Heralds Digest

"Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him." (1 John 3:6 NKJV) Intimate relationship among soul-mates enables the convergence of acceptable characters. Without exception, intimate relationship with Christ destroys every seed of unrighteousness in man. While association with Church and religious obligations can promote encouraging compliance in character, especially in terms of lifestyles and general social dispositions, the only evidence of an intimate relationship with Christ is righteousness. A sincere knowledge of the saving grace of God in man enables the power to struggle not with sin.

"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." (1 John 3:3 NKJV) Being the first work of grace, salvation delivers a sinful heart from the power of sin in order to commence a love relationship with Christ. However, salvation does not reduce or remove the attractiveness of sin. It is the appreciation of the love of Christ that constraints the heart in the path of righteousness. Love attracts soul-mates. And it is natural for a bride that hope to be with her soul-mate in an holy land to strive for nothing but holiness. While the pursuit of power and position depicts the existence of a love relationship between man and the world, the pursuit of purity represents the existence of a love relationship between man and Christ.

"Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father." (1 John 2:24 NKJV) Truth is truly true when its residency is maintained in the environment of lies. The truth about God' righteousness at Christ's expense is its ability to stand straight in the torrent of errors. God's grace is sufficient to keep any soul from sin, if the wholesome package of grace is allowed to control the heart of man. Unfortunately, many redeemed souls often abuse grace by sharing the residency of their hearts between righteousness and unrighteousness. Whereas, God's grace can only keep truth in the heart at man's approval of its residency permit.

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15 NKJV) Since the subject of love is the matter of the heart, the heart of man remains the battleground between God and Satan. However, it difficult to understand the state of the heart unless what influences the heart is acknowledged. The scripture says " if anyone love the world, the love of the Father is not in him ". Obviously, the love of the Father and the love of the world lead the heart in different directions. Unfortunately, the overbearing influence of the world, which bother on self interests, often leaves a deficit of desire for the will of God. It is absolutely impossible to protect the interest of self and God simultaneously, without tearing the heart apart.

"But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:11 NKJV) Walking daily along the path free of offense is obviously impossible in this sinful world. Rather than engaging in wishful thinking, the best strategy provides a way of accommodating offenses without getting off the track of righteousness. While darkness or unrighteousness is a common lifestyle of sinners and unbelievers, hatred among the children of light is not a reflection of the power of grace. Irrespective of its seeming legitimacy, hatred clouds the pathway of the righteous from uprightness. Therefore, it is better to accommodate possible character fraud, and walk in a clear pathway; rather than to entertain hatred, and cruise along the cloudy pathway.

"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7 NKJV) Holy living is commonly alien to the system of this world. Most claims of perfection are found hypocritical or outrightly dishonest. Since righteousness comes through the grace of God, true fellowship is necessary for anyone who wishes to reflect the light of the gospel. The light may not necessarily attract the beauty of the world and its system, it rebukes the bitterness in every relationship. Unlike the sanctimonious pretence of holy living, honest living attains perfection through a daily illumination from the fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18 NKJV) Glorying in grace is a subtle spiritual disease that rob any believer of his continual exploits in the service of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Consequently, when heaven is ready for new assignment, the flesh is busy celebrating old consignment. However, those who acknowledge the irrelevance of glorying in grace are readily available before the throne of grace for fresh anointing. When glory is consistently and completely ascribed to the Lord, believer get satisfied with growing in grace rather than glorying in grace.