LIVING A 'sIN fREE' lIFE
These next three verses sum everything up:
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
" Then I would say, "Turn from your sin and realize that God provides a way for you
to stand up under EVERY temptation (I Cor. 10:13).
Our WHOLE duty is to fear God and keep His commandments, even when faced with temptation!
Every single time when you are tested and tempted to prove your metal... God has provided a way of escape for His heirs, His, priests, His soldiers, whom He has called to be over-comers.
Yet, there are so many who call God a liar, when in fact it is they that are the liars, because they claim that this is an impossible duty to fulfill. "Sure," they say, "we can obey God sometimes, but of course we will still sin." They say this despite the fact that they have no scripture to back up what they claim. So, many professing believers EXPECT to continue to sin and therefore they do so because without faith in God to keep them from sin, they will surely fall- again and again - guaranteed. "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him" (Titus 1:16).
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
" Then I would say, "Turn from your sin and realize that God provides a way for you
to stand up under EVERY temptation (I Cor. 10:13).
Our WHOLE duty is to fear God and keep His commandments, even when faced with temptation!
Every single time when you are tested and tempted to prove your metal... God has provided a way of escape for His heirs, His, priests, His soldiers, whom He has called to be over-comers.
Yet, there are so many who call God a liar, when in fact it is they that are the liars, because they claim that this is an impossible duty to fulfill. "Sure," they say, "we can obey God sometimes, but of course we will still sin." They say this despite the fact that they have no scripture to back up what they claim. So, many professing believers EXPECT to continue to sin and therefore they do so because without faith in God to keep them from sin, they will surely fall- again and again - guaranteed. "They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him" (Titus 1:16).
They have a form of godliness going to church every week and being "spiritual" MOST of the time. However, when it comes down to it, they have not accepted God's provision to overcome sin and thus they deny the power to be godly. What is this provision that God has made for Christians to overcome sin? It is the grace given us by God sending His Son. Through the blood of Jesus, we can overcome, "for everyone born of God overcomes the world" (I John 5:4). Many professing believers have read passages like Romans 6 and I John 3 that state VERY CLEARLY that we are no longer slaves to sin and that those who are in Christ do NOT continue to sin:
"We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:2
"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (Rom. 6:18).
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him" (I John 3:6).
Despite these and MANY other clear passages throughout the Bible, many do not have the faith to fully believe, so they may turn to a commentary or ask a friend or a "pastor" and it gets explained away for them. Then they FEEL much better thinking that they can continue in sin. So these people are like seeds sown along a path: they "hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts" (Luke 8:12).
So I ask you, do you have faith to believe the Bible? Have you accepted God's provision to overcome sin in YOUR life? Do you really know what it means to be a SLAVE of righteousness? I pray that you will consider these things.
I long to see more people living a victorious life in Christ overcoming sin.
John 8:31-47 contains an excellent lesson on being set free from sin. (What I write from here on will be better understood on your part if you have your Bible with you. If you don't have a Bible,
please read this message again when you have one with you.)
Jesus begins by talking to those who had BELIEVED him (v.31). And so I also am writing this to those who believe in the Lord and I will tell you what Jesus told them: if you hold to his teachings, you are really his disciples and then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (see v.31-32).
Similar to the Jews (in v.33), you may also ask, "we are not slaves of anyone or anything, so what do you mean by telling us that the Truth will set us free? Free from what?"
My reply would be (see v.34-38): "Do you sin? Don't you know that, according to Jesus, EVERYONE who sins is a slave to sin? So if Jesus sets you free from sin, you will be ENTIRELY free -- free indeed. I have told you this many times;
in fact, you have probably read it in the Bible, but you refuse to believe it.
Therefore you continue to sin, showing that your actual 'father' or slave master is the devil, not God."
Some may not like my reply and may try to justify themselves like the Jews did in verse 39.
Some may say, "Hey, wait a minute! I'm already a Christian, why do I sin?"
