If you’ve had it ingrained into your thinking all your life that you will always be a ‘sinner’ (one who continues to sin and henceforth...remain a slave to sin -John 8:34) yet...are ’saved by grace’, then why would you think that it was even remotely possible that we could ever ‘go and sin no more’ and be free of sin? And yet, scripture clearly teaches that whoever abides in Jesus... no longer sins. (1 John 3:6,9; 5:18)

Or maybe it’s just those ‘big sins’ you will no longer commit...you know...like murdering and adultery and beating your spouse and robbing banks, etc. But those ‘little ones’ that we do all the time because...well...’you know...this flesh nature that we imperfect, flawed humans have...’

But what we fail to see is the effects that sin (even those ‘little ones’) has on us over time. It begins to harden our hearts and sear our conscience. (Heb. 3:13; 1 Tim. 4:2; Matt. 24:12). We seem to ignore those warnings about ‘giving heed to the things we have heard lest we drift away’ (Heb. 2:1), which then happens and before you know it...we ‘grow at ease in Zion’ (Amos 6:1) and become complacent (Zeph.1:12). We then begin to excuse or justify our little sins by comparing ourselves to those who seemingly are ‘worse sinners’ than us, which is not wise. (2 Cor. 10:12; Luke 13:1-5; 18:11). Before you know it...we grow drowsy and fall asleep, just like those ten virgins did in the parable where they nearly missed out on entering the wedding banquet (Matt. 25:1-3).

And if you read that parable, who were the ones that actually got to ‘go in’? Those who were ‘ready’ (10). Have you ever wondered what it means when the Bible talks about ‘being ready’? (Matt. 24:44; Luke 12:40; Rev. 19:7; 1 John 3:3; 2 Cor. 7:1)

Don’t get me wrong, I know how easy it is to be lulled into complacency, which then leads us down that deceptive and subtle path we can find ourselves on where we view ‘sin’ in different degrees. And yet, when you read through the scriptures in the NT, various writers seem to group all sin into one category where they are all ‘deserving of death’, and can actually keep us out of the kingdom of God. You might review Romans 1:29-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-6; 1 Pet. 4:15; Rev. 21:7-8 & Rev. 22:14-15.

But wait...you’ve been taught that you will never be ‘perfect’ and no one can possibly ‘go and sin no more’, right? So we just learn to ‘trust in Jesus’ and what He did on the cross and maybe just spend time reading a few more chapters in our Bible as we recommit to be at church whenever the doors are open. That...my friends...is nothing but a ‘form of godliness’ where we deny the power of God who came to set us free of ALL sin. (2 Tim. 3:5; John 8:32-36; Romans 6)

If God ‘understands’ that we are ‘imperfect, flawed humans’...who will always ‘sin on this side of heaven’...because ‘Christians are not perfect, just forgiven’... as those ‘saints who sin’ like to remind us...then someone please answer me this:

Why are we told to “lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us...” (Heb. 12:1). Why would Paul remind us that ‘having these promises...let us cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God’? (2 Cor. 7:1). Then, there is John’s exhortation that says “everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3). Who are the ones, by the way... who will actually ‘see God’ (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14)?

Now...before you go into panic mode, or even worse – you just flat out reject all these scriptures I listed (which hopefully you read yourself after looking them up)...take a deep breath and let me assure you of this one thing:

Don’t become obsessed with all your ‘sins and imperfections’ and think you can just ‘get in shape’ on your own; because you can’t. And you will only frustrate yourself trying to do so. Those who abide in Jesus are not ‘sin focused’, rather...they have set their minds (and hearts) on Jesus who promises ‘perfect peace’ (Isa. 26:3). We are told to ‘set our minds on things above, and not the earth’ (Col. 3:1-2). This is why we must come to Jesus with our whole heart, so that HE...can be the one who begins to lead us by His Spirit where He begins to ‘cleanse the land’ (our hearts) just as He did for the Israelites in the land of Canaan, which we know was the ‘promised land’. And what are we told to ‘fear’ in Heb. 3:16- 4:1?

Yes...there were ‘wicked nations’ that needed to be dealt with, and God assured His people of these two things: He would be the one leading them to overcome ALL the enemies, and...they would do it ‘little by little’. (Ex. 23:20-33). And if they thought they could do it on their own time schedule, or in their own strength...well they would have some hard lessons to learn. The same goes for us. Thankfully...we have His promise that His peace will guide us and...He will complete the work He began in us...provided... we ‘continue on in the faith’ (Phil. 1:6; Col. 1:21-23)

This I can tell you: when the reality of this begins to ‘sink in’ and your eyes are opened to the sobering truth of what is at stake here, and that there is just a little bit more to this ‘making a profession of faith’...you will quickly begin to see the importance of getting back into His word and presence, and spending less time on so many of the other ‘distractions’ that are out there wanting to choke off any fruit God desiress to produce in your life. Parable of the sower, anyone? (Matt. 13:22-23)

There really is a trumpet cry of warning being issued in this hour for a ‘sleeping remnant’, but many will fail to hear it. Thankfully, those ‘wise virgins’ who fell asleep had enough presence of mind, not to mention supply of oil, to get about the business of ‘making themselves ready’ (Matt. 25:1-10). Seems like Paul made a habit of sending a similar warning himself. You might finish up today reading over Romans 12:11-14 and Eph. 5:8-21. Also, one last passage that really jumped out to me this morning- 2 Tim. 2:19. What are we admonished to ‘depart’ from?

We are either going to ‘depart from iniquity’...or be told to ‘depart from Him’! (Matt. 7:23). And that part about the Lord ‘knows who are His’? Yeah...take a look at John 10:27 and then Gal. 5:24. Hope to see you back here tomorrow...Lord willing.