There have been many joyful experiences that I have been able to witness these past couple of years living near my two grandsons; and believe me when I say it has been a joy that has filled my heart and exceeded my wildest expectations. (Eph. 3:20). It really is like doing the whole parenting thing over again but it’s the ‘2.0 version’ with more benefits. IYKYK :- ).

For example...the boys are at that age now where they want to ‘help Papa’ do things. Or, when they attempt to try something new, they are insistent that they do it by themselves; as in: “Papa, I don’t need your help. I do it myself!” And I’ll usually step back with a smile and watch them struggle until they say: “Papa...I need your help.” (anyone see where this might be going today?)

This ‘walk of faith’ that so many of us embarked on years ago (or even recently for some), is indeed a ‘walk’ that centers around ‘following Jesus’, or so it was designed to be. And yet how many have continued to struggle, especially when it comes to overcoming ‘sin’ and this ‘flesh’, because we have persisted in ‘doing it all by ourself’. How long should it take someone to come to the realization that none of us are capable of ‘doing this ourself’, this ‘going and sinning no more’ thing that Jesus told us to do?

We were told by Jesus to ‘abide in Him’ (John 15:4). He goes on to explain there that ‘apart from Him, we can do nothing’...and that ‘those who do abide in Him will bear much fruit’ (5). And if you read on, Jesus tells us this is how the Father is glorified...’that we bear much fruit showing ourselves to be His disciples” {8}. And circling back to vs. 4 once more- we can’t bear this fruit unless we are abiding in Him.

But if...we are abiding in Him....it will become evident because “he who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (1 John 2:6). And...”whoever abides in Him does not sin...” (1 John 3:6). Could the ‘litmus test’ be any more clear than that?

Now in school, when we would ‘fail a test’, it usually required we go back and take it again until we mastered it. That is the goal, is it not...to ‘master’ whatever it is we are striving to learn or accomplish...and not just ‘take test for the sake of taking tests’? So when we first come to Jesus (with our whole heart)...He begins to lead us down this path of peace which leads to righteousness and holiness and godliness. Psalm 23:3, anyone? And guess what is always obstructing this process and getting in the way of this kind of ‘fruit’ being produced in us?

Yep...our ‘old man’, our fleshly, carnal, sinful nature; which is why the first thing on the agenda is the Holy Spirit leads us to ‘take up our cross’...and ‘die to self’(Rom. 8:13). Welcome to walking with Jesus 1.0. Before any of this ‘godlike fruit’ can be produced in our lives, something has to ‘die’ first (John 12:24).

So here’s a quick self-examination to consider: Is your pride still getting in the way all the time that leads to discord and arguments and frustration? Then you have not ‘died to pride’ yet. Still succumbing to sexual compulsions and sins? Then you’ve not died to lust yet. Fault finding, grumbling or complaining and criticizing still regular ‘fruit’ manifesting in your life? Then you have not ‘died to it’ yet. Outburst of anger and rage, anyone? Need I go on?

And here’s where the modern day ‘church’ has let us down- we have fallen away to a place where this is the ‘norm’ to be expected because we’ve taught a generation (or more) of people that they will continue to be ‘sinners saved by grace’ as they will continue to ‘sin on this side of heaven’. We’ve been ‘comforted and consoled’, being told we are ‘all flawed humans’, just like those ‘carnal babes in Christ’ we hear about in 1 Cor. 3:1-3 who were still exhibiting ‘envy, strife and divisions’. Friends, Paul was not ‘cooing’ over those ‘babes in Christ’ there; he was rebuking them and followed up with some somber warnings in his second letter to them (2 Cor. 12:20-21). And if this was not serious to Paul, then explain his words in 2 Cor. 7:1, if you would please.

Do you realize what makes this so serious, that has somehow escaped our attention, or been ‘left out of the manual’ for us to take to heart? Look at Gal. 5:19-21 and please underline the last part of that passage: “I tell you those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” And are you ready for another ‘litmus test’ to see how you are doing? Look at vs. 24 there where we are told what those who truly ‘belong to Christ’ ...have done.

Now friends...let me be clear here: Abiding in Jesus does not mean you won’t be ‘tested’ or ‘tempted’ in these areas after you have repented of them and/or ‘thrown them off’ (Rom. 13:12-13). On the contrary...it is during these times of temptation and testing that we are being made ‘perfect and complete’ (James 1:2-4). And yes, it will involve some ‘suffering’ as we ‘deny’ ourselves and ‘resist the devil’ during these testing's (James 4:7; 1 Pet. 4:1-2). This is the walk we have been called to, unless of course you were taught ‘another gospel’ that does not conform you to godliness, which could have easily happened given the times we live in. (2 Cor. 11:3-4; 1 Tim. 6:3-6).

And the reason so many have struggled, and yes...even given up, or ‘thrown the towel in’...is because we have done our best to try harder to do better...’all by ourself’. And Jesus never intended for us to ‘do this on our own’...because we simply can’t!. You nor I can “be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48); nor can we ‘go and sin no more’ (John 5:14; 8:11)... in our own power. Yet...we have worn ourselves out trying to do this very thing... and fallen so far short to the point where some have been more than ready to sign on to ‘another gospel’ that makes this 'easier'(on the flesh). This in turn has done more to ‘enable us’ while we stew in our carnal natures, instead of leading us out of the darkness and bondage of sin...which is EXACTLY what Jesus came to do (John 8:32-36; Luke 4:18).

Who here can quote that old definition of ‘insanity’? (Doing the same thing over and over....?)

But as Peter reminded us...we are to ‘arm ourselves with the same mind Christ had’...and that yes, suffering will be involved when we put this nature to death “BY HIS SPIRIT” (Rom. 8:13)...AND...”those who have suffered in this manner...have ceased from sin” (1 Pet. 4:1-2). For all those who flippantly claim that we are ‘saved by grace alone through faith’ (Eph. 2:8)...let us not make the mistake in failing to understand exactly what this grace was designed to do...provided we ‘humble ourselves’ and ask for it- (Titus 2:11-14; James 4:6; Heb. 4:14-16)