Historical Posts
1 John 03:04-09 – Sin and the Child of God
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Text: 1 John 3:4-9
Introduction
1. This morning, we saw that the true child of God purifies himself because of the hope of being like Jesus one day – 1 John 3:2-3
2. In discussing purity, the subject of sin naturally arises
a. Which may be why John moves right into a discussion of sin and the child of God – 1 John 3:4-9
b. It also fits into John’s overall theme of combating the teaching that sinning did not affect one’s relationship with God
3. How shall the true child of God regard sin? Is it something to be taken lightly? Not if the apostle John has anything to say about it!
Body
I. THE DEFINITION OF SIN
A. AS UNDERSTOOD BY SOME
1. Sin is nothing more than a violation of human relationships
2. Which can be easily resolved by correcting relationship problems
3. While SOME sins may be a violation of human relationships, the true meaning of sin goes much further than that
B. THE LITERAL MEANING OF THE WORD SIN
1. The Greek word for sin literally means to miss the mark
2. For example, as when an archer fails to hit the center of the target
3. So sin is some kind of action (or lack of it) in which one fails to meet the goal intended by God – Romans 3:23
C. AS DEFINED BY JOHN
1. Sin is lawlessness (NKJV), or transgression of the law (KJV)
2. The word for lawlessness means illegality, i.e. violation of law
a. For example, to break or violate a law, such as the law of God
b. In other words, to steal when the law says Thou shalt not steal
3. So sin occurs when you DO WHAT IS FORBIDDEN (commonly called a sin of commission)
D. AS DEFINED BY JAMES
1. James describes another kind of sin – James 4:17
2. So sin is also committed when you FAIL TO DO WHAT IS GOOD OR COMMANDED (often called a sin of omission)
a. For example, failing to love your brother
b. While you may not do wrong toward your brother, failure to do good is just as much a sin!
E. IN BOTH OF THESE DEFINITIONS OF SIN
1. One has failed to meet a certain standard (they have missed the mark)
2. In this case, the standard is the law of God
a. Which, when carefully noted, is designed to help us in our relationships with:
1) God
2) Other people
3) Even self
b. Every command of God, both negative and positive, affect these relationships in one way or the other
F. Failure to understand the true nature of sin is one reason why there is so much apathy toward it today. But every time we sin, we adversely affect our relationship with either God, others, or our own selves!
II. THE ORIGIN OF SIN – 1 John 3:8a
A. SIN IS OF THE DEVIL!
1. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.
2. This statement of John is reminiscent of one made by Jesus – John 8:44
3. From the beginning the devil has been the father or origin of sin (he is a liar and the father of it)
B. THOSE WHO SIN ARE OF THE DEVIL!
1. Since he is the father of sin, those who practice sin are his children
2. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do – John 8:44a
3. So when we miss the mark by either:
a. Doing what is forbidden
b. Failing to do what is commanded
c. We demonstrate the influences of the devil in our lives!
C. If sin can make one to be the children of the devil, than that ought to tell us something about the terribleness of sin!
III. THE DEFEAT OF SIN – 1 John 3:5a, 8b
A. THIS WAS THE PURPOSE OF CHRIST’S COMING
1. He was manifested to take away our sins – 1 John 3:5a
2. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil – 1 John 3:8b
3. As John the Baptist declared: Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! – John 1:29
4. To continue to walk in sin, therefore, is to undermine the purpose of our Lord’s coming!
B. CONSIDER WHAT IT COST JESUS TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PURPOSE
1. Nothing less than His own death! – 1 Corinthians 15:3
2. Nothing less than His precious blood! – Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19
3. Does not this tell us something about the terribleness of sin?
C. When we properly understand what sin is, and how terrible it must be in God’s sight, then for the child of God there can only be one goal: what John describes as not abiding in sin
IV. NOT ABIDING IN SIN – 1 John 3:6-7, 9
A. WHOEVER ABIDES IN HIM DOES NOT SIN… – 1 JN 3:6
1. The phrase does not sin is present tense in the Greek, suggesting a practice of not CONTINUING IN SIN
a. John has already affirmed that Christians sin – John 1:8, 10
b. To say we have no sin is to lie, and to make God a liar
c. So John is talking about one who does not continuously practice sin
2. Such is true of those who abide in Him
a. Those who abide in Jesus do not continuously engage in sin
b. That is because they:
1) Let that which they have heard from the beginning abide in them – 1 John 2:24
2) Strive to walk even as Jesus walked – 1 John 2:6-7
3. But the one who continuously practices sin has neither seen Jesus nor known him (despite any claims to the contrary!) – 1 John 3:6
B. WHOEVER HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD DOES NOT SIN… 1 John 3:9
1. Again, John uses the present tense when he says does not sin
a. He is not suggesting that one born of God never sins
b. But that one truly born of God does not continuously practice sin
2. And why is that? Because His seed remains in Him
a. The seed is that life-giving principle that makes one a child of God
b. Which clearly involves the Word of God – 1 Peter 1:22-23
3. As long as one allows the seed (the Word of God) to remain in him, he is born of God
a. As such he does not continuously practice sin
b. Nor can he continuously practice sin, if the seed is remaining in him
c. Instead, he continuously practices righteousness! – 1 John 3:7
Conclusion
1. Again, it helpful to remember that John is dealing with the idea that one can claim to be born of God and not be concerned about sin in their life
2. But when we are aware of:
a. The definition of sin
b. The origin of sin
c. The defeat of sin
d. The abandonment of sin
3. Our attitude toward sin will certainly be different than those John was having to combat!
4. What is your attitude toward sin?
a. Have you been born again through obedience to the Word of God?
b. Are you letting that seed remain in you so that you do not continuously practice sin?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Immorality
A survey some years ago revealed that most Frenchmen no longer believe they sin. They make mistakes or commit errors, but they do not sin. Sin and immorality are not part of their vocabulary. Sadly, the same can be said of our own society. Morality involves the concepts of “right” and “wrong.” For centuries the word of God has been the standard for both acceptable and unacceptable conduct, but that is no longer the case. Recent trends have directed men away from the Bible and into a kind of “amoral” attitude in which nothing is inherently moral or immoral. Right and wrong are not a matter of divine pronouncement, but subject to the feelings and emotions of men.
