Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 18
In the past, I’ve struggled with this next passage in Colossians 2.
But dividing flesh from spirit, fleshly good things from true spiritual good things, has REALLY opened it up for me. And WOW… This passage is awesome!
Colossians 2:16-23 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [which were all requirements under the law!] 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels [What does that mean? Like… people trying to trick you into worshipping angels?!? That’s kind of what it sounds like at first, but that just doesn’t make any sense. No, it isn’t about anyone worshipping angels. Your reward is IN a worshipping of angels. Worshipping THE WAY that the angels worship! This passage is warning you, to not let any man trick you into trying to serve God, IN THE FLESH, thinking that that is what you will be rewarded for, instead of worshipping God in truth, IN THE SPIRIT, the same way the angels do: by ministering (giving food) to Him and His people SPIRITUALLY.], intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, [Men think they will be rewarded spiritually, for their FLESHLY service. But he has no idea what REAL Christian worship is. They’ve never even seen it! This lost man has no business telling Christians how to serve God. He intrudes into spiritual things, and beguiles Christians, who CAN and SHOULD serve God spiritually, into trying to serve God in FLESHLY things. Things in which there is NO REWARD!] 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. [Ministering spiritual food to the body of Christ. Get people saved and teach them how to save others. That is true ministering, the same way the angels worship.] 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [do fleshly good works, abstain from fleshly sin] 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? [recall back to v16: ALL fleshly good things are SHADOWS of true good things] 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
What does that mean? It means… fleshly good works and fleshly good lusts, are just a SHOW.
When you attempt to serve God, in the flesh… Abstaining from sin and loving others. Giving out clean water, food, clothing, and medicine. Even offering sheep, and goats, and bulls, under the law…
IT LOOKS like you are truly worshipping God, it LOOKS like you are truly humble. It LOOKS like you are neglecting the body. It LOOKS like you are not satisfying the flesh.
But it’s a SHOW!!! It is NOT TRUE worship.
If what you are doing is not resulting in SOULS BEING WON… getting wisdom and giving wisdom, then you are WASTING your time, and wasting your ABILITY to serve God IN TRUTH. All you are doing, is LOSING your REWARDS. You’ve been beguiled out of your rewards.
Acts 17:24-25 God that made the world … dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, …
Your flesh can only do a figure of the true… it can only do a SHOW of true worship.
Colossians 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of … neglecting of the body;
It LOOKS like you are NEGLECTING THE BODY. That is how it appears IN THE WORLD.
But truthfully, spiritually, you are not neglecting the flesh. You’re serving the flesh!
Colossians 2:23 … a shew of … not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Your fleshly good works are just a VAIN SHOW of not honoring the satisfying of the flesh.
You are not truly, NOT honoring the satisfying of the flesh. You’re satisfying the flesh!
It LOOKS like you are neglecting the flesh, because you are trying to neglect SOME of your fleshly lusts and desires. The ones you KNOW are evil. But you’re actually still just satisfying the flesh.
Sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you sin, and sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you don’t sin.
Sometimes an alcoholic satisfies his flesh when he drinks.
But when he cleans up his life, and gets sober, that is ALSO satisfying his flesh.
He feels better about himself when he doesn’t drink. His body is healthier. His life is better. His relationships are better. He gets recognition and praise. His flesh is getting satisfied!
Your flesh can lust for both good things AND bad things!
Sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you sin, and sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you do good.
Just think about bodily exercise…
Sometimes you desire to skip your exercise and just eat junk food on the couch. And that satisfies your flesh.
Sometimes you desire to exercise and eat healthy foods. That also satisfies your flesh.
Sometimes you desire to eat junk food. Sometimes you desire to eat healthy food.
Sometimes your flesh wants to be good, and sometimes it wants to be evil.
But either one you choose… it SATISFIES your flesh.
It might be short term satisfaction (like enjoying junk food) or long-term satisfaction (like enjoying being fit and healthy) … It might be short term satisfaction (like committing adultery and ruining your marriage) or long-term satisfaction (like not committing adultery so you can protect your marriage and your children) … but either one is satisfying the flesh.
Whether you desire the good, or desire the bad… whether you choose the good, or choose the bad… it is to satisfy the FLESH.
Whether you work an honest job to put food on the table, or you commit armed robbery to put food on the table… you do it to satisfy your flesh.
That is all that our flesh can do… satisfy flesh!
All the works that are in THIS world, whether evil OR good, are to satisfy THE FLESH.
