STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

4/7/2013 ~ Understanding Sin

🙈🙉🙊   UnderstandingSin.pptx   SinAM1.mp3 (30m 14s)            SinPM2.mp3 (37m 15s) Sermon Audio added 6/2/2019 on the event the overhead projector bulb failed Acknowledging sin confronts each faithful humble heart. Either a soul recognizes shortcomings or arrogantly denies them. Extremes range between light’s awareness to darkness’s ignorance. A choice to pursue God or not confronts each spirit of a soul. Faith in divine awareness or a quasi-random isolated chaos ensues; ~ a trusting believer or non-trusting non-believer. ● Control over self indulgence or anything goes.  Sin is most heinous without Godly fear. ... to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. ~ James 4:17   NOT PURSUING GOOD WORKS = SIN   Righteousness is found in acts of pursuing goodness and general improvement. Sin most often spews from ones own mouth. In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, ... ~ Proverbs 10:19   SIN = LOOSE LIPS     CAUTIOUS SPEECH = WISE   Many times one would like to lash out with the frankness of honesty for being done wrong, however, caution due to adverse responses keeps those thoughts to the self. Truth more often invokes anger with unjustified retaliation as the result. Evil hold no rational behaviors of respect. Diplomacy’s best color is often what is hidden. Sin is definite in its’ blatant nature. A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. ~ Proverbs 21:4   A PROUD HEART  =  SIN    A HAUGHTY LOOK   PLOWING WICKEDNESS Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. ~ 1st John 3:4   SIN = LAWLESSNESS   Law establishes separation from the light and dark; goodness from evil. ... by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is knowledge of sin. ~ Romans 3:20   LAW = KNOWLEDGE OF SIN   For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. ~ Ecclesiastes 7:20 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ~ 1st John 1:8 ... my sin is always before me. ~ Psalm 51:3 No one can pass the conviction each of us bears for sin. The problem arises when we do not acknowledge the sins we bear. Knowledge involves self awareness to the truth of who we are and how we treat others. ... the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. ~ Romans 4:15   LAW = WRATH AGAINST SIN   (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ... ~ Romans 5:12-13 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. ... ~ 1st John 3:8 Sin has been with us since the beginning. God has manifested Himself in the flesh to emancipate us from sin. ... does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. ... ~ John 8:44 People hide behind the guilt of their lies. The stem of sin is the lies one perpetuates upon deceiving others. Honesty is where love begins. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. ... ~ Ezekiel 18:20 Sin is on all of our body tags. Without Christ to bear our guilt, salvation melts to the darkness of death. ... by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. ... ~ Romans 5:18-21   Through offense       ⮡   Judgment came to all → many made sinners                   ♢ Resulting in condemnation   Through one Man's obedience       ⮡   Free gift came to all → many made righteous                   ♢ Resulting in justification of life        Sin = death   Grace = Righteousness to eternal life in Christ   Sin is not inherited. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 6:23   WAGES OF SIN = DEATH   The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ~ 1st Corinthians 15:56   STING OF DEATH = SIN   Death is always a shock that stings all caring hearts involved. Sin’s most atrocious acts are actually condoned by mankind’s legal follies to pursue his desires over God’s. Having laws supporting sin bolsters it’s lawlessness as acceptable. Legalizing abortion gives strength to sin through the weakness of man. The injustice man inflicts will be sheared away by God’s light. ... No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; ... make the way of escape, ... ~ 1st Corinthians 10:12-13                 └─> Our prayers for an escape should never cease. TEMPTATION Luke 11:4       └─ SIN ───┐ GROWING SIN ⭨ HABIT ⭨       James 1:12-15 DEATH ... when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. ~ James 1:12-15 The sentence for sin is death. Our only escape from sin is by the Grace of God. ... each one shall bear his own load. ~ Galatians 6:2-5 ... if you show partiality, you commit sin, ... ~ James 2:8-9   SHOW PARTIALITY = SIN   Sin has subtleties none are able to become totally free of. We can become more aware of sin as we stumble over mistakes made. Battling sin is a refinement of the spirit while we draw closer to God. Prejudice has no walls to stop the focus of its’ hate, other than God’s word declaring it as a sin of choice. Prejudice is an act that violates the word of God. Who would hate a child of any race or color but the most despicable of humans. Hate’s upward escalation, including all the other advancing carnal sins, is the root of all divisions among souls. "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." ~ Genesis 4:7 No one has not struggles or battles in finding the spirit of truth. To get back to the sanctuary of true peace, it has to be made through God in His vision of faith. