As we continue with our exploration on the subject of sin, let us consider the man at the pool of Bethesda where a great many sick people lay while they waited for an angel to come down to trouble the water. Whoever got in first was healed. And though the man had his infirmity for 38 years, he had no one to put him into the pool to be healed. But Jesus saw him and told him to "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." Immediately the man was made whole, and healed of his sickness. “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (John 5: 14) Again, Jesus' expert advice and stark warning on the consequences of sin bear repeating ..... "SIN NO MORE, LEST A WORSE THING COME UNTO THEE."
And then there is willful sinning. This is certainly not a good practice to get into. If you knowingly and purposely violate God’s commandments, it is an insult and an affront to His holiness and puts you in a very perilous position. “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10: 26-29)
God, by sending His Son Jesus to save His people from their sins, now places squarely on our shoulders the responsibility to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. God has done His part, Jesus has done His part, now we must do our part: faith, repentance and obedience. No more priests to atone for our sins any more. We are responsible 100 percent because Jesus has already paid the price. “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool.” (Hebrews 10: 12-23) “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2: 1-2) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1: 9)
The more we overcome sin the more God can trust us for His Kingdom. It’s important to study the Word of God and to keep it. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” (Psalm 119: 11) The less we sin the more we don’t want to sin. Sin becomes unattractive, we hate the very sight of it, we don’t want to offend God, we begin to like our new and improved self, we aim to better ourselves and, more importantly, we seek to please God. The closer our fellowship with God the madder the devil gets and his assaults increase. But God, who is faithful, will pour out His blessings as we prove ourselves to Him. Spiritual gifts are given by God as He tests our loyalty and faithfulness to Him for the work of the ministry according to the grace that He gives us. To name a few are apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors and evangelists.
Jesus gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world. We have redemption through His blood, receiving the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace. “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 1-9)
God tries our hearts and tests our faith to mature us as we develop a walk of fellowship with Him and faith in Him. He will bombard the places in our lives and hearts where sin has settled. The test is never intended to make us sin. We sin when we are enticed and drawn away by our own lust. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1: 14-15) Interestingly enough, we don’t seem to grow as much when things are easy. We grow when we are faced with obstacles and challenges. These things can pave the way for more intimacy with God. And the closer we are to God the more the slightest sin will cause us deep sorrow. What pleases God should please us. And what offends Him should offend us as well.
Christ is hated because sin is loved. If God says that sin is abomination, forbidden, evil, wicked or darkness then it will never be accepted by Him or validated by scripture regardless of what society might say. “And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3: 5-9)
The carnal mind opposes God. Therefore they that are in sinful flesh cannot please God. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8: 1-8)
The spiritual battle is fought in our heart, mind and in our actions. Case in point is Jonah where God told him to go to Nineveh to preach because there was wickedness there. But Jonah decides to hop on a ship and go to Tarshish instead. While causing a few problems for those on board Jonah was thrown overboard and swallowed by a great fish that God had prepared for him. Jonah had a lot of time and repentance to do inside the belly of the fish before God spoke to the fish and it vomited him upon dry land. Therefore Jonah was graciously given another opportunity to obey God’s commands. As he preached, the people believed God, fasted, cried mightily unto God, Who in turn saw their works and did not destroy them for their wicked, evil ways. The battle between Jonah’s heart, mind and actions caused him terrible grief. A reminder that the consequences of disobedience will be handed down. Whatever you sow, that you shall reap.
The bible is full of stories where sin and disobedience was practiced then punished by God Who rewards man according to his deeds. And just because something is not specifically mentioned or written in the bible doesn't mean its not sin. Particularly if God speaks to you personally and you don't obey. It may not be sin for someone else but it is for you.
Now some sin is dealt with more harshly than others. But in all fairness we shouldn't get any reprieve at all and truly don’t deserve the grace handed down to us. The sin of disobedience, envy, strife, wickedness, malice, division, hatred, wrath, bitterness, witchcraft, fornication of every kind and lying will be judged by a just God. But thankfully the very fact that God forgiving our sins if we repent of them tells us that He is a kind and merciful Father Who is longsuffering and gives us chance after chance. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Revelation 21: 7, 8 & 27)
Though Satan is more vicious than ever, he will never be victorious against our God. Our Father equips us with everything we need to defeat a devil who is destined to spend eternity in the pit of hell. "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25: 41) Knowing this, the devil wants to trick you into thinking that ultimately our sins don't matter and will be forgotten over time. That they will deteriorate, fade away or disappear. Not so! Even if you forget, God won't. No matter how much time elapses, in the end our sin will show up to testify against us if we don't get rid of it. Only true repentance will clear our calendar of coming condemnation and judgement placed on hold. And it's only God's goodness that leads you to this true repentance that will exonerate you from guilt.
You should be more determined than ever to run this race with patience, encourage yourself, praise your way through hardship and be joyful and glad that the Maker of the Universe thinks of you, loves you and wants to pour out of Himself to you. His goodness, kindness, grace, patience and mercy is too wonderful when He decides to shower us with His blessings. He can take a simple thing and magnify it to make you feel special. Even at your lowest point of discouragement God can take it and blow it up into a beautiful masterpiece while making your heart dance around Him in thanksgiving. He will sit you in heavenly places right here on earth to enjoy His goodness, His greatness and His power because He loves you that much. Likewise His Son is present to enjoy and honor His Father right along with us. Surrender your all to Him, serve Him with joy and gladness with all that you have. Glorify Him in soul, mind, heart, body, strength and spirit. He deserves it and so much more.
The Word was written for our learning and example to the intent that we should not lust after evil things. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 Corinthians 10: 11) Jesus said to take His yoke upon you and learn of Him. There is so much more to explore, to experience, to conquer and to be revealed. Go hard after Him forsaking all worldly lusts that are only temporary and lasts for a short period of time. The blessings of God last a lifetime and on into eternity. Let brotherly love continue. “Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2: 17) And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1: 5-6)
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