Today, if it feels good and makes one happy, it is pronounced good. If it feels bad, or produces pain, then it must be evil. Abortion, adultery, homosexuality, drug use, and a whole host of other sins are now viewed as amoral, neither right nor wrong in themselves. There is no absolute standard in moral matters, and few seem to be really concerned. As a result, we have a president who is pro-abortion, pro-homosexual, and, by his own admission, has smoked marijuana. When men of either party can be elected without regard to the important issues of integrity and morality, this nation is in serious trouble.
I reject this amoral philosophy completely. The Bible is still the only standard for determining right and wrong. To reject it is to reject the only hope we have for a happy, productive life here, and for life with God in the hereafter. Even though many are unwilling to accept and abide by the divine standard, that does not make it any less true. There are some things which will always be right, and some which will always be morally reprehensible.
If an immoral revolution has swept our land, and I am convinced that it has, it is because the Bible has been discarded as the only acceptable standard for proper conduct. Only a return to the Scriptures can reverse the moral decline of recent decades. The Psalmist wrote, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11).
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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1 Corinthians 06:09-11 From Sinner to Saved – audio
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Text: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Introduction
Last week we looked at how God views homosexuality. This is just one of many things that God does not approve of.
What if we are doing things that God does not approve of?
- Does He care?
- What must be done about it?
Consider what the Corinthians did, and the change they made (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Body
I. We must recognize that we are ALL sinners.
A. Every single one of us listening to this sermon was a sinner (Romans 3:23).
B. If we claim not to sin, then we are lying (1 John 1:8,10).
C. Because of our sin, we have been separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).
II. We must recognize that God loves us.
A. Even though sin separates us from God, nothing separates us from the love of God (Romans 8:33-39).
B. God demonstrates His love for us by giving us His Son (John 3:16-17; 15:13-14; Luke 9:56).
C. Yes, while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-11).
D. Christ died for ALL of us (2 Corinthians 5:14-15), and His blood can cleanse ALL our sins, if we let Him (1 John 1:7).
E. Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost (Matthew 18:11).
III. We must recognize God did His part; we must do ours!
A. We must have faith in Christ and what He did for us (Romans 3:24-26; Hebrews 11:6).
B. Our faith must work (James 2:17).
C. We must repent of our sins (2 Corinthians 7:8-12; Luke 13:3,5; 2 Peter 3:9).
D. We must confess our sins (1 John 1:9).
E. We must be baptized in the blood of Christ to wash away our sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21).
F. We must be raised to go and sin no more (Romans 6:1-7; 1 John 2:1-2) as the woman caught in adultery was told (John 8:10-12).
Conclusion
All of us are sinners, but God loves each and every one of us.
Do you love Him too? If so, you will become a Christian as He commands you (John 14:15).
Have your sins washed away, so you can receive everlasting life in Christ!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Is Homosexuality Acceptable to God? audio
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Introduction
With all the hype surrounding A&E’s “Duck Dynasty,” it would be helpful to see exactly what the Bible teaches regarding the issue of homosexuality.
It is widely accepted in society, but is it accepted by God, to whom we must give an account?
Body
I. God’s original plan for mankind.
A. In the beginning, God made two sexes: male and female. He did not make male and male, nor female and female (Genesis 1:27-28). The reason? They were to go forth and multiply! Reproduction can only occur with members of the opposite sex! When God saw that man was alone, He made a helper comparable to him. Did He make another man? No! He made a woman (Genesis 2:18-24).
B. God commanded the children of Israel not to have relations with members of the opposite sex (Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). It is an abomination before the LORD!
C. Jesus often taught people the words of His Heavenly Father concerning marriage. He put His seal of approval on the fact that God joins men and women in marriage (Matthew 19:4-6; Mark 10:6-9).
D. The apostle Paul taught the Ephesians the relationship Christ has with His church, as a husband has with his wife. He affirmed the same words of Jesus that a “man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh (Ephesians 5:31).” He taught the Romans that we must follow God’s design. If not, He will allow us to continue to live in sin with dire consequences (Romans 1:21-32). This is “shameful!”
II. God punishes those who do not follow His plan.
A. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were known for their exceeding wickedness, including sexual immorality (Genesis 13:13; 18:20,23,25). Men tried to commit immortality with the men that stayed in Lot’s house; these same men told Lot to leave before God destroyed those cities (Genesis 19). Later, Peter and Jude remind us of these examples so we will not suffer the same destruction (2 Peter 2:6-7; Jude 7).
B. Another similar instance occurred in the land of Gibeah. Men came to the house where a certain Levite was staying, and wanted to know him carnally. He would not give in, but instead gave them his concubine. Her death came as a result (Judges 19).
C. Paul reminds us that those that practice homosexuality will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Conclusion
God clearly disapproves of homosexuality, but makes it possible to not continue practicing it! Just as the Corinthians, we can be washed by the blood of Jesus Christ after repenting (1 Corinthians 6:11).
