Dear readers, the Bible says a lot of very urgent and strong words about the seriousness of continuing in a deliberate walk of sin.  We need to wake up to the truths of God on this subject and seek to get right with God before the just Judgment of our God.  He is loving and patient with us, but He is also very serious that we take His teachings of truth with utmost careful consideration as well.  If we honestly love the Lord and feel truly thankful from deep in our heart for the Lord's incredibly gracious sacrifice he made for us, the reaction of a born again heart will be to feel remorse for any sinful shame in our lives and to turn from it as we turn to the Lord with all of our hearts.  If we have no sincere remorse, as evidenced by the fact that we have no sincere change of heart to turn from sinful ways and begin to walk on the narrow path with the Lord, the Bible is clear that these people have not been truly born of God as we read in I John 1:6 and I John 2:3-5 ...

 

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth"  I John 1:6

 

"By this, we know that we have come to know Him if we keep His commandments.  The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this, we know that we are in Him"  I John 2:3-5

 

As we know from Scripture, God is very patient with us because He wants no one to perish in hell and be eternally separated from Him:

 

"The Lord is very patient with us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."  2 Peter3:9


...But we also know from Scripture that His patience will reach an end with us when we deliberately choose to reject His gracious truths and instead continue to walk on the path of taking pleasure in unrighteousness:

 

"...and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness."   2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

THAT IS JUST HOW SERIOUS GOD IS ABOUT THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO REJECT GOD'S LOVING PATIENCE WITH THEM, AS THEY REJECT HIS GRACIOUS TRUTHS SO THAT THEY CONTINUE IN SOME FORM/FORMS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS/SIN.  THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF CONTINUING TO REJECT GOD'S TRUTHS TO REPENT AND WALK WITH HIM IS THAT GOD WILL GIVE THESE PEOPLE POWERFUL DELUSION TO CONTINUE IN THEIR LIES SINCE THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE GOD'S TRUTHS BUT TOOK PLEASURE IN THEIR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS!

 

I. Any person who teaches that someone can knowingly continue in a walk of sin and still be a Christian is not teaching God's truths.

 

Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour and His gospel is both glorious and powerful. A truly repentant soul who sincerely and earnestly turns away from all known sin will find in salvation not only forgiveness but also deliverance from all sins. Yes, Christians are to live free from committing all known sin!

 

Sadly, most of what is being called the "gospel" today are not true gospels at all. It keeps the people in their sins and they expect that they cannot be free from them until after they die. This is another gospel and another Jesus and it is foreign to scriptural salvation. Any person who teaches that one can continue in their unrighteous ways and still be a Christian is not born of God. (1 John 3:9) These have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. From such turn away!

 

Dear ones, examine your experience in the light of the scriptures regarding this all-important issue. Your eternal destiny depends upon it!

 

II. Sin issues vs. Conscience issues

 

There are certain areas that are not so much 'sin issues' but are rather 'conscience issues' The Bible tells us: "Let no man, therefore, judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days." (Colossians 2:16) But we must be careful that by using our freedom in these areas that we don't somehow make a believer who is weak in faith fall into sin. As Romans 14:1 tells us: "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."

 

III. New Christians will accept admonishment concerning sin

 

New born-again Christians who are 'babes in Christ' will need to be taught certain things by more mature Christians relating to sin and the Christian walk. True Christians will repent of all known sins, but we as mature Christians need to guide new Christians in areas that they might not even realize are sinful by guiding them in the truths of Scripture. True Christians will humbly accept admonishment and live for the Lord in true sincerity and purity of heart.

 

IV. Unintentional sin

 

There will also be moments even in a very mature Christian's life when he or she might have an unkind thought or rude word happen unintentionally. God does promise that if we confess such things Jesus will continue to be our propitiation (1 John 2:1-3) as long as we continue to sow to the Spirit, (and not sow to the flesh), but continue to walk in the Light by following and abiding in Jesus during our journey here on earth. However, be warned, for if we refuse to confess such things, an unintentional unkind thought could continue to grow and grow and lead to deep dark sins such as jealousy, hate, vengeance, and even murder on occasion. Jesus is not the propitiation for those who take their hand off the plow and turn back to walk in the darkness and remain unrepentant. Remember Jesus told us that even those who say 'You fool!' to someone are in danger of hell fire, so if you unintentionally blurt out something of this nature, stop it dead in its tracks and confess it immediately! We don't want something like this to grow into a deeper, darker sin. Keep your conscience pure between God and man! Always be ready and prepared to meet the Lord, for we never know when our last day will be here on earth, and after that comes the Judgment.

