sin

by

SHARING THE GOSPEL

(Romans 10:14) How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

I was taught the Bible throughout my childhood.  Sunday school teachers and pastors taught me the Gospel of Jesus Christ and offered me the opportunity to receive salvation.  As a child of the 1950’s, even in public school, I heard the words of the Bible and prayed to God.  I said the sinners pray several times, and I was confirmed in the Lutheran Church. You might say I was well schooled in the Christian faith.

After the Navy, I settled into family life and soon started attending church because it was the right thing to do.  When the pastor asked if I would teach the High School Sunday school class, I said yes.  It wasn’t long until I became the youth director and leader of the high school youth group.

The teaching from pastors and Sunday school teachers of my childhood gave me a firm foundation of Biblical knowledge. They encouraged me, and they lived the faith before me.  The seeds were planted, and they began to take root.  Stubborn as I was, I finally surrendered my life to the Lord and began to live fully for him. The faithfulness of those who came before me led me to the calling God had always intended for me. 

Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in both word and deed is God’s will for all his children. We share the good news and leave the rest to God.  He is faithful, and his timing is perfect.  (1Corinthians 3:6 NKJV, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.)  We partner with God to bring salvation to the world.

 I’m reminded of this old-time hymn which seems to define our part quite clearly, “trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, then to trust and obey.”

 (Lyrics are from the hymn “Trust and Obey” written by John H. Sammis in 1887)

by

OTHER AWARENESS

(Philippians 2:3-5) Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.

In my last post, I talked about knowing God through exploring what Jesus said and did while he was here among us in the flesh.  I also mentioned that drawing close to God requires a humble position to truly comprehend what Jesus taught us about God.  Today let’s talk about self-awareness compared with other awareness.

Adam and Eve, after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, were both shocked to find themselves naked.  The shock came from self-awareness.  Until that moment they were obviously not aware of their nakedness. Their disobedience to God brought about the sinful nature that we all have inherited.  Part of this sinful nature has caused us to become self-aware as opposed the other awareness God intended for us.  When the Apostle Paul tells us to value others above ourselves, he is asking us to counter the effects of our sinful nature.

Paul continues in this passage of Scripture to point out that Jesus, being equal with God, gave up his position in heaven to come as a servant.  (Philippians 2:8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!  Jesus provided us with the ultimate example of other awareness.

Since it is part of our sinful nature, it seems natural for us to focus life on ourselves.  The idea of putting others ahead of ourselves might seem next to impossible, but Jesus has led the way.  He set the example.

Valuing others ahead of myself has always been a struggle.  I don’t expect it to suddenly become easy. My desire is there, but the flesh is weak.  I’m glad that I never have to struggle alone.  Jesus is always with me.

by

THE LOVE OF GOD OR THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD?

I’ve been teaching from the book of Genesis for the last 6 months, and I’ve had some interesting insights into the way God interacts with his created beings.  His interactions seem to be based on a choice he has given us.  That choice is to live in his love and enjoy the delight of a relationship with him or go our own way and eventually encounter his judgement.  This is the ultimate decision for all of mankind, the love of God or the judgement of God.  Let’s look at how that played out in the beginning.

Adam and Eve chose to disobey God’s warning about the tree of good and evil and ate from its fruit.  The result was that death and evil entered creation.  Because evil and death cannot exist in the presence of God, Adam and Eve wound up separated from God and suffered the consequence of his judgement.

Most of the rest of humankind also chose not to follow in obedience to God, but they went their own way.  Evil and death reined unchecked for a thousand years or more.

Genesis 6:5-8 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time.  The lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.  So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created – and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground – for I regret that I have made them.”  But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

God’s judgement came upon his creation, “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”  Noah sought relationship with God and saved himself and his family.  Noah made the right choice; apparently no one else did.  All of mankind perished except Noah and his family. 

These are the first two stories of God’s judgement on his created ones. I will continue this topic next week.  I would like to share a few more stories of God’s judgement.

Because making the right choice is ultimately important, we can choose the Love of God or the Judgement of God.  No other choice we make in this life bears the weight of this decision.

by

THE ROCK

(Matthew 7:24-27) “Therefore who ever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.  And great was its fall.”