It is good to know God’s law, but one must use it lawfully. Paul taught Timothy that God gives His law to sinners to know right from wrong, and the gospel to save them (1 Timothy 1:8-11). Notice that sodomites again are mentioned as sinners in this context.
Content by Richard Dillon
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Destroying the Works of the Devil
The devil has sinned from the beginning.
Jesus spoke to the Jews and Pharisees in the temple. Not understanding God was His Father, they claimed to be children of Abraham. When Jesus contradicted this, they began to say that God was their father.
In response, Jesus said: “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it (John 8:44).”
John also wrote in his first epistle, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8).”
Obviously, the works of the devil are evil. The works of Jesus Christ are good! In the end, good will triumph over evil.
Jesus did what He had to do, in order that the works of the devil would be destroyed.
- He came to the earth, tempted as we all are but did not sin (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 1:21-22).
- He died.
- He was buried.
- He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).
His resurrection destroyed the work of death. Thus, the last enemy to be destroyed is death (1 Corinthians 15:26).
Thanks to Jesus Christ, our sins are removed!
Thanks to His resurrection, we too can live forever in Heaven with Him! Evil works will be destroyed, and as Christians we must do good works to glorify our Father in Heaven as Christ did (Matthew 5:16).
Content by Richard Dillon
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Stains – audio
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We live in the world, and it’s hard to keep it from rubbing off on us.
Sometimes it’s tempting just to escape it, isn’t it? Moving to the proverbial deserted island or to a rural mountain in Tibet doesn’t sound bad at all. Some believers in church history tried that route, retreating to caves, deserts, or monasteries, but it rarely worked well. But tempting as it might be sometimes, God never called us to retreat from the world.
So here we are. We live and work and play in it, all the while seeing daily reminders that it’s a pretty messed-up place. Immorality, violence, deceit, corruption . . . it’s everywhere.
And in the middle of all that we hear commands like this one from James:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (James 1:27).
Keep yourself unstained from the world, he says.
In the world, but not of the world, as it’s sometimes put (cf. John 15:19). That’s fairly easy to say, but not so easy to practice. What do we do? Part of the answer is we’ve got to recognize what’s going on. We’ve got to see the world for what it is. We need to ask ourselves daily:
- Are there any significant differences between me and my non-Christian friends?
- How are my values different from the world’s?
- Am I becoming more like Jesus or more like the world?
The thing that makes it so tough is that the world stains us slowly, gradually, subtly.
Perhaps you’ve heard the anecdote about boiling a frog. Put it in boiling water, and it’ll jump out. Put it in cold water and gradually heat it up, and it’ll be cooked to death. I’m not sure if that’s true of frogs, but I’m pretty sure it’s true of us.
The world is all around us, and it affects us without our knowledge. We make small compromises, then at some point we’ve changed without even really knowing.
Let’s pray about this today.
- Ask the Lord to make you vigilant.
- Ask him to help you see the small changes the world is trying to make in your life.
- Ask him to work in you through his Spirit to transform you into what he wants you to be, instead of allowing the world to conform you to its image.
Let the Spirit have his way with you.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Unspotted – audio
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We live in the world, and it’s hard to keep it from rubbing off on us.
Sometimes it’s tempting just to escape it, isn’t it? Moving to the proverbial deserted island or to a rural mountain in Tibet doesn’t sound bad at all.
Some believers in church history tried that route, retreating to caves, deserts, or monasteries, but it rarely worked well.
But tempting as it might be sometimes, God never called us to retreat from the world.
So here we are. We live and work and play in it, all the while seeing daily reminders that it’s a pretty messed-up place.
Immorality, violence, deceit, corruption . . . it’s everywhere.
And in the middle of all that we hear commands like this one from James:
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27)
Keep yourself unspotted from the world, he says.
In the world, but not of the world, as it’s sometimes put.
If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:18–19)
That’s fairly easy to say, but not so easy to practice. What do we do?
Part of the answer is we’ve got to recognize what’s going on. We’ve got to see the world for what it is.
We need to ask ourselves daily:
- Are there any significant differences between me and my non-Christian friends?
- How are my values different from the world’s?
- Am I becoming more like Jesus or more like the world?
The thing that makes it so tough is that the world stains us slowly, gradually, subtly.
Perhaps you have heard the anecdote about boiling a frog. Put it in boiling water, and it’ll jump out. Put it in cold water and gradually heat it up, and it’ll be cooked to death.
I’m not sure if that’s true of frogs, but I’m pretty sure it’s true of us.
The world is all around us, and it affects us without our knowledge. We make small compromises, then at some point we’ve changed without even really knowing.
Let’s pray about this today.
Ask the Lord to make you vigilant.
Ask him to help you see the small changes the world is trying to make in your life.
Ask him to work in you through his Spirit to transform you into what he wants you to be, instead of allowing the world to conform you to its image.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Draw Near to God
I cannot imagine what it will be like to be in God’s presence, but I am pretty sure it will be the best thing about heaven.
- What will it feel like?
- What will He look like?
- What will it be like?
I want that, but I’m not ready for it yet. People can’t be in the presence of God, not actually, not yet. We couldn’t survive it.
Whenever God revealed himself to people in the Bible, even in some kind of limited way, he spelled out the things they must do to be ready… and not die.
