Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

From Faith to Faith

Romans 1:17 For in it is revealed God's righteousness from faith to faith. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by faith."{Habakkuk 2:4}

Jesus made a profound statement that many in religions today trivialize, which was: “when he returns will he find faith on earth?”

Why would Christ make such a strong statement in light of the fact that those he was talking too were putting faith in him as the Son of God, and what exactly is faith?

Faith for many is putting trust into their religion and the leadership of their faith, but is this the faith Christ Jesus was looking for when he return, to take out of the world wide field of weeds, by His Fathers holy angels; collecting the wheat into His Father storehouses?

Matt.13:27 The servants of the householder came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where did this darnel come from?'
13:28 "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and gather them up?' 13:29 "But he said, 'No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. 13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

Matt.13:38 the field is the world; and the good seed, these are the children of the Kingdom; and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. 13:39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 13:40 As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. 13:41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, 13:42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 13:43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Faith What is It?

Well, first of all it is gift of God's Holy Spirit too us, it is not from our own fleshly will, which present a dichotomy for most weed-Christian's who believe sincerely faith comes from their inner strength overcoming their fears too do something that they must do for God, which usually means meeting a rule of their groups, sometimes interpreted from the bible.

Unfortunately, this has often ended badly, sometimes in death, leaving onlookers into mocking God, by such religious fanaticism. The person puts faith from themselves into a rule of a group than enforces the rule unwaveringly claiming it as faith of the Holy Spirit, not understanding the difference, they fail, and destroy their own faith, and in turn hurt the faith of other weaker Christian's.

Stubbornness of pride is not faith of the Holy Spirit given too us as a gift of God's own love. Not according to the apostle Paul's Holy Spirit led writings; faith is a gift apportioned by God too each person in His measure.

Rom.12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.

There is no pride in stubbornness in Holy Spirit led faith, it rather an emptying of ones pride, in complete dependance upon God's own measure of faith, so that one cannot think highly of personal abilities from their fleshly will, or power, hence, Peter himself, got this lesson from Christ Jesus, how?

Matt.14:24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 14:25 In the fourth watch of the night,{The night was equally divided into four watches, so the fourth watch is approximately 3:00 A. M. to sunrise.} Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.{see Job 9:8} 14:26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear.

14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! It is I!{or, I AM!} Don't be afraid." 14:28 Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters." 14:29 He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. 14:30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" 14:31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

Peter was forced into acknowledge that it was not by any inward goodness that he muster up faith to walk on water, but instead by the power of faith in the Son of God Jesus Christ to hold him on-top of the water performing a humanly impossible feat.

This lesson was a life lesson for Peter, and it should be for every person claiming too love God. Peter could have thought; “look how much better I am than all the other apostles, look at my belief in Christ Jesus, how it was rewarded by my faith, they were cowards, I overcame in my power and proved how much more faith I had than theirs.

But later Peter would be humble before all of the apostles in denying Christ Jesus at his death; giving out in his personal strengthen, in a lack of faith from his own will. Yes, Peter had no righteous goodness to produce the faith required for eternal life as he had thought so many times in his life, which ended in bitter failure and disappointment.

Faith a Gift of Unmerited Kindness

We find a dramatic change in the thought of faith after Christ Jesus, which confuses so many Christian's, what is that?

We see faith from God's people like Abraham, but we don't see a measure of faith being given too him, like Paul spoke of in his letter to the Romans. and implied in his other writings of Paul, but why not?

First, we must as Christian's understand the power God put in His own Son righteous life, When Christ Jesus completed the Old Law contract given too Moses, by his righteousness upon earth. YHWH his Father made Christ Jesus the exact representation of His very being. Hence, entrusted too Christ was His Father power and glory, until all things are completed into oneness, then, Christ hands over his Kingdom finish works too His Fathers glory.

This power encompasses everything of the Father's including the gifts of the Holy Spirit that are now found in Christ Jesus. For one to have faith, meaningful faith it comes through Christ Jesus body, as the temple of God, it is a gift, as are all things too us in Christ Jesus, but why?

John 1:14 The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

Simply, because the Father made Christ Jesus a gift too the human race out of His love. God himself put faith in love, that is, he entrusted his very being, and all that He is in the person of Christ Jesus. The Father honors the Son, and Son honors the Father.

Malachi 1:6 "A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, then where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is the respect due me? Says Yahweh of Armies to you, priests, who despise my name. You say, 'How have we despised your name?'

Where Is Faith Found Today?

This is the question Christ Jesus ask his followers; would he find faith when he returned, a valid question when so many claiming to put faith in Christ Jesus, who are actually putting faith into a makeshift visible kingdom on earth through their religious organization(s), and its leadership? The question becomes, what type of faith, faith as gift of God's Holy Spirit, or faith from self, into a religious institution, and its doctrines?

