“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness [incitement to lust or lechery], lusts [desires, not just sexual], drunkenness, revelries [drunks parading through the streets at night singing etc. in honor of Bacchus or some other god], drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” 1 Peter 4:1-3.
“… [we] no longer should live the rest of his [our] time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:2.
Salvation in Christ is the cutoff point for the Christian who has lived their life as the ungodly do.
“For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One [Jesus] died for [us] all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.
It is a form of gratitude that is shown when we make Jesus Lord of our lives and cease to live for ourselves and to be conformed to the life and example of Christ.
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29.
Heaven is filled with brothers and sisters who are holy like their Savior Jesus. How can we call ourselves brethren if there is no family resemblance?
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body [human body, eyes, ears, feet, etc.], but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one [spiritual] body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Romans 12:1-5.
It is time to turn from the unhealthy passions of godless men and turn to following Christ.
Remember though, “Nature abhors a vacuum”. There are many vices that you can walk away from, such as hanging out with the wrong crowd, but there are some things that linger on, such as excessive drinking.
Often a Christian will swear off of drinking or some other vice and find themselves going crazy. You have created a vacuum which needs to be filled, prayer and Bible study may fill that void and in time one may find themselves with less or no craving for such things.
If this does not correct things in a satisfactory manner, and especially if our drinker has a temper, then it is time to seek out a reputable Christian counselor.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
When the Christian looks into the mirror of the word of God we begin to see Him as He really is, and as we do we change into the same image. Prayerful Bible reading and studies cannot be emphasized enough.
The times of wantonness are far past, and time is running out, fix your eyes on Jesus and do not turn to the right or to the left but focus on the prize.
“… [God] who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began…” 2 Timothy 1:9.
Not one Christian has been saved because of our charm or good works. God’s purpose and His grace toward mankind were made available through His plan made before time began, which was accomplished through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Not one of us has sought Him out, it is not we who reached out to God, rather it was God who reached out to us.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6.
“As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.’” Romans 3:10-12.
Many of us will say; no that is not true I have always loved God. And this may be true because we were saved at a very young age and stayed close to Him, or having been saved we may have strayed like sheep and forgotten Him.
Others of us may have always loved a concept of God. But it was an image of God created in our own image. As a result, we did not approach God the Father because we already thought we had Him.
It was God who sought and found us wandering lost in the desert. It was God who opened our hearts and Jesus who paid the price of our salvation in blood.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10.
Christians have a far greater value than they believe. Their names, each one of us, were known to God before time began. Works for us to do were established by God before the world was.
Each Christian, like the parts of a fine watch, has a part in the plans of God. Not one of us is unnecessary, not one!
Not one Christian has no use, not the one working in the streets of Calcutta, not the one working a nothing job in a backwater town no one has heard of, not the young person who will never be known by anyone outside their immediate family, nor the infirm one who is bedridden, neither young or old is useless to God.
Not one Christian is useless, unless they make themselves useless by ignoring God’s call upon their life. Use your time wisely knowing that we will all stand before Jesus one day.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10.
The judgment seat of Christ is not the same as the great white throne judgment on Judgment Day at the end of time.
The judgment seat of Christ is where each believer will review his life before the Lord and receive rewards or loss, but not loss of salvation. No one will be kicked out of heaven.
God has a jigsaw puzzle made up of billions of pieces before Him and each Christian has a part in the puzzle; as you might guess missing pieces will mar that puzzle. Time is running out, do not be a missing piece.
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:5-6.
“Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside,” these are unbelievers. Those outside make up many different types of personalities, like the scoffer, one who just likes to mock you and argue.
“A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise.” Proverbs 15:12.
“Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; yes, strife and reproach [faultfinding and blaming others] will cease.” Proverbs 22:10.
When you realize that the scoffer only wants to hear himself talk and cause confusion and argument, stop and walk away. You will not win an argument with this person. God will have to deal with them.
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Matthew 7:6.
People like this are why Jesus gave us the following warning.
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16.
Those outside, the unbeliever, may be a hardened sort, but have an honest heart. Do not mistake them for the scoffer. If they listen and give reasonable arguments for why they do not believe, give thoughtful and gracious answers.
Likewise with those in the cults, grace mixed with knowledge of the Scriptures may eventually bring them to the Lord. Graciousness means that ridicule of their beliefs will not be used in your presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As you can see, there is a reason for us to walk in wisdom toward those outside (the unbeliever), we should be aware of the sort of person we are dealing with. And then we should approach them in the manner in which the Holy Spirit guides us.
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-22.
In this passage the Apostle Paul shows us that we need to discern different types of people and to approach them in a comfortable way. He does not talk down to them as though he was some great theologian, but rather approaches them on the same level.
At no time do we find the apostle waffling back and forth in his statements of belief but gives the pure and straightforward gospel, this is for us too.
“…redeeming the time”; our lives consist of only so much time, as do the lives of those around us. We must redeem that time both for our own sakes (for we will soon stand before Jesus) and for the sake’s of those perishing around us.
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…” salt is not only a preservative it makes bland things taste better, but to season with salt does not mean salty language (perverse talk).
Language seasoned with salt is speech that is not inane silliness, obscenity, or corrupt, like rotten fruit. Gracious words of gentle persuasion, revealing new truths which the hearer may have never heard before; and above all, from the heart.
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:13-16.
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification [building up], that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:29-32.
“Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation [Christ’s return for His own, the rapture] is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:10-14.
“See then that you walk circumspectly [watchful and discreet, cautious], not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16.
Whether you are young or very old there is a reason to start redeeming the time for Christ right now; it is running out second by second.
‘Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:13-14.
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…” 2 Peter 3:10-11.
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.” Philippians 3:20-21.
“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.” Revelation 1:3.
When you report to the Lord Jesus on this mission He has sent you on, will you be able to say as the Apostle Paul did that it was a success?
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
“If we do not use the time we have, we will lose the time we need.”
Redeeming the Time, Part 2 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 12-1-15, updated on 8-29-23.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.