SIN

We all carry around a body that craves for sin. some sins are easily seen by others while others may be hidden. Sin is a power that will dominate our lives if we let it. When we give place to our (pet) sins, we are not giving place to the Lord.  This is what is called giving a foothold to the devil; Eph 4:26-27.  We may be upstanding in obedience to the Lord in all other areas of our life, but if we have a secret den – it will only be a matter of time before it will take over. 

It is like rats that have found a place near your home.  If you are not on top of them, before you know it they will find a place where they may enter your dwelling.  It may be a matter of time before they gnaw their way, but once in, they will move at night (in darkness) to scour for food leaving excrement behind indicating their presence.  If rats are not immediately dealt with once their presence has been detected, in no time the house will be taken over by them.  Had the homeowner been proactive, they would have dealt with them BEFORE they gained access to the house for their diligence in keeping watch over the grounds and sparing them much damage.

In the same way, if we are not looking for sin (rats) that lurk around us it is not a matter of if but when that we will be overcome by them.  The devil takes whatever we give and always more because he specializes in taking advantage when we leave the door wide open. 

TRUE CHRISTIANITY

We have classes of Christians, those who are sin-aware and vigilant of keeping themselves free from it.  Then there are others who don’t see the harm in small sins if there is even such a thing and worse yet there are those who take offense even to mention they may be practicing sin at all! 

Sin will always lie to us when we allow it into our lives; Heb 3:13.  It will tell us how it is not that bad and even create a case for how it may benefit our lives for the good! 

In truth, for those who have been (truly) converted, sin will have no place in our lives – because of the fullness of Christ who dwells in us!

If we have never experienced the conviction of the Holy Spirit that points into our hearts – specifically, at the sins we love and practice – or of God’s perfect right-ness in contrast to this wicked world – we have not met the Lord at all! 

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8

Because when He enters our lives He wakes us up out of our slumber not just the one time when we first believe, but every day we live – in Him.

It is stunning to see how many who profess Jesus Christ to be their Savior – have zero sin awareness let alone be vigilant to keep it out. 

We have much to be thankful for in the blood of Jesus! 

 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1: 7&9

But woe to anyone who tramples upon this blood without regard to their sin at all!  Heb 10:28.

Careful though, for in being sin conscientious, we can err and we see this when we become legalistic concentrating on the thou shalt and thou shalt not (the law) rather than the Lord Jesus Christ.  As the sons and daughters of God we are led by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14) who teaches us what is good and what is evil as we obey His Word; Heb 5:12-14 and our desire for good has been placed in us by God who works in us for His good pleasure; Phil 2:13.

COMPLETE SURRENDER

The Lord wants to have all our hearts and it is up to us to give to Him what He desires.  Unfortunately, we sometimes will keep back places that we clearly label ‘DO NOT ENTER!’   In reality, if we have a disease and go to the doctor to treat it but we say to him you can’t have access to this place or that place in my body, but go ahead and heal me – we clearly see how illogical this is.  Yet is this not what we do and expect of the Lord when we hold back from Him areas of our lives?  He came to remove the rot (rats) from having power and a place in our lives and we stand in the way from what He has come to do!

WHAT IS SALVATION?

Our Salvation is not simply a gift we get from the Lord.  It is the way, the truth, and the life – we are to live, in Christ; John 14:6.  Yes we receive a ticket to heaven but more than this, we become temples for the Living God to come and have His place in us – now!  1 Cor 6:19-20.

I see so much confusion among believers in Christ and am convinced that a major reason for this is there has not been a Day of Salvation at all.  For to meet the Lord is to be changed forever – because of a new heart He gives us; 2 Cor 5:17.  No one can love God let alone obey Him unless He gives to us a new heart!   Instead, they may have had an emotional and/or religious encounter that may even bring changes to their lives.  The difference is, these changes are by their own efforts and will only last for so long.  The (false) churches allow this kind of ‘faith’ by all its pomp, props, and all the rest they teach and preach.  Many live for decades in religious ceremonies and communities – singing praises to the Lord but are actually on the way to hell!

For this reason, we must see if we are truly in the faith! 2 Cor 13:5.

One of the litmus tests we can take is our view on sin.  God hates sin and if we are His we will also hate sin.  If we do not have any thought about sin in our day to day this may be a strong indicator we have not yet received the forgiveness of sins Christ died to give us.  

The reality is many who profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior practice a general and vague Christianity.  This kind of Christianity is not Christianity at all!  The Christianity the bible describes must be stood for.  To stand for something means we must know what it is we stand for and why and with this we will then have to stand against much to contend in this world.  The only way any of us can stand is to stand WITH Christ, in His Spirit and His name.  Our first line of business is always, presenting ourselves for scrutiny against the Word of God and letting God have His way in us no matter what the cost may be. 

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10.