Why A Believer Sins And What To Do About It (Transcript)

An Experiment

If you mix baking soda and vinegar and it produces bubbles and gas, you might be amazed at first, but if you do it a few times, you come to expect it, and the amazement is sort of dissipated.

I do an experiment all the time. In a way the experiment results amaze me. And yet, the result is the same virtually all the time, and so how amazed can one be?

Here's my experiment. In fact, pretend I'm doing the experiment with you. I ask people this. I say, “I'm going to give the first half of a Bible verse, and you give me the last half of the verse. Here's the Bible verse: 'For sin shall no longer be master over you, for...'”

And then I shut up. “For sin shall no longer be master over you, for...”

Can you complete the verse? I mean that's an important verse, don't you think? A verse that is the key to why sin is no longer master over us, as believers in Jesus Christ?

If you can't complete the verse, don't feel too bad. Because in all my many times of doing this experiment, I have yet to have anyone complete the verse from memory. Isn't that amazing? Such a key verse, and yet it's not even on the radar of most Christians.

If I asked you to finish the last half of John 3:16 or Romans 8:28, many of you would be able to. But not “...sin shall no longer be master over you, for...”

O.K., here's the last half of the verse: “...for you are no longer under Law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14) That's why sin is no longer master over us.

The Power Of Sin Is The Law

In my experience, few believers understand the simple principle that basing our thinking and our lives on Law or rules, has no power over sin. In fact, the Scripture says that “the power of sin is the law.” (1 Cor. 15:56)

That means that when we are law-based in our thinking, instead of grace-based, sin actually gains power over us. The law inflames the sin in us, just as “Don't Touch The Wet Paint” might lure us to touch it, and then puts condemnation on us that denies the grace and forgiveness that we have in Christ. And that quenches the Holy Spirit, which is the only source of our power over sin.

Let me repeat that in a slightly different way. The law inflames sin in us, luring us to break the law, which puts condemnation on us. And that condemnation quenches the Holy Spirit, the only source of power over sin we have, and we end up sinning even more, and the cycle continues.

The Ground of Grace

But when we understand that we are no longer under Law, but under grace – when we understand that we are totally forgiven, and that all our sins are paid for by Christ, and that God loves and accepts us fully through grace, even when we sin – in other words, when we are standing on the ground of grace, then we are able to walk in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit Who is our strength, and the One who enables us to rise above sin.

As Romans 8:2 tells us, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”

See that?

When we walk in the truth of the grace of God in Christ, then that truth sets us free, and then the love and life of Christ flows through us, and sin loses it's power. Truth always sets free.

But the lie that we are still under the Law, that following laws and rules are how we earn God's love and favor, that lie brings bondage. And that bondage repeats itself.

I don't care how many times you repent of a sin, if your solution to that sinning is going back to the law and buckling down to force yourself to obey that law, you will fail. Hasn't that often been your experience?

Why Do We Sin?

Well, if we understand that grace principle, then why would we ever sin? Because we do, don't we?

The answer is that we are deceived by the world, the flesh and the devil. We have these enemies, the world, the flesh and the devil. And they deceive us. And one of the ways they deceive us is that we are under the law, in the sense that our obedience to law is how we earn God's love and favor, or even keep our salvation.

That's a lie, but these enemies tell us, “Come, let us reason together. Doesn't it make sense that God will be angry at you if you sin? Doesn't it make sense that if you don't stop that sin on your own, that you don't deserve forgiveness? What kind of Christian are you? Do you really think God still forgives you when you've said you were going to stop that, and yet here you are again with the same sin? You slob, you sinner, you ungrateful wretch!”

And it's all a lie. God loves us and accepts us in the Beloved, in Christ. And He has already forgiven even the sins that we have yet to commit. It was accomplished at great cost on the Cross, but it was accomplished. It is finished. And our salvation, and our favor with God, and our staying saved, and our eventual place with Him in heaven, is all paid for...done.

