Perhaps the biggest problem in current Christian thought is our soft attitude toward sin.
I hear it in the "judge not" misunderstanding, the "God loves me just the way I am" misunderstanding, and the "tolerance" misunderstanding.(1)
It doesn't line up with Scripture.
In fact, it resembles heresies Paul addressed in the early Church: "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?" Romans 6:1-4
We've forgotten:
~ Everyday the "wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness" (Romans 1:18).
~ God says anyone who isn't serious about sin is a liar, not a Christian (1 John 2:3-6).
~ We can choose to be a slave to sin or free in Christ, not both (John 8:34-36).
Do we love Jesus enough to deal with our sins deliberately and diligently? Our daily lives should include confession, repentance, and life-changing, sin-defeating disciplines.
(1) Judge Not misunderstanding HERE
God Loves Me Just the Way I Am misunderstanding HERE
Tolerance misunderstanding HERE
Bible Study
John 8:34-36: Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
1 John 1:5-10: This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 3:6: No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
2. In the passage below, God associates being saved with "doing good." That's because genuine belief is always revealed in our lifestyle, not simply in our words. We are not saved by good works, but if we are genuinely saved, we will do what is right, repent when we sin, and seek to change our sinful ways.
Romans 2:6-11: God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” 7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9 There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10 but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism.
copyright 2016, Gail Burton Purath, BiteSizeBibleStudy.com
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