On the central coast of California, there is a place where large outcroppings of rock face off against the mighty waves of the Pacific Ocean. I have a favorite place there where one of these outcroppings is accessible from the beach.  To reach this rock formation, I climb down to the beach from a small parking lot, jump across a small inlet stream, and then ascend to the top.  As I move around to face the waves, there is a perfect seat etched into the rock.  There I sit, surrounded by awesome power, completely protected by my rock fortress.   This provides space for a spiritual experience every time I visit there.

Only a rock can afford this kind of experience.  Sand is easily washed away providing no protection from the waves.  Jesus’ analogy comparing the rock and sand is quite succinct.  Listening to Jesus’ words and doing them provides us with a firm foundation upon which we can build our lives.  Choosing to not live according to Jesus’ words leaves us with no solid foundation.

Our scripture from Matthew chapter 7 comes from the end of Jesus’ “sermon on the mount”.  So, Jesus is saying that all the words he spoke, as recorded in Matthew chapters five through seven, are given to us that we might have a firm foundation on which to build our lives.  If we read the words and do them, we’re on solid ground – built on the Rock.

by

GODS TIMING IS PERFECT

(2 Peter 2:5-10) If he (God) did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.  This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority…

Those who criticize God for allowing horrible things to happen on the earth are confused.  First, they are confused about whom God is, and secondly, they are confused about what God has planned for those who continue to perpetrate evil and fail to repent.  The flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah are two excellent examples of what God will do about the evils of sin perpetrated by us humans.Those who think God should continually intervene might consider what that could mean.

We humans are the center of his creation, yet we fail to comprehend that we belong to him who created us.  This verse reminds us of God’s ownership, (Psalm 24:1) “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.”  This verse is the base scripture for godsworldandus.com.  I write about God’s world and those of us who live in it.  What we see happening on the earth is God carrying out his plan for his creation.  He is not unaware.  He knows everything that is occurring moment by moment.  He is continually working toward his ultimate goal, and that goal is to have eternal fellowship with the ones who will respect him and return his love.  He is patiently withholding judgement to allow for all who will embrace his plan of redemption and enter into a loving relationship with him.

God’s timing is perfect.  I state this in full confidence because I know him and love him.  I have great faith in his ability to carry out his plan to the fullness of his desired outcome.

by

YOUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN

(Psalm 103:8-12) The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

When Jesus’ work of taking on the sins of the world was finished, he ascended into heaven.  I like to think that he left behind a vacuum that draws away our sins.  This vacuum is available for all those who receive him as their savior.  This vacuum takes our sins from us and sends them to the place of forgotten.  Unfortunately, through pride and inability to accept this forgiveness, we hold on to certain of our sins.

I speak from experience when I address this subject.  Nothing good comes from holding on to already forgiven sins.  Going back and fixing those sins is only possible in the imagination.  I definitely would change things if it were possible, but holding on to sins only kept me from experiencing the freedom for which Jesus paid such high price. Jesus paid for all sins no matter how egregious.

So, I humbled myself and surrendered those sins to my savior.  It took some time, but eventually I was able to receive the forgiveness God had afforded me.  The value of this struggle with accepting forgiveness brought me closer to my Savior and improved my understanding of his love for me.  It was worth the effort because I learned to forgive myself.  Forgiving yourself is a humbling experience that leads to realizing freedom in Jesus.

If you are in this situation, my advice is to let that vacuum finish removing your sins.  The damage your former sins caused is done.  You can’t fix the past.  Don’t let pride keep you from accepting forgiveness. God has forgiven and forgotten all our sins.  It is alright to live in the freedom Jesus bought for you.

by

THE SOLUTION FOR OUR SINS

(1 John 1:8-10 and 2:1-2) If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.  My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father – Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.  He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

As one who has been walking with the Lord for some time, I find myself often falling short of the glory of God, which is sin.  I also find myself much more aware of my short comings as I get closer to the Lord.  Any actions which are not loving, patient, or kind are sins, since they fall short of the Glory of God.  Unfortunately, these are actions which often occur in my daily life.  What hope would I have if not for Jesus and the grace he paid such a dear price to provide for me?

In The Lord’s Prayer Jesus instructs us to ask Our Father to forgive us of our sins (see Mathew 6:8-13).  I need to pray this prayer daily.  There are times when my sin is more willful and obvious.  Then my prayer is more specific, and my heart more deeply repentant.

 I love my Father, and he loves me.  He has, through his grace, provided me with this relationship, and it is in the context of this relationship that I can deal with sin.

In this life, sin is something with which we must constantly contend.  As God’s children we have been forgiven for our past sins, and we are being continually forgiven for our present and future sins because God is faithful.  All we have to do is ask.

