The Standard By Which We Will Be Judged

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

I think one of the passages of scriptures that just about as clearly as possible outlines the life of a Christian after the initial work of repentance/salvation is this one:

Col. 3:5-17
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

We see Paul here admonishing to put off the sins of the flesh (fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil passions, covetousness/idolatry), and not stopping there, but continuing to address the putting way of sins of the spirit (anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication, and lying).

So we understand from this passage that sins of the flesh, and of the spirit are equally concerning to a disciple of Christ.

Paul then admonishes us to put on the bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing, and forgiving. So here we see that if disciples have abstained from flesh/spirit sins, but are not manifesting charity (love) in their life, they have not reached perfection. (vs. 14).

This is not a cut and dry - once saved always saved - kind of teaching, but instead it is a lifestyle of constant soul searching, honesty, and striving to manifest the fruit of righteousness and holiness each and every moment of our lives.

Amen!