A City Without Walls
The Sapphire Review Vol. 1 | No. 22 • October 18, 2024
He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Has this wisdom, from the book of wisdom, now ceased to be wise? Or has man in his own wisdom regarded the foolishness of the world more than the wisdom from God?1
WRONG GRACE
Has the need to rule one’s spirit now changed in the context of the new covenant as a result of Jesus’ work on the cross? It is indeed true that we do now live in the age of grace. But what is grace? This beautiful doctrine has been distorted by many preachers today, resulting in their flocks having a cavalier or indifferent attitude toward sin and keeping the commandments of God (namely Sabbath).2
How many times have we heard someone respond to their sin or neglect of God’s clear instruction by saying “I’m not under law, I’m under grace,”3 while ignoring the very next verse that explains that by being under grace we should not sin?4
Such reasoning shows that Satan has beguiled them. While they may have exited the City of Destruction through one entrance (which they have understood to be a departure from “works” and the “law of Moses”), they have unknowingly entered back into the same city through another entrance known as the “law of sin.”5 The cunning enemy of souls has disguised this entrance from the minds of his unsuspecting victims by labeling it as the “way of grace.” Thus, they end up back in the City of Destruction, still destined for eternal destruction, still defeated by sin, and still ignoring the ten commandments of God, but this time claiming “grace” as their pardon through our Lord Jesus Christ.
STATISTICS OR THE WORDS OF JESUS
A recent PEW study found that there are over two billion Christians in the world, making up nearly one-third of the entire population. How can such numbers be considered “few” and fit for the narrow road that our Lord described?6 It seems more likely that a work of deception is at play to lull the “many” on the wide road7 into a deep spiritual slumber so that they do not wake up to the imminent destruction that lies ahead.
GIVE THEM BREAD AND CIRCUSES
Many of today’s churches are nothing more than venues for providing people with “bread and circuses,” feeding their stomachs and entertaining their emotions or intellects so that they don’t bother spending enough time studying God’s word for themselves to notice the flow of errors coming out of the pulpits.
Bread and Circuses
activities or official plans that are intended to keep people happy and to stop them from noticing or complaining about problems
-https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/bread-and-circuses
1910–15; translation of Latin pānis et circēnsēs; from a remark by the Roman satirist Juvenal on the limited desires of the Roman populace
CITY WITHOUT WALLS
This city is a most undesirable place to be. The spirit of a pure and holy God certainly will not reside in such a place.
There are no defenses nor protections from the schemes of the devil8 who prowls around like a lion, seeking whom he may devour.9
The devouring of the devil is not primarily some obvious form of demonic possession nor is it simply a string of calamities or losses in one’s life. Satan’s goal is to keep people from obtaining eternal life. The most effective way that he accomplishes this purpose is to ensnare people in a bondage of sin.10
Spiritually speaking, those who willfully continue in sin are walking down the wide road toward destruction11 and are, individually, each as a city that is broken down and without walls.
They have no rule over their spirit and thus they are walking not according to the Spirit but according to the flesh.12
Such a condition lends itself only to further sin, as the city that is broken down and without walls provides no refuge from further attacks by the enemy.
MESSENGERS OF ERROR
Satan has spent centuries raising up a line of false prophets who comfort his captives13 into thinking they are not actually in the company of the “workers of iniquity.”14
These smooth talking preachers,15 with their worldly credentials of scholarship, have a perceived authority and credibility that allows them to manipulate millions of people every week. They convince those who are living sinful and worldly lives that all they need is “grace.” As a result, their flocks have little concern for the filth that they set their eyes upon, nor the corruptions that come out of their mouths, nor the vile rhythms that stimulate their brains through their ears, nor the lives that they live which mirror those who are of the world.
Sadly, so many people leave church services week after week thinking they are amongst the few that are walking on the narrow path, when in reality they are amongst the many walking toward destruction.16
MESSENGER OF HOPE AND FREEDOM
Praise God that we have hope of salvation17 through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Our Savior, not only justifies us from the penalty of our past sins by His blood and righteousness,18 but gives us access to grace to help in our time of need,19 that we may overcome sin just as He did when He walked upon the earth.20
Truly, when Jesus sets one free from being a servant of sin,21 they are free indeed.22 They are no longer defeated by sin. In full surrender to Him, they experience His righteous life being manifested in their own lives23 as they strive to walk as He walked.24
No longer a city that is broken down and without walls, they are fortified by a strong tower,25 and safe from the open assaults of the enemy. As they resist him in surrender to God, he will flee from them26 and sin shall have no power over them.27
PRAYER
Ephesians 3:14–21 (KJV)
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
God Bless,
Charles
Beautifully written brother Charles. The power of the gospel is to live a sinless life before God. Thank you Jesus for all you have done (your life and death on earth), all you are doing (ministering as our high priest in the heavenly sanctuary) and all that you will do (second coming and reclaiming the earth for God).🙏🙌❤️