And yet, those enemies will deceive us every chance they get. So I want to deal with one more dynamic. And that is, what do we do when we DO sin? Where do we go? Because I don't want to teach the error of sinless perfection.

What To Do When You Sin

Anyone who never sins, raise your hand.

I didn’t think so. Of course we do sin. Let’s get that out of the way first. 1 Jn. 1:8 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” Two verses later it says, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”

But wait a minute. In 1 Jn. 3:6 it says, “…Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him [that is, Jesus].” And two verses later John writes, “He who sins is of the devil.”

What’s going on here?

Well, that’s where English breaks down a little bit. The New Testament was of course written in Greek, the common Greek of the time. And when they wrote and spoke in that day, they would use different tenses of a verb that could make quite a drastic distinction in what they said. One tense might be a reference to a single action, and one tense might be a reference to a continuing action.

We do a similar thing in English, but we usually add other words, or forms of a word to get the point across. For example, if we were talking about a baseball player hitting a single home run, the announcer might say simply, “Wow, he hits a home run”. But if we were talking about a baseball player whose habit is always hitting home runs, we might say, “Wow, he sure hits home runs.” That’s his practice, that’s his norm. He’s always hitting home runs. He’s a home run champ.

So in 1 John, when it says, “Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor know Him,” we find the Greek word for “sins” is in the present tense, which refers to continuous sinning. In other words, one who lives in sin, walks in sin, continues in sin, and never really repents of it, or turns away from it.

This fits the context of 1 John also, because as we’ve already said that if we deny that we sin at all, we’re calling God a liar.

O.K. I say all that to say this:

When you sin, where do you go? Do you run straight to God, or do you do what many of us have a habit of doing? We shy away from God. We don’t exactly mean to. But we do.

Some process goes through our mind, maybe not clearly, but something like, “Oh boy. There I go again. How can I face God after that? I mean, we’ve been through that sin so many times. I know God forgives me, but does He really?

“I mean, what kind of wretch am I that I would do that again? I think I’ll just sit it out and see how it goes. I can’t go to God yet. I’m not sure I even feel like going to God right now. What would He think? Even God has His limits.

“He must really be frowning a me right now, or even downright angry. And I can’t face His frown and anger. Lord knows I deserve it, though. Do you have any idea how many times I must have disappointed Him? And after all He’s done for me.”

We may not verbalize all that, but it’s a common feeling that I’ve heard many people express one way or another.

And of course, eventually we do turn to Him, and our sweet fellowship with Him goes on. And even though we know on some level that the quicker we turn back to Him the better, yet we delay it for what we can only call crazy reasons of bad theology?

Is God Angry At Us?

Because is it accurate to see God frowning or angry at us? Is it good biblical theology?

No, it’s not. It’s a view of God that is just plain incorrect. And to get a correct view of God, and how He relates to us when we sin, we can look at a story you may be quite familiar with, the Prodigal Son. But you may not be familiar with it from the vantage point, not of the wayward son [that’s us], but of the Father in the story.

The Prodigal Son's Abba

I can't tell you how many sermons I've heard through the years on the subject of "The Prodigal Son". What he did. How he treated his father. Where he went. How he worked with the pigs. How he squandered his inheritance. Finally, how he was restored. On and on about the son, with usually some contrasting comparisons about his elder brother.

It's supposed to be a picture of us Christians when we sin or "backslide", and how we can return to God. And how there's always forgiveness, if we repent, turn 180 degrees, say our speeches to God, resolve to do better, etc., etc.

But is that really what it's about? The son?

Well, sure, but only incidentally. It's really about the Father, and His heart toward us, his children. It's a picture of God. The son is almost just a prop, added in to make a point.

I won't read the story now, but you can read the story in Luke 15, verses 11-24.

Notice that the prodigal son had a little speech prepared. A little repentance speech. A groveling speech. Sort of, "Father, I'm a low-down miserable worm, not worthy to be your son, so let me be a hired servant of yours."

