We can only live by faith and we deceive ourselves if we think we can obey Gods commandments.
Only those who obey His commandments, are those who know Him.
Knowing Him is the definition of eternal life.
- by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:3-5
We have been given a new nature that is empowered by the Spirit, who desires to express righteousness through us.
That is what the Christian life is about, walking according to the Spirit, which is another way of saying, faith expressing itself by love.
If we have His Life within us, we desire to practice righteousness, rather than practicing the works of the flesh.
Does that mean we won't ever sin while we are learning to cooperate with the Spirit? No.
But we can learn and mature as His Life developes within us and we grow up into Him, in the fullness and stature of His complete pattern.
Paul says it like this -
- Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For 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. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 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. Galatians 5:16-21
- 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.
Born again Christians, have a new divine nature, that is empowered by the Spirit [
if they have received the Spirit Baptism] which means we have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness.
Peter says it like this -
- His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness
- by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 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 that is in the world through lust. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:2-11
Peter lists some things that we are expected to do -
But also for this very reason,
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.
So if we love our brother, we are not going to murder him, or steal from him, or commit adultery with his wife, or covet his things, or lie to him.
However, we are expected to diligently add these virtuous things to our faith, by submitting to the Lord, in which we yield to His life of righteousness and truth, and are empowered with grace from the Spirit.
This takes humility.
This takes giving our attention to His word and His Spirit.
JPT