My two previous posts this week have talked about how we face a struggle with our humanness, what the New Testament calls “the flesh.” I’m convinced that that struggle never goes away.
That said, I also know that none of that excuses us. We aren’t supposed to sin. We are supposed to live righteous lives.
What we need to see, in my opinion, is that sanctification (the process of becoming more holy) comes about through God’s power working in us. It’s not about me changing me; it’s about me letting God transform me.
That’s one reason the New Testament writers didn’t use the term self-control all that much. The Greeks were fairly fond of the term; their philosophers used it a lot. By comparison, the word is fairly rare in the New Testament. I think that’s because we aren’t looking to have our flesh control our flesh. We aren’t seeking to control ourselves. We are seeking the Spirit’s control.
I cringe when I hear someone say, “I could never be tempted in that way.” That sort of attitude leads to trouble. It always makes me think of Peter insisting Jesus, “All the others may fall away, but I will never abandon you.”
We need to see temptation and run to our Refuge, seek our Helper, lean on our God. We must never think that we can overcome by our personal holiness, our willpower, or our determination. We need God. We need God’s power. We must follow God’s Spirit.
We can live holy lives. We don’t have to resign ourselves to sin. But we do have to seek God’s help.
I couldn’t agree with you more, Tim. I think, though, that we need to make sure we are all on the same page with what is meant by “sanctification” and what it means to be “holy.” I remember years ago having a conversation with my father over the translated term “perfect.” To this day, I don’t think he really ever got it. I’m not sure that when people use those terms they really understand what they mean as used in the Greek New Testament. On the other end of the spectrum, though, I get really concerned when I hear “it’s not about me changing me, it’s about letting God transform me.” I don’t disagree, I just think sometimes people don’t really understand what that means and spend their time expecting something outside themselves to occur. I just think it needs a little clarification. I am of the opinion that it’s a combination of both. Dad used to say, “con el marro dando y a Dios orando.” God uses what he has naturally placed in us to transform us but we have to make the connection to initiate that transformation so as I see it, it’s a little bit of both, “me” and “God” working together. I think that clarification is important. Bendiciones.
I do see the dangers of passivity. In my experience, we tend to go the other way in the Church of Christ. But your clarification is valid.