Gospel

Higher Standards

by Roland Crim
10/12/19
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When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. He answered, “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.” Mark 10:10-12 NIV

Jesus also tells us in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:27-28)  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Some interpret this second passage to not entail a fleeting thought of lust, but to a strong desire of coveting. The interpreting of this passage is for you to determine, but one thing is evident from the two passages together, being, many more have committed adultery than that thought of by conventional thinking.

How can we be fulfilling of God’s commandments with interpretations such as Jesus reveals? On our own we cannot. We need the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, if we wish to follow God’s will. Even with the Spirit indwelling us, there will be times when we succumb to sin. We are not enslaved to sin, yet, we do still at times yield to temptation. That is why Christ came, and died for us. He took our sins to the cross that we be made righteous by Him in the sight of the Father. This is the power of the shedding of innocent blood by the Lord on our behalf. Read God’s word daily. Be in prayer with the Lord often. Submit your will to that of the Holy Spirit. This is how we live according to God’s will.