After the Israelites left Egypt, God met them at Sinai to give them his law, but he couldn’t just “come down” and talk to them. He told Moses to consecrate them for two days, let them wash their clothes, and be ready the third day. And then he put limits concerning how close they could come to the mountain where God would reveal himself. But, get too close and die. Break through the barrier to try to get a glimpse of God… and die. It was a serious matter.
That’s the way it’s always been. We can’t come close to God because of our sins. We’ve got to be cleansed to enter God’s presence.
That’s why verses like this one are fascinating: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8a).
Us? Close to God? How?
Through Jesus, of course. He cleanses us, makes us holy, and grants us access to God.
Remember the temple veil being torn in two pieces during the crucifixion? That veil had always symbolized a barrier between a sinful people and a holy God. When Jesus died, he tore the barrier down.
But what James puts right after he tells us to draw near to God is interesting: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:8–10)
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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What is the “Sin Unto Death”?
Many times, in the more than 20 years I have been preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, I have been approached by people who were genuinely distraught, because they believed that they had committed a “sin unto death,” and that they could not possibly be forgiven for it.
They have convinced themselves that they have committed a sin so heinous… so perverse… so offensive to God that He will not possibly forgive them for it. They are beside themselves with grief over their spiritual situation, and they are looking to a preacher for answers. Is there a sin for which God will not forgive us?
What is the “sin unto death?” The Bible has the answers!
The Bible indicates that there is only one sin, which the Lord will not forgive. In Matthew 12, Jesus’ enemies whispered to others that He had the power to cast out demons only because He was in league with the Devil (Matthew 12:22-24). Christ responded to this accusation with a firm denial, and then pointed out that His enemies were putting their own souls in jeopardy by attributing the power of God to the Devil (Matthew 12:25-30).
Then, the Savior said this: “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men” (Matthew 12:31).
According to Thayer, the Greek word rendered, “blasphemy” in the text is one that literally refers to “speech injurious to another’s good name.” In the very next verse, Jesus added: “And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matthew 12:32).
The Lord’s enemies had been slandering the Holy Spirit by attributing Jesus’ power to the Devil and not to divinity. We must be careful not to do the same thing today, lest we find ourselves in a similar position.
It is important to note that Jesus said, “All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men.” that means that God will forgive us for even the sins that we consider the most serious.
Sexual sins… violent sins… deviant sins can all be forgiven, if only we will repent and obey the Lord’s instructions in the Scriptures (1 Timothy 1:15).
But if our contempt for the Holy Spirit is so great that we are willing to verbally slander Him, then we will not repent, we will not obey, and there remains no hope for us (Hebrews 6:4-6).
As for the “sin unto death,” that is a fairly simple concept. Such a sin is one that we take with us to our graves.
By definition, it is a sin of which we will not repent and for which we do not receive forgiveness; so we take it with us to our death beds (1 John 1:9). A classic example of a “sin unto death” is suicide. By definition, suicide is the murder of oneself. It renders the one who commits it incapable of repenting and being forgiven for his sins. Judas, for example, could have repented and gone back to the other apostles and been forgiven for his betrayal of the Son of God, but he sealed his own eternal destiny when he chose to end his own life (Acts 1:16-20).
That is why it is so important for Christians to keep sin out of their lives and to immediately repent and ask God for forgiveness when sin does get into their lives.
Christians who languish in unfaithfulness run the risk of being unprepared, when the hour of their departure from this world arrives (Matthew 25:1-13). We may not know the day or the hour in which the Lord shall return, or how much time is left until we reach the end of our own lives on Earth, but we cannot afford to assume that there is plenty of time for us to repent. We must make our hearts right with God right now—for we may not have another chance in
the future!
As long as we are alive, we can make things right with God.
Let us make our peace with Him while we still can, and carry none of our sins with us, when we enter into eternity!
“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” – 1 John 5:16
Content by Russell Kline
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Without Excuse
Have you ever heard the old saying, “An excuse is just a gift wrapped lie?”
Perhaps you have not heard this saying, because excuses are so ubiquitous in modern society. Human beings have been making excuses for bad behavior since the dawn of history. As far back as the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve tried to make excuses for eating the forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:11-13).
But, in Romans 1:18-21, the apostle Paul wrote, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”
People who rejected God in the ancient world were “without excuse,” just like us, in the modern world, when we do the same.
The Scriptures show us that God does not accept excuses.
Romans 1:20 shows us that there is no excuse for denying the existence of God. In Luke 14:16-24, the parable of the great supper shows us that there is no excuse for refusing the Lord’s invitation.
In Matthew 25:14-30, the parable of the talents shows us that there is not excuse for being a poor steward of the Lord’s blessings.
In First Samuel 15:1-35, the story of King Saul’s refusal to obey the Lord’s commands shows us that there is no excuse for disobeying God, when He tells us what He wants us to do.
But, why do people make excuses, in the first place?
Sometimes, people make up excuses for their bad behavior, in order to avoid the consequences of their actions. This sort of activity is seen every day, in criminal court proceedings. Some are so desperate to escape punishment for the crimes they have committed that they will make up any excuse at all, which might help skew perceptions in their favor.
Sometimes, people will make up excuses for their bad behavior, in order to prevent others from casting them in an unflattering light. This sort of activity is seen frequently, in the world of politics. When politicians are caught in a scandal, they will make up any excuse at all, which might keep the tide of public opinion from turning against them.
Usually, people make up excuses for their bad behavior, in order to assuage their own feelings of guilt they have for what they have done. People become comfortable with their own sins by convincing themselves that what they did is not really all that bad, and that the Lord will surely not hold it against them. Hebrews 3:13 warns us not to be deceived by the “deceitfulness of sin,” which can lull us into a false sense of security. If we become comfortable with our sins, then we will not repent of them and we shall surely perish (Luke 13:3).