Now, the accusation I EXPECT to get back is, “well that is just saying that everything that anyone ever does is selfish, and that is called psychological egoism and I don’t believe in that! I believe I can do good for others and it isn’t a selfish act.”
Google tells me “psychological egoism is a philosophical concept that suggests that all human actions are ultimately motivated by self-interest, even when they appear altruistic; essentially, claiming that even when helping others, people are doing so because it benefits them in some way, whether emotionally or socially.”
But that isn’t really what I’m teaching.
I’m not saying that “the satisfying of the flesh” is ONLY satisfying YOUR flesh.
Colossians 2:23 doesn’t say, “the satisfying of YOUR flesh”.
It says, “the satisfying of THE flesh”
OTHER people’s flesh is included. ALL FLESH is included.
To do fleshly good works, in this world, is satisfy FLESH.
Sometimes yours, sometimes OTHER MEN’S.
So truthfully, in doing good to others, at the expense of yourself… you are not neglecting “the flesh”… you are still satisfying “the flesh”, because you are serving the needs of THE FLESH.
It doesn’t matter if it is selfless. It matters that it is FLESHLESS.
Feeding flesh, saving flesh, healing flesh, honoring flesh… receiving honour of men, IN THE FLESH.
Even to sacrifice yourself to save others… It satisfies FLESH. You saved FLESH. You didn’t save anyone’s spirit.
And men honour you and praise you and memorialize you… because you satisfied FLESH.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The common way this is taught… is that the fleshly part of a Christian really only desires to sin in this world, while the Holy Spirit in him only desires to do good in this world.
So the way the world teaches it is… Imagine you’re walking by a homeless man with a group of your friends. Your flesh wants you to… look away. Maybe, to laugh at him, spit on him. Maybe even kick him! But the Spirit in you wants to stop, and kneel down, and speak kindly to him. Maybe give him your money. Some food or clothes! (Maybe give him your job, or your house?)
So (again, they teach) if you’re REALLY a Christian, you’ll have those conflicting desires.
And then you will have to CHOOSE to do either what your flesh wants, or what the Spirit wants. But, if you are NOT REALLY a Christian, you really won’t have that push, that pull, that desire to do the good things.
But there are a number of problems with that (FALSE) interpretation:
- Its not binary. It doesn’t say “ye cannot consistently do”. It says “ye CANNOT do” the things that ye would. So how can you ever do ANYTHING? … Who is “ye”? … It makes no sense unless you completely divide the THINGS of the flesh and the Spirit.
- Unbelievers have those same conflicting thoughts. So is that the Holy Spirit in them too? Or maybe… is it just the lusts of the flesh?
- It assumes that the Spirit is lusting to satisfy flesh. That the Holy Spirit is lusting for, is hungry for, EARTHLY (good) THINGS!
Plant an apple tree in your backyard and offer its fruit to the Holy Spirit. Will it satisfy His lust?
Bake a loaf of bread and offer it to the Spirit. Will it fill him? No.
Then why would you think that any other EARTHLY things (works/fruits) can satisfy the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit in a Christian, is not lusting after things which can satisfy the flesh.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
The things of the Spirit, are not the things of the flesh! They lust after different things!
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
It doesn’t say, “neither can he do them consistently”.
The things that satisfy the Spirit, are SPIRITUAL THINGS.
These spiritual things are:
- Words (i.e. fruit)
- Souls/Children (i.e. fruit)
The Spirit of God desires WISDOM! That is… people getting WISDOM, and people giving wisdom.
Galatians 5:17 … and these are contrary the one to the other: …
Here is the only other instance of “are contrary” in the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
How are they “contrary to all men”, if they aren’t killing and persecuting all men??
And the phrase “are contrary” is our link back to Galatians 5:17.
This is the real battle of the lusts of the flesh against the lusts of the Spirit.
Not in whether a man chooses to commit a sin, or chooses to do a “good work”.
And not in whether men generally love or hate other men in the FLESH.
It is in the doctrine of salvation! It is in getting people saved!
The battle is that the flesh wants to satisfy men’s flesh, while the Spirit desired to save men’s souls.
That is what the Holy Spirit lusts after: SOULS.
The Holy Spirit wants you to GET SAVED, and wants to use you to save others… by WORDS.
The Holy Spirit does not lust after WORLDLY things.
The Holy Spirit is not inside Christians, desiring for them to do worldly good works.
You can sell all your money and give away all your things to feed the poor in this world, and all it does… is satisfy FLESH. You didn’t satisfy the Spirit.
In choosing not to gamble and drink and fornicate, you are NOT TRULY honoring the neglecting of FLESH.
