Kick Against The Goad of Sin

"It is hard for you to kick against the goads."1

Paul saw on the way to Damascus a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around, it was Jesus and he said, "Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads." This goad is an iron rod, used to urge on oxen, horses, and other beasts loaded down with burden. Sometimes the animals would kick against the goad. Here of course Saul was a law abiding Pharisee, but he was kicking against the truth, Jesus. Another usage of goad states the goad of death is sin.

"The sting (goad) of death is sin; and the power of sin is the law."1 If the goad of death is sin then sin urges on death. Now, if the power of sin is the Law then the Law urges on death. Of course this fits with scripture, "for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."3 So under the new we receive grace to walk in newness of life, free from the law. "But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code."3

Now that I have Christ, I will not sin, I am free, right? "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."4 Well now, how can I be free and serve the flesh which has power in the Law? if the power of sin is the Law then to be free from sin is to be free from its power, the Law. The Spirit of God through Christ Jesus gives the power of liberty and life. There is this principle of Flesh and Spirit, we are both, and there is a Law of Sin and a Law of Spirit that kicks against each other.4 Indeed the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh, they are opposed, so that you might desire the things you should do.5 The flesh urges on death, the Spirit life.

The mind is at enmity with God kicking against the truth, but the truth will prove that God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect.6 The truth renews, transforms, and sanctifies. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."7 What, its conditional, freedom from sin is to become a slave? And this fruit of the Spirit leads into what? sanctification, I thought I already was. But not only sanctification moreover life eternal, what? I thought I already had that too. And what is this about becoming a slave? Well indeed, "for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."8 What, wages, gifts? And I thought I was set free from sin, and doesn't this apply to lost people?

Don't you know, "that to whom you yield yourselves slaves for obedience, slaves you are to him whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"9 Now, obedience into being a slave has much more meaning than just sacrifice, wouldn't you say, it means you belong to another. You can help all the people you want, clean all the toilets at church... but what sacrifice does God desire? yes, its you. Your heart he desires, and there is a way to prove your heart to him, obedience unto righteousness. Not blind obedience like a robot, no, not law abiding citizens with no heart, no, He wants loyal hearts, obedience unto righteousness. What, I thought I was righteous? I gave my heart to Jesus.

Jesus has given us gifts from heaven of grace, truth, and Spirit as mighty weapons in the battle unto righteousness. The fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. Sanctify them in truth, Jesus prayed. "His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,"10 Do you know this old sinful flesh serves a divine purpose? yes, you can think of it as a test, a proving, of your loyalty and of Gods', test that His will is good, acceptable and perfect. "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."11 Will you lose your life? then there must be a sacrifice, a crucifixion, yes, a slow and painful execution of the flesh. Present your body a living sacrifice. Kick against the goad of sin and death, to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

No Longer Slaves

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