There are many reasons why we are without excuse, when it comes to our sinful behavior.
For one thing, God has shown us that He loves and cares for us by the grandest gesture of all: the sacrifice of His only begotten Son (Romans 5:8; John 3:16; Revelation 1:5; Galatians 2:20).
Also, we must consider the fact that others who have disobeyed the Lord have not fared so well (1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4).
Furthermore, we must admit that God has given us numerous opportunities to change our ways (2 Peter. 3:9; Ephesians. 5:16; James 4;14; 2 Corinthians 6:2). The gospel of Jesus Christ is such a simple thing for us to comprehend and to obey, that there is no excuse for failing to do so (Mark 12:37b).
The efforts of those who encourage us, pray for us, exhort us, plead with us, show concern for us, and teach us leave us without excuse for failing to do something about our sins (2 Corinthians 5:11; Acts 8:4; Hebrews 3:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:11-14).
The blessings that God sheds so abundantly upon us make it so that there is no excuse for failing to yield to His will (Acts 14:17; Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1).
Excuses are a barrier between Earth and Heaven.
Instead of making up excuses about why we cannot get to Heaven, we ought to be making progress on the path of righteousness.
In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Stop trying to justify your sins, and take ownership of them. That is the first step in the process of repentance, and Word of God declares that there can be no salvation from sin without repentance (Acts 17:30).
Content by Russell Kline
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1 John 01:05-02:02 – Fellowship with God – audio
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Text: 1 John 1:5-2:2 (Reading by Clark Perkins)
Introduction
1. We saw in 1 John 1:1-4 that John’s aim in this epistle is:
a. To declare the “Word of life”, the “eternal life” that was with the Father and has been manifested in Jesus Christ – 1 John 1:1-2
b. That we might have fellowship with the Father and Son, just as the apostles do – 1 John 1:3
c. That we might have fullness of joy – 1 John 1:4
2. So to have fullness of joy… We must experience the kind of life that comes from having fellowship with God!
3. What is the basis for fellowship with God, so that we may have the life that produces fullness of joy?
a. In our text (1 John 1:5-2:2), John discusses the basis for fellowship with God
b. He also describes the place of sin, and how it can affect that fellowship
Body
I. THE PREMISE FOR HAVING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (1 John 1:5)
A. “GOD IS LIGHT”
1. The figure of light is often used in the Scriptures to describe that which to good, righteous, and true – Ephesians 5:8-10
2. Therefore, God must always be thought of in this way: He is good, He is righteous, He is true!
B. “IN HIM IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL”
1. The figure of darkness would represent the opposite of light: evil, unrighteousness, falsehood
2. Therefore we can never think of God as countenancing sin, excusing it in any way
II. FALSE CLAIMS CONCERNING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD (1 John 1:6-10)
A. “WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM”, YET WALK IN DARKNESS (1 John 1:6-7)
1. Why is this claim false?
a. Because fellowship means to have something in common
b. And we have seen that God is “light” (goodness, righteousness, truth)
c. “Walking in darkness”, therefore, would be going against everything God stands for – Ephesians 4:17-24
2. What is the result of such a claim?
a. We are false in our WORDS (“we lie”)
b. We are false in our DEEDS (“do not practice the truth”)
3. Instead, we should “walk in the light as He is in the light”
a. I.e., instead of living a life characterized by “evil, unrighteousness, and error” (all the while claiming to have fellowship with God)
b. …we should live a life in harmony with God’s “goodness, righteousness, and truth”!
4. Only then will we experience:
a. “Fellowship with one another”
1) That is, we will have fellowship with God
2) Whereby we can share in that life which is eternal, and provides fullness of joy!
b. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son [which] cleanses us from all sin”
1) This suggests that “walking in the light” does not imply sinlessness!
2) Any more than “walking in darkness” implies total absence of good
3) Rather, “walking in the light” suggests
a) A life making progress under the positive influence of God’s “light”
b) A life enjoying the cleansing power of Jesus’ blood as one meets the conditions of forgiveness
B. “WE HAVE NO SIN” (1 John 1:8-9)
1. John is reference to statements made by professing Christians who thought they had become sinless
2. The consequences of such a claim
a. Self-deceit (“we deceive ourselves”)
b. Living in error (“the truth is not in us”)
c. In other words, walking in darkness, not walking in light!
3. Instead, we should freely confess our sins – 1 John 1:9a; Proverbs 28:13
4. Then God, who is “faithful” (trustworthy) and “just” (one who does what is right) will:
a. “forgive us our sins”
b. “cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
c. through His mercy He makes it possible for to continue in fellowship with Him!
C. “WE HAVE NOT SINNED” (1 John 1:10)
1. This claim is made by some denying they had ever sinned
2. The consequences of this claim are grievous
a. We make God a liar! – Romans 3:23
b. His Word is not in us!
3. How can anyone who makes such claims as these hope to have true fellowship with God, and thereby enjoy the life such fellowship gives?
