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NASB | Matthew 16:6 And Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 16:6 Jesus said to them, "Watch out and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." |
Subject: What is the leaven? |
Bible Note: Greetings Sal - Only Christ met the requirements. When Christ said "be perfect", He didn't mean for us to "try to become perfect". Yes, apart from Him we are nothing, we are perfect IN HIM only - no because of anything we "do" but because of what HE HAS DONE! We can never meet His standards on our own . . . yet somehow, believers have missed this as they continually seek to gain God's approval by the things that they do. (This is different from seeking to please God out of love for Him!) Many Christians have misunderstood the Truth of reconciliation - we already HAVE God's complete approval because of Jesus! Nothing we can do will make or cause God to love us any more or any less than He does right now! We are (at the moment of belief) completely forgiven, accepted and approved - what freedom that is! We have EVERYTHING WE NEED for life and godliness! 2 Peter 1:3 If this is so, then what more can we obtain by our "good works?" When we focus on the finished work of Christ, instead of believing that we must "do" something more, we don't need to fear failure, rejection or punishment (which are, if you think about it, the things that really motivate us!)We are completely forgiven and totally accepted by God because of Jesus Christ's finished work which has justified,(forgiveness)and reconciled (restored a righteous relationship) us with God. The Spirit is the seal of this, He is the deposit of the promise and the One who works in us for His good pleasure (if we so let Him!) But without Christ, NO ONE is righteous, no one is blameless or holy. We can NEVER met His requirements! And this fact MUST be remembered by believers, for without it pride will rear its ugly head in our midst. Our service, or "living for Christ" becomes our source of approval rather than the approval we ALREADY HAVE in Jesus only! This is a subtle trap - think about it. In Christ's love, mommapbs |