In choosing to give away your own food, to feed others who don’t have any food, you are NOT TRULY honoring the neglecting of THE FLESH, in favor of the satisfying THE SPIRIT.
You’re not honoring only the satisfying of the Spirit. It just LOOKS like you are, to men.
Fleshly good works are… “a shew of … neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
I believe all fleshly works, are evil. All fleshly good works are SIN to God.
John 7:7 The world … I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
But men don’t even CONSIDER the possibility that their works and their sacrifices, are evil.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Sit and listen, because men speaking, men bringing forth what is in their hearts, is sin.
Psalms 14:3 … there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Micah 7:4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: …
You cannot produce good fruit. You can’t give anything good to God out of your flesh.
You only produce evil fruit. You are no different, and no better, than anyone who lived before Christ.
Your sacrifice is foolishness and evil. It doesn’t even matter that you offer it SINCERELY.
Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Men think they are offering a clean thing. “I give my life to you, Lord”.
But if a sacrifice is not PERFECT, then it is evil. Leviticus 22:19-21. Malachi 1:8,14.
Man’s motivation isn’t the problem. Man’s NATURE is the problem. His flesh is the problem. There are no true good things in our flesh.
That’s why we need to repent of fleshly things (works, life, fruits, knowledge, etc.), and depart out of our flesh.
You need to REPENT of ALL your fleshly works: good and bad – they’re all sinful!
But the false brethren see it the exact opposite!
Proverbs 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
“How dare you tell me my good works are sinful!
How dare you tell me to stop trying to do good works!
How dare you tell me to repent of doing good works!
I don’t do evil works, I do good works, and I’ll NEVER stop doing good works!”
Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
They will not “depart from evil” entirely… they will not get rid of all their evil works entirely.
They will repent of what they KNOW is evil. Cussing, Smoking, Drinking, Lying, Stealing, Gambling, Murder, Rape, Adultery, Fornication… those they will repent of… those they will depart from.
But they won’t depart from their “good works”. Why would they? They see too much VALUE in their fleshly works!
Proverbs 13:19 … it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
Because of the deceitfulness of sin, men THINK their good works are clean, and good, and right to God.
In their own eyes, they’re doing RIGHT.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Man’s fleshly good works, are all sinful!
Surely, someone will accuse me of this:
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
I know at first, it sounds like that is exactly what I am doing.
But, I hope you’re starting to see, that in truth, it’s the complete opposite!!!
Apr 7 2025
Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 18
Hebrews 6 & 10 – The Impossibility of Salvation – Part 18
In the past, I’ve struggled with this next passage in Colossians 2.
But dividing flesh from spirit, fleshly good things from true spiritual good things, has REALLY opened it up for me. And WOW… This passage is awesome!
Colossians 2:16-23 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [which were all requirements under the law!] 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. 18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels [What does that mean? Like… people trying to trick you into worshipping angels?!? That’s kind of what it sounds like at first, but that just doesn’t make any sense. No, it isn’t about anyone worshipping angels. Your reward is IN a worshipping of angels. Worshipping THE WAY that the angels worship! This passage is warning you, to not let any man trick you into trying to serve God, IN THE FLESH, thinking that that is what you will be rewarded for, instead of worshipping God in truth, IN THE SPIRIT, the same way the angels do: by ministering (giving food) to Him and His people SPIRITUALLY.], intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, [Men think they will be rewarded spiritually, for their FLESHLY service. But he has no idea what REAL Christian worship is. They’ve never even seen it! This lost man has no business telling Christians how to serve God. He intrudes into spiritual things, and beguiles Christians, who CAN and SHOULD serve God spiritually, into trying to serve God in FLESHLY things. Things in which there is NO REWARD!] 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. [Ministering spiritual food to the body of Christ. Get people saved and teach them how to save others. That is true ministering, the same way the angels worship.] 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; [do fleshly good works, abstain from fleshly sin] 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? [recall back to v16: ALL fleshly good things are SHADOWS of true good things] 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
What does that mean? It means… fleshly good works and fleshly good lusts, are just a SHOW.
When you attempt to serve God, in the flesh… Abstaining from sin and loving others. Giving out clean water, food, clothing, and medicine. Even offering sheep, and goats, and bulls, under the law…
IT LOOKS like you are truly worshipping God, it LOOKS like you are truly humble. It LOOKS like you are neglecting the body. It LOOKS like you are not satisfying the flesh.
But it’s a SHOW!!! It is NOT TRUE worship.
