"FREEDOM FROM SIN?"
Many professing Christians claim to be born again (John 3:3). They say
Jesus has given them victory over sin and its power but continue to have sin
manifest in their lives. According to John 8:34 "Whoever commits sin is a
servant to sin." Romans 6:16 and 6:23 say "He who is a servant to sin shall
reap death." This is separation from God.
A true believer has no sin in his life because he is set free from it
(John 8:36). To a true Christian sin is something of the past (Romans
6:17,18). You were the servants of sin (past tense). Does this actually mean
you are to live a life without sin, in other words have NO sin manifesting in
your life? That's exactly what the Bible says: "Awake to right-
eousness and SIN NOT." (1 Corinthians 15:34) Jesus told the woman who was
taken in adultery to "Go, and sin no more." (John 8:11). Jesus tells the
blind man "Go and sin no more." (John 5:14) Are we to obey the very commands
He gave His disciples? Jesus said to "Make disciples teaching them to obey
EVERYTHING I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:20)
Jesus commands us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect
(Matthew 5:48), but we shouldn't confuse this with the perfection of receiving
our glorified bodies as in 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 or Phillipians 3:11,12.
"LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU!" He that doeth righteousness (no sin) is
righteous even as He is righteous." (1 John 2:29 & 3:7) How righteous is God?
Jesus left us an example that we "should follow His steps who did NO sin." (1 Peter
2:21 & 22) Jesus commands us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect
(Matthew 5:48) How perfect is our Father in Heaven? If He doesn't sin then
neither should we. Peter quotes the command to be holy for God is holy.
(1Peter 1:16) How holy is God's holiness? Flawless. (Hebrews 12:14) John
says: "Every man who has this hope purifies himself even as he is pure." How
pure is God? "God is light and in Him is no darkness AT ALL." (1 John 1:5)
We are to live just as he did: WITHOUT SIN. (1 John 2:3-6) Do we keep
his commandments? If not and we claim to know him we are liars. (1 John
2:4) "If we cease from sin and die to ourselves, we will live the rest of our lives
to the will of God." (1 Peter 4:1 & 2) Today Is set before us the way of
life and death. Righteousness, which comes through faith (Romans 1:5 & 1:17),
brings life. (Romans 6:20-23)
Jesus says "Come unto me, all you who are burdened and heavy laden and I
will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Are we resting in God, or are we still
struggling with sin? If so then we are not resting. The writer of Hebrews
says anyone who has entered into God's rest has ceased from his own works.
(Hebrews 4:10)
Jesus said "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30)
Following Jesus is easy unless we try by our own efforts!!
Let us come to the precious pearl and let go of all else. (Matthew 11:30)
Let us lose self life and have real life. (Luke 9:24) Let us believe His words
and live by them. (Matthew 4:4) Set your affection on things above, not on things
on the earth.(Colossians 3:1-3)
We ARE dead. We HAVE BEEN crucified with Christ. (Romans 6:6) If we believe it,
we will experience it !!!
We ARE RESURRECTED with Christ. (Coll 3:1) Let us believe! Let us look to Jesus
with our eyes singly on Him, trusting and believing Him. Then our whole body will be
full of light. (Matthew 6:22) Who is the light? Jesus said "I am the Light." (John
8:12) We will be filled with Jesus and in US will be no darkness, and therefore no sin.
Have you said there must be more to Christianity than what you have
experienced? There is! There is abundant life (John 10:10): living
without sin. "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." (John
8:36