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Articles
Coram Deo
There has always been a battle between the flesh and spirit in the hearts of men. The flesh is often too weak to fight, and we succumb to the pressures of temptation. While there is no legitimate excuse, we seemingly always try to justify our mistakes. Adam blamed Eve and God for his rebellion against the Father’s will. Jonah blamed God and His grace as an excuse for his anger and fleeing. Man will continue to be susceptible to sin, but that does not excuse us from striving to obtain the goal of true discipleship. Our ultimate goal is to become imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1). Our greatest desire should be to walk in the footsteps of our Savior Jesus Christ, but sadly mankind continues to deceive themselves from fully giving everything in service to the Lord.
In our battle against sin, we have allowed ourselves to believe in a LIE! This lie originates from the “father of all lies,” who has mislead countless men and women to their doom. The lie is simple but has been effective throughout the years – “You can live however you wish physically, as long as you have been saved spiritually.” This lie may also go by the another pseudonym – “Once saved, always saved.” We may be the first to deny and teach against the premise of this Calvinistic doctrine, but have we been guilty of its influence?
If we are not careful the influence of this doctrine can easily infiltrate our hearts. It begins simply enough with us compartmentalizing our spiritual duties differently than our physical duties. We essentially make a separation between theology (our agreement to faith and God) and its practice (daily struggles with sin and faithfulness). When a disconnection is made between our spiritual and physical lives, this doctrine begins to sway our thinking concerning sin and its consequences. We begin to justify our sinfulness, because on Sundays and Wednesday nights we go to services and Bible studies. We also justify our wrong deeds by our good deeds, but this is right in the sight of God.
The apostle Paul wrote the brethren in Colossea -
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him— a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all (3:5-11).
Our salvation in Jesus is not a license for further wickedness and depravity, but rather we are to consider ourselves dead to that manner of life. There is no excuse to remain in sin or its continued practice. The doctrine – that man can live by flesh and still serve God by his spirit – is simply wrong. The apostle Paul wrote concerning this to the Roman brethren – “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts” (13:14). Our lives are to be completely transformed by the grace of God. We cannot allow any disconnection between our spiritual and physical lives.
The apostle Paul would continue to encourage the brethren in Colossea by giving them the purpose of this new life in Jesus. Paul wrote – “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17). We do not live in sin, because our entire lives are given to carrying out the will of our Father. We do not justify sin, because our Father does not justify wrongdoing. While this may be elementary, we live every second “in the presence of God.” Every action, word, and even thought is being set “before the face of God.” This should motivate us to faithfully serve God both physically and spiritually.
The reformers of the 16th century coined a Latin phrase to emphasize the disciples’ need to serve God at all times. The Latin phrase was “Coram Deo,” which translated means “in the presence of God.” This phrase was used to encourage faithful disciples to draw near to God in times of trial and temptation. It was a phrase adapted seemingly from the very context of Colossians chapter three. The world may continue to believe in a lie concerning its spiritual and physical realities, but we need to understand that both are intimately intertwined. We will not make it to heaven without serving God faithfully everyday of our lives. Let us remember that every action will be judged and every thought will be revealed. Therefore, live with the understanding and knowledge that we are “in the presence of the Lord.”
