The carnal man is always looking to get away with things. People like the free stuff. So when the seductive power of the devil gets behind something that SOUNDS like it's from God...it's very hard to resist...unless one loves the truth.
So how can one avoid this great delusion of a spiritual immunity from judgment for actions and thoughts in these mortal bodies?
Is seeking a selfish advantage Christ-like? Is it like Christ to look to get away with sins?
God has already set in motion to manifest whether it is the righteousness of men by works of the Law or God’s righteousness. He will manifest whether man serves man or whether man serves God. the parable of Mark 4:16-20 shows this. As Paul said “I will come and see who among you are puffed up and who has power. It is necessary to see the table of stone and man’s righteousness is within the parable...in the “stony ground” Philippians 3:9-10 And be found in him,
not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
“righteousness by the law” having your own righteousness...which when affliction and persecution arises for the word’s sake...immediately ‘man’s own righteousness’ is offended.
”And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; [17] And
have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. [18] And
these are they which
are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, [19] And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. [20] And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.”
offended and fall away ...man’s own righteousness is offended (pride wounded) and desires not what God says IS His righteousness. Liking the sound of it but not the doing in “why do you call Me Lord and do not what I say?” Matthew 5:43-48 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
“Power to become the Son’s of God” ...Having God’s righteousness and to not be found having our own righteousness by the law written in stony hearts...He says over and over to love your enemies. To bless those who curse you. “To be perfect as your Father is perfect.” Consider the you will be hated of all men for My name sake...cursed, rejected, despised, cast out, persecuted FOR His name sake. As these things rise for given opportunity to obey the Father in blessing those who curse you. The hatred rising for the very purpose of being Christ in Love to that which opposes The Love of Christ. God clearly shows man after man’s righteousness will be offended by the shame set before him...when Christ also despised the shame set before Him ...but said “not My will but Your will be done” to the Father. Power to become the Sons of God ...power to suffer shame, persecution, to be reviled yet to bless instead of curse. 1 Peter 2:21-23 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: [22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: [23] Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but
committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
man after his own righteousness ...is injured by being stripped by his own righteousness appearance for the sake of the word he claims to love as Job who we see how fast Job was made “filth” being spit upon, mocked, and rejected by the same ones who once revered him.
1 Corinthians 4:10-17
[10] We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. [11] Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; [12] And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: [13] Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. [14] I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. [15] For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. [16] Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. [17] For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of
my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
Empty vain words of righteousness by the law will say it has “righteousness” but when affliction and persecution arises for The Sake of the word and not himself and his own image...man seeking after his own righteousness is immediately offended by the “shame” set forth to intreat for God’s will to be seen. losing his own good name and his own righteousness for God’s righteousness to be declared. Made filth before men...that by the power of God to become Son’s The love of Christ is seen.