4. Fellowship with God does not occur by making claims that turn God into a liar!
5. Though affirming that we do sin, John is not seeking to encourage sin. Indeed, he is writing to discourage sin – 1 John 2:1
III. FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD REQUIRES AN ADVOCATE (1 John 2:1-2)
A. “WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS”
1. The word “advocate”
a. Literally means “to call to one’s side, to one’s aid”
b. It suggests the capability for giving aid
c. Used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, a counsel for the defense
d. Generally, it is one who pleads another’s case, an intercessor
2. Jesus is the perfect “advocate”, for He is RIGHTEOUS
a. As sinners, we are alienated from God – Isaiah 59:1-2
b. But since Jesus is without sin, He is a fit representative to come before God on our behalf!
c. The author of Hebrews also makes the point that though righteous, He understands our situation perfectly – Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16
B. “HE HIMSELF IS THE PROPITIATION FOR OUR SINS” (1 John 2:2)
1. The word “propitiation” means “an appeasing”
a. E.g., the pagans would offer sacrifices to appease their gods
b. In the New Testament, it is God, not man, who offers the appeasing sacrifice – 1 John 4:10
c. Through His death on the cross, Jesus is the means by which God can show mercy to the sinner
d. This explains how God can be “just” (cf. 1 John 1:9) and still forgive sin
e. This wonderful “propitiation” was given to the whole world, but is accessed only by those who believe in Jesus – 1 John 2:2; Romans 3:21-26
Conclusion
1. In this first chapter, and even into the second, John makes it clear upon what basis we can have fellowship with God, and enjoy the life that provides fullness of joy
2. To have fellowship with God, we who are Christians must
a. Not walk in darkness, but walk in the light of God’s goodness, righteous, and truth
b. Admit that we have sinned, and do sin
c. Utilize our “advocate” (Jesus Christ), whom God provides as the “propitiation” for our sins
3. In 1 John 1:9, John explained how those who are already children of God can appropriate the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus (through confession and prayer).
4. But how about the alien sinner? – Acts 2:38; 22:16 (faith, repentance, and baptism)
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Striking the Proper Balance
One of the things we most admire about Jesus was His ability to strike the proper balance between sin and sinners.
He loved sinners, but hated sin. He had come into the world to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Yet, he never condoned sin. He always called sinners to repentance, saying, “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). This kind of balance is often absent in today’s preaching and teaching.
The tendency is to emphasize the love and grace of Christ apart from his demands for repentance and change.
Yes, Jesus loved the woman at Jacob’s well (John 4:3-42). No one would dispute the fact that she was a person of questionable morals, yet Jesus reached out to her. Following his example, we also should reach out to those in sin. Ours is a message of hope and deliverance through Jesus Christ. He died for the alcoholic, the drug addict, the sexually impure, the divorced, and the derelict. His blood can wash away every sin (Ephesians 1:7). There is power in his blood!
It is a mistake, however, to suggest that one can cling to salvation while persisting in sin.
This is the message often implied by those who emphasize the grace of Christ while neglecting his demands. The appeal of such an emphasis is obvious. The implication that one can live a life of sinful indulgence while continuing to enjoy salvation in Christ is appealing. This is far more appealing than the truth that Christ’s blood is a sufficient remedy for sin, but the practice of sin must cease. Adulterers can be forgiven, but the adultery must end. Thieves can be saved, but they must stop stealing. Drunkards can be redeemed, but they must sever their bond with alcohol.
Christ not only has the power to deliver us from the condemnation of sin, but also its control.
No one who understands the role of Christ as redeemer and savior argues that Christians never sin, but a strong argument can and must be made for the idea that Christians are not under sin’s control. This is the balance Jesus struck in his preaching and teaching. This is the same balance we should bring to our efforts today.
The apostle Paul offered these words of warning to all:
“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:15-18).
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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A Crazy World
If I know myself, and I am reasonably sure I do, I don’t harbor ill will in my heart toward a single human being. I try to treat everyone as I would want to be treated. I’m not perfect, and I don’t profess to be, but I would not intentionally say anything to upset someone or assassinate their character. I hold no malice in my heart toward anyone. I don’t judge folks by the color of their skin, the cut of their cloth, or the size of their bank account. I have strong beliefs about many things, but no interest in forcing my beliefs on anyone. Yet, because of what I’m about to say, the world will view me as close-minded, bigoted, prejudiced, intolerant, and out of step with the times.
Jason Collins, a twelve year veteran of the NBA, recently announced that he was homosexual. After making his announcement he was almost universally praised for his courage and leadership. John Amaechi, also a homosexual, recently wrote: “The support that Jason has received both in the sports world and society at large is certainly encouraging. He’s the sign of a changing tide in society; it’s the perfect time for someone like Jason to come along” (TIME, Vol. 181, No. 18, 2013, Page 17). I am appalled that society has changed so much that what was once universally acknowledged as sinful is now praised and paraded as something wonderful.
I should point out that I’m just as disgusted by heterosexual celebrities who are unfaithful to their marriage vows and parade their adultery and fornication before adoring fans who seem not the least bit offended or put off by their blatant immorality.
Sports figures, media celebrities, politicians, and actors have far too great an influence on society, and their actions tend to weaken the moral fabric of an already frayed society. Rather than being encouraged by Jason Collins’ actions, we should be sickened. Homosexuality, like adultery and fornication, is sinful, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
No, I don’t have any ill will toward Jason Collins. What I would want him to know is that there is hope and deliverance in Christ, but to condone sin rather than confront it can only result in disaster. The Bible says: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
There is forgiveness for the transgressor in Christ, but the sin must cease. Christians must continue to plead for truth on this issue and all others without regard to what society thinks or believes.
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Condemnation – audio
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The word condemnation means to pronounce to be guilty; to determine or judge to be wrong, or guilty; it also refers the punishment of the guilty.
Ironically, you and I are guilty of sin – Romans 3:23. And all of us had a guilty verdict, and a death sentence, “For the wages of sin is death;…” Romans 6:23.
