Don’t look back

[Stewardofthemystery]

We are shown many times in scripture, that after we are called out of the world by God; we are warned not to "turn back".

Jesus said in Luke 17:32-33 “Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

Jesus was talking about those who seek to preserve a certain "way of life" which is living to the lusts of the "flesh."

Let's look at another place where Jesus said the same here in Mark 8:35 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."

So it is giving up your own self serving "way of life" in order to serve the Lord and the gospel's.

Notice what Paul says here in Romans 8:13 "For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live."

This putting to death "the deeds" of the body, or putting to death "sin" in our lives; this is what is meant by taking up your cross daily to follow the Lord Jesus.


We have to be willing to give up our own lusts and desires to follow Jesus and to follow the gospel teachings.

This "way of life" we are to lose, is the same "way of life" the world lusts after; and has pride in, which is called the pride of this life.

This is shown in 1 John 2:16" For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

So that is the "way of life" Jesus said we need to lose in order to preserve our life in Him.

But in the above Jesus also mentioned Lot's wife in Luke 17:32. So what is that about?

From Genesis 19: 17 “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.”

Verse 26 “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Notice they were warned not to "look back". This is a sign of spiritual things to come.

Jesus said in Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The children of Israel also "looked back" on all the good things they had left behind in Egypt and it angered the Lord.

Numbers 11 "And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp."
2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.
3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.
4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."

The Lord gives us all these patterns and "signs" in scripture to teach us by repetition; that when we are called out of the world we are not to look back on our old lustful "ways of life."

But sadly we know by the words of God, that many would fall away from the faith, and return back to their old sinful and lustful ways.

So don’t look back to the things you left behind, but rather look ahead to the prize and the promises given by God. He is faithful who calls you out of "the ways" of this world, and shows us through Christ the new "Way" we must walk and live our lives in Him.

Be good and be blessed. Peace

 

[rwb]

We are shown many times in scripture, that after we are called out of the world by God; we are warned not to "turn back".

Jesus said in Luke 17:32-33 “Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

Jesus was talking about those who seek to preserve a certain "way of life" which is living to the lusts of the "flesh."

Let's look at another place where Jesus said the same here in Mark 8:35 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it."

So it is giving up your own self serving "way of life" in order to serve the Lord and the gospel's.

Notice what Paul says here in Romans 8:13 "For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live."

This putting to death "the deeds" of the body, or putting to death "sin" in our lives; this is what is meant by taking up your cross daily to follow the Lord Jesus.


We have to be willing to give up our own lusts and desires to follow Jesus and to follow the gospel teachings.

This "way of life" we are to lose, is the same "way of life" the world lusts after; and has pride in, which is called the pride of this life.

This is shown in 1 John 2:16" For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

So that is the "way of life" Jesus said we need to lose in order to preserve our life in Him.

But in the above Jesus also mentioned Lot's wife in Luke 17:32. So what is that about?

From Genesis 19: 17 “And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.”

Verse 26 “But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Notice they were warned not to "look back". This is a sign of spiritual things to come.

Jesus said in Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The children of Israel also "looked back" on all the good things they had left behind in Egypt and it angered the Lord.

Numbers 11 "And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp."
2 And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched.
3 And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.
4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?
5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
6 But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."

The Lord gives us all these patterns and "signs" in scripture to teach us by repetition; that when we are called out of the world we are not to look back on our old lustful "ways of life."

But sadly we know by the words of God, that many would fall away from the faith, and return back to their old sinful and lustful ways.

So don’t look back to the things you left behind, but rather look ahead to the prize and the promises given by God. He is faithful who calls you out of "the ways" of this world, and shows us through Christ the new "Way" we must walk and live our lives in Him.

Be good and be blessed. Peace

What do you mean when you say "that many would fall away from the faith"? Do you mean that Christians can be unborn again if they sin ?

1 John 2:1-2 (KJV) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

[Stewardofthemystery]

The multiple warnings….

1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall “depart from the faith,”giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Matthew 7:26-27 “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and “it fell:”and great was the fall of it.”

Matthew 15:14 “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall “fall”into the ditch.”

Luke 6:39 “And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both “fall” into the ditch?

1 Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he “fall.”

1 Timothy 3:6 “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride “he fall”into the condemnation of the devil.

1 Timothy 3:7 “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest “he fall”into reproach and the snare of the devil.

1 Timothy 6:9 “But they that will be rich “fall into temptation”and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”

Hebrews 4:11 “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man “fall” after the same example of unbelief.”

Hebrews 6:4-8 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall “fall away,”to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.”

Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man “draw back,” my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

Hebrews 10:39
But we are not of them who “draw back”unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Acts 7:38-39 “ This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:39 To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts “turned back”again into Egypt,”

Luke 9:62 “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and “looking back,” is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 17:32-33 “Remember Lot's wife.33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.”

Genesis 19:26 “But his wife “looked back”from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Luke 8:13 “They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation “fall away.”

2 Peter 1:10 “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, “ye shall never fall:”

2 Peter 3:17 “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, “fall from”your own stedfastness.”

Revelation 2:5 “Remember therefore from whence thou art “fallen,”and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Ezekiel 18:24 But when the righteous “turneth away”from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Ezekiel 18:26 When a righteous man “turneth away”from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

Ezekiel 33:12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.

Ezekiel 33:18 “When the righteous “turneth from”his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby

 

[Stewardofthemystery]

Notice how Jesus refers to a whole "wicked generation" as “a man” and “ that man” here in …

Matthew 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit is gone out of "a man", he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.44 Then he saith, I will RETURN into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and THE LAST STATE OF THAT MAN IS WORSE than the first. Even so SHALL IT BE also unto this "wicked generation.”



Now notice the wording Jesus used showing the “last state of that man” referring to a whole “wicked generation”compared to Peters words concerning this same "falling away" from the faith in ….

2 Peter 2:20-22“For if after they have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are AGAIN entangled therein, and OVERCOME, the latter end is WORSE with them than the beginning.21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, TO TURN from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

22 But IT IS HAPPENED unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit AGAIN and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”

This prophecy Jesus gave was about how many of the saints would fall away from the faith back unto perdition.

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that “man of sin” be revealed, the son of perdition;

Hebrews 10:38-39
King James Version
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man DRAW BACK, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who DRAW BACK unto PERDITION; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.