 |
 |
|
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Tract 29
Audio download at bottom of page
________________
Does The Christian Sin?
Paul in his letter to the Church of God at Rome said, (Romans 5:20; 6:1,2) “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS
Many a minister who claims to be not only a Christian, but also a minister of the Gospel of Christ, claims that he often sins, and teaches that we all sin more or less everyday. What does God say in His Word? The Bible will answer most any reasonable question which may arise as to what the Doctrine of Christ is. We read in 2nd John 9, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, hath both the Father and the Son.” In 2nd Peter 2:9 it says “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the Godly out of temptations,” and 1st Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1st Peter 2:21, 22, “For (even) hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did NO SIN, neither was guile found in His mouth.” 1st Peter 3:10-12, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: ... Let him eschew (hate) evil, and do good; let him seek peace and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” Seeing ye have purified your souls in (obeying) the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned (unpretended) love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8. 1st John 3:3-10, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law (of God). And ye know He was manifested to take away our sins (not overlook our sin, but TAKE AWAY), 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 (sin) 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. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: Whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
WHAT DID JESUS SAY?
On two occasions Jesus told someone to, “SIN NO MORE,” John 5:14; 8:11. Would Jesus tell anyone to do something that was impossible to do? Never!! Many like to quote Jesus’ statement found in Mark 10:18, “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” But Jesus is the divine Son of God, and the Bible plainly tells us in 1st Peter 2:22, “He did NO sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” Does this sound like Jesus was a sinner? Then too the verse just before that says, “Leaving us an example that ye should follow His steps.” Some also like to quote Romans 3:10 as it is written (this refers to Psalms 14:1 and 53:1 “There is none righteous, no not one;” but read on down through verse 18, and see if you would want to apply this to yourself if you are claiming to be living for God. Many also like to quote 1st John 1:8-10, to uphold sin, but let us consider verses 6 to 10, and see what this scripture teaches. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, (sin) we lie, and do not the truth; But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light (then, and then ONLY) we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin. (How much sin does this leave in us?) If we say that we have no sin (to be cleansed from) we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, (and to cleanse us from) all unrighteousness. (How much does all mean?) If we say we have not sinned (in our past lives) we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned (past tense) and come short of the glory of God.” This is why we all need to repent and forsake our sins, so we can be born of the Spirit into the family of God, which is the Church of God, the pillar and ground of the truth. For the Lord adds to the Church daily such as are being saved. Acts 2:47.
WHAT ABOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT?
God says in Exodus 32:33, “Whosoever hath sinned against me him will I blot out of my book.” Another scripture many like to refer to is found in Ecclesiastes 7.20, “There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” This was true when Solomon wrote these words, but remember a wonderful thing happened after this about 1000 years later. Jesus came to save His people from their sins. He gives His own word that there were some who were justified by faith, during and after His ministry, but it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin, Hebrews 10:4. That is why it was necessary for Jesus to come into this wicked, sin-cursed world, so as to redeem us from all iniquity. Luke 15:7, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” Again in Acts 10:22, “And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee (Peter) into his house, and to hear words of thee.” In Luke 6:40 we read, “The disciple is (not above his) master: but everyone that is perfect shall be as his master.” These are Jesus’ words as well as Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as (your) Father which is in heaven is perfect.” God alone has absolute perfection, but Jesus was God made manifest in the flesh, and He was our example. We must have God within us to live a Christian life. We cannot do it in our own power.
LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU!!
Some also teach that we are fore-ordained for eternal destruction or bliss, even before we are born into this world. Titus 2:11, 12, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to ALL men (not just a chosen few) teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and Godly in this present world.” Again in Acts 10:34, 35, “Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him.” (Wouldn’t this be a contradiction to the teaching that the Jews will again be God’s chosen people?) 2nd Corinthians 7:1, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleans ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
LET THE “WORD” ANSWER!!
What about those teaching that if we are once saved, we are always saved, regardless of what we may do? We will again let the Bible answer. Romans 11:22, 23, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity, but toward thee, goodness, Otherwise thou shalt be cut off: And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: For God is able to graft them in again.” I sure do thank God for this last verse, for it included me. I had drifted away from the Lord in my teens, but I thank God He received me back, into his fold, but I had to come back to God the Bible way, and God left the choice to me. He did not force me back, nor does He force anyone, for He wants us to serve Him because of our love for Him. God has no draftees. Only Volunteers. Jesus again said, John 8:31, “If ye continue in my word, then ye are my disciples indeed.” It would stand to reason, that if we do not continue in His word, then we will cease to be His disciples or sheep. John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” David said in Psalm 119:109, “My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.” If we continue living by the word, and daily led by the Holy Spirit, no man will be able to pluck us out of the Father’s hand (John 10:29), but He never holds us in His hand contrary to our own will!!
Written by Wilbur B Dettweiler
|
|
|