There are two things
that also stand out to me; these whom he is talking about also lack two
important character ingredients: two things that Paul says they are “without”
or lacking: “without love” and “without self control”. Love is putting the
needs of others before your needs. Self control is putting God’s character or
“godly character” before self.
Ephesians 4:17-19 says –
“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live
as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in
their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance
that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all
sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in
every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” In other words, rather
than love God and live godly lives, they love and do whatever pleases “self”. What does it mean to us? You can’t just put on a Christian costume and be saved. Christianity isn’t a club you join or a part you play in the game of life. Church is not a place you go or something you do…it is who you are! I’m afraid that sometimes we get too comfortable confessing that we are sinners; but not thinking we can be victorious over sin. What I mean is this: When God saved us through the grace of Christ; he put power in us by His Holy Spirit to live godly lives. Is that true or false? We do not have a salvation that leaves us powerless over sin!
If my life is defined by anything on the list in these verses, I need to ask an important question: Where is the power of God in my life? What I am suggesting here is that we begin to live victorious lives. The question to us is not “Do we have the power?” It is “Are we using the power?”
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