God does all the work. 1 Corinthians 6:12

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"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything. 
I meant to include this a couple days ago in my posting on 1 Corinthians 6. In the book "Called by the Gospel: An Introduction to the New Testament," the authors highlighted a terrific story recounted in "Martin Luther: Heretic," a BBC production in 1984. During class at Wittenberg University, Dr. Luther, had this conversation with a student:

Man can do nothing about his sinfulness? the student asked.

Yes, Luther says.

God is to do everything?

Yes, Luther replies.

Then I may do as I please? I can sin as much as I want? It makes no difference?

Yes, you may do as you please, Luther replies. Now tell me, what pleases you? ... Imagine it. No more laws. No more punishments. What do you do? Drink yourself senseless? Make faces at the Duke? Spend the rest of the week in a whorehouse? If you are a good man, you'll do good works, not to prove anything, not to gain anything, just because that's how you are. How are you in your heart?

Then what does it take to be a good man, the incredulous student asks.

Faith.
Luther's teaching here is difficult to understand, especially in context with verse 12 above. But it's so simple that most people don't understand it.

God does all the work.

I am not good enough to find favor with God, Psalm 14 says and Romans 3 repeats. No matter how hard I try, I will never be able to justify my actions before the Lord.

Forgiveness, though, is free. It doesn't require us to do anything. God loves us so much that he redeemed us despite of ourselves. All we have to do is believe. When we do believe, Luther is right, you will do good works. You will not spend a week in the whorehouse; you will help your neighbor. You will not drink yourself senseless; you will repent. You will, because in belief, God will infill you with the Holy Spirit and do it for you.

That's one of the underlying themes in 1 Corinthians. Stop the nonsense. Turn away. Believe.

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