If what you are doing is not resulting in SOULS BEING WON… getting wisdom and giving wisdom, then you are WASTING your time, and wasting your ABILITY to serve God IN TRUTH. All you are doing, is LOSING your REWARDS. You’ve been beguiled out of your rewards.
Acts 17:24-25 God that made the world … dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, …
Your flesh can only do a figure of the true… it can only do a SHOW of true worship.
Colossians 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of … neglecting of the body;
It LOOKS like you are NEGLECTING THE BODY. That is how it appears IN THE WORLD.
But truthfully, spiritually, you are not neglecting the flesh. You’re serving the flesh!
Colossians 2:23 … a shew of … not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Your fleshly good works are just a VAIN SHOW of not honoring the satisfying of the flesh.
You are not truly, NOT honoring the satisfying of the flesh. You’re satisfying the flesh!
It LOOKS like you are neglecting the flesh, because you are trying to neglect SOME of your fleshly lusts and desires. The ones you KNOW are evil. But you’re actually still just satisfying the flesh.
Sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you sin, and sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you don’t sin.
Sometimes an alcoholic satisfies his flesh when he drinks.
But when he cleans up his life, and gets sober, that is ALSO satisfying his flesh.
He feels better about himself when he doesn’t drink. His body is healthier. His life is better. His relationships are better. He gets recognition and praise. His flesh is getting satisfied!
Your flesh can lust for both good things AND bad things!
Sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you sin, and sometimes you satisfy your flesh when you do good.
Just think about bodily exercise…
Sometimes you desire to skip your exercise and just eat junk food on the couch. And that satisfies your flesh.
Sometimes you desire to exercise and eat healthy foods. That also satisfies your flesh.
Sometimes you desire to eat junk food. Sometimes you desire to eat healthy food.
Sometimes your flesh wants to be good, and sometimes it wants to be evil.
But either one you choose… it SATISFIES your flesh.
It might be short term satisfaction (like enjoying junk food) or long-term satisfaction (like enjoying being fit and healthy) … It might be short term satisfaction (like committing adultery and ruining your marriage) or long-term satisfaction (like not committing adultery so you can protect your marriage and your children) … but either one is satisfying the flesh.
Whether you desire the good, or desire the bad… whether you choose the good, or choose the bad… it is to satisfy the FLESH.
Whether you work an honest job to put food on the table, or you commit armed robbery to put food on the table… you do it to satisfy your flesh.
That is all that our flesh can do… satisfy flesh!
All the works that are in THIS world, whether evil OR good, are to satisfy THE FLESH.
Now, the accusation I EXPECT to get back is, “well that is just saying that everything that anyone ever does is selfish, and that is called psychological egoism and I don’t believe in that! I believe I can do good for others and it isn’t a selfish act.”
Google tells me “psychological egoism is a philosophical concept that suggests that all human actions are ultimately motivated by self-interest, even when they appear altruistic; essentially, claiming that even when helping others, people are doing so because it benefits them in some way, whether emotionally or socially.”
But that isn’t really what I’m teaching.
I’m not saying that “the satisfying of the flesh” is ONLY satisfying YOUR flesh.
Colossians 2:23 doesn’t say, “the satisfying of YOUR flesh”.
It says, “the satisfying of THE flesh”
OTHER people’s flesh is included. ALL FLESH is included.
To do fleshly good works, in this world, is satisfy FLESH.
Sometimes yours, sometimes OTHER MEN’S.
So truthfully, in doing good to others, at the expense of yourself… you are not neglecting “the flesh”… you are still satisfying “the flesh”, because you are serving the needs of THE FLESH.
It doesn’t matter if it is selfless. It matters that it is FLESHLESS.
Feeding flesh, saving flesh, healing flesh, honoring flesh… receiving honour of men, IN THE FLESH.
Even to sacrifice yourself to save others… It satisfies FLESH. You saved FLESH. You didn’t save anyone’s spirit.
And men honour you and praise you and memorialize you… because you satisfied FLESH.
Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
The common way this is taught… is that the fleshly part of a Christian really only desires to sin in this world, while the Holy Spirit in him only desires to do good in this world.
So the way the world teaches it is… Imagine you’re walking by a homeless man with a group of your friends. Your flesh wants you to… look away. Maybe, to laugh at him, spit on him. Maybe even kick him! But the Spirit in you wants to stop, and kneel down, and speak kindly to him. Maybe give him your money. Some food or clothes! (Maybe give him your job, or your house?)
So (again, they teach) if you’re REALLY a Christian, you’ll have those conflicting desires.
And then you will have to CHOOSE to do either what your flesh wants, or what the Spirit wants. But, if you are NOT REALLY a Christian, you really won’t have that push, that pull, that desire to do the good things.
