Waverly Church of Christ

All that we might muster in the form of “self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of” our physical bodies will prove to be of “no value against fleshly indulgence” (v. 23).

The flesh will eventually win out.

But those of us who are Christians this morning “have died to the elementary principles of the world” (v. 20).

Christ has set us free from those spiritual forces which wage war against our souls (Ephesians 6:12).

Thus we overcome the pressure of the ascetic life through the renewing of our minds.

We realize that “everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude” (1 Timothy 4:4).
a. Marriage is good, because God said that it was not good for man to be alone and then created a helper suitable to man (Genesis 2:18).
b. Sexual relations within the bonds of marriage are good (Song of Solomon)
c. “Children are a gift of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3).
d. Food is good, provided it is healthy and eaten in moderation.

We should declare with David of old, “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth” (Psalm 8:1).