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ... ~ Galatians 3:22-25   Before faith came           ⭨          Kept under guard by the law (tutor)                                     ↓                          All under sin    ☆   Promise by faith in Jesus Christ                 ⮡   Given to those who believe                                        ↕                     Might be justified by faith Faith in Christ allows us to become free from the law of sin and death. It is God who loves us beyond the measure of our sin ● Knowing to do good and not doing it is sin ● A haughty look, proud heart, evil pursuits, - are sin ● Sin is lawlessness without regard for goodness ● It is untruthful to deny that one has sinned ● Sin enters a life through acts of disobedience ● The root of sin is held in the heart of a liar ● Faith in Jesus results in the justification of life ● Knowing right from wrong is strength we all seek ● A shallow character holds unforgiveness close ● Desire gives sin’s unrestrained rise leading to death ● Judging one’s self as superior is a sin of prejudice ● His word calls for us to rule over our temptations ● Forgiveness through Christ heals us from sin For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. ~ Romans 8:2 ... if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ~ Romans 8:10 If Christ is in you Body = Dead because of sin   Spirit = Life because of righteousness   To make Christ our divine savior from the heart, He recognizes this worship and extends the promise of His protective powers in to eternal life. God puts value on hearts that hold external love for Him, rather than exclusively self-centered focus on the self. It regards thankfulness over selfishness. ... Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. ... ~ Hebrews 9:27-28 Apart from sin for salvation Appear a second time Judgment ↑ Who eagerly wait for Him ↑   Appointed for men to die once   ⭦ Christ was offered once ⭧ To bear the sins of many The explanation of God’s promise and plan are clear for all to understand. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God ... ~ 1st Peter 3:18 It is the Spirit that instructs us to become larger than just ourselves. To embrace the Creator who offers Grace, in a miraculous immeasurable way, delivers a higher peace that cannot be found alone. ⭨ ⭩    ⭨ ⭩    All past sinners and believers ⭨ ⭩ All future sinners and faithful ↔ † ↔ ⭧ ⭦ ⭧ ⭦ ⭧ ⭦ ... And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. ~ Isaiah 53:6 Jesus allows our sins to be expunged by bearing them upon His forgiving heart. the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ~ 1st John 1:7   HIS BLOOD = CLEANSES OUR SINS   And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. ~ Hebrews 9:22 ... To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, ... ~ Revelation 1:5 As Christ gave His life for ours, in turn, we must turn to love Him as He loved us with no end. Eternity is truly an expression of His absolute love. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." ~ Matthew 26:28 "To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive the remission of sins." ~ Acts 10:43   Believe in Christ → Receive Remission of sins   To accept Christ’s mercy as a personal sacrifice for one’s own sin is to believe in His sacrificed blood, His given body, and join in His life. ... and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ... ~ Luke 24:44-49 We believe and trust in Christ for the remission of our sins. Scripture has been given that we may know His word transcends time, where He tests our character as to if we care to know and practice truth. To receive the blessings of the Holy Spirit, the truth of His promise must be accepted. ... "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; ... ~ Acts 2:38   Repent + Baptized in Christ =   Remission of sins + Holy Spirit gift   To rise to the promise of salvation, we have to respond to the call of Jesus. "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ..." ~ Acts 3:19-21 ... Blot out ... Wash away ... '... Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.' ~ Acts 22:16 ... to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgivness of sins ... ~ Acts 26:18 He calls for us to be immersed in the power of Him ... baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurection of Jesus Christ, ... ~ 1st Peter 3:21-22 There is only one plan of God presented to man for the salvation of the soul. As many will argue to multiple co-existing avenues, His declaration and answer calls to One Way. We should not remain in the convolutions of man where fantasy and tolerance embrace the sinfulness that follows all false doctrines. To be forgiven from sin, one must enter through the Spirit of Christ. This involves are ability to abide in His word. ~ For it to become the LIVING WORD.  Where opens a souls passion? If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ~ 1st John 1:9                             ● He is faithful                             ● To forgive us our sins                               ● To cleanse us from                                 all unrighteousness   → Confess our sins One has to empty one's all to Him and follow His word. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. ... ~ 2nd John 1:9 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. ~ Psalm 32:1 There is only one way to cover the sins of a soul, and that is to give them to Christ so He may carry them over to forgotten. FURIOUS WRATH OF GOD       /  CHRIST  \ / FAITHFUL TRANSGRESSOR \ ⭨           UNBELIEVING TRANSGRESSOR       LAW OF SIN/DEATH Both transgressors are condemned to death for sin. Truly, for salvations quest, is Christ your shield? Good love is defined by honesty ● Belief in Christ frees us from the bondage of flesh ● Righteousness of belief in Christ overwhelms sin ● It is Christ who bears the sins of all true believers ● God wills for us to be alive in His Spirit ● Christ’s sacrifice in blood cleanses us from sin ● Christ had to sacrifice His life that we might find life ● God now employs Christ for our remission of sins ● God’s promise is forgiveness to who act on belief ● Regret is the healing key as God forgets prior sins ● God came in Christ to free us from the lies of Satan ● Faith in obedience to His baptismal call saves a soul ● Without honest confession no forgiveness is given ● God’s truth in Christ has to be acknowledged "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." ~ John 8:24   Not believe in Christ = Die in your sins   ... "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." ~ John 20:21-23 Without His Holy Spirit it is impossible for sins to be forgiven. To have the Spirit of God, and establishing the church with believing seeking holy members, is to find that forgiveness from the thorns of sin. For those that do not comply with the will of God will keep to the sin they are mired in. Denial will not excuse God’s convictions. ... while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? ... ~ Galatians 2:17-21 ... with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. ~ Romans 7:14-25   With the mind → Serve the law of God   With the flesh → The law of sin We are all on precarious paths walking in both spirit and flesh. ... flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. ~ Galatians 5:17 The Law of God (conviction) will not passover those without Christ. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. ~ 1st John 3:9 Restraint against previous habitual sin is the battle for each true believer. To be born of God is to live under His Grace where Jesus bears the load of unforgivable sins. Through faith in Jesus we are made clean, as one chases after Him turning crimson into white as snow. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. ~ Romans 6:14 Our faith lifts us into His purity. "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, ..." ~ Hebrews 8:12 ... whatever is not from faith is sin. ~ Romans 14:23   NOT FROM FAITH = SIN   A believing trust aids the soul in overcoming previous and current sins; accepting the Grace of God. We have faith in His saving Grace over our failures. Sin’s appeal is that it’s pleasurable to the flesh. ... to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ... ~ Hebrews 11:24-25 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. ~ 1st John 1:10 While we live in the corruption of this world, an incorruptible offer is made to each to be in Christ. ● ○ Many ask, how can I, a sinner, be saved? Doubt is the discouragement of the soul. Strength is defined by our ability to persevere the climb home. Only an honest heart can find the humble truth of falling short. We all reach forward hoping for better conditions, and those in denial exemplify arrogance. To receive the implanted word benefits all who are able to find these God given truths. ... I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ~ 1st John 2:1       Things written                     ↓   That you may not sin                    ↕          If anyone sins                     ⮡   We have an Advocate                                      ⮡   Jesus Christ ... Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. ~ 1st Timothy 1:15 "... I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." ~ Matthew 9:13 God desires we care for others more than just exclusively seeking those things for the self. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. ~ James 2:13 To love sets the heart free from unjustified opinions that fog the mind. Love triumphs over contempt. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, ... ~ Romans 6:13   → Do not present your members        As instruments of unrighteousness   but → Present yourselves to God Alive from the dead As instruments of righteousness To have God one must submit to His will ● Death in sins comes by disbelief in Christ’s message ● To live to God knows His sacrifice for our life ● While we sin our advocacy is through Christ ● A spirit of good wars against the desires of flesh ● Grace supersedes the law no one can achieve ● God declares He will dismiss the sins of the faithful ● Whatever is not from faith is sin ● Denying sin, and needing Him, makes God a liar ● It is the word of God that assists us in not sinning ● God came in Christ to deliver truth and save sinners ● God desires mercy over excuses of sacrifice ● Mercy triumphs over judgment ● God looks for us to present ourselves as righteous ... put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness ... "Be angry, and do not sin" ... ~ Ephesians 4:22-27   ● Old man       ⮡   Former corrupt conduct               ⮡   Deceitful lusts   ● Renewed in the spirit       ⮡   Created according to God               ⮡   Righteousness and holiness                                                       ⮡   New man   God does not want wrath to overtake our lives where festering brings only the hollow darkness sin delivers. Our anger should be for the sin that divides us. ... slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness ... ~ Romans 6:19 Righteousness. The Bible instructs us how to grow in our individual faith. Milk inevitably leads to meat if the bottle is not thrown away. ○ Confidence over Confusion ● Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. ~ 1st John 3:20-22 Guilt is the voice of conscience, and if responded to with a heart of regret, one may lift in spirit to find the free confidence found in the forgiveness of God’s own promise. Knowing God forgives us delivers blessings for the mature Christian when responded to by actions of spirit; to do His will. This comes by receiving that most simplest of all possession’s, one above all value; peace. God wills we live lives of decency, and this is the action He calls for, that sets a soul free. Peace comes by the love we give, and are able to receive. ... who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. ~ 1stJohn 3:23-24 Random acts of kindness are for temporary Christians. Our lives must be purposed as we confidently walk with Him; Always called to do good works as holding doors open for strangers. For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ... ~ Hebrews 10:26-27 ... "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ... ~ John 8:34-36   WHOEVER COMMITS SIN = SLAVE OF SIN   God has delivered His own truth to the earth. Will we choose His way or something else of self construction? ... Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ~ 1st Corinthians 6:18 Sin has both external and internal characteristics. Adultery or sexual immorality is of the most heinous of sins. It is an act of betrayal and sheer lack of any kind of honest loyalty. Does one just live to lust or love? The devising of foolishness is sin, ... ~ Proverbs 24:9   DEVISING OF FOOLISHNESS = SIN   If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, ... ~ 1st John 5:16-17 God has an outstanding call for sympathy; an intercessionary force of understanding and forgiveness for ignorance or mild stumbling’s; accidents, vs. heinous acts of incest, greed, or murder --- pardon to those who regret vs. no pardon to the unrepentful. Praying for a reversal of a just conviction is useless and goes against righteous judgment. One does not pray for Satan to be forgiven. Let justice be served. God will choose penitent repenters over the unremorseful. One should not argue over what is obvious, and due punishment. To be or not to be is a question of having an accountable conscience over not having one riddled in excuses or just oblivious.   ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS = SIN   Maturing Christians help one another reach greater heights for His glory. Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and sinner appear?" ~ 1st Peter 4:18 The ungodly have no sympathy in their selfish scheming. Righteousness begins by believing God has brought salvation upon us through faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ. It is a delicate path as each of us battle those individual sins of the flesh. God devised mortal life to see how we respond to the absolute power He has handed over to us; as He stands aside waiting. Do we choose kind hearts over vicious ones? Drinking sin wholeheartedly holds no repentance. ... caught in the cords of his sin. He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. ~ Proverbs 5:22-23 God’s severity is inevitable as He purges wickedness from His kingdom. ... if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die ... ~ Ezekiel 33:8-9   If you do not warn the wicked ⮧      |           He shall die in his iniquity      ↓   But his blood I require at your hand   If you warn the wicked to turn ⮧      |        He does not turn from his way        |          ⮡   He shall die in his iniquity      ↓   But you have delivered your soul For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, ... ~ 2nd Peter 2:4 "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." ~ Mark 8:38 The written truth stands over the imaginary doctrines of man. If we as a people are to find favor with God, our cries must be heard. The words of God will become extremely important when each of us comes to His presence. The preacher will not save you, and no note from mommy will excuse the consequences of who each of us has chosen to be. Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. ~ Proverbs 14:34   SIN = REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE   Sin is collectively destructive and brings civilizations to their knees. Sin is the curse that has brought empires to more than their knees, and destroyed many a peoples’ livelihoods. When sin becomes the banner of a people, the substance of honor and truth is abandoned. ... when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply ... ~ Ezekiel 14:13-14 A small handful of righteous will not halt the avalanche of overwhelming wickedness from collapsing decency for all. We can only pray as individuals that the hand of God restores our country/world to an upright decency in the light of His truth. Honest Prayer is what saves a people. ... pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin ... ~ 2nd Chronicles 7:14-15 Many only return to the wicked fruits of their disgust. Without turning back to pursuing God’s will, His help will be futile. Vomit can only be made clean by responding to His word. Awareness is a sign of growing wisdom, which is challenged for many. Lazy minds believe remaining ignorant and complacent at best, ~ but it is not what God calls for. "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ..." ~ Acts 17:30 Ignorance leads to destruction and will not save our children. God looks to all the corners of the earth to find the upright. God calls for us to believe it is He, to repent of our sins, to confess Him and self, and to be immersed in the name of His Son. * \ I AM * \  Hear Now  Know Good  and Bad Belief *   Repent   *   \   Confess   *        Immersed  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you ... ~ Hosea 4:6   People are destroyed        ⮡   For lack of knowledge   Because of rejected knowledge          ⮡   Forgotten the law of God                                ↕                   Children will forget To regard decency is to respect others, not to flaunt attacking vulgarities. People and civilizations are destroyed for the lack of honest compassion for one another. The disregard in contempt divides all sensibility to understand peace and love, for the furtherment of truth, for the sake of truth, peace, and love. Forgetting is the excuse of fools who decide not to feel. If the keys to the truth are abandoned, only the lies that deceive will remain. True awareness is to not miss out on God’s blessings ● God wills our knowledge in Him over man’s deceit ● God calls for honesty without anger ● God knowing all things will render justice ● Slavery to sin is set free by Christ’s favor ● Sexual immorality sins against one’s own body ● God calls for sympathetic intervention for mild sins ● We should not pray for those guilty of heinous acts ● Habitual sin traps a soul to falling away from God ● Sinners are reserved in darkness for judgment ● The darkness of sin is repulsive to all decent ● A land that blatantly sins denying Him will suffer ● Ignorance is unacceptable as God calls for control ● It is knowledge of God that emancipates the soul SIN Accountability encourages noble qualities. ● Recklessness honors no one.  In the truth of the shortness of life, we all endure under the hand of oppression. Liberty can not endure without truth at her side. God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. ~ Job 37:5 How can the expression of reality be explained? From all the waterfalls to pastures of every element, in the sight of the infinite void of stars and countless ongoings, how is a gift of inspiration, and why is the presence of being. God is the Awe in front of us all. IN GOD WE TRUST?