One must answer the question where is true faith today, is it seem or unseen, and can we please God without true faith? Well, Jesus gives us the truth in telling the Samaritan woman how God must be worshiped:

John 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father.
4:22 You worship that which you don't know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. 4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers. 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Jesus says that God must now/today be worship in Spirit and truth, why? Because that is how mankind from Adam was created to worship God, not from human religions or governments, but from the invisible King Jehovah ruling over them, by personal contact with His Holy Spirit.

Not by sight of a group, but faith in the unseen love of our Father over his children. But where did God place his true worship, in some mountain, or on a hill, like Jerusalem, or in his Son Christ Jesus, entrusted with God's own glory? Simply put, Christ was the Temple of God, the great spiritual temple where God's glory would resided unit all was completed through Christ Jesus righteousness.

John 5:19 Jesus therefore answered them, "Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise.

No other place on earth or in heaven resided God's glory in Holiness and righteousness but in Christ Jesus the temple of the living God, so where is true faith found today, isn't that question we must know to fine it?

Truth faith is a gift of God's Holy Spirit given to each one as He pleases, and by His measure, what does this mean?

One Body Many Membership

If the Holy Spirit is found in the temple of God, which is, Jesus Christ, and we are members of his own personal body, than faith has to be found in Christ Jesus, what does this mean?

It mean's looking at our own body members such as a hand, or a foot, the measure of life to the body members is given from the brain through the other body parts, correct?

The foot or the hand cannot boast in faith, there is only one faith, that of Christ Jesus distributed to the the rest of his body by measure he chooses in being entrusted with God's own glory, for the purpose of the body too glorify God.

Eph.4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 4:8 Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."{Psalm 68:18} 4:9 Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 4:10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. 4:11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds{or, pastors} and teachers; 4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ; 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Subsequently, life and faith are of Christ Jesus, not of self, so how does one become part of the body of Christ Jesus, by faith or putting faith in religion, and their doctrines? Peter found out, that it was not his personal strength that he walked upon water, but rather, God's Holy Spirit working through Christ Jesus for him to walk on water.

When Peter thought about self, and his ability of walking on the water he sink into self-righteousness, as unworthy too walk on water, the same lesson each Christian's must come to know in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 1:19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might

Self-Worth Faith Vs. True Faith.

Peter was to find out the hard way as each person in Christ Jesus must be taught, that all things Peter had received were free gifts of God's own love expressed in unmerited kindness to Peter, that is, Christ Jesus is God's finished work in where all His glory goes, not to man back to God, but through the head of His congregation or spiritual temple to Christ Jesus body members too the glory of Christ as God's own glory.

Ephesians 3:7 of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power.

It is only in this manner that man does not steal the glory of God, making themselves a vain idol. It is this glory that Adam stole from God in ruling his own life, instead realizing all he had was because of God's own glory in love. What does this mean? It means, God's love is given without evil motive, God's love does not have evil in it, God did not create Adam from want, or need, but from love, with no motive, but love giving love in returned.

Rom. 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Adam, gave back bad for good, his motivate caused a lack of love, not God's love, instead choosing to believe God would be evil towards his disobedient wife. But God could not be evil, it was human with sin that are evil, God's laws only showed the evil in man, in showing a lack of love for self, and their neighbor.

Hence, the only life giving love, comes through faith in Christ Jesus righteous life, what does this mean? It means life, all life, eternal or other is a gift that depends upon trust the God who created it.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.

It means faith, or good works that God accept are Christ Jesus, the one person God has legally justified as King over us, where we must depend on him, and him alone for salvation, none other.

As life is a gift, so is the fruit of God Spirit which is life eternal, must come from God, through his channel given us by His own love, Christ Jesus; in this manner on one can boast in none other but Christ Jesus, why?

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

Because even their faith to believe in God and Christ Jesus is a gift of life from the Father of us. The Holy Spirit must born us again into the spiritual kingdom of God, into the spiritual temple of the living God, Christ Jesus.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

It is the one source of living water that gives us life as a free gift of God's own love expressed too us in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8 for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Judging The Faith of Others

How does one judge a gift, it can only be judged by the giver of the gift, does the giver of the gift judge by love or merit of the gift? In other words, all the apostles had their mouths shut in Peter lack of faith in sinking into the water, why? Because none of them had such faith, and Peter could not boast in his faith because it was given too him by God's own pleasure.

Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Subsequently, how does a hand judge a foot, if it has no brain in the matter to do so, is this blind faith, yes? The hand does not wonder if it has purpose, or if it is love, the mere truth is, in being a hand, it is part of the love of the whole body, it not a question of how much, because it does not matter, it is a part of the body, the mere fact it has life and a function too the body is enough, it is the purpose of the life in the hand created for the body.

