fighting the good fight

Since the first sin, mankind began to be led by their carnal nature instead of the spirit, as God created us to be. All wisdom that does not come from God, including human wisdom, is called “demonic” in James 3:13. So, we should not be surprised that the most spiritual battles we have to fight, are against our own carnal nature, in order to keep it under submission.

We are familiar with the verses of Romans 7.

• Romans 7:22-23 “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”

The war between our carnal nature, the flesh, and the born-again spirit never ends. Our spiritual condition is the direct result of who is winning this continuous war. The more we feed our spirits, by studying the Bible, praying, and seeking to have an attitude of praise and thankfulness towards God, the more we overcome the impulses and lusts of our sinful nature. It is up to us to continually crucify the flesh and to strengthen the spirit.

• 1 Corinthians 9:25 “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.“

 

• 1 Timothy 6:10-12 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Whatever is more important to us than God, becomes an idol and sin. If not corrected we will stray from the narrow path that leads to Jesus. Our goals in life show to whom we belong. If we seek to have the fruit of the Holy Spirit and do whatever the Scripture tells us to do, we fight the good fight of faith and we will end our race in the arms of Jesus. The choice is up to us.

• Hebrews 12:4 “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.”
  

 

• James 4:1 “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?”

Our cravings, hobbies, desires and dreams that we pursue determine our actions and how we live. It is a continuous battle between good and evil, between obedience and rebellion, between light and darkness, and the decisions we make, moment to moment, determines who wins.

Whenever we make the right choices, in submission to the direction of the Holy Spirit, we are victorious and free in Jesus Christ. If we are free, we can help others in obeying the Lord, knowing the truth and becoming free, also.

​Carmen Pușcaș