Pastor’s Blog 5.23.18
1 John 5:16-17 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death , he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death . There is sin leading to death . I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death . NKJV
There are degrees of sin with God, this is obvious. As we read through the scriptures, we find a common cause for the believer to strive to live above reproach and free from the bondage of sin.
1 John 2:1-7 The Test of Knowing Christ
2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin . And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 3 The Test of Knowing Him Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. NKJV
Let’s face some hard facts about our American culture. Most people believe in Jesus, but don’t want to live in obedience to a holy lifestyle. Is the answer to act like sin is no big deal to God, and tell people they can pretty much live any way they want? That’s exactly what many churches and church leaders are doing. Is that what Jesus would do? Their reasoning is that God loves people so much He is not going to condemn them over some sin practice in their lives. The problem is that it was reasoning like this that got us into trouble to start with.
Gen 3:1-6 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. NKJV
Did Jesus love the rich young ruler, whom he let walk away and did not go after him?
Mark 10:20-27 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him , and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” NKJV
There is a standard that the Lord will hold us to, and I for one don’t want to reason it out. So what sins lead to death? Here are a few:
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. NKJV
Remember:
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. NKJV
Until Next Week – Be Blessed!
- Date - May 23, 2018
- Author - David Chisholm