But there are a number of problems with that (FALSE) interpretation:
Plant an apple tree in your backyard and offer its fruit to the Holy Spirit. Will it satisfy His lust?
Bake a loaf of bread and offer it to the Spirit. Will it fill him? No.
Then why would you think that any other EARTHLY things (works/fruits) can satisfy the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit in a Christian, is not lusting after things which can satisfy the flesh.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
The things of the Spirit, are not the things of the flesh! They lust after different things!
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
It doesn’t say, “neither can he do them consistently”.
The things that satisfy the Spirit, are SPIRITUAL THINGS.
These spiritual things are:
The Spirit of God desires WISDOM! That is… people getting WISDOM, and people giving wisdom.
Galatians 5:17 … and these are contrary the one to the other: …
Here is the only other instance of “are contrary” in the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
How are they “contrary to all men”, if they aren’t killing and persecuting all men??
And the phrase “are contrary” is our link back to Galatians 5:17.
This is the real battle of the lusts of the flesh against the lusts of the Spirit.
Not in whether a man chooses to commit a sin, or chooses to do a “good work”.
And not in whether men generally love or hate other men in the FLESH.
It is in the doctrine of salvation! It is in getting people saved!
The battle is that the flesh wants to satisfy men’s flesh, while the Spirit desired to save men’s souls.
That is what the Holy Spirit lusts after: SOULS.
The Holy Spirit wants you to GET SAVED, and wants to use you to save others… by WORDS.
The Holy Spirit does not lust after WORLDLY things.
The Holy Spirit is not inside Christians, desiring for them to do worldly good works.
You can sell all your money and give away all your things to feed the poor in this world, and all it does… is satisfy FLESH. You didn’t satisfy the Spirit.
In choosing not to gamble and drink and fornicate, you are NOT TRULY honoring the neglecting of FLESH.
In choosing to give away your own food, to feed others who don’t have any food, you are NOT TRULY honoring the neglecting of THE FLESH, in favor of the satisfying THE SPIRIT.
You’re not honoring only the satisfying of the Spirit. It just LOOKS like you are, to men.
Fleshly good works are… “a shew of … neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”
I believe all fleshly works, are evil. All fleshly good works are SIN to God.
John 7:7 The world … I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
But men don’t even CONSIDER the possibility that their works and their sacrifices, are evil.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
Sit and listen, because men speaking, men bringing forth what is in their hearts, is sin.
Psalms 14:3 … there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Micah 7:4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: …
You cannot produce good fruit. You can’t give anything good to God out of your flesh.
You only produce evil fruit. You are no different, and no better, than anyone who lived before Christ.
Your sacrifice is foolishness and evil. It doesn’t even matter that you offer it SINCERELY.
Proverbs 21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
Men think they are offering a clean thing. “I give my life to you, Lord”.
But if a sacrifice is not PERFECT, then it is evil. Leviticus 22:19-21. Malachi 1:8,14.
Man’s motivation isn’t the problem. Man’s NATURE is the problem. His flesh is the problem. There are no true good things in our flesh.
That’s why we need to repent of fleshly things (works, life, fruits, knowledge, etc.), and depart out of our flesh.
You need to REPENT of ALL your fleshly works: good and bad – they’re all sinful!
But the false brethren see it the exact opposite!
Proverbs 13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
“How dare you tell me my good works are sinful!
How dare you tell me to stop trying to do good works!
How dare you tell me to repent of doing good works!
I don’t do evil works, I do good works, and I’ll NEVER stop doing good works!”
Proverbs 14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
They will not “depart from evil” entirely… they will not get rid of all their evil works entirely.
They will repent of what they KNOW is evil. Cussing, Smoking, Drinking, Lying, Stealing, Gambling, Murder, Rape, Adultery, Fornication… those they will repent of… those they will depart from.
But they won’t depart from their “good works”. Why would they? They see too much VALUE in their fleshly works!
Proverbs 13:19 … it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
Because of the deceitfulness of sin, men THINK their good works are clean, and good, and right to God.
In their own eyes, they’re doing RIGHT.
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Man’s fleshly good works, are all sinful!
Surely, someone will accuse me of this:
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
I know at first, it sounds like that is exactly what I am doing.
But, I hope you’re starting to see, that in truth, it’s the complete opposite!!!
By Pastor • Christian Doctrine, Christian Life, Eternal Security, False Prophets/Doctrine, Good Works, Identifying False Christians, Problem Texts, Salvation, Spiritual Circumcision • 0