“Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4)  

If you want to live in the power of your risen Lord, abandon forever the thought of pursuing pleasure for its own sake. This is what the Apostles meant when they said, saints are “dead to sin” (Romans 6:11). A saint who feels guilt, is a miserable saint, but there is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). It’s impossible for a saint to be alive to Christ while controlled by the flesh. If you’re saved, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead will “give life to your mortal bodies” (Romans 8:11). 

"Why seek ye the living among the dead?" said the angel to Mary Magdalene. Should the living dwell in the grave? Should divine life be stopped by fleshly lust? How can we partake of the cup of the Lord and yet drink the cup of Satan? Surely, if you’re saved, you were saved from lust and sin. If you weren’t, you need to examine yourself (2 Corinthians 13:5). For more on this subject, click here.

 But the corruption which is in the world through lust manifests in less obvious ways. Have you also escaped from the secret and delusive lust of pride? Have you escaped from laziness? Have you escaped from carnal security? If you think, “I can sin, because even God won’t stop me from being admitted to Heaven”, you’re probably not saved. “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). 

Are you seeking, day by day, to live above worldliness and the pride of life? This is what God saves people from. If you’re chosen of God, don’t let His grace be wasted on you. Follow after holiness; it’s the Christian's crown and glory. The word “saint” just means “holy”. A Church that isn’t holy would be useless to the world. It would be an abomination; Hell's laughter, and Heaven's shame. Oh, Christian, you are God's priest: act as such. You are God's king: reign over your lusts. You are God's chosen: don’t associate with Satan. Heaven is your portion: live like a heavenly spirit, for there can’t be faith in the heart unless there’s holiness in the life. 

"Lord, I desire to live as one Who bears a blood-bought name, As one who fears but grieving Thee, And knows no other shame."