I have not only heard but have thought it myself years ago, "There's no way I can do what God wants of me. It would be like pushing a boulder up a hill. I'm only human!" Have you ever said that? Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by the Christian life that you believe it's impossible to obey God? Unfortunately, I've got bad news for you. You're right! YOU will never be strong enough within your own self to do what God wants. And that, simply because you are human. However, I also have fantastic news!! When you come to Jesus and make Him the Lord of your life, God gives you the power and the will to obey Him! Did you get that?? Did that sink in? Not only has Jesus died for you, forgiven you, cleansed you by His blood, SAVED you, He also gives you the WILL and the POWER to obey Him! Christ has provided the means to obey Him. Look at Philippians 2:13. Read it slowly and carefully, "For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." This verse should turn your head and make you jump for joy! God is working IN US to give us the will and power to do what pleases Him. WOW! We have help!
Let's look at several versions to double-check the wording!
1) KING JAMES VERSION: "For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."
2) NEW LIVING TRANSLATION: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."
3) NEW REVISED STANDARD: " For it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
4) MODERN ENGLISH VERSION: "For God is the One working in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure."
5) LIVING BIBLE: "For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants."
6) COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE: "God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes."
7) AMPLIFIED BIBLE: "For it is [not your strength, but it is] [a]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure."
I love the simple words from the Living Bible: "For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants."
The Spirit in us gives the supernatural power necessary to accomplish that godly desire! What desire? Obedience. So we could paraphrase the verse I gave, in simple words, by saying that God's Spirit is continually giving us the grace (desire and power) to do what pleases Him! Grace ought to free many of us who are "trying to clean ourselves up!" It can't be done! We are human as I said. We are flawed. We need God's grace to give us the desire to "clean up" and the power to "clean up!" Only the Spirit of God in us can give the supernatural power necessary to accomplish that godly desire! Are you resisting His grace? You can either receive it or resist it! Just know, the first way 9receiving) leaves you filled, while the second way (resisting) leaves you empty, dry, and spiritually barren. However, every believer shouldn't merely rest in the Holy Spirit for victory over sin and the production of a holy life. They must in addition to this dependence upon the Spirit, say a positive NO to sin and exert him or herself to doing of the right (working out his or her own salvation (Philippians 2:12 "Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear"). Here we have that incomprehensible and mysterious interaction between the free will of man and the sovereign grace of God. The best definition of grace I've heard is that God's grace is "both the desire and the ability to do the will of God." Divine grace is a theological term present in many religions. It has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation; and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin (Wikipedia).
In his letters, Paul wants us to be mindful that we cannot carry out this supernatural work of living a "Christ-ian" life without Divine Assistance. We can live a religious life but it is like taking "Christ" out of the word "Christian"! We need to keep this in mind as we seek to carry out the many commands in the NT, commands like mortify the deeds of your flesh, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5). Just try to do that in your own strength! Need I say more? The presence of God's power does not preclude Paul's personal struggle or energetic striving or laboring. Rather, it makes it possible. God's power is not designed to eliminate our responsibility to work hard but to enable us to fulfill it. Paul is able to work hard because God is working hard. The latter doesn't destroy or undermine the former.
Finally, don't be discouraged and certainly don't give up in your fight against sin, for Paul is saying our Great and Mighty God is Himself always at work in us for our good (Romans 8:29) and for His glory. It is for this reason that forgiveness sanctification will continue throughout the believer’s life for "He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" Hallelujah! If you are discouraged by failures, the truth that God is continually at work in you and clearly has not given up on you should encourage you to forget what lies behind (Philippians 3:13) and press on in His power (Philippians 3:14) knowing that it is always too soon to quit! Live with the realization that you do not work alone, that you have infinite power within you, that God is actually working out His will for you and motivating you both to will and desire to accomplish His good pleasure. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:5,6). Paul's point is that God energizes His children to obey and serve Him! His energy enables our ongoing, daily supernatural process of sanctification. Jesus' warning that "apart from Me you can do nothing" is understandable (John 15:5). When it comes to change in our lives, we know what God demands; we know what is necessary. We must change. For real change to occur we must yield to God’s Law, confess, repent from sin, and as we look in faith to Christ and His indwelling Spirit, as we consider and seek to conform our lives to God’s revealed will, change will happen.
Until He Comes,
-Pat-