Did the Father listen to the speech, and judge the son's sincerity by it? No! Remember? He never even listened to the speech! He was too overjoyed by his son's return! It's as though he said, "Oh shut up, you big lug! Give your daddy a hug! Welcome home, son!"

And that's the point:

God is not interested in the content of our little speeches. He isn't interested in our groveling, as if the more miserably we grovel, the more we "earn" His forgiveness. Why? Because He has already forgiven us, and paid for that forgiveness on the Cross.

Well, what is He interested in, then?

What God Is Interested In

He is interested in our fellowship!

If I may paraphrase the Father, he said: "Cut the speech! I get it. Go get the robe! Get the ring! Kill the fatted calf! My son has returned! That's all I want! I love you, Son! I love you! Just abide in me. I'll produce the fruit. I know you've failed, and you'll fail again. But that doesn't change my love for you! And I'm at work in you both to will and to do my good pleasure!" (Phil. 2:13)

In our heart of hearts, as believers in Jesus Christ, we don’t want to sin, do we? But the world, the flesh and the devil deceives us, and we do sin. Where do we go?

Let’s get in the habit of running to the Father. Don’t walk, run to Him. He will always, always, have His arms open to you, His child, to wrap those arms around you in love. Because the sins are already paid for, remembered no more, as far as the east is from the west, because of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

May we “...be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled up to all the fulness of God..." (Eph. 3:18,19)

And then stay off of the ground of law, and stand on the ground of grace, and you'll know (and experience) that “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” (Rom. 8:2)

Why A Believer Sins And What To Do About It

This week's audio message:

Why A Believer Sins And What To Do About It

Grace For Life audio archives are here.

Larry Norman - Gone To Be With The Lord Today

April 8, 1947 – February 24, 2008

When I became a Christian in 1976, Contemporary Christian Music was young. There were only a few "pioneers" in those years. Love Song, 2nd Chapter of Acts, Nancy Honeytree, Randy Stonehill, Phil Keaggy, Terry and John Michael Talbot, Keith Green, and my friend Steve Camp. That was my music.

One of the pioneers of the pioneers was Larry Norman.

I loved this guy.

Maybe best known for his "Why Should The Devil Have All the Good Music?", he was strange, funny, and evangelistic, with long straight blonde hair. He sang of being raptured ("I Wish We'd All Been Ready"), and pleaded, "Why don't you look into Jesus, He's got the answer?"

I watched a few YouTube videos of Larry just a few months ago. Thank God for YouTube. Take a look at some. Primitive, but always pointing people to the One Whom He has now gone to be with.

Keep Your Mind Stayed On Him

By Michele Rayburn

When Christians say that they are against Legalism, sometimes I wonder if they even know what that entails.

The tentacles of Legalism reach deep down into our lives, producing false guilt, self-abasement, and an unhealthy obsession with sin, which results in saying and believing things that indicate that we feel worthless, unloved, unforgiven, and unacceptable to God.

As I said in a previous post, what Christians need to realize and need to appropriate in their lives is who they are in Christ, how to "be" in Christ, and how to "walk by the Spirit". The alternative is to "walk in the flesh".

We need to focus on Him, not focus on our sin.

You've probably heard it said that if you're told to not think of pink elephants, the next thing you know...you're thinking of pink elephants.

So when we are taught about sin, somehow we just can't stop thinking about that sin, and about continuing in that sin, and then about how we are going to resist that sin.

But it's going to be in our own strength, if we're not being told, straight from the Word of God, how to depend on God to deliver us from a particular sin, and if we're not being told how to "walk by the Spirit".

Because these teachings are so neglected, it leaves a spiritual void in people's lives. And that is the reason that I believe we have so many legalistic churches, which sometimes leads to false churches, "movements" and cults.

All of them have one thing in common. In a subtle, man-centered way, they are seeking to earn God's love and favor by what they think they can do for Him, not realizing that they already have His love and favor.

All of the false religions have no risen Savior. But the true Church has a risen Savior. And if we truly want to exalt Him in our lives, then we should be looking to Him, focusing on Him, walking in Him, depending on Him for everything, including the strength to overcome our weaknesses.