1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

Judging than is for what purpose? The mere fact the hand is in the body, it is under the good judgment of the head, not the foot, the foot was not created to be the head, no more than Adam was created to take God's position, the fact, that Adam was made from the dust into life and placed into a beautiful paradise with a wife, was proof of his purpose, and that God is good.

Psalms 75:7 But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another.

Judging matters for good and evil came after Adam rebellion against God's own goodness, the very things Satan had done, by choosing to judge thing according too his own will, making himself a god, so he deceived Eve with the same lie.

Psalms 135:14 For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants.

How can a created thing judge, when the life in them is found in the creator? How can a person judge the faith of another, when the very faith is not the hands, or the foot, but the body of life they are in?

John 5:30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don't seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

Judging than would be death to both members, that is, if the hand thought the foot was not in the life, or faith of Christ through the body; this judgment could not be for good, but death, why? Because neither the hand or foot puts themselves into the body by their judgments, but rather received the blessing of the body by a gift of life through the judge of the body.

John 7:24 Don't judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

Faith is by measure, not the measure of the laws of the flesh that have no meaning or power over an incorruptible body without death or sin, there is no laws of the flesh against the body of Christ Jesus, than how does on judge the faith of a fellow servant, or fellow member of the same body. Well they don't, because it is not their job, if they want to remain in love, or the body.

John 8:15 You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one.

1Cor. 4:1 So let a man think of us as Christ's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries. 4:2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful. 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I don't judge my own self. 4:4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord. 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

Romans 14:4 Who are you who judge another's servant? To his own lord he stands or falls. Yes, he will be made to stand, for God has power to make him stand.

Competion in Faith?

Can a person compete with other body members for more faith? Under a merit based religion this is common practice for glory of men? But “in Christ” there is no completion, just like a hand does not compete with a foot for the life in it, because when one member dies the other suffers the same sickness of the body.

The the purpose of faith in the body of Christ Jesus is for the glory of God, God created the body, He is the life of the body, how can works of faith, be for a person, if they are a member, one does not divide the Christ into piece of men, seeking glory through proving they are worthy of more faith by their good works.

Romans 3:27 Where then is the boasting? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.

When one member suffer the whole body suffers, when one member is glorified all members are glorified because it belongs to Christ and all through Christ as the life of the body.

Ephesians 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

So no, there is no competition in Christ Jesus for faith, as though, a member of Christ can somehow muster a separated more superior faith than the one given them in Christ Jesus. God does not have a higher standard of faith than Christ Jesus. He alone has been entrusted with God's glory for his perfect faith in His Fathers love, and we can share in that faith by God's unmerited kindness to us provide we walk in that faith.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on to perfection--not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God.

Which faith do you walk in, in self, by pride through meeting some religious rule, or in the gift of God's love too you in Holy Spirit, as part of the fruit of God's life, that is, faith?

From Faith to Faith

Living from faith to faith cannot be judged by other act of faith as a rule of conduct God must obligate Himself too. Faith is spirit coming from a gift of God's Spirit unseen like the wind, powerful for effecting good works to glorify God's name, but not held in the hand of man having no control over the wind.

Hebrews 10:38 But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him."{Habakkuk 2:3-4}

The rule of law religion promotes is too codify acts of faith judging as good or evil according to their laws of the flesh killing the faith of the prophets. No religion on earth would offer to murder their own child as Abraham as good as did according to his faith, and call it a blessing from God.

Hebrews 11:6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Living from faith to faith, requires trusting God in every thing, one day at a time in not predict what acts of faith God will allow you to under go, why? Because, 1.) Christ stated that we as created being cannot manage more than one day at a time, because in one day we are here, and in another day we are gone, we have no power over life or death.

So we cannot predict the future by our acts of past faith, we cannot build a resume' so to speak saying too God: “I've been test on that subject so I past the test I don't need my faith tested again.!”

Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

No you are in life this day, this one day, for this moment; test of faith come too us by life, each day,, God will supply are need of faith as we meet those test each day. We are the hand or foot not the brain, all seeing an all knowing, we must believe God will only give us good, and the way out by His love.

Law religion is protectionism for saving ones life, and avoiding future trials of one faith. It puts God into a legal box, through knowing good and evil of doctrines choosing which acts of our faith is allowable by a human contract instituted by lawyers of our religion, to protect us from acting in real faith.

James 2:1 My brothers, don't hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality.

Proof that faith is not stagnant in doctrine, proof of that try walking on water! Its not just a good theory that if you had more faith you could do it, but rather that it was the measure of faith given to Peter, not our own faith, because we are not in the same body position as Peter was. Moreover, faith is not a judgment of good and evil like in the garden under laws of the flesh, it is a gift of God''s love, believing and hope all things.

