Causes, cost, and consequences of sin-4
Sin is an affront to Jehovah. He does not take any sin lightly nor does He look the other way at sin by the redeemed. Since sin is rarely taught in ‘churches’ today, we must go solely to His Word to gain a true biblical understanding of sin and how Jehovah views sin. Our own ideas and beliefs are of little value if not firmly supported in Scripture.
Romans 6:15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
There are many false preachers and teachers that actually teach that the more we sin, the more Jehovah is glorified in His provision of grace thru His Son. How can people believe these lies? Grace doesn’t give us freedom to sin, but removes the curse from sin, that is, eternal death. It is purely by the death and resurrection of Jesus that we have been freed from this curse of death, as no one can attain righteousness through his works.
6:16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
Clearly, since Jesus purchased us from the slave block of sin, we now belong to Him as His slaves to His righteousness. He is our divine, eternal Master.
6:17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, 6:18 and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
You must pass from one to another. You can’t be slaves to both simultaneously.
If you still have strong desires to sin, which you then act upon, you may not be saved. At a minimum, you are turning your back on your salvation.
6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
This is a conscious act, a deliberate act, and permanent act. We will at times fall back into sin, but we must quickly confess and turn away. If not, what are telling Jehovah and ourselves?
6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 6:21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.
Other than some sensual, emotional, and shallow feelings of prideful accomplishments, what did you derive as eternal benefits of what at one time consumed your every hour?
6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We no longer are powerless to resist sin. We have the very Spirit of Jehovah within us. We are the very Temple of Jehovah within us. We have the very words of Jehovah within us.
We can resist sin.
He will help us resist sin.
We must resist sin.
More next Saturday.
All of this and more is covered in my book “The Identity Theft of Christ” available at Amazon. The Table of Contents reveals what is supported by Scripture in Context.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Identity Theft………………………………………….4
Chapter 2 In the Beginning GOD Created…………….………………………………………29
Chapter 3 I AM………………………………………………………………………………………….54
Chapter 4 Thus says the LORD…………………………………………………………………...83
Chapter 5 Do not be Deceived……………………………………………………………………..99
Chapter 6 But the Jews……………………………………………………………………………..110
Chapter 7 Many False Prophets………………………………………………………….……...127
Chapter 8 Above Reproach………………………………………………………………….…….190
Chapter 9 Will not Endure Sound Doctrine…………………………………………….…..207
Chapter 10 Seeks After a Sign…………………………………………………………………….219
Chapter 11 Made Them Male and Female…………………………………………………...239
Chapter 12 No Other Gods…………………………………………………………………….…..267
Chapter 13 Who are My Mother and Brothers?.………………………………………..…307
Chapter 14 Even if an Angel……………………………………………………………………....341
Chapter 15 Being Filled………………………………………………………………………….….372
Chapter 16 The Church…………………………………………………………………………..…403
Chapter 17 Role of the Church……………………………………………………………….…..435
Chapter 18 Remember the Poor……………………………………………………….…….…..461
Chapter 19 All Have Sinned……………………………………………………………….………492
Chapter 20 Wages of Sin…………………………………………………………………….……..520
Chapter 21 But Seek First His Kingdom………………………………………………………543
Chapter 22 My Judgments are True……………………………………………………………560
Chapter 23 But Who Do You say I AM? ....…………………………………………………..478
Chapter 24 Do You Believe?.……………………………………………………………….……..496
Chapter 25 The Gospel of Jesus Christ.………………………………………………………..517
Chapter 26 What Shall I Do to Inherit Eternal Life....……………………….…………..539
Chapter 27 Be Holy…………………………………………………………………………….……..567
Chapter 28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts..………………………………………….……597
List of Citations………………………………………………………………………………613
Notes……………………………………………………………………………………………..615