“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”
–Psalm 32:1-2
For the past two thousand years or so, man has had MOSTLY a self-serving, unBiblical relationship with sin.
Modern man even more so.
The modern relationship with sin seems to follow one of THREE paths.
1- The first path is walked by those rebellious in nature. They do NOT follow God’s Word–and they make no bones about it. In fact, they may even attack or otherwise try to undermine the Word of God. Apparently, they feel justified in attacking that which they do not follow.
This merry band of rogues–even with end times man at his MOST REBELLIOUS against God–make up about 10 to 20 percent of mankind–even though God’s Word declares that ALL who dwell upon the earth during the last days–with the exception of those whose names are written in the book of life–will worship Satan and Satan’s beast.
“And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
–Revelation 13:4,8
Some who are on this first path may even deny that God exists.
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”
–Psalm 14:1
There is not a whole lot one can do with this group. They feel they are getting by in this world just fine without having to concern themselves with any thoughts about whether they are sinning against God–who, at least for some, may or may not even exist. Thank you very much.
It is extremely fortunate that, in His complete and total mercy, God Himself will save some of this group.
Because He can.
Perhaps God enjoys seeing the complete turnaround that takes place in a person once he has the complete story?
2- The second group is, by far, the largest of the three. It consists of those who really do not understand what God’s Word has to say about sin (perhaps because they do not spend much time trying to understand); most preferring to follow along after what they have been taught in one of the churches.
This group has a vague understanding of sin, many believing that they will “somehow make it through” because they TRY TO BE “a good person.”
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
–Romans 3:10-12
And if anyone tries to point out that they have built their futures on a SHAKY, unBiblical foundation?
As one woman put it: “I try to do the best I can.”
Sounds like she is rehearsing what she will say on judgment day?
Some have a vague notion that if they do good, then that will “balance out” the bad?
Their idea of sin centers around BOOKKEEPING: that records are kept of their good deeds and their not-so-good works. On judgment day, God will see if they have roughly as many good as they do bad deeds and make his judgments accordingly.
While there ARE records of one’s life kept, when judged by an all-holy God (the concept of “holy” being completely foreign to man), the bad will GREATLY outweigh the good.
Most get around this by comparing themselves to someone else who isn’t such a good person.
Still others prefer NOT to think too much about it at all.
Perhaps they believe that “everything will turn out fine in the end“?
Maybe they tell themselves that they cannot spare the time: that they are just “too busy” living their on-the-run, overstuffed lives?
“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
–Psalm 10:4
Though many of this bunch of people believe they mean well, they do NOT look at sin Biblically. Many treat sin as if it was a commodity which can be exchanged for “good works.”
And it does not matter much that MOST of this band is deceived.
Although they have been warned to NOT be deceived, they feel their “busy lives” make it too difficult to pay much attention to their any of that. Besides, who can say what is and what is not deception?
UNFORTUNATELY FOR THEM, the Bible is clear: the deceived end up in the same place as those who are deceiving them.
“But he [Jesus] answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.”
–Matthew 15:13-14
3- The last group consists of those FEW who have been saved by God’s great and abiding mercy (grace). They KNOW that they will become entangled with sinful behavior: man was formed from the dust of the earth. So, even a man who is saved is little more than a sack of dirt with God’s Holy Spirit residing within him.
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.”
–2CORINTHIANS 4:7
This tiny group of believers KNOW that they will sin. But after their new, spiritual birth, they also know they must FIGHT against sin and those who would lead them into it. That sin is something to be struggled against, NOT something to be embraced.
But they also KNOW that, having sinned, they must confess their sin to God, who will put it away in His great mercy. In fact, they KNOW that if not for God’s grace, they would be totally and completely LOST.
“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
Because they are believers, they are not judged, but they ARE chastened (lovingly taught) by God Himself.
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”
–Hebrews 12:6
If not for God’s great mercy, this small band of believers KNOW that they would be lost. The Bible says that their sin is not charged to their account by God once they are saved.
As King David wrote:
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.”
–Psalm 32:1-2
David was saved by God. David’s sins are well-known to those who study their Bible.
Murder, adultery, pride–and that is just a start to the list of David’s transgressions.
BUT God did not count David’s sin against him–as David’s seer (prophet) Nathan related to David In 1SAMUEL’s chapter 12.
“And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds: But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him; but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
“And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.
“Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.”
–1SAMUEL 12:1-12
SO, there were consequences to David’s sin, but Nathan then points out that the LORD has extended to David His ultimate mercy.
“And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.”
–1SAMUEL 12:13
Nathan was relaying that David would not suffer the second death.
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.”
–Revelation 2:11
The second death is what happens to those who suffer the judgment of God at death.
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
–Revelation 21:8
MORE: Blessed Is the Man Unto Whom the LORD Imputeth Not Iniquity – Part One
MORE: Blessed Is the Man Whom the LORD Imputeth Not Iniquity – Part Two
And so, the modern relationship with sin closely mirrors the same mistakes made by man from the beginning. Those who abide in the first two groups are on the wrong path: that path leads to destruction.
The third group contains those who realize man will sin and that man depends TOTALLY on the mercy of an all-merciful God for deliverance from the consequences of that sinful behavior. This third group has ALWAYS been a SMALL group–because most men are focused on THIS present world, not the world to come.
And so, of the three groups of men, the third (very small) group is the only one which has a Biblical relationship with sin.
WHICH of the three groups is the reader in?
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
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
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: November 23, 2020.]
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
MORE
- Blessed Is the Man Unto Whom the LORD Imputeth Not Iniquity – Part One
- Blessed Is the Man Whom the LORD Imputeth Not Iniquity – Part Two
- Romans 6-7: A Servant or a Captive of Sin?
MORE
- Man Struggles Against God
- God is in Control
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
RELATED ARTICLES
- Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
- Do You Know if You are Going to Heaven? Be Sure!
- END TIMES PREPARATION: 15 Ways to Prepare for the End Times
- Deceitful Workers are Victims of Deception Themselves
- End Times Survival, End Times Preparation
- 35 Most Important ETPR Articles
- DISOBEDIENCE and REBELLION: The Wisdom of Man OR the Word of God?
- Apostate Church: Breaking Every Chain
- Persecution, Tribulation, Troubles, Trials: What the Bible says to Christians
by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay.com
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-20. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP 2007-2020. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
Link Disclaimer: inclusion of links to other blogs/websites is not necessarily an endorsement of all content posted in those blogs/websites.
[NOTE: The following articles are from a service. We neither endorse nor at times have much control over them–although we do, of course, enjoy articles originating from this website on this service. Some articles illustrate points made in ETPR articles; some are merely for the reader’s edification or education.
ALL such links appearing in End Times Prophecy Headlines, such as those below, should originate at ETPR.
RE: our link disclaimer: there are links, from time-to-time which appear on this site which we neither approve nor endorse. The frequency of these types of links will no doubt grow worse. All effort is made to remove such links when we become aware of them.]
End Times Prophecy Report 