| Colossians 3:4 4 when Christ, who is our life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory.3 [2000 years ago in the Book of Revelation Jesus told the church in Thyatira "hold fast until I come!" Jesus does not deceive people, and the people He addressed are long gone from this earth. For his statement to be true, He had to have come to them thousands of years ago. He comes to every man in all generations who has worked hard to follow His spoken commands to them. The return of Jesus is a personal experience in the hearts of purified believers; He is seen, He appears, He is revealed. From the Word of the Lord within: "I will come again to the elect; I will be their crown to lead and guide them."] | |||||||||
4 mortify [put to death] the deeds of the body that are of the earthly life; fornication, impurity, inordinate affections, evil lusts of the flesh, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Clearly this is the task for all believers who hope for salvation. The mortification of the deeds of the body is done by the Spirit in two ways: 1) for you to wait on God by sitting in humble silence, watching, listening, hearing, and obeying commands to change your behaviors, and 2) when your faith has grown sufficiently, the Lord will permit you to tried and tested, which involves significant suffering; but with your endurance sins are destroyed.
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