Try thinking about your sin and focusing on the Lord at the same time. I think you will find that you can't do that. And yet that is what I think Christians are taught to do.

But the result, I believe, is that we will become "the double-minded man, unstable in all his ways".

The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:5-6, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace..."

In Romans 7:25, Paul says, "So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin."

Paul knew the struggle against sin like all of us, and how he could not "serve in the newness of the Spirit" and "in the oldness of the letter [of the law]" at the same time. But he proclaimed that we have been delivered from the law, having died to it. (Romans 7:6)

And so we should continue to proclaim these truths in the Church today.

No Free Lunch, No Free Grace (Transcript)

You're probably familiar with the phrase, “There's no free lunch”.

Although it's a rather silly debate, you may have argued with that. You may have said, “Of course there is a free lunch. Just the other day my buddy picked up the tab and I had a free lunch.” And of course, you are right that the lunch was free for you. But it wasn't really free. It had to be paid for by your buddy.

“What if I catch a fish and eat it for lunch? That's free.” Not likely. Your fishing rod and reel, your bait or lures, all cost money. Not to mention the car and gasoline you drive to the lake. But even if you walk to the lake and catch the fish with your bare hands, by the time you cook and eat it, it will have cost the fish its life. No free lunch.

“Well, you say, what if I had a lunch of nuts and berries picked in the woods.?”

Boy you sure like to argue! The answer to that one comes directly from Jesus Himself, who said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)

You see, for you to have your lunch of nuts and berries, there was the cost, maybe a long time ago, of the lives of some nut and berry seeds.

Okay, why am I belaboring the point about no free lunch?

The reason is that a lot of us talk a lot about grace as though it was given by a nice God who just decided to overlook our sins and be extra nice and forgive us our sins, and be even nicer by taking us to heaven. In other words, we tend to as though God had a fit of mercy, and decided to suspend His justice and just give us a pass, because He was having a good day.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

God Is Always Just

The truth is that God is eternally just. Justice is as much a part of Him as love and mercy is. He would no more suspend His justice then He would stop loving us. He can't be unjust.

Now one might say, “But God DID suspend His justice! Don't we say that we deserve Hell, but He gives us heaven? Don't we say that we don't get what we JUSTLY deserve? If God meted out His justice, then we would be in big trouble. Thank God He gave us mercy and not justice!”

Well, there is some truth to all that. He certainly didn't exercise His justice on us. But we say that God is just. So how do we reconcile that? And of course, you are probably way ahead of me, and see exactly where I'm going with this.

But I want to put it in a way that isn't just a theological statement of truth. I want to put it in a way that causes you to appreciate grace in a way that you may have never appreciated before. I want to put it in such a way that you're not afraid of grace. Not afraid to radically stand on the radical grace of God, in such a way that you cry out like William Wallace at the end of Braveheart, “Free-e-e-e-e-edo-o-o—om!”

And I want you to be able to really understand Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”

Mealy-Mouthed Grace

Too many believers are mealy-mouthed about their freedom in Christ. They're mealy-mouthed about grace. Now some of you may not be familiar with the term mealy-mouthed, so let me elaborate.

The derivation of the word is not agree on, but The American Heritage Dictionary has the view I like the best. They favor the view that it came from Martin Luther, who used the German phrase Mehl im Maule behalten, pardon my pronunciation I'm sure, which means “to carry meal in the mouth, that is, to not be direct in speech”.

Who better than Luther, who never had meal in his mouth, to come up with that? (Of course, some would say Luther could have used a little meal in his mouth sometimes.) Anyway, by the middle to end of the 1500's, it was common in English as “mealmouthed”, and finally “mealy-mouthed”.

But the point is this. Too many believers are timid about grace. They are so afraid of being thought of as condoning sin, or being antinomian, or causing others to stumble, that they have a hard time saying out loud that we are no longer under Law but under grace, even though that is a direct statement from Scripture in Roman 6:14. They can't get the words of the Apostle Paul out of their mealy mouths, when Paul said, “All things are lawful for me.”

