The Believer and Sin

 

sin

When a man becomes a believer, he undergoes a transformation which completely changes his life.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
–2CORINTHIANS 5:17

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
–Romans 12:2

This is possible only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight”
–Colossians 1:20-21

When a man becomes a believer and a member of the kingdom of heaven, God’s Holy Spirit takes up residence to help guide the believer into all truth.

“That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”
–2TIMOTHY 1:14

“Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.”
–1JOHN 4:13

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?”
–1CORINTHIANS 6:19

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
–John 16:13

Though the believer exhibits faith–HAS TO exhibit faith–he is not saved through any act of his own. He is saved by God’s mercy and grace.

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”
–Titus 3:5

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
–Ephesians 2:8-9

NOW, even though the believer acquires a new understanding that sin is an offense against God; AND,

even though the believer is very much conscious of sin in his life–unlike before he became a believer; AND,

even though the believer has the only good thing about him dwelling within (the Holy Ghost), he STILL has sin.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
–1JOHN 1:8

This is because, even though the believer has the Holy Spirit dwelling with in him, he is still trapped in a body made of this world–dirt. And his body naturally loves to sin–even though the believer now KNOWS that sin is not a good thing. The believer’s flesh seeks to sin while the Holy Spirit of God informs him NOT to sin.

The apostle Paul likened having God’s Holy Spirit take up residence in a body of flesh made from dirt to “treasure in earthen vessels.”

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
–2CORINTHIANS 4:6-7

This battle will continue the believer’s entire life.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”
–Galatians 5:17

“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.”
–Romans 7:14-15, 18

And so, once a man becomes a believer he is constantly at war with himself and constantly aware of his occasional failures to obey the commands of God.

HOWEVER, once a man becomes a believer, he is also constantly aware of how merciful God the Father truly is.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
–1JOHN 1:9

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
–Lamentations 3:22-23

As long as the believer lives in the world, he is encased in a body of flesh which wants to sin.  It is the believer’s lot to KNOW what to do, to fail to do it and then be VERY AWARE that he failed.

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”
–Romans 7:15

The believer, encased as he is in corruption, will be very conscious of his occasional failures until he is made incorruptible.

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
–1CORINTHIANS 15:54-57

DOES the reader struggle against sin OR is the reader a willing captive?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: April 22, 2019.]

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by Jeremiah James
–with Mondo Frazier

image: Image by murat ortasıl from Pixabay.com

© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-19. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP, 2007-2019. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s authors and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson, Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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Author: Jeremiah J Jameson

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