Category: Sin

We have lists of sins in several places in the New Testament, accompanied by phrases which express the end of the sinner. For example, 1 Corinthians 6:7-10. Which indicates that none who engage in these sins “will inherit the kingdom of God.” Note that this is not an eternal disqualification, but an indication that those who continue in these practices, never repenting, will be punished. In fact, in verse 11 Paul wrote, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Continue reading “A List of Sins” →

The universal problem of sin means that God had to plan for the redemption of man through His Son Jesus.  Fortunately, this plan, formed from the beginning, was accomplished in Christ’s sacrificial death.

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There are many passages in scripture which reveal the principle of cause and effect. This is true with the life you live on earth, but is especially true regarding your eternal standing with God.

Consider the following two passages that illustrate this truth. The first from Paul’s pen, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). He follows with two contrasting ends, “he who sows to his flesh will reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (8).

The other passage, from the book of Proverbs, “He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, and the rod of his anger will fail” (22:8). A sinful life is vain. What seems fulfilling ultimately is like a crop of green stalks that do not produce fruit. Or like one whose rod is used to beat and prod breaking in his hand. It is common for the worldly to think their lives to be full and effective. This is an effective lie that Satan tells. It is an illusion.

Remember the principle of moral cause and effect. Forgetting it will cost you your soul! “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that we may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Cor. 5:10).

Jesus here, in his capacity of High Priest of the new covenant, is compared to the priests under the old. They ministered daily, offering sacrifices that were not capable to truly taking away sin. In contrast Jesus offered up His sacrifice once. He offered up Himself as our perfect and effective sacrifice, accomplishing what the blood of bulls and goats could not.
After the sin problem was solved through His shed blood, He sat at the right hand of the Father, where He continues to reign in His kingdom. He is both Priest and King (after the order of Melchizedek).

The text indicates that this reign will continue until all his enemies are defeated. Elsewhere we are told that the last enemy is death (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:26). After that, “then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (28).

That sacrifice truly takes away the sins of those who come to Him in faith. We are told that we are made complete (or perfect) in our cleansing. This is it. We have been given the forever sacrifice that sanctifies us!

In contrasting the sacrifice of Jesus with that of the blood sacrifices offered under the old covenant, the Hebrew writer quotes from Psalm 40:6-8, establishing it as a Messianic prophecy.

As seen in the preceding verses, God did not intend or desire for the animal sacrifices under the previous covenant to continue. They were insufficient to deal permanently with sin. Each year the offerings were continued.

God’s purpose was to send His only begotten Son into the world, Jesus, to offer up Himself as that efficacious sacrifice for sin. Jesus did God’s will. He proclaimed from the beginning of His life (Luke 2:49) until the end of His life (Matthew 26:39) that His purpose on earth was to do the will of His Father in heaven. In so doing, His sacrifice accomplished the change in the covenants, as the new will was ratified by His shed blood.

It is also that blood that finally cleanses us, separating us in holiness to God. Because sin’s debt has been paid, Jesus’ sacrifice was “once for all.”

The inspiration for this short article comes from my son’s fine sermon (6/14/21) titled Spiritual Sobriety. Early in the lesson he spoke of the reasons why people today drink alcohol. One of the main reasons is that alcohol lowers inhibitions. Alcohol is a depressant to the body. It slows you down (your reflexes and brain). It also clouds judgment and lowers self-control. It slows down the pre-frontal cortex which acts as the command center for executive function, impulse control, and long-term consequence planning. It also alters neurotransmitters further relaxing the brain and reducing restraint, making rational decision-making much more difficult.

Sounds bad, doesn’t it. And yet people love to drink! Why? These effects feel good! People fell less stressed, often have more (though misplaced) confidence, and because they feel “loose” laugh and interact more easily. Later on, they may regret what they say or how they interact, but in the moment they feel good. Continue reading “Heightened Inhibitions” →

A discussion of the dangers to others, as well as our own souls if we influence others to evil during these perilous times.  A discussion of 2 Timothy 3:1-9.

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Using the book of Ecclesiastes as a starting point for the discussion, we distinguish between what the world considers as needs, and what are the true spiritual needs that are needed by all men.

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The apostle Paul warned Timothy, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1). The phrase “last days” properly references our own time, which began on Pentecost in Acts 2, and will continue until Jesus comes again. In history there was a Patriarchal age, A Mosaical age, and then with the ascension of Christ to His throne, our own Christian age. The Bible clearly establishes the Christian age will continue until all is destroyed (cf. 2 Peter 3:1-13).

What we know from history is that perilous times have been present since Pentecost. At some points in history it has been less chaotic, and sometimes much more, but peril is always present, especially for the child of God. Thus the reason for Paul’s warning. The apostle goes further to explain the why of such dangers. He writes, “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (2-5a). Continue reading “Perilous Times” →

Both the word Flee and the word Pursue are used in 2 Timothy 2:22-23. We discuss the significance of these words, and show certain things that should either be pursued, or run away from!

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A discussion of the book of Zephaniah reveals much about the behavior that disappoints God, and the judgment He visits upon those unwilling to submit to Him.

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The Questions:  Why does God allow suffering?  Why do evil people prosper? And, Why does God not intervene? Are all answered in this lesson taken from Ecclesiastes 8:11-13.

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The work of God toward man is stated succinctly by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” The problem of life is sin. God gave men free will, and men determined to sin (from Adam on). As such, God’s grace became necessary so that we might be born again, achieving new life through the Son.

While men have a tendency to minimize the significance of sin and its consequences, we see a very different record in the Bible. Let’s compare the two: men’s views VS God’s view.

The idea that men are born degenerate sinners is not true. We understand that sin is not biological (in our genes) nor an inescapable part of a fleshly nature. This is a view that is espoused by Reformed Theology (Calvinism). Without getting to a detailed treatment of the view, we note that the Bible paints a very different picture. Continue reading “Notable Facts About SIN” →