Friday, December 28, 2012

Two Reasons a Believer Must Forsake Sin


First of all let us define sin. The word of God defines sin as Lawlessness (transgression of the law), knowing the right thing to do and not doing it, and whatever is not from faith is sin (1 John 3:4, James 4:17, and Romans 14:23). God has given us a Holy law a standard by which we are to live life; and we know what His law is, and it is not burdensome. God has written His laws on our heart, the Holy Ten Commandments, and transgression of these laws is lawlessness. We know what the right things are to do, if you pass someone in true need and do nothing that is sin. And whatever is done without faith is sin, without faith in Christ even taking in a breath of air is sin because it is done without faith. This brings me to the first reason that we as believers must forsake sin.

Christ died for our sins so we must hate sin because our sins killed our Lord; He suffered and was forsaken of the Father because of our sins. “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of A fire which will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, “The Lord will judge His people." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” ~Hebrews 10:26-31

Sin is offensive to God. If you love God then you do not want to offend Him. You do not purposely offend the one you love. If you love your husband or wife and you know that something offends them you stop doing it; to purposely continue doing so would show that you truly don’t love them, that in fact you hate them. It is the same way with God if you continue to purposely do what is offensive to God (sin), you are showing your true heart, a hater of God. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Since God showed such incredible love for us should we not love Him and stop doing what offends Him? Is sin truly offensive to God? You know that it is; sin is in fact so offensive to God that the Father forsook the Son who had been with Him before time began when Jesus took upon Himself the sins of men.

This is in no way exhaustive in the least, but simply the truth. Christ was killed for our sins so a true believer hates sin because our Lord died because of sin. Sin is offensive to God, if you love God you turn from sin to God. What are you doing when you go on sinning willfully after coming to the knowledge of the truth?
Two things:

1. You are displaying a disdain for Christ and His sacrifice. By willfully continuing to sin after knowing that it is a crime before God and that Christ died for it, you are displaying a hatred for Christ.

2. You are displaying a love of sin and a disdain for God the Father. Sin is offensive to God. If you willfully sin after receiving that knowledge, it is in a sense taunting God. An in your face action. You are saying by your actions; “I don’t care that it bothers you, I like it so I’m going to do it anyway.”

If you are willfully sinning you should be very afraid. God is not like us and is no pushover. Don’t make the mistake of regarding His slowness to act as His being passive. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Do Christians sin? Yes, Christians sin but a true follower of Christ does not make a habit of living a sinful lifestyle. He is a follower of Christ and it would break the true believers heart to trample the blood of his Lord. The true believer loves God the Father and fears Him; his desire is to live a life pleasing to the Lord. True believers sin, but the main difference is this; a true believer falls into sin while the false dives in head first. The true believer hungers and thirst for righteousness while the false seeks to cool his thirst for sin. “Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

Though you have sinned against God He has provided a way for you to be made right with Him. God the Son, Jesus Christ came in human flesh and lived a righteous life, He never once sinned. The punishment for sin is death, the death of your soul being forsaken of God in hell. Jesus took upon Himself the punishment that you rightly deserve; a perfect sin sacrifice before God. He died, was buried and on the third day arose from the grave defeating sin and death; appearing to several people over a 40 day period. He ascend into heaven in bodily form and sat down at the right hand of God the Father making intercession on behalf of all who come to God through faith in Him. His sacrifice for sin is applicable to you if you repent and believe in Him. So what must you do? Repent and trust alone in Jesus Christ and you will be saved from the wrath of God against sin, through faith in Jesus alone. “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24)


In Christ alone,
Mike Peek a slave of Jesus Christ