The Biggest Sin

​Love you all, praying for you.
 
I just love God’s Word.  It tells you what sin is.  If it didn’t, everyone would define sin in their own eyes, or not even know what it is.   Sin: chata <khaw-taw’> an offence, to miss, to bear the blame.   Hamartano -  to miss the mark, and so not share in the prize.  Sin is anything less than God’s Best, anything less than what God said, an offense to God or others, to fall short.  Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  To understand Salvation, you have to understand sin.  If there is no sin, there is no need for Salvation.  God is holy – there is no sin in him.  There is no sin in heaven.  It’s impossible.  The one in heaven who sinned, was cast out with the angels who followed him and rejected God.  And anyone who rejects God will be cast out like they were.  Hence the problem.  We are sinful from birth.  All we like sheep have gone astray, every one of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  God said one sin tainted the whole human race.  Before Adam sinned, there was no separation, there was no death.  But when Adam sinned, it brought death and the law of sin to the human race, and permanently altered the human condition.  Because Adam sinned therefore all have sinned.  It was passed down to us, the inheritance of death.  Romans 6:23 - The wages of sin is death.  BUT the gift of God, (not the effort of man, so that no one can take credit for it, brag or boast).  The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.   His blood, His Grace, and your faith in Him. By grace through faith you have been made righteous – as if without sin.  For those who believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins, you are the righteousness of God in Christ.  If sin controlled you, because of one man’s sin, how much more will righteousness control you because of every sin ever - being forgiven by the One sinless man who died and rose and again, Jesus Christ.  How many sins have you committed in your life?  Can you even think of the list?  All of those sins, don’t send you to hell.  You were born in sin, your parents never had to teach you how to disobey, it was already in you.  Like the baby in the high chair, when you tell them “Don’t throw your food on the floor,” they will look you straight in the eye, and throw it on the floor.  Who taught them that? That’s not taught, it’s inherited, from Adam, that’s the human nature, the human condition.  Sin is the problem.  It separates you from God.  And if you are separated from God when you die, you are in outer darkness, not the light of Heaven.  Paul said – if I do what I don’t want to do, and what I want to do, I don’t do… it’s not me, but the sin in me that’s doing it.  The problem is, God is without sin.  No sin will ever be in heaven, and you’re a sinner.  You need to get rid of the sin.  You cannot do it on your own.  You are disqualified, you need someone without sin, to take your place, to take your penalty of death (the wages of sin), on themselves.  So you can go free.  The problem is all humans are stained with sin.  So God himself had to do it.  The only sinless One. That’s why He came in the form of a baby and when He grew up – without sin – He became the sacrifice for your sin and my sin.  He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.   God said if you break one commandment, you break them all.  But no sin you ever committed sends you to hell.  You were born with a sin nature that opposes God, and the good that He requires.  But every sin forgiven – thank you Jesus – can send you to heaven.  If you believe that He died in your place – for your sin, that He rose from the dead, and you commit with your mouth – Jesus is LORD – aka “He’s now the boss of me.”  I give the rest of my life to live for Him, what He says, what He wants from me.  That’s presenting your body, your life as the living sacrifice that Romans 12:1 says is your reasonable act of service, of worship.  To the God who made you, and loves you, and died for you.  Who has great plans for you – if you will just let him drive – instead of you.   If you put your faith in Him, that is the only way to get rid of your sin – that separates you from God – down here on earth, and forever for eternity.  Only two destinations once you die.  Heaven with Jesus, or Hell with the devil.   Most people you talk to will lie to you and say, “That’s not true.  Other religions say something different.” Of course they do.  Or “We’re all God’s children” or “There are many ways to God.”  Or I’m not really that bad, I think everyone is good, and a good person.”  God said we are all God’s creation, but not all God’s children. God said, to those who believed in Him (Jesus death in their place), He gave the right to be called the children of God.  He even told us how you know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are – so we’re not all God’s children.  All his creation, but not all his children, God is truth, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father (in heaven) except through me.  So God draws us in many ways, because He loves us, he doesn’t want anyone to perish, but He clearly said, There is only one way to God in heaven, His Son Jesus.  God said He who believes in the Son has life, but he who does not believe in the Son is condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God’s one and only son. God said if anyone claims to be without sin, he is a liar and the truth is not in him.  God said he chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.  Jesus Christ – a stumbling block to the Jews, and foolishness to the gentiles, but to those believe, it is the power of God unto Salvation.  This is what God said, #1 “Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  Jesus – died to be your Savior – to remove your sins and to be your LORD. That is the only way you will be in heaven forever, rather than hell forever.  The Biggest Sin – is not believing in Jesus – to be saved from your sin, that keeps you from heaven.  Put your faith in Him, and you will be set free from sin, He will qualify you for heaven.  It’s what He did, not what you did or what you do.  And you’ll be under new management – so from now on, you can live through Him, the power of God in you, to say no to sin, and yes to His plans for you!  #2 Be filled with the Holy Spirit – by His command.  The second step of obedience.  Just ask Him, Luke 11:13 – And you will receive power to live a new life, that you couldn’t do on your own.  #3 Be water baptized – by His command.  The third step of obedience.  It symbolizes you being buried with Christ – dying to sin, and being raised with Him to life.  The law of sin no longer controls you, the law of righteousness now controls you.  Your sins are forgiven, past, present and future.  You are now free to follow Him with your life.  You don’t have to sin anymore, you can, but you don’t have to, you have the power not to – His Grace and the Holy Spirit.  #4 Read His Word every day - transform your mind, so you think like He God does. The fourth step of obedience - PRISM will help you!  #5 Ask Him for His plans for you today. He’ll tell you. So you follow His plan for you today, not yours.  The fifth step of obedience. That’s Romans 12:1 -presenting your body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable act of worship and service to Him. PiVAT before dinner will help you!.  And every time the devil tries to get you back – to enslave you again…#6 Choose God’s grace to say no to sin, and yes to Jesus – the new life – free from sin, that Jesus died to purchase for you.  That’s the sixth step of obedience.  If you put your faith in Jesus Christ - you will live in heaven with God for eternity, and He will save you from the wrath to come – the judgment that is coming on the earth.  He promised.  If you put your faith in Christ – Jesus will return for you – in the twinkling of an eye, you will be changed.  He will come for his bride the church – and everyone who believes in Him, whose name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life – will be caught up together in the clouds to be with the LORD in the air!  As soon as that happens, the world will descend into chaos – the tribulation that was foretold, a time of terror and evil unlike anything that has ever happened on the earth.  Jesus is coming back soon, He said we need to be ready!  Trust in Him, Turn from evil, Transform your mind, Tell others about this great danger coming, and their need of a Savior.  God will save them, just like He saved you!  He is faithful, He has plans for you, here on earth, but much more – plans for you for all of eternity.  The choice is yours, Jesus, or the devil.  The law of sin, or the law of righteousness.  Heaven or hell - you’ll spend all of eternity in one place or the other.  Jesus paid the price for you!  But you choose who you will follow.  Praying that you will always choose Jesus, always choose grace to say no to sin, and #7 Tell someone - always share this good news with everyone you know.  God said we are to share the good news with them, or they will be swept away with the wicked.  God loves them!  He wants them to be saved.  If you love them, you’ll tell them. 
 
Love you all,
dad