Have You Been Born Again And Are Obedient?

Brothers and sisters, are we obedient to God? Paul gives us warnings and instructions on what we are to do and not to do. Salvation is not a one time event and then we go on merrily doing what we wish. Paul lists sins and then tells us we "used to behave" like those who are disobedient. In the passages that follow, are you putting to death the sins Paul lists or are you practicing sins which bring the wrath of God? If you are, you must repent, turning from your sin and follow Jesus Christ who said:

•  24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continuously. 
• 25Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it, 
• 26because what profit will a person have if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? 
• Or what can a person give in exchange for his life? 
• 27The Son of Man is going to come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to what he has done.

Please do not turn to the ear tickling preachers of our day. Sin has been forgotten as they will not teach the Word of God and the numerous admonishments it contains (See verse 16 below). The people have raised up teachers to tickle their ears. Joel Osteen's church is a "poster child" for talking about only things that tickle the ears. We should have no part with him. He is deceived and deceiving. His own words are more important to him than God's as countless other ear ticklers are. Get into your bible, especially the New Testament. Please hear me, there is a war for your soul. Do not trust man. 

 Colosians 3 ISV

1Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah,a 

• keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiahb is seated at the right hand of God. 2Keep your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth. 3For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiahc in God. 4When the Messiah,d who ise yourf life, is revealed, then you, too, will be revealed with him in glory.

5So put to death your worldly impulses:g 

• sexual sin, 
• impurity, 
• passion, 
• evil desire, 
• and greed (which is idolatry). 

6It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient.h 7You used to behave like them as you lived among them. 8But now you must also get rid of 

• anger, 
• wrath, 
• malice, 
• slander, 
• obscene speech, 
• and all such sins. 

9Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old nature with its practices 10and have clothed yourselves with the new nature, which is being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with the image of the one who created it. 11In himi there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian,j slave, or free person. Instead, the Messiahk is all and in all.

12Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with:

• compassion, 
• kindness, 
• humility, 
• meekness,l 
• and patience. 
• 13Be tolerant of one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another.
•  Just as the Lordm has forgiven you, you also should forgive.n 
• 14Above all, clothe yourselves witho love, which ties everything together in unity. 
• 15Let the peace of the Messiahp also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful. 
• 16Let the word of the Messiahq inhabit you richly with wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts. 
• 17And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.