So which ‘besetting sin(s)’ in your life (Heb. 12:1) that you struggle with to overcome...have proven to be a formidable match for the power that is declared to be found in the name of Jesus, and in the power that comes through His shed blood? I only ask because Jesus seemed to suggest that we would ‘know the truth’ and that this ‘truth would set us free...from all sin’. (John 8:32-36)

It's a fair question, honestly. And it’s one I have had to confront myself and come to terms with in recent years. Either God’s word is ‘truth’...and ‘works’...or we are just playing religious games, guilty of ‘walking in a form of godliness while denying the power’. (2 Tim. 3:5). Or is it possible that you were ‘sold a counterfeit’ gospel, as Paul warned might happen in 2 Cor. 11:3-4 ...where you would end up ‘receiving another spirit’...and even following ‘another Jesus’.

The other alternatives to consider is that a person can still be ‘in the dark’ or ‘ignorant’ to the truth (Acts 26:18) which would explain why things are not working out in your life as ‘ideally’ for you as God’s word promised it would (Hosea 4:6; John 5:14).

Then there is the other ‘option’ to consider, and this one is uncomfortable to bring up, but it needs to be asked: Is it possible that you just love that sin more...than you love God? Because Jesus said “IF...we loved Him...we’d do what He asked”, which is to repent and turn from it. (John14:15; Luke 6:46; 13:3,5).

There was a young wealthy ruler who had to come to terms with what it meant to follow Jesus...and at least he was honest enough to ‘count the cost’...and then he turned away, unwilling to ‘lay it all down’ so he could follow Jesus...and ‘receive eternal life’. (Matt. 19:16-22)

So which one(s) is it? Still ‘murdering/raping/robbing’ people? Oh, you aren’t ‘that bad’, you say? Good to hear. How goes it with ‘envy, strife, along with bickering and faultfinding’? Still ‘nursing a grudge, holding on to bitterness and unwilling to fully forgive someone ‘from your heart’? (Matt. 18:34-35). Yeah...like I said...these can get...’uncomfortable’ when we allow the light of God’s word to shine into our darkened hearts. Anyone having flashbacks to those days as a teenager when your parent flipped on the bright lights in your room in an attempt to wake you up from your slumber? Or dare I mention maybe a late night party when everyone was ‘paired up’ in a darkened room and someone ‘accidentally’ flipped the lights on?

So why continue beating this ‘same old drum’ about ‘sin and repentance’? Well aside from the fact that the Holy Spirit continues to compel me to ‘beat this drum’, I am constantly reminded that Jesus is coming back for a bride that is ‘holy, spotless, without stain or wrinkle and blameless’ (Eph. 5:26-27), and that ‘without holiness, no one will see the Lord’ (Heb. 12:14)...and it is the ‘pure in heart who will see God’ (Matt. 5:8). If you are curious to know what is ‘in your heart’...listening to what comes out of your mouth might be a good place to start (Matt. 12:33-37; 15:18-20).

Did you catch the message from yesterday, and what happens when a tree is cut down and ‘dies’? It stops bearing the ‘fruit’...it was known to produce. And yes, as I pointed out....that dying process became evident within days, and usually within a ‘few weeks’... all the leaves had turned ‘deadly brown’ and it was evident the tree is no longer ‘alive’.

And why did I used that illustration? The answer is simple- IF...we truly are following Jesus (as opposed to just professing we ‘believe’ in Him)...the transformation should be obvious to all around you (sooner than later); dead ‘trees’ don’t keep living...IF...they have really ‘died’. Yes...we are talking about this ‘old man’ of ours who ought not still be tagging along with us...since those who are following Jesus are ‘putting him/it to death’ (Rom. 8:13). And for some reason, Paul and other writers had to continue reminding the churches...that this was no small issue. “Let no one deceive you with empty words’...Paul wrote...for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the children of disobedience. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ’ (Eph. 5:6,5)

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul points out all these ‘evident deeds of the flesh’ that should not even be ‘named among us’ with this somber warning...”Those who continue to practice such things (bear this fruit) will NOT...inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3). How serious was he about all this? Serious enough to admonish us saying “Therefore, having these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the...fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1).

This is usually the time when someone wants to jump up to reassure everyone who is a ‘babe in Christ’ but still walks according to the flesh...”But you are still saved!”

What is it with our obsession to continually want to assure people they are ‘still saved’ regardless of where they are in their walk of faith? I would think that God is quite capable of reassuring His own children of this fact, given He is the one who is ‘saving’ them...IF...they are following Him. (Rom. 8:14; John 10:27; 1 John 3:6-10; Acts 3:19)

So what about those ‘carnal babes in Christ’ we read about in 1 Cor. 3? Yes...let’s talk about them...tomorrow.