1 Peter 1:7 that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ--

Faith does not have an evil motive behind God giving it, it is given in measure to glorify Him, so we cannot protect ourselves through legally codify rules into a contract with death and life.

Abraham could not of every predicted by his past test of faith that God would ask him to kill his own some Issac.

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Fleshly Acts of Faith

Weed Christian's have been deceived by fleshly acts of faith, how? By putting faith in rules and getting a gain for the flesh, not realizing that a whole world exist in every endeavor of life, where one meets rules of a certain academia they will have good results.

Revelation 2:13 "I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. You hold firmly to my name, and didn't deny my faith in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

For an example if a person smokes and they believe they are more acceptable to God if they don't smoke and stop smoking they will feel an increase in spirituality, why? Is it because they are more acceptable to God by this act of stop smoking? Well, no! They are not more acceptable, but their conscious is eased and they feel more worthy in approaching God, subsequently, drawing them to a greater spirituality. On the other, if they have another bad habit they can't stop, they are forced into accepting God's unmerited kindness, which, gives them more Holy Spirit, that is, faith in God's love towards them in acceptance in His love, a vast difference in the two faith's.

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

One is a gain too our flesh, and the other is a gain in fruit of the Holy Spirit. If we choose to be a law Christian's legally taking the right in judgment of others faith by flesh acts of faith, where we see a physical improvement in a person life, we just may will kill our brother having real faith by fruit of the Holy Spirit, unseen by our judgments.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who don't confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist.

When a Christian's does not understand this vast difference, that is, their living in fear that those they teach or associate with do not meet the judgment of their group, into forced conformity, they have the wisdom of this world that will perish under test of faith, but what does this mean?

Wisdom is wisdom for the flesh and its gain, and it cannot be dismissed as no wisdom because it is the structure of this world that allows it too function apart from God's wisdom. The wisdom of the world is strong for the flesh, it promotes, protects, and grows by acts of faith as well.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's.

This is why? Just learning to read, applying laws of reading, bring one to being a reader, it also requires faith in the teacher, the laws of reading, and believing that if you make yourselves do so, you can learn too read. The fruitage, of which, is that most people can learn to read at a young age, by simply following the rules of reading.

This wisdom is what all endeavors found in government, religion, and business apply ,for good results, but is this gain to our flesh, the gift of Holy Spirit, one part of the Holy Spirit being faith?

Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,{or, faithfulness} 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

No, they are not, faith of the Holy Spirit increase trust in God's love, even if one cannot give up a bad habit, it does not say, God is unrighteous, but instead, I am unrighteous, deserving of death, because I cannot stop sinning without the life of Christ in me, so it is not me that make me worthy, what makes me worthy is Christ Jesus righteousness in me by God's love; it is by his life in me, through God's unmerited kindness.

All sin is a bad habit, not just the ones we think are worst; all sin is lawlessness, and unrighteous, none are more acceptable than others, all sin bring us death, without Christ Jesus life in us we have sin, which life of Christ produces faith in me by God's Holy Spirit. No praise goes to us for stopping a bad habit It does not matter, rather, or not, the bad habit is taken by God, hence, my righteousness and unrighteousness only proves God deserves glory.

1 Peter 3:21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you--not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Our thinking otherwise does not give us a sound mind in Christ Jesus,nor can we act as a servant too the body of Christ Jesus, that is, being a value too the growth of the body, why? Because we are making it about self; what our estimation of ourselves is to God, these are the judgments of good and evil from the tree of death.

No one can say why God helps one with a bad habit while leaving anothers in one, such judgments are based on laws of the flesh, and wisdom of the world, who make such harsh judgments about matters based on self-pride. When a person has a gifted with a strong will, or a good mind so that they can bring their will under certain rules of the game, they will gain strength and faith in those rules, hence, becoming judgmental towards other not meeting the same rules.

Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

Years late this same strong willed person often finds themselves with a bad habit that they cannot will away, causing them anger at themselves, but to no avail in stopping the bad habit.

The flesh demands conformity too rules of government, religion, and business, so it may function orderly. But do these same rules will apply to all human endeavors in our flesh. Moreover, the flesh glorifies itself, and other humans that meet these rules better than others. Subsequently, when the flesh take the bible they apply these same rules to it, judging others faith by merit just like government and business do. This works great in building a world-religious-government organization to promote good works towards others, but are these good works of Christ Jesus real faith he look for upon returning, are they an expressed in gifts of the Holy Spirit too us for God's glory, no!

Colossians 2:23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren't of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things those who are your masters according to the flesh, not just when they are looking, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God.

See also: nu-truth.com