 

"...beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."  2 Peter 3:17-18

 

V. True born-again Christians do not continue to walk in intentional/willful sin.

 

True Christians have deeply, sincerely, and humbly repented. Repentance is not repeating a prayer or merely admitting to being a sinner. Instead, repentance is the true sincerity, from following the Holy Spirit's leading, to not walk-in sin any more as we now follow Christ and sow to the Spirit. It is the beginning of a complete and drastic 'U-Turn' in a person's life. Repentance occurs because of the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and out of a deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ and great thankfulness for the gracious sacrifice He made on our behalf. The Lord referred to this 'U-Turn' as being 'born again' which signifies the drastic spiritual newness in a person's life.

 

Therefore....

 

-if a swindler truly humbly repented he does not commit swindling less and less but rather he repays back all he owes (just like Zacchaeus did in Luke 19), and stops swindling.

 

-if an adulterer truly humbly repented, he doesn't commit adultery less and less but rather he stops committing adultery. (John 8:11)

 

-if an abusive person truly humbly repented he does not commit abuse less and less but rather he takes a complete u-turn from committing abuse and stops being abusive. (Luke 12:41-48)

 

-if a drunkard truly humbly repented, he does not start getting drunk less and less but rather he has ceased by getting rid of the liquor bottles and stops getting drunk. (Luke 12:41-48)

 

-if a sorcerer truly humbly repented, he does not start doing sorcery activities less and less but rather he has destroyed the sorcery materials (just as they did in Acts 19:19) and stops sorcery activities such as Wicca, ouija boards, horoscopes, fortune-tellers etc. 

 

-if a porn addict truly humbly repented he does not start looking at porn less and less but rather he has destroyed all pornography and stops committing this sin. (Matt. 5:29)

 

-if an idolater (person who loves the things of this world more than the things of God) truly humbly repented he does not continue to be obsessed by the things of this world such as loving pleasures, the love of money, the love of selfish ambitions or anything of this world that obsesses our hearts and minds over the Lord, but rather he places God as his first love and greatest passion.  (I John 2:15, Matt. 10:37-39, II Tim. 3:1-4 etc.)

 

1 John 3:8-9...

 

3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (3:8) "He that committeth sin is of the devil."

 

3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin because he is born of God.

 

~We must remember that those who are truly born of God will not walk-in intentional willful sin. Let's look at the following 24 Scripture areas which are from "The Gospel Trumpet" -Jan/Feb 2007:

 

1) The purpose of Jesus coming was to redeem us from all iniquity

 

Matt. 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins."

 

Luke 1:68-75 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people...that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life."

 

Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

 

1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

 

2) Those who have been saved from their sins do not continue to sin and repent

 

Luke 15:7 "I say unto you, that likewise, joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."

 

John 5:14 "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee."

 

Rom. 6:1-2 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid."

 

 

3) A child of God is able to overcome temptation

 

1 Cor. 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

 

2 Pet. 2:9 "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations."

 

4) After being cleansed by the blood of Jesus, it is possible to stay clean and not serve sin.

 

Rom. 6:6-7 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin."

 

Gal. 5:24 "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

 

Col. 1:22 "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight."

 

James. 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

 

1 John 5:18 "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not."

 

Jude 24 "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy."

 

5) Grace does not cover over sin but gives the power to overcome sin.

 

Rom. 6:1-2 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

 

Rom. 6:15 "What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

 

Titus 2:11-12 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."

 

Jude 4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness."

 

6) Whoever sins is the servant of sin, not the servant of God.

 

John 8:34, 36 "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

 

Rom. 6:16-22 "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness? But God is thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but...Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness...for as ye have yielded your member's servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your member's servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness...the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

 

7) Those who continue in sin are spiritually dead.

 

Rom. 6:13 "But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead."

