SIN

I am exploring today this idea of sin. What is it? Why do we do it? Why do some days we continue to walk in it and other days we seem to experience freedom from it?

I John 3:9 "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." (Does this mean if I am saved, born again, a "Christian" that I will not and can not commit sin ever?) The NLT says it this way "Those who have been born into God's family do not sin, because God's life is in them. So they can't keep on sinning, because they have been born of God." The NIV says it this way "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." The NASB (which is supposed to be one of the closest versions to the original) says it this way "No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

I John 1:9 is a familiar text, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Forgiveness: aphiēmi in the Greek ~ to send away, to bid going away or depart, to let go, let alone, let be, not to discuss now, to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit, in order to go to another place, to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned, to go away leaving something behind, to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining. This is total abandonment. If this is what He does to our sin, why in the world do we go back and pick it back up? Either in remembrance and dwelling on in guilt or in practice?

I Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." His death on the cross healed me therefore I should live unto righteousness and be dead to practicing sin.

James 5:20 "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins." There are ministries and Pastors and other people out there who can help us learn the error of our ways. I am thankful for these people in my life who point out the error of my ways and leading me away from death.

James 5:15-16 "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Here is 1 key to finding healing - Ask for prayer & confess your faults. Don't try to hide from your sins and faults. It is in bringing them out into the light that you will find healing for your soul.

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin. "

James 1:5 "Then when lust (desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust, to have a desire for, long for, to desire, to pant after, impulse, outbursts of anger) hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." Psalms 63 tells us where our passion should be, "O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so [as] I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness [is] better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as [with] marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise [thee] with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, [and] meditate on thee in the [night] watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me." And also Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God."

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 11:25 "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ... "

Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." I am thankful for his MERCY and the idea that He forgets our sins and iniquities. Does that mean we go on sinning? God forbid!

Hebrews 4:15-16 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." He knows about our temptations and we can come boldly to His THRONE OF GRACE ...

Hebrews 3:13 "But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. " We are to encourage each other daily so we will not be hardened in our sins. Sin is deceitful.

2 Timothy 3 tells us "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come ... Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away ... For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses (desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust, to have a desire for, long for, to desire, to pant after, impulse, outbursts of anger) ... Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth ..." These are scary passages to me that we could be weak and ever learning BUT NEVER really get it ... and live in such a way that we deny HIS power. Sometimes I feel like this that I have a lot of knowledge, but do not put it to use (power) in my own life. I am weak in many ways and easily captivated by my sin.

Colossians 2:11 "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ ... " This tells me that when Christ circumcises our hearts that we should be able to put off sin. It is HIS work in our hearts that will change us. This is what we should seek and ask Him for.

Galatians 1:4-5 "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Romans 6 has a lot to say on this subject ... "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life ... For he that is dead is freed from sin ... Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof ... Neither yield ye your members [as] instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members [as] instruments of righteousness unto God ... For sin shall not have dominion over you ... Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life."

Romans 3 tells us "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God ..." and that the law - the WORD teaches us what sin is ... "for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. (v.20)" The more we are exposed to His WORD the more we will understand our sin.

Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." An interesting note is that John baptized for the "remission of sins" BEFORE Christ was crucified. This tells me that there is power in baptism or immersion. In Hebraic terms it is called a "mikvah" and it was not a one time deal it was for anytime. Jesus used it in some healings telling certain ones to go "and dip". John used it prior to the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus told his disciples to go and baptize as part of the plan of evangelism. When we come to a place in our lives when we learn new truth or want to make a change or overcome in an area perhaps an immersion, a mikvah, a baptism formal before a congregation or privately in your own bathtub or in a river is what is needed to help you overcome. I am not suggesting that the act or the water itself has some "power" for that power only belongs to Christ Himself ~ "Him hath God exalted with his right hand [to be] a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.", but I have experienced this myself where the act of confessing my sins to a fellow trusted believer and immersing myself brought with it a certain power to overcome ~ it was in I believe the act of obedience to what I felt He was telling me to do and in SUBMITTING my will to His. Obedience and submission. Note that Christ did not use the act of immersion with all He healed and likewise I am not suggesting that this is the only way to overcome, but I am suggesting that it deserves consideration before the Father and acknowledging what He says in His WORD to be truth.

John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Matthew 8:3 "And Jesus put forth [his] hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (to make clean, cleanse, from physical stains and dirt, to free from defilement of sin and from faults, to free from guilt of sin, to purify, to consecrate by cleansing or purifying, purified by fire, like a vine cleansed by pruning and so fitted to bear fruit, free from corrupt desire, from sin and guilt)." Ask for a touch of His hand!!

John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and [that] your joy might be full (to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full, to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be wanting to full measure, fill to the brim, to make complete in every particular, to render perfect, to cause God's will and promises as given through the prophets to be fulfilled)." It is our JOY that is to be full and overflowing not anything else.

Matthew 1:21 "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Yĕhowshuwa` יהושוע (Jesus in the Greek): for he shall save his people from their sins." First and foremost, call on his name! He is your Deliverer, the One who liberates you, Who makes you victorious to overcome. Your Savior, your Deliverer, your ever-present Help, your Salvation, your Avenger, your Defender, your Rescuer, your Safety, your Victory and so much more.

Call on his name, confess your sins to the One Who is Faithful and Just, the One Who was tempted in all ways as we are and who understands. Call out to Him, ask Him for a touch of His everlasting hand. Consider an immersion. Ask others for prayer. Bring your faults and sins into the light of God and others. Let's not go on practicing sin or being weak women (or men, but my primary writing is to women) carried away by our impulses. Let's be strong, victorious women! Crucifying our passions and walking in the Power of Christ our Salvation. This is who I want to be, who my soul longs to be, not denying His power, panting after Him and being satisfied in Him alone and having my Joy overflowing and abounding! This is who He created me to be.