TO SHED THE WEIGHT OF HABITUAL SIN WE HAVE TO WALK IT OFF!

by Rev. Joda Collins

I enjoy fiddling with verses; turning them around such as making positive statements negative and visa versa, simplifying verses by leaving out words, clarifying meaning by using dynamic equivalence (different words that mean the same thing), doing word studies and see if another word that could be intended (if applied) changes the meaning of the verse but still reveals biblical truth, and so on.

For example, "...walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh."  Galatians 5:16.  Let's fiddle with it.    

Change the positive to a negative and the negative to a positive, "If you do not walk in the Spirit, you will walk in the lust of the flesh."

Dynamic Equivalence -- "lust of the flesh" equals sin, thus "...walk in the Spirit and you will not sin."  "Lust of the flesh" equals "following Satan" thus "...walk in the Spirit and you will not follow Satan."  "Walk in the Spirit" equals "Follow (obey) God" equals "Follow (obey) God and you will not follow (obey) Satan."  "Walk with God" equals "Living in habitual holiness."  "Live in habitual holiness and you will not live in habitual sin."   Change "will not" to "can not."   "Live in habitual holiness and you can not live in habitual sin." 

Regarding the life application of this verse, how about this?  If you do not walk in obedience to God you cannot overcome sin. 

Or this, -- Prayer, alone, is not enough to overcome habitual sin.  Godly desires, alone, are not enough to overcome habitual sin.  Good intentions (sincerity) is not enough, alone, to overcome habitual sin.  Remorse over sin, alone, is not enough to overcome habitual sin.     

How about this?  The combination of prayer, godly desires, sincerity and remorse for sin is not enough, alone, to overcome habitual sin.  You must "walk." Now, let's test this theory out comparing it to the Word of God.

"And as he (Jesus) entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.  And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass that as they went, they were cleansed."  Luke 17:12-14.

If God says do it, then do it or not much (maybe nothing) will change!  To shed the weight of habitual sin we have to walk it off. 

Crawl, walk then run.  After we have walked off the weight of habitual sin we are ready to run!  Running gains eternal rewards, "Run so you may obtain."  1 Corinthians 9:24b. 

Rev . Joda  Collins

www.jodacollins/spotlight/lulu.com

I make no claim that anyone else agrees with me.