Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
The International Standard Version of the Bible reads that same verse like this--
(ISV) Therefore, rid yourselves of everything impure and every expression of wickedness, and with a gentle spirit welcome the word planted in you that can save your souls.
The Contemporary English Version of the Bible reads this way--
(CEV) You must stop doing anything immoral or evil. Instead be humble and accept the message that is planted in you to save you.
And the Literal Translation of the Holy Bible reads as follows--
(LITV) On account of this, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of evil, in meekness receive the implanted Word being able to save your souls.
Where do people get the impression that they can live immorally and still claim salvation? I'm talking about a knowing, willing acceptance of their immorality? Maybe I’m being too harsh. I feel like I'm being too harsh - as if I'm being JUDGMENTAL and SELF-RIGHTEOUS, even though I’m not pointing a single finger at a single person. I look at my own life and know my own personal struggles and wonder if I'll ever be without filthiness in my life, and in wondering comes that sense of hopelessness that the Devil loves to use on us.
The path is STRAIGHT and NARROW.
Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
The Bible tells it like it is without any sugar-coating.
We are lost hopelessly without our Savior.
We have to put away all the filth in our lives, we have to shun all evil- how much evil? ALL evil. We have to RECEIVE the WORD put within us with meekness if we are to have any hope of salvation.
Humbly we must receive the Word.
Conscientiously we need to stay away from all evil. Conscientiously we must choose right over wrong. Conscientiously we MUST choose to obey God.
Life is all about choices and we are accountable for the choices. We must choose to receive the Word meekly.
Our hope is solely in Christ.
We must choose Christ.
Maybe I sound like a broken record- constantly harping on our accountability to God, constantly shouting that we are saved by Christ's sacrifice, by Christ's righteousness, but I CAN'T stop. We live in a world that seems hopeless, and Christ is the ONLY hope we have. CHOOSING CHRIST is choosing to obey, it is choosing life over death, it is choosing salvation over hopelessness. It's a constant choice, a living breathing choice that surrounds us always and if we forget that then we are without hope. WE CHOOSE.
By the grace of God may we choose life eternal through our Savior over ANY and ALL evil that seems tempting to us. Only Christ is eternal, evil is temporary and one day will be gone forever.
In His MERCY!
Amen!
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