It
is good for us to spend time in the Old testament of the bible and be reminded
that God has zero tolerance for sin. This is portrayed graphically in his
dealings with Israel and Judah, he allowed them to be taken into exile because
of their rebellion and sin (2 Kings). We are also exhorted to hate evil (Ps
97:10).
In
the new Testament we are told that sin causes spiritual death (Rom 6:23), all
people sin (Rom 3:23) and that sin separates us from God. Jesus paid the price
for our sins by his sacrificial death (1 Peter 3:18) and won justification for
us (Rom 3:24). This simply mean that if we repent, ask his forgiveness and ask him
into our life as Lord and Saviour we are forgiven and made just as if we had
never sinned. Our sins were washed away by his blood (Rev 1:5), the price was
paid and God sees us as righteous in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). To be righteous
is to be in right standing with God.
Does
this mean God has gone soft on sin? Absolutely not (1 John 1:5). We are told as
Christians that we should not go on willfully sinning (1 John 3:6-9). However,
we are still flesh and blood and we will sin (1 John 1:8), but if we repent and
ask God’s forgiveness, he is quick to forgive (1 John 1:9). To repent is to
simply turn from our sins and do what’s right.
The
next question is, as Christians, are we soft on Sin? Do we have things in our
lives that we wink at or ignore? Well, you know, God knows I get it mostly
right but a few minor issues I am sure He can tolerate? God is still black and
white on sin and he tells us to take of the old man and put on the new (Eph
4:22-24). That’s all of the old man and all of the new. Let’s not limit God in
our lives by ignoring sin. Now don’t get condemned, God knows our hearts (Ps
44:21) and as we desire to be everything he wants us to be, he will provide
grace to help us to change (Eph 1:7-9). The apostle Paul never claimed to be
perfect (Phil 3:12) and God does not expect us to change overnight. Keep on
keeping on, the blessings are amazing.
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic
Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more
encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.
“Know
ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the
old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ,
our passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Cor 5:6-7; KJV). Leaven or yeast is used
here to compare the power of sin with leaven. We have been justified or made
righteous in God’s sight, by the sacrifice of Christ at the cross; he redeemed
us or paid the price for our sins (Rom 3:24).
But
we do still sin (1 John 1:8)? Just a
tiny bit of sin, if it is not rooted out, can cause a huge amount of damage to
us and others. A woman added leaven to 3 measures of meal and the whole of the
meal became leavened or affected by the yeast (Luke 13:21). Jean makes our
bread at home and we calculated that she adds 1 part of yeast for every 320
parts of finished baked bread; that yeast is powerful stuff to be able to cause
that whole loaf to rise. Jesus warned of the leaven of the Pharisees which is
hypocrisy; they taught the law but did not obey it (Luke 12:1). They leavened
the whole of Israel with their sin. As children of God, sin damages our
fellowship with him as there is no sin in God (1 John 1:5). Sin clogs the
channels between us and God. Sin also hurts our relationships with each other.
Ask
God to show you sin in your life, be quick to repent and ask God’s forgiveness
for your sins; he will forgive (1 John 1:9). As we deal with sin in our lives,
we can walk closer and closer with God and enjoy more and more of the full life
he lives. Don’t get condemned, this is something we all have to grow in; but
the results are wonderful. Remember God loves you where you are but he calls
you up higher to grow in him.
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
We all sin but we
are no longer sinners (1 John 1:8). Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross the
price was paid for our sin’s past, present and future (1 Cor 15:3). As born-again
Christians God no longer sees us as sinners, he sees us in Christ, forgiven and
the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). Righteousness basically
means right standing with God. Satan may try to condemn us but we have an
Advocate (Rom 8:34), Christ Jesus, who pleads our case before God (1 John 2:1).
As God’s children
and members of his kingdom (Col 1:13) we are still tempted to sin and we do sin
(1 John 1:8), but the word says that if we repent and ask for forgiveness God
is quick to forgive us (1 John 1:9). Now
that’s good news. So, how many times will he forgive us in any given day? Well,
we are instructed to forgive our brother 7 time seventy times (Matt 18:22) and
God is far more loving and merciful than we are. But brother Norman you don’t
know what I have done. God forgave David when he repented after committing
adultery and murder (2 Sam 11). Don’t be condemned, look to God our loving and
merciful father, humble yourself and ask forgiveness with a truly repentant
heart.
Now, as Christians we should not go on
willfully and deliberately sinning, if we do then there is something very wrong
as if we are born again, our spirit (conscience) should convict us of sin and in
fellowship with God (Rom 2:15). Check yourself; are you truly born again? Have
you given your life to the Master? Talk to a mature Christian friend and settle
the matter today.
As Christians we
should be quick to repent whenever we sin (1John 1:9); sin does not cause us to
lose our salvation but it does cloud our fellowship with God, just as in any
human relationship (1 John 1:7). Run to your loving father, repent and enjoy
unbroken fellowship with him. There is nothing better.
Please pass this on.
All rights reserved.
It
is good for us to spend time in the Old testament of the bible and be reminded
that God has zero tolerance for sin. This is portrayed graphically in his
dealings with Israel and Judah as he allowed them to be taken into exile
because of their rebellion and sin (2 Kings). We are exhorted also to hate evil
(Ps 97:10).
In
the New Testament we are told that sin causes spiritual death (Rom 6:23) and
separation from God; all people sin (Rom 3:23). Jesus paid the price for our
sins by his sacrificial death (1 Peter 3:18) and won justification for us (Rom
3:24). Justification simply mean that if we repent, ask his forgiveness and ask
him into our life as Lord and Savior we are made, just as if we had never
sinned. Our sins were washed away by his blood (Rev 1:5), the price was paid
and God sees us as righteous in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21).
Does
this mean God has gone soft on sin? Absolutely not (1 John 1:5). We are told as
Christians that we should not go on willfully sinning (1 John 3:6-9). But we
are still flesh and blood and we will sin (1 John 1:8), but if we repent and
ask God’s forgiveness, he is quick to forgive (1 John 1:9).
The
next question is, as Christians, are we soft on Sin? Do we have things in our
lives that we wink at or ignore? You might say: well, you know, God knows I get
it mostly right but I am sure he can tolerate a few minor issues? But God is
still black and white on sin and he tells us to take of the old man and put on
the new (Eph 4:22-24). That’s all of the old man and all of the new. Let’s not
limit God in our lives by ignoring sin.
Now
don’t get condemned, God knows our hearts (Ps 44:21) and as we desire to be
everything he wants us to be, he will provide grace to help us to change (Eph
1:7-9). Paul never claimed to be perfect (Phil 3:12) and God does not expect us
to change overnight. Keep on keeping on, the blessings are amazing.