [James 1:27]
The need for deliverance from the world :
Paul’s warning regarding it is crystal clear, Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, and according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. [Colossians 2:8] And he goes on in the same epistle to explain why it is so, enabling you and I to get a grasp of the truth.
Self imposed religion – of no value :
Therefore if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why as though living in the world do you subject yourselves to regulations , ‘Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle’, Which all concern things that perish with the using, according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. [Colossians 2:20-23]
The Father desires those who worship Him in spirit and in truth, for God is Spirit, and those who worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and truth. They were the Lord’s words to the Samaritan woman. [John 4:23,24] But the world has it’s own ways, is what Paul makes clear in the passage above, to emphasize also it’s fruitlessness, or unprofitable nature of it, and what would in the end, only lead you to worry and needless anxiety. And hence the need to be delivered from it becomes abundantly clear; one that Christ has accomplished by His death on the Cross of Calvary, and for the sins of the whole world. And there is also another internal enemy, together with sin, in the world, or the system of the world, from which by grace and through faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, you have been delivered.
The other internal enemy – spirit of antichrist :
Antichrist is not just about the end times. It is also about a spirit, that is already here. And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, is not of God. It is the spirit of the Antichrist, that you heard was coming, and is now already in the world. [1 John 4:3] It could be anything that takes the place of God in your life; a person, a possession, or a philosophy. But when it usurps the position in your heart that needs to be what is Christ’s alone, it is nothing but the spirit of antichrist in your life. And it is to deliver you from it’s vicious tentacles, that Christ died on the cross.
Dealing with the external problem :
Sin, the internal enemy, has an external friend, that is satan, for when you have the right to be called a child of God, by believing in the Name of Jesus, you will also know and be able to discern the darkness that still remains in the world . We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. [1 John 5:19] The world is sin centered and satan dominated. But, how wonderful it is to know that the Lord, having made atonement for the sins of the whole world, has crushed the head of the prince of darkness, the evil one, on the Cross, that you and I may reign in life through Him. The world has a Savior, and a Deliverer. It is the plan of God.
God’s rescue plan 1. sin dealt with :
He has dealt with the problem of sin, in you, and in the world, The next day John saw Jesus walking toward him and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’. [John 1:29] How has the Lord Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, done it ? And He Himself is the propitiation for our sin, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world. [1 John 2:2] For, without blood there is no remission of sin. And it was to save the world from sin, by shedding His Blood on the Cross, that Lord Jesus, came into this world.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world, to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. [John 3:16,17] Salvation of the world remains God’s eternal plan of rescue and deliverance. It is His unchanging plan of everlasting love; the love with which He so loved the world, that He gave His Only Son, to die on the Cross. He died, that you and I, and the world may live!
2. satan dealt with :
When you and I were dead in our sins, God made us alive together with Christ, having forgiven all our sins. [Colossians 2:14] Having wiped out the requirements of the, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the Cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. [Colossians 2:15,16] It was what happened to the devil, who had power over death, on the Cross. Christ died that He may overcome death, by destroying satan and his principalities. Cross was the defeat of satan, where he was soundly and victoriously dealt with.
And thus it is that, the Lord has spoken about the world, saying, ‘In this world you will have trouble; but, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world’. [John 16:33] Yes, you may face troubles and challenges, but in Him who has overcome it all, you too can certainly overcome. It is how the victory of the Cross, though it happened more than two thousand years ago, translates in your present day, practical living. And your faith comes into play in the outworking of it.
By believing, you receive :
It is by believing in the Name of Jesus, that you receive the right to become a child of God. [John 1:12] And it is by believing in the finished work of Christ on the Cross, that you receive what He has accomplished on your behalf through the Cross, the redeeming sacrifice, the one perfect sacrifice, through which He saves completely, all who come to God through Him.
Victory that overcomes the world :
Flowing from it is the truth that, it is the one who believes in Christ, and is born of God, receiving the right to become a child of God, who overcomes the world. And, who else can it be, is how John the apostle has expressed the truth in courageous confidence ,For whoever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God ? [1 John 5:4,5]
It is made possible, for, when you are born of God, He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world, even as the apostle writes, You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater. [1 John 4:4] But it is also the truth that, though you are born of God, the whole world is under the sway of the evil one. Therefore, the question of how you are going to continue to live in the world still remains. And the word of God never denies, or brushes aside the fact of it, but it also goes on to guide you to the truth that sets you free to live in victory.
Christ – your Advocate :
My little children, these things I write to you that you may not sin; but if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous. [1 John 2:1] And therefore, you can approach the throne of grace with confidence, to receive forgiveness and redemption, and move forward in God’s righteous path, His good and perfect will for your life.
Christ – your Keeper :
There is also the blessed and great assurance in everyone born of God, that the God who is in you, will Himself keep you from falling into sin, for He is greater, and the evil one cannot touch Him. You cannot keep habitually sinning therefore, and will grow more and more to reflect the image of Christ in you, your hope of glory. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin. The One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot touch them. [1 John 5:18]
Thus, even as you entrust yourself into the nail pierced hands of the One who has died for your sins, defeating sin, your internal enemy, and it’s external friend, that is satan, it is the precious promise that comes to you, yet again, Now to Him who keeps you from stumbling, and to present you faultless, before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy, To God, our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forevermore, Amen. [Jude 24,25] It is why, the Lord’s words to His disciples, who include even you and I today, declaring that in the tribulations of the world, you can be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world, is a triumphant verse of scripture. For, God has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins. [Colossians 1:12,13]
May we, even in thankful response, lift up our cup of salvation offering ourselves as a willing sacrifice, yield ourselves into His everlasting arms of love, that He may have His way in us, to take us to the place, where He wants you and I to be, for the glory and honor of His Name.
In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