 

Rom. 7:5 "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins...did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death."

 

Rom. 8:6 "For to be carnally minded is death."

 

Eph. 2:1 "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins."

 

Col. 2:13 "And you, being dead in your sins..."

 

1 Tim. 5:6 "But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth."

 

 

8) True Christians are dead to sin.

 

Rom. 6:2 "How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

 

Rom. 6:6-7 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin."

 

Rom. 6:11 "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

 

Gal. 5:24 "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

 

 

9) The wrath of God abides on those who continue in sin.

 

Rom. 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness."

 

Rom. 2:8-9 "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil."

 

Col. 3:5-6 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things. sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience."

 

Eph. 2:2-3 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

 

Heb. 10:26-27 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation."

 

10) Those that profess to be saved but do not live holy by following Jesus and walking in the Spirit will be surprised at the Judgment.

 

Matt. 7:22-23 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

 

 

11) Those who walk in sin have no part of the kingdom of God.

 

Gal. 5:21 "Of the which I tell you before, as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things [the works of the flesh] shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

 

Eph. 5:5-6 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

 

I Corinthians 6:9-10 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

 

Revelation 21:8 "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

 

12) If a person turns back to his walk of sin he forfeits his salvation.

 

Ezekiel 33:12-13 "Therefore, son of man, say to your people, ‘If someone who is righteous disobeys, that person’s former righteousness will count for nothing. And if someone who is wicked repents, that person’s former wickedness will not bring condemnation. The righteous person who sins will not be allowed to live even though they were formerly righteous.  If I tell a righteous person that they will surely live, but then they trust in their righteousness and do evil, none of the righteous things that person has done will be remembered; they will die for the evil they have done."

 

Gal. 2:17-18 "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is, therefore, Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor."

 

2 Pet. 2:20-22 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning...The dog has turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

 

Heb. 10:26-27 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation."

 

However, if you have fallen away, there IS HOPE, and the dear Lord DOES want us to return to Him with all our heart!  God says 'Return to Me.'  He is merciful!  BUT, keep in mind that the Lord knows our heart and knows if we are being truly sincere or just merely being double-minded and giving Him lip-service and not true broken repentance. However, if we truly want to return to the Lord with all our heart there is HOPE. The prodigal son fell away terribly, but once he sincerely repented He was welcomed back into the family....this is what the Lord desires! ......

 

Luke 15:18-24 - Story of the Prodigal Son:

"I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men." So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate."

 

13) Those who walk in sin cannot see nor know God.

 

Matt. 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

 

Heb. 12:14 "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness, no one will see the Lord."

 

1 John 1:6 "If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth."

 

1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

 

1 Jn 3:6 "Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him."

 

3 John 11 "He that doeth evil hath not seen, God."

 

14) Christians are not to fellowship with those who profess salvation but continue to walk in sin.

 

1 Cor. 5:11 "But now I have written unto you not to keep company if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no not to eat."

 

2 Thess. 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."

 

Eph. 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

 

1 Tim. 5:20 "Them that sin rebuke before all."

 

2 Tim. 3:2-5 "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud...unholy...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

 

2 John 9-10 "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God...If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed."

 

15) Christians are to walk in the Spirit, not in the lust of the flesh.

 

Rom. 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

 

Rom. 8:13 "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

 

Gal. 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

 

Gal. 5:24 "And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."

 

1 Pet. 2:11 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."

 

2 Pet. 1:4 "Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

 

16) Christians keep themselves undefiled as they walk in the Spirit.

 

2 Cor. 7:1 "Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

 

1 Thess. 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

 

2 Pet. 3:11 "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness."

 

2 Pet. 3:14 "Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

 

1 John 3:3 "And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure."

 

1 John 5:18 "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not"

 

17) Whoever commits sin (to walk in sin) is of the devil.

 

John 8:41-44 "Ye do the deeds of your father...Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do."

 

Eph. 2:2 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air."

 

1 John 3:8 "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning."

 

1 John 3:10 "In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother."

 

18) Christians follow the example of Christ.

 

1 Pet. 1:15-16 "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

 

1 Pet. 2:21-22 "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth."

 

1 John 2:6 "He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."

 

19) A holy life does not produce sinful fruit.

