1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the Temple of God, God will destroy him. For the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple you are.
For the past several days we have been discussing the Benefits for the believing, born again Christian. Thus far in our study, the Benefits consist of, FORGIVENESS, HEALING, DELIVERANCE, LOVING KINDNESS, MERCY and PROVISION.
Yesterday we touched on something that most people don’t like to hear. That being, our responsibility in receiving the Benefits of God. Yes, we receive them all by faith in the Finished Work of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary, but can we do things than hinder the Benefits of God? The answer to this question is, yes and no. We can hinder some of the Benefits while some Benefits of God we cannot.
For instance, LOVING KINDNESS and MERCY are Benefits that we are unable to hinder. No matter what we think, say or do, God will still love us and will offer His Mercy to us. His Love for us is unconditional and His Mercy endures forever BUT His Love and Mercy for us is not a license to sin! What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that Grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-2)
With that said, can we hinder God’s Forgiveness? All the Benefits of God come to us by way of Divine Promises. The Word of God is packed full of Promises to those who believe. God is faithful to keep every Promise, BUT Promises come with conditions and meeting those conditions is our part in living a life for Christ.
In regard to Forgiveness, John wrote, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) This Promise of Forgiveness begins with the condition: IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS. The Benefit of Forgiveness is subject to and dependent upon our confession. Therefore, IF we refuse to confess our sins, God will not forgive us. By our refusal, we hinder the Benefit of Forgiveness in our own lives.
Another condition to the Benefit of Forgiveness is given to us by Jesus. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:26) When we refuse to forgive others, we hinder the Benefit of Forgiveness for ourselves.
I began this Morning Message with this Scripture: Do you not know that you are the Temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the Temple of God, God will destroy him. For the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) We have the responsibility of cleaning and maintaining the Temple of God. We are that Temple. Our bodies house the Holy Spirit of God.
With that understanding, it is only natural that we would want to provide for Him a clean place to live. We should WANT to keep the Temple clean and Holy. God has done so much for us it’s the least we can do in return. Sin dirties the Temple of God. Repentance cleans it up.
God wants to……….turn the tide……….in your life.
I love Him because He first loved me, Doreen