We needed a way to overcome our sins.  Jesus came, and he gave us the solution for our sins by becoming the ransom for our sins.  He covered all the sins that have been and will be committed by all people from the beginning of the world to the end.   Those who receive him are granted his gift of forgiveness, and they will be set free from their debt of sin, declared righteous, and granted eternal life.  God’s love for us is amazingly wonderful.

by

PSALM 117 – PRAISE THE LORD

(Psalm 117:1&2) Praise the Lord all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.  For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.  Praise the Lord.

In this basic exaltation from the psalmist, we find the answer to all the difficulties of this world including world peace.  He wants us all to praise the Lord.  Why should we do this?  The simple answer is because of God’s great love toward us and his faithfulness that endures forever. 

Who is this God that we should praise him?  Well, let’s see.  He created the earth and us.  Now there’s a good start.  Life itself is from him, and it only exists through him.  When we rejected his love, rebelled against him, and brought sin into his creation, he went to great extremes to offer us forgiveness even to the point of sacrificing his Son.  In return for all the sin, death, and destruction his created ones have brought into his creation, God has loved us and has been faithful to redeem us.

We know that we live in a world filled with sin, death, and all kinds of misery for which we the people of the earth are at fault.  The solution according to the writer of Psalm 117 is to: “Praise the Lord all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.”    And the psalmist gave us the reasons why we should praise him.

Think about what it would be like if all the inhabitants of the earth began praising the Lord. It would put God at the center of our focus, and joining together in praise would open the door for us to perhaps love one another.

by

JESUS – HUMBLE SAVIOR, MIGHTY WARRIOR

 (Matthew 28:18) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

In Revelations chapter 5, Jesus is called the Lamb of God, and he is also called the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  Now a lamb is a humble defenseless animal, whereas the lion is a ferocious king of the beasts. We have these two examples because God created them that we might understand the various aspects of his Son. 

When Jesus came to earth some two thousand years ago, he healed the sick, raised the dead, walked on water, casted out demons, and gave many other supernatural signs.  He taught the people and cared for them.  He did not wipe out all evil with a mighty hand.  He came as the Lamb of God and humbled himself allowing men to take his life on the cross.  Then God raised him from the dead.  His death and resurrection fulfilled his purpose for coming.  He paid the debt we all owed for our sins and set us free from the law of sin and death.

Jesus is coming back. This time he will come with a different purpose.  At his second coming, he will come as the Lion.  In Revelations chapter 19, we can read what that will be like.  Jesus will bring the long awaited for and patiently withheld judgement of God.  Those who have put their trust in Jesus and received his redemption will go on to eternal life. Those who have continued to indulge evil will be judged for their sins.  At that time Satin and his followers will be handed their final defeat.

Jesus the Lamb of God and Humble Savior came to spread God’s love and mercy to his created ones.  Jesus the Lion of the tribe of Judah and Mighty Warrior will come to bring God’s judgement to those who have rejected his love and mercy.  We shouldn’t take Jesus too lightly.  He has been given all authority in heaven and on earth.  It’s not too late to accept the offer of salvation he brought to us as our Humble Savior.  For those who have chosen to reject his offer, they will face him as the Mighty Warrior.  

by

FORGIVENESS OF SIN (3)

(Colossians 1:19-22) For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (His Son), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.  Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.

Isn’t it interesting that God’s plan of redemption is for all things both in heaven and on earth?  The Old Testament (Isaiah chapter 11) talks about what it will be like when God’s plan is completed.  He says things like “the lion will lay down with the lamb” indicating that there will be peace for all of God’s creation. We get to experience some of what is to come when we receive the peace that Christ brings to us through salvation.

Through faith in God’s Son we have become holy in God’s sight.  We are without blemish and free from accusation before God.   Jesus made this possible.  God our Father never intended to be without us, and he has gone to great lengths to bring us back to himself.  The guilt that we lived with when we were lost in our sins has been paid for.  We are free!  Our sins have been forgiven.  Praise to Jesus our Lord and Savior.

The conclusion of God’s plan is still to come.  This will include a new heaven and a new earth without evil.  We will live in the full presence of God.  However, there is still time for those who don’t know God to take advantage of the redemption that Jesus provided for all mankind.  We, his children, are given the opportunity to share the good news of our redemption with those who are still lost in their sins.  Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (See Matthew 9:37&38)