Five

On the 25th I left you with this:

"We simply must get it through our thick hearts and minds that Jesus is calling to us from eternity to JOIN Him THERE. The condition and situation of our life here is to be perfect, and holy."

"Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord"

More Truth Telling? (the comment box is open!)

I have no doubt that some choked on these words. Let me say that I know Christians sin after they are saved, and that we have to be on guard against the many perilous temptations of the world and our own weaknesses, as well as Satan himself. But this cannot justify us being unconcerned with our progress toward a godly lifestyle. We are, like it or not (and what's not to like?) called to holiness, and to perfection.

I have found sin to generate guilt, shame, and depression. Physical sickness and weakness do have their roots in sin. Had we no sin we would live in perfect health and perfect relationship with God. But it is now not so. I fear we do not have what is necessary to effectively overcome sinful behavior. We all to often "cop" to the saying "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven".

I have heard it said: "I sin every day"!!!

God help us and God forbid, though for some it is no doubt true. By contrast I heard an elder say once: "I'm to busy to sin"!!! Now that IS a refreshing attitude to hear expressed.

We overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony, AND by not loving our own lives till death. Revelation 12:11 What do we do to overcome sin? WE REPENT. Now as I have thought on repentance, I have come to the conclusion that the power that completes repentance is godly sorrow.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

We need to be really truly sorry for our sins. They cost Jesus a tremendous amount of suffering. They cost Him 33 plus years apart from heaven and from the presence of His Father. And at the end they cost Him a day of spiritual and physical pain and degradation the likes of which none of us can never fully comprehend, unless like so many of His followers have, we to suffer as He did. We need to be sorry for our sins in light of this and in light of God's past and present heart brokenness for our pitiful condition. He longs to make us whole and holy, mature for a life where sin is a rare exception rather than a continuing habit as some presume He allows. Sin and sinning SHOULD cause us much and deep sorrow.

But for repentance we have NO REGRET !!! Why? Because it is a joy to repent !!! , and to be free of the guilt of sin, and the shame, and the regrets for the harm done others and self, and the grief to God's own precious heart.

1 Peter 2:19-21

19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

To excuse sin because we are "sinners saved by grace" is to ignore the fact that there is no excuse for sin in God's eyes. We were going to hell because we were sinners. Why should we not be altogether adamant against sin each and every day of our lives?

We quote Romans 6:23-

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Shall we not study as well to live out the first 22 verses?

Romans 6
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 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.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 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?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

We are made free from sin !!!

How is it that so many of us live so far from the practice of this freedom? I think there are several factors. One is our failure to depart from the pursuit of our appetites, lusts and pride. Another is our unwillingness to avoid the "entertainments" of the world in these very late days. And even should we refrain from these things, I fear the affluence and comforts of even the poorest of many Christians (especially in the west) cause us to be dull of heart and slow of mind and conscience.

Luke 21:34

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

We are charged to walk worthy. We are called to a life that is different than that of pagans, cultists and secularist "humanists". We are called to live a life different than those lost in sin, and different than those practicing sin. We are called to be different as we are called to be holy and perfect.

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 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Quite simply and, I think accurately: We are called to be His. What will we be for God that He should keep us for eternity?