 

Matt. 7:17-18 "Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."

 

Luke 6:43 "For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."

 

20) Christians have an undefiled conscience.

 

Acts 23:1 "And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day."

 

Acts 24:16 "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men."

 

1 Tim. 1:5 "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."

 

21) It is not what we profess, but what we live that counts.

 

Matt. 7:20 "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."

 

Luke 6:46 "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"

 

2 Tim. 3:5 "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."

 

Titus 1:16 "They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him."

 

22) Those who continue in sin cannot enter heaven.

 

John 8:21 "Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come."

 

Rev. 21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie."

 

Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."

 

Ephesians 5:5-6 "For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

 

I Corinthians 6:9-10 "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God."

 

Revelation 21:8 "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

 

23) A Christian is a new creature; old sinful ways are passed away.

 

Ezk. 36:26-27 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them."

 

2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things have become new."

 

24) Those who love God keep His commandments and they are not burdensome, but a joy to keep!

 

John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."

 

John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he is one that loveth me."

 

1 John 2:3-4 "And hereby we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth, not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

 

VI. Final words of Victory!!

 

Our God is a merciful, loving, long-suffering, patient, God! Right now our perfectly holy God is looking upon our world that is heavy laden in every form of wicked sin and perversion from homosexuality to all sorts of devious schemes. The TVs, video games, magazines, music, books, internet etc are full of every form of evil too, yet God in His mercy and love is holding back His mighty wrath in His love and mercy for awhile longer. He patiently waits for sinful men to simply RETURN to Him with all their hearts and get rid of their evil ways from His sight. We need to get rid of our stony hearts and double-minded ways and instead get a pure heart that walks in honest ways before Him.

 

All that God asks men to do is to sincerely repent in all honesty of their evil doings. If we truly cry out from the heart in prayer for God to somehow forgive us and have mercy on us, then God WILL have mercy on these people. God pours out His forgiveness on those who TRULY repent and humbly turn from wickedness and pride in order turn to live completely for Him! What Good News! God sent His Son into the world to shed His precious blood and atone for the sins of those who DO become born-again as they cease in their life of darkness and walk in the new life of walking in Christ's Light. You can have complete faith in Jesus' sacrifice to pay for your sins if you truly live altogether to follow Him. So if you hunger and thirst for God, lay your life before Him and surrender it all to Him and His glory.

 

Yet what about those men and women who ignore the truth and refuse to humble themselves before God and turn from sin? What awaits them? God in His mercy is giving them a chance to repent and return to Him and be His faithful children---yet, if they refuse and continue to follow the wide easy path, these will be recipients of God's mighty wrath. These God will judge in all fairness and justice and since they refused His mercy but chose to go their own way instead, they will be sent to the lake of fire with the devil unless they truly wake up and repent.

 

The day of the Lord is fast approaching, so men do need to wake up and repent.

Take a look at what the Old Testament says will characterize the day of the Lord:

 

1. A day of Reckoning - Isa. 2:12

2. A day of Judgment - Isa. 2:13-17

3. A day Cruel, with Fury and Burning Anger - Isa. 13:9

4. A day of Destruction from the Almighty - Isa. 13:6; Joel 1:15

5. A day of Panic, Subjugation, and Confusion - Isa. 22:5

6. A day of Vengeance - Jer. 46:10

7. A day that Belongs to the Lord God of Hosts - Jer. 46:10

8. A day of Tumult - Eze. 7:7

9. A day of Doom - Eze. 7:10; 30:3

10. A day of Battle - Eze. 13:5; Zech. 14:3

11. A day of Clouds - Eze. 30:3

12. A day of Gloom and Darkness - Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18, 20; 8:9

13. A day that is Great and Awesome - Joel 2:11; 3:1

14. A day when the Sun and Moon grow dark - Joel 3:15

15. A day when Justice is Dealt Out - Obadiah 15

16. A day of Punishment - Zeph. 1:8

17. A day of the Lord's Anger - Zeph. 2:23

 

In the New Testament Peter makes it clear what kind of a time the Day of the Lord is, "But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, which righteousness dwells" (2 Pet. 3:10-13).