Antinomianism

I like what the great English Reformed preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones said, when he warned preachers that unless they are occasionally accused of antinomianism, they should question whether they are really preaching the gospel at all.

Before I expand on why grace is not free any more than lunch is free, let me say a word about antinomianism, a much-misunderstood concept.

The biblical truth about grace is so radical that it shakes the legalist to their core, and they shout "Antinomian!" (Antinomian literally refers to "no law" or "anti-law"). Or they ask the reasonable question that Paul anticipated from his Roman readers, "Should we sin, so that grace will abound?"

And of course, Paul says "of course not", and explains the new creation, the new heart given to us by God, in which we have died with Christ, been buried with Him, and risen again with Him to a new life. We have died to sin, and been made alive to Christ. "How can you," Paul asks, "who have died to sin, keep living in it?"

So Paul's radical teaching of the grace of God is not antinomianism.

Is there then a true Antinomianism? A wrong heretical Antinomianism? Yes. I know biblically, and from my other readings that such creatures exist. Even though I have to admit I haven't actually met one.

I would take a stab at a definition of true Antinomianism this way:

An Antinomian is one who believes that because our sins are forgiven, past, present and future, there is no biblical call for good works or moral living. And therefore there is really no such thing as "sin".

That kind of Antinomian is rightly criticized. They've taken the grace of God and used it to live like the devil, on purpose. And while I said I never met one who taught that way, I must admit I've seen a few who seem to live that way. These are what the Bible calls hypocrites. I don't mean the born-again believer who fails, sins, gets back up in repentance, and goes on. I mean the one who thinks there is nothing really "wrong". That's the true Antinomian.

Don't let someone label you that, just because you believe the Apostle Paul when he writes that sin shall no longer be master over you because you are no longer under Law but under Grace, or because you don't walk around in misery over your sin all the time. It is forgiven, after all. And you do love the Lord, after all. And He is working in you both to will and to do His good pleasure, after all. Rejoice, no matter what the legalists say.

The Cost Of Grace?

Now what about grace not being free, like lunch is not free?

You know where I'm going with this, don't you? It's not complicated, even though it's profound, and worthy of our meditation for the rest of our lives.

It's the Cross. We preach Christ and Him crucified, because that is how God remains just, and yet shows us His mercy. It's true, He didn't exercise His justice on us. He exercised His justice on His Son.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life, eternal life.” John 3:16.

The cost of the grace that God provides for us, was the greatest price paid by anyone at any time in history.

Its cost makes the wealth of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet combined pale by comparison.

Its cost is infinitely greater than all the millions of deaths of all the soldiers, marines and airmen in all the world from the beginning of time.

Its cost is so great that actually we can't really understand it. Who can understand when Jesus said “Eli, eli, lama sabachthani...My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We ponder it, and write about it, and preach it, and we can't understand it any more than my Dachschund can understand when my wife says, “We're going to church, now. You be a good dog. We'll be back soon.” And the dog cocks his head as if to say, “I see your lips moving, but what's your point? Got any doggie biscuits?”

We can only scratch the surface on the cost of the grace God has shown us. But it's worth scratching. Because the more we can comprehend the cost, the better we can grasp that the radical grace of God is real. It's complete.

God's Radical Grace

It's something we can stand on, because it has become a promise from God that nothing can separate us from His love.

It's something we can stand on because it has become a promise from God that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

It's something we can stand on because it has become a promise that there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

It's something we can stand on because it has become a promise that no one can pluck us out of His hand, because we have been engraved on His hands just as the marks of the nails are on the hands of our Savior.

And it's something we can stand on because it has become a promise that He is working ALL things together for good to us who love Him, INCLUDING OUR OWN SINS!

Did you think that He works all things together for our good, except that now our sins block Him from His quest?

Did you really think that when you sin now that God's plans for you are thwarted? That He sits by like some weak Roman god, wrenching His hands and worrying that you just can't get it right? And that He WANTS to work all things for your good, but you keep getting in His way, and He's frustrated?