But thank God, for sending His Son, Jesus Christ to pay the penalty of our sins for us on that old rugged cross – John 3:16-18.
In the last part of the chorus, of the song “He Bore It All” it says, “I stood condemned to die, but Jesus took my place”
It is important to note that there is no condemnation in Jesus Christ.
Jesus teaches that if you hear and believe Him, you will have everlasting life – John 5:24.
In Romans 8:1, the apostle Paul by inspiration says, “THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Harry (Andy) Anderson Jr.Return to the Home Page
The High Cost of Loving Money – 1 Timothy 6:10
Text: 1 Timothy 6:10
Introduction
1. Today’s society
2. God’s warning
3. God’s answer
Body
1. Achan’s great loss – Joshua 7:1, 5, 25
2. Gehazi’s great loss – 2 Kings 5:5-27
3. Judas lost it all – Matthew 26:14-15
4. Ananias and Sapphira both lost – Acts 5:1-11
Conclusion
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Favoritism
Sometimes we put sins into categories without even thinking:
- Really Bad Sins
- Bad Sins
- Not-So-Bad sins
Sure, I’m a sinner, but none of mine are the really bad ones. I would never commit those, like murder or adultery.
My sins are smaller stuff like sometimes thinking bad thoughts, losing my temper, spreading a little gossip, or being impatient and irritable. Everybody does that stuff, so it’s ok, right?
Sound familiar?
The Christians James were writing to apparently made the same argument, “Sure, we may show favoritism, but at least we’re not murderers or adulterers.”
James didn’t like their reasoning.
“but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:9–13
Do you see his point?
A sin, by its very nature, is a transgression against God’s will.
For us to try to make some sins not as bad as others betrays a misunderstanding of sin. That was part of Jesus’ point in Matthew 5. Essentially, here’s what he said:
“You know the Law says it’s wrong to murder, but I’m telling you to deal with the anger that leads to murder.”
“You know adultery is wrong, but I’m telling you to clean up your dirty minds.”
In James’ context, favoritism / discrimination / prejudice, or not loving your neighbor, violates the very essence of what God wants in our relationships with one another. In one sense, if we treat one another poorly, we have committed the same sin that leads to murder: disregarding our mutual status as human beings created in God’s image.
So what about us?
It applies to how we treat people. If I disregard someone because for some reason I think he’s less of a man than I am, I have missed the Bible’s whole point about loving people and I have become guilty of breaking all of it.
We would never murder anyone, but would we murder someone;s reputation through gossip?
We would never attack others physically, but would we ignore them, snub them, or mock them?
The gospel calls us to recognize everyone’s equal value before God.
As sinners we are all in the same boat – we deserve the death sentence.
By God’s grace he stepped in and rescued us. Recognizing that ought to remind us to extend mercy and grace to everyone around us.
God did it for us. Shouldn’t we do the same for others?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Sin – audio
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Perhaps this is not great devotional material, but I can’t help but say a few words about the tragic situation in Pennsylvania with Dr. Gosnell, the abortion doctor who was convicted this week of first-degree murder in the deaths of three babies.
Perhaps God brought this grisly story to light so that he could change the way that abortion is talked about in our country. Maybe he intends to wake some of us up so that we can see that lives—not cells, not fetuses, not mere choices—are at stake in this conversation. I’ve already read stories of people who have changed their minds about abortion, so we can praise God for that.
Maybe God wanted us to remember again that we live in a broken world, on a cursed earth, amidst fallen people, so that he might stir up in us again a longing to be where he created us to be. Maybe some of us who live tidy lives need to see the face of evil and look wistfully toward a world without violence and death.
Maybe he wanted us to think about abortion in a way that we haven’t before, or at least in a way that many of us haven’t. Instead of just wringing our hands and preaching against it, maybe we should remember again that everyone needs Jesus. That includes abortionists, the people who work in their clinics, and, of course, the expectant mothers who—maybe because they’re confused or they made a mistake or they just don’t understand what they’re doing—choose to have an abortion. Maybe God wanted us to ask, “What are we doing to help confused and broken people? What are we doing to change the cultural climate to help the people around us see that all life is precious?”
I’ve got a lot of questions. I’d like to know how somebody could do what Dr. Gosnell and some of his assistants did. I’d like to know how a country in which the majority of people call themselves Christians could think it’s acceptable to abort hundreds of thousands of its babies every year.
I suppose we don’t have those answers, and maybe we never will, but whenever we see sin in some kind of graphic form like this, it ought to remind us that sin isn’t just the big, headline-making, jaw-dropping things. It’s pervasive, and it hurts us all. Those of us gawking at Dr. Gosnell from a distance also struggle with sin, though maybe it’s of a more private, not-as-serious (so we say) variety.
Here are a few relevant verses to meditate on and pray over today:
- “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
- “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
- “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away …And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:1,4).
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Want!
IT… may very well be the most powerful life changing force you can harness… knowing what you want and where you are going.
Being focused on a goal or objective is extremely powerful. It can help you overcome weaknesses and make dramatic improvements… in health, in your mind, and most importantly… in your spirit.
The key to really powerful goals, of course, is making them both meaningful and specific. But tonight I do not want to discuss forming positive goals. Right now, it’s about setting negative goals.
What do I mean by setting negative goals?
It is just as important to set negative goals, it is to set positive ones. In other words, you need to define what you DON’T want in your life… just as much as you need to define what you do want.
Perhaps it would be a helpful exercise to actually make a list of all the things you absolutely, positively, unflinchingly want to eliminate from your life.
Is this a biblical concept?
Absolutely.