 

Walk the Narrow path -  I pray that as many as possible will wake up and repent before this Day arrives. We must remember though that despite the fact that we repent and place our faith in Jesus that this is only the beginning of the journey as a new creation. Salvation is not merely a single moment, but a life-long journey and the Bible teaches that only those who overcome and endure to the end in following Christ will be saved. Jesus told us that those who return back to their old ways will not inherit the Kingdom of God, but will be placed with the hypocrites and unbelievers on Judgment Day. So the Bible teaches us to 'work on our salvation with fear and trembling', for it's possible for a true child of God to eventually become lukewarm, drift away, fall away, get carried away by useless idols etc. The Bible teaches it's a narrow road and few enter in! We must strive to enter in!

 

Have mercy on and help those who fall away off the straight and narrow road -  If someone falls spiritually and dies spiritually don't discourage and scorn them, but in love show them the truths of God's word and lead them back to repentance and back into walking with God in the Spirit. This is what Nathan did for David when David died spiritually, and also James 5:19-20 clearly teaches us: "My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins."

 

Plus consider yourself lest you should fall away...wouldn't you want someone to help you stand and build you back up in God and lead you to repentance instead of someone crushing you and making you feel worthless and defeated? God greatly desires for that one lost sheep to be sought out and led back to repentance and walking pure and holy before Him.

 

The time is getting nearer to the Lord's return, plus we never know when our final day on earth might be so Jesus urgently told us to always BE PREPARED!!  -  The Bible teaches that the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he might devour. He doesn't seek to devour the unsaved since he already has them devoured....he seeks to devour the saved! But don't worry for we CAN know victory! Here are some words of hope that are taught in God's word to lead us to final victory:

 

- Know your Bible and meditate upon it so you can defeat Satan's lies, and be strengthened in God's truths!

 

-Pray without ceasing!

 

-Be as wise as a serpent in a world of wolves!

 

-Love the Lord with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself!

 

-Grow strong in the Lord and in His might!

 

-Meditate on His word morning, noon, and night so you can keep your path pure!

 

-Continue to be a steadfast soldier for the Lord!

 

-Examine yourself daily, and confess to the Lord any unkind thought or lack of patience or area that you need strength in to always overcome every temptation through the power of the Spirit!

 

-Endure to the end and overcome! (for only those who overcome and endure faithfully to the end in following Christ receive the crown of life)

 

-Put on your spiritual armor each day!

 

-Take up your cross!

 

-Fight the good fight!

 

-Let us exhort each other as we see the day draw nigh! Let us build each other up and encourage one another to not look left or right, but to keep focused on the upward prize and hope!

 

-Contend for the faith! (We are commanded to share the true gospel if we truly love men. Plus we must warn men to turn from wickedness and deceptive doctrines so their blood will not be on our hands on Judgment Day.)

 

-Always sow to the Spirit and not to the flesh for God will not be mocked!

 

-Let us strive to be a mighty army for God that seeks to lead men from the power of sin and Satan and instead to the power of God!

 

-We CAN be victorious if we abide steadfastly and submit 100% to God, and resist the devil 100%!

 

-There is no such thing as "sinless perfection" and every Christian needs to examine themselves daily and seek to confess any unkind thought, time of impatience, and so forth. We all have a deep and personal need for the present merciful grace of Jesus Christ! Remember that God is merciful and knows if you have a humble and contrite heart.  If you do stumble and sin, the Holy Spirit will quickly convict you to confess because you love God, walk close to Him, and want to maintain a strong relationship with Him.  This shows that you are truly saved because true Christians want to live pure and holy in their walk with God, while the unsaved still wish to go their own way.  So always listen to the Spirit and obey the Spirit's leading which will guide us into all truth and guide us to live holy, God-honoring lives. The Bible warns us not to quench/extinguish the Spirit's leading which is a dangerous practice and can easily lead us away from our walk with the Lord. However, if we obey the Spirit's leading and humbly confess, the Lord will be our propitiation and we can count on Him to forgive us. (1 John 2:1-5) What a wonderful God we serve!

 

-To God be 100% of the glory and may we stand strong in the Lord as He leads us forward to eternal victory and joy everlasting!

 

Article was written by F. A. Butler