Love Righteousness and Hate Iniquity

Thomas Walsh, a revivalist preacher in Ireland during the 1700's said this: "How can I consider myself one of His children and yet continue in sin (paraphrased)." Surely the greatest proof of our redemption and reclamation is a love for righteousness and a hatred for sin. At the end of the day it all boils down to this; some will strive against sin because at the core of their being, where the Godhead is seated, they love righteousness and hate iniquity. Perhaps they may struggle with the Adamic nature which is destined to rise up against holiness, however, their heart cleaves to what is right and therefore they will strive until holiness is achieved and the old man is put down. We can illustrate this using the law of the clean and unclean animal from Leviticus. The clean animal had a divided hoof which speaks of having a separated walk, being separated from this world and separated unto God. This very same truth is carried into the New Testament when Apostle Paul speak in Romans 12:2 to be separated from the world and "Transformed" by the renewing of our mind (this happens as we are separated unto God, when our affections turn to Him).

The problem that can exist at times is that for some their love for what is wrong exceeds what their conscience "KNOWs" is right; they are tormented when they do wrong because they recognize it is wrong but they still crave it. Even after their redemption it still remains important to them to be able to do those things that are wrong and yet they know it is wrong and they should not desire it. There can only be two possible outcomes in this instance, they will either meet with God have sin broken and emerge victorious or they will eventually be overcome by that thing they crave and be dragged out of the kingdom becoming twice dead. They do now participate in those things but suffer continually under a guilty conscience (Paul identifies this frustrating condition in Romans 7).

What every believer in this situation of torment really needs is a mighty meeting with God whereby they have a dramatic conversion in their heart where Christ becomes their true Lord and they turn their backs on sin. Certainly, they will still be tempted and yes they will still have an Adamic nature to struggle against but they will be more successful because now they are striving against sin and not seeking to protect it. The apostle Paul talked about with his mind wanting to serve the laws of God (obedience to Christ) and yet with his flesh wanting to serve sin; he said (paraphrased), if I want to serve God in my spirit and my flesh wants to do wrong then it is no longer me but sin working in me. He highlights for us and even personifies sin as a force that works within us to pull us in the wrong direction but if our spirit hates sin, is repulsed by it then we will resist. This is the meeting of God, an encounter whereby Christ is put within our hearts in His rightful place and sin is as a result put in its!

Some truths to contemplate in association with this theme to stir up our pure minds:

Psalm 45 - He loved righteousness and hated iniquity and it produced an anointing!
Isaiah 7 - Butter (abundance of the Word) and honey (Revelation) shall he eat that he may know how to choose the good and refuse the evil
1 Sam 5 - The death of Dagon in Philistine Temple (head and hands removed), destroying idols in the heart through a revelation of the Ark of God, the literal presence of God.

This thought occurred to me; do I need something broken in me to successfully strive against sin or do I need something built up in me. In other words, is it a decrease in one area (a love for sin) that I need or is it a increase in another (love for righteousness and the zeal to pursue it)? God only knows the measure of the two we all need. Let's begin to pray, "Oh, Lord, you know me, all of me, what is it that I really need?"