Dear Friends,
You get what you pray for. Let me bring up the subject of Sin and how it is cured.
Sin is the core problem of every human being and humanity as a whole whether they know it or acknowledge it or not. What happens with sin in our lives determines our well being, peace, and rest in the present and determines our eternal future either in the torment of separation from God forever, or in His loving presence forever.
How to get free from past sin, deal with the propensity for sin in the present, and avoid it in the future should be of the most vital interest to everybody.
Under the old covenant, God introduced a “sin management” system that covered for their sins but did not cure the problem and set them free from its power in their lives. But through the new covenant,through the good news of the gospel, through Jesus, we now have the answer for the past, present, and future regarding sin.
Are you free of past sin?
Are you living free of sin today?
Are you equipped to live free of it in the future?
These question are some of the most important ones that you can ask. The answers for all three are potentially Yes. And of course the answers are all in the Bible.
Let me submit to you four key passages that have been good news to the world, and I hope they will reassure and refresh you on this most important subject.
Can we be free of the past or present sin? Yes! Here is the instantaneous and permanent remedy for any and all sin. (The healing from its effects may take time, but the sickness is cured.)
1 John 1:9 If we confess (acknowledge, admit to Him) our sin, He is faithful and just (because He keeps His promises) to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.They are gone for ever! Any and all of them.
Is there really hope that we can walkvictorious over sin? First, remember that temptation to sin is not sin. Because a thought comes into your head from the flesh, world, or devil does not mean you are guilty of sin. If you agree with it and identify with it and make it yours, then it becomes sin.
But here is the real good news, and it is revealed in scripture in various ways. It revolves around two thoughts: “Reckon” and “Present yourselves.” Use the gift of faith that God deals out to every person, and believe and receive this passage.
Romans 6:11 Even so reckonyourselves dead unto sin and alive unto God.
You have faith (God says He gave every man a portion of faith); now use it to believe this.
You have a mind and will; use them to reckon (allow the Spirit in you to count on, act on) the fact that you are dead to sin (we don’t have to do it.) Or you can give in to your old flesh and let it give in to sin.
What if all this doesn’t seem to work for you? Go to God. Present yourself. “Here I am, God. Can’t do it, can’t make it. This temptation is too much for me.” Then—
Romans 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof: neither present your members (your body and mind) unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members (your hands and tongue and mind etc.) as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under law, but under grace.
Next, actively reckon (count) on this: Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
The key is that God is in us: the Spirit of God dwells in us to the end. no matter how we feel or how we have failed, we can absolutely count on this. If we asked Him to take over and come in, He did, and he is there right now! Turn to Him, face Him, talk to Him, throw yourself on Him now. Hewill do it.
Now that’s better isn’t it?
You can rest this Sabbath, because He will not fail: there is a fail-proof cure for the sin problem that we all deal with. Pass it on, because every single person that you meet has the same problem, and they may not know what to do about it.
In the joy that I have because my sin is licked, past present and future, and my name is in The Book!