My reply would be much like Jesus' reply in verses 39-41:
"If you are a Christian, then why do you continue to do the things that the devil does (see v.41)?
Why do you continue to sin? Do not love the world or anything in the world.
If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them.
For everything in the world--
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--
comes not from the Father but from the world.
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
(I John 2:15-17).
If you love smoking, drinking, drugs, are a super sports fan,
must go see your favorite 'worldly movies' or
attend your favorite musical concert,
refuse to come out from the traditions of men,
occasionally tell a white or bald-faced lie,
the devil still has a stronghold on your life
because you are not ready to walk away from the world.
It is as simple as that.
Have faith in God. Rely on Him. Make every effort to be holy (Heb. 12:14; I Peter 1:13-17) ,
and His power will sustain you and keep you from falling (Jude 24; Eph. 3:20).
I pray that you will read the bible daily,
find a way to also listen to his word because faith comes by hearing,
and then trust and believe what is inthe Bible
and seek first the kingdom of God,
obtaining a true faith in Him."
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please him in EVERY way: bearing fruit in EVERY good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might
so that you may have great endurance and patience..."
Colossians 1:10-11
"We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:2
"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness" (Rom. 6:18).
"No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him" (I John 3:6).
Despite these and MANY other clear passages throughout the Bible, many do not have the faith to fully believe, so they may turn to a commentary or ask a friend or a "pastor" and it gets explained away for them. Then they FEEL much better thinking that they can continue in sin. So these people are like seeds sown along a path: they "hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts" (Luke 8:12).
So I ask you, do you have faith to believe the Bible? Have you accepted God's provision to overcome sin in YOUR life? Do you really know what it means to be a SLAVE of righteousness? I pray that you will consider these things.
I long to see more people living a victorious life in Christ overcoming sin.
John 8:31-47 contains an excellent lesson on being set free from sin. (What I write from here on will be better understood on your part if you have your Bible with you. If you don't have a Bible,
please read this message again when you have one with you.)
Jesus begins by talking to those who had BELIEVED him (v.31). And so I also am writing this to those who believe in the Lord and I will tell you what Jesus told them: if you hold to his teachings, you are really his disciples and then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free (see v.31-32).
Similar to the Jews (in v.33), you may also ask, "we are not slaves of anyone or anything, so what do you mean by telling us that the Truth will set us free? Free from what?"
My reply would be (see v.34-38): "Do you sin? Don't you know that, according to Jesus, EVERYONE who sins is a slave to sin? So if Jesus sets you free from sin, you will be ENTIRELY free -- free indeed. I have told you this many times;
in fact, you have probably read it in the Bible, but you refuse to believe it.
Therefore you continue to sin, showing that your actual 'father' or slave master is the devil, not God."
Some may not like my reply and may try to justify themselves like the Jews did in verse 39.
Some may say, "Hey, wait a minute! I'm already a Christian, why do I sin?"
My reply would be much like Jesus' reply in verses 39-41:
"If you are a Christian, then why do you continue to do the things that the devil does (see v.41)?
Why do you continue to sin? Do not love the world or anything in the world.
If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them.
For everything in the world--
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--
comes not from the Father but from the world.
The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
(I John 2:15-17).
If you love smoking, drinking, drugs, are a super sports fan,
must go see your favorite 'worldly movies' or
attend your favorite musical concert,
refuse to come out from the traditions of men,
occasionally tell a white or bald-faced lie,
the devil still has a stronghold on your life
because you are not ready to walk away from the world.
It is as simple as that.
Have faith in God. Rely on Him. Make every effort to be holy (Heb. 12:14; I Peter 1:13-17) ,
and His power will sustain you and keep you from falling (Jude 24; Eph. 3:20).
I pray that you will read the bible daily,
find a way to also listen to his word because faith comes by hearing,
and then trust and believe what is inthe Bible
and seek first the kingdom of God,
obtaining a true faith in Him."
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord
and may please him in EVERY way: bearing fruit in EVERY good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might
so that you may have great endurance and patience..."
Colossians 1:10-11