THE SPIRIT OF BONDAGE AND OF ADOPTION
To put it simply, there are 3
kinds of people in this world.
Most people are in the
natural state. They are spiritually asleep. They do not realize the
precariousness of their position. They may be pleased with their lives. They
neither fear nor love God. They have no light. They have a false sense of
peace. They are heathens. They sin, but they likely don’t realize it or think
much of it.
Many people are in the legal
state. They are spiritually awake. They realize their present danger. They are
miserable. They live in fear. They experience the pain of a new bright light.
They have no peace. They are as Jews, under the law. They sin unwillingly. They
fight with sin, but cannot conquer it.
Few people are in the
evangelical state. They are even more awake- awake to the great love of God.
They are joyful. No more guilt, anguish, bondage, etc. The strive against and
conquer sin. They love God. They experience glorious light and true peace. They
are Christians. Now under grace, they cease from sinning.
Examine yourself! What is
your primary attitude toward God? Love? Fear? Neither? What is your primary
relation to sin? Victory? Defeat? Indifference? Only those who love God and are
experiencing victory over sin are truly in Christ. Of course, this sermon is
over-simplified. Each individual may experience various states at once, but by
all means strive to wholly live in the evangelical state!
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