Jesus taught… in graphic, figurative language… that amputation is better than destruction – Matt. 18:8-9
Paul wrote to the Christians at Philippi: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ” – Phil. 3:13-14.
And then this interesting passage: “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ” – Heb. 12:1
You see, we need to amputate, forget about, and lay aside the negative things in our life that prevent us from attaining the prize set before us. But you can’t take remedial, surgical action if you don’t know what needs to be eliminated.
What needs lopping off?
So what in your life needs a hatchet? I’m sure if we spent enough time really meditating on this, each of us could come up with a long list… if we are honest. May I suggest three areas you might want to start with?
Here they are:
- Habits
- Attitudes
- Distractions.
Habits are the routines you’ve gotten into that help you get through the day or respond to events… without thinking. Some habits are good and healthy. Others, not so much. Identify habits that need to go.
Attitudes are feelings about people, places, things, and events. Again, some attitudes are healthy, others are harmful. Make a list of the feelings you have for people and things in your life that need to be eliminated. But please, keep this private. This list is for your own personal development, not for posting on Facebook.
Not every negative feeling needs to be eliminated. Some negative feelings are justifiable. But even when a negative attitude is justifiable, it is still possible that it is unworthy of your time and energy.
Other attitudes and feelings are simply self-indulgent, emotional wrecking balls. If you cannot control your attitudes, then eliminate your exposure to the source. Take control of how you are affected by others. Controlling your emotions is BIG.
Finally, think about distractions that are preventing you from working toward your goals. I think this is one of the most effective tools Satan uses to create crippled Christians.
We are hamstrung and strung out on so many meaningless distractions. Sometimes it seems that if we have any measurable progress at all, it is at a snail’s pace.
Learn to eliminate distraction and its source in your life, “redeeming the time, because the days are evil” – Eph. 5:16. You will likely see dramatic improvements in your life.
Yes, accentuate the positive, but also remember to eliminate the negative.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Reasonable Justification
We seldom have much difficulty knowing the difference between right and wrong. Most things are pretty clear. However, we don’t always like what we see. If we find something appealing, right or wrong, we look for all manner of reasons to justify it.
Benjamin Franklin recognized this trait in himself and others. Concerning his first voyage from Boston to Philadelphia, he writes: “I believe I have omitted mentioning that…our crew employed themselves in catching cod, and hauled up a great number. Till then, I had stuck to my resolution to eat nothing that had had life; and on this occasion I considered, according to my master Tryon, the taking every fish as a kind of unprovoked murder, since none of them had, nor could do us any injury that might justify this massacre. All this seemed very reasonable. But I had been formerly a great lover of fish, and, when it came out of the frying-pan, it smelt admirably well. I balanced some time between principle and inclination, till recollecting that, when the fish were opened, I saw smaller fish taken out of their stomachs; then thought I, `If you eat one another, I don’t see why we may not eat you.’ So I dined upon cod very heartily, and have since concluded to eat as other people, returning only now and then occasionally to a vegetable diet. So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature, since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.”
Franklin was right. Men are reasonable creatures.
We find reasons for whatever we want to do, no matter how wrong the thing may be. As a result, men have sought to justify all manner of sin including abortion, euthanasia, gambling, homosexuality, and alcoholism. How does it work? Abortion is justified by the woman’s right to choose. Euthanasia is the loving and merciful response. Gambling revenues can finance education and programs for the aged (who aren’t going to need any programs if the euthanasia advocates win out). Homosexuality is a discrimination issue. Alcohol abuse is a disease, don’t ever use the sin word.
How does a Christian respond to all of this?
Christians are to be more concerned with doing what God demands than what others want. Jesus said, “I can do nothing on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John 5:30). “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me” (John 6:38).
All of the reasoning in the world will not make right wrong or wrong right! God, alone, makes those determinations, and we must accept them.
There is no reasonable justification for sin.
— Roger
Content by Roger Rush
Visit Roger at the 6th and Washington Street Church of Christ in Marietta OH.
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Blame – audio
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Many of my sins are not really my fault, it seems to me.
Most of them happen because of the people around me, or the situations I face. If any normal person lived my life, he’d probably fare worse than I do.
If Satan gets us thinking like that, he’s already won half the battle.
It helps to see how it happens, I think, and James helps us with this.
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death (James 1:13-15).
We might point the finger of accusation at God, thinking that he’s putting temptations in front of us.
While he might bring us difficulties to strengthen our faith (see Abraham and Isaac—Genesis 22), he’ll never tempt us to sin.
Gop hates sin, and he wants more than anything for us not to give in.
Sometimes it’s easier to blame the people around us.
Have you ever blamed your spouse for some shortcoming in your life?
If you’re married, you probably have, and it all started with Adam (“It was this woman you gave me . . .”).
This concept has not slowed down yet.
Ever lost your temper and blamed it on your kids?
Or maybe we blame our siblings, boss, or coworkers.
“I would do better, Lord, if it weren’t for ___” (put his or her name in the blank).
The main problem with that is that it doesn’t help. In fact, it hurts us because it keeps us from facing the real problem.
Which is where we came in.
The truth is, Satan takes advantage of things within us to lead us astray.
He may use other people, or outside situations, but I don’t sin without my own consent.
So if you’re struggling, ask yourself which desire Satan is using.
Think about how you can satisfy that desire within God’s will instead.
Pray about what barriers you might build to thwart Satan’s plan.
The last place Satan wants you to look is within yourself, and truly examine yourself, because he knows one of our best defenses is recognizing that we are at fault, nobody else.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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