The true gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thoroughly Good News this dark world has. Every human being is by nature a descendant of the fallen head of the human race--Adam; the Bible calls that fallen nature "the flesh." The "works" or "fruit" of the flesh is an endless catalog of evil that always ends in misery.
But Paul dares to tell us in Galatians that if we have chosen to give ourselves to Christ and to "walk with the [Holy] Spirit," He will hold us by the hand so we won't stumble into those allurements of sin, even though our sinful nature would push us into it. "Ye cannot do the [evil] things that ye would" (5:16-18).
One of those alluring temptations is fornication or adultery. "The lips of another man's wife may be as sweet as honey and her kisses as smooth as olive oil, but when it is all over, she leaves you nothing but bitterness and pain. She will take you down to the world of the dead" (Prov. 5:3-5).
BUT ... Proverbs gives you the same Good News that Galatians does ("wisdom" is Christ, cf. 1 Cor. 1:24): "Wisdom ... will provide you with life--a pleasant and happy life. You can go safely on your way and never even stumble. … The Lord will keep you safe [from sin!]. He will not let you fall into a trap" (3:21-26). "Your insight and understanding will protect you and prevent you from doing the wrong thing" (2:11, 12, GNB). Same as Paul's Good News!
When life is over, you will take not an iota of credit to yourself. You will gladly confess, "By grace [I] have been saved through faith, and that not of [myself]. IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD" (Eph. 2:8, 9). Isaiah reminds us, "This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord" (54:17, KJV).
Believe that today, and your heart will overflow with gratitude. You'll have heaven on earth.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 18, 2006.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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