Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience. Colossians 3:6
And
you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you
once walked according to the course of this world, according to the
prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of
disobedience. Ephesians 2:1-2
First,
we are told that the wrath of God is coming upon those described as
children of disobedience, then we are told that the children of
disobedience are controlled by the prince of the power of the air. In
addition to these, we also learn that they carry out the desires of the
body and mind. When you take account of the fact that the mind and body
did not get saved when we got born again, then it can be understood that
their natural inclination will constantly be towards what is contrary
to God. It is no wonder that those who are ruled by the desires of the
body and mind are referred to as those who are by nature, children of
wrath, implying a tendency in them to constantly stand in opposition to
God and His will.
This opposition to God
is driven by their inclination to gratifying the desires of the body and
mind, and for this reason the wrath of God is coming upon them. Though
we were once like them, living to gratify the cravings of the body and
mind, however, now that we are saved, we are required to put off the old
man and starve everything that promote these cravings of the body and
mind; these include: anger, malice, wrath, vulgarity, and blasphemy, which are all deeds of the old man.
In place of
putting off the deeds of the old man, we are to put on the new man who
is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Jesus Christ who
created us to be like Himself. The emblem of the new man is love,
therefore, when we put on love, we have also put on the new man. Unlike
the children of disobedience who are characterized by flagrant rebellion
against God, the children of God are characterized by the desire to
obey God. It is, therefore, strange when a child of God exhibits the
same traits as children of disobedience who are enemies of
righteousness.
Toni