No! No! May it never be!

The God who created the heavens and the earth, and threw billions of galaxies out into space with the words “Let there be”, is not bound.

“You thought that I was such a one as you!” God cries. “I'm not limited like you. I'm God. I have no limits, except for my very character. I AM Who I AM! I know the end from the beginning, no, I AM the end and the beginning, the Alpha and Omega! Nothing shall separate you from my love. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing!”

When Jesus said on the Cross, “It is finished”, He meant that the price for Grace was paid completely. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

Why Many Don't Preach Radical Grace

In conclusion, you may ask, "If this Grace stuff is really true...if God really does love me and accept me in Christ, apart from my performance...if there is nothing I could do to make Him love me more, and nothing I could do to make Him love me less...if He really has forgiven me of all my sins, past, present and future, so there is no condemnation for me...then why don't more preachers preach that, Terry?"

Here's why. Actually one of two possibilities, in my experience:

1. They have been so brainwashed with legalism and performance-based Christianity themselves, that their own eyes haven't been opened to the radical nature of Grace after salvation.

Ask them about Christ "living His Life through me", and they will jump to remind you about your duty to buckle down and discipline yourself with self-control. If you remind them that self-control ironically is a fruit of the Spirit, and it is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives through you [Galatians 2:20]...they will look at you as if you were some alien from another world.

And if they are biblically knowledgeable, they will begin to quote you rule after rule, duty after duty, sin after sin, to beat down your "grace" once and for all, you...you...Antinomian! (They love that word, because it keeps them from having to examine the biblical nature of Grace after salvation).

or...

2. They pretty much see the radical nature of New Covenant grace, but they are scared. Scared that if they preach it in all it's glory...if they truly preach "it is finished"... if they preach it without a mixture of the Law...then the sheep will run wild!

Actually, the opposite is true. Real born-again Christians are new creations. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. We love Jesus, in our heart of hearts. We hate sin in our heart of hearts. When we hear how radically He has saved us, when we hear of His love that no sin or failure on our part will diminish, then the love of Christ constrains us to follow Him, to desire His ways, to fellowship with Him, to be filled with His Spirit.

The sheep don't run wild under grace. They run wild under Law, which quenches the Holy Spirit and inflames sin.

Pop Quiz

Here's a little test...complete this verse (I've already mentioned it):

"For sin shall not be master over you, for _______" (Rom. 6:14)

Pretty important verse, wouldn't you say? A verse that explains why sin shall no longer be master over us? Important, no? Give up? Here's the whole verse:

"For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace."

When's the last time you heard that verse preached?

Maybe never. Why?

Ask around. See if your friends, preachers, teachers, can complete the verse. You might be surprised. And there's a good chance that either they don't believe it (watch them try to twist such an elegantly simple verse to mean something else), or they don't want it spread around. The sheep will run wild.

Grace is not free. It cost Christ an infinite cost. But like the lunch your friend bought you, it's paid for now. It's free to you, and so you are free.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Gal. 5:1

No Free Lunch, No Free Grace

This week's audio message:

No Free Lunch, No Free Grace

Grace For Life audio archives are here.

What Every Christian Needs

by Michele Rayburn

NOTE: The following was written in response to a discussion about a prominent Pastor known for his course, foul language in the pulpit.


"Filthy speech puts those who are guilty of it among the chief of sinners, and to them will certainly be meted out a terrible vengeance in that day when God shall solemnly curse those who have so glibly cursed themselves."
-Charles Spurgeon, "A Great Gospel For Great Sinners"

[There seemed to have been some confusion among believers as to whether Spurgeon was speaking to believers or to unbelievers, that is why I said the following:]

Charles Spurgeon appears to be speaking to the unbeliever about his sin in this particular passage.

But what is the solution, the remedy, for the believer? What this Pastor in question needs is what we all need because we all sin just like him. James reminds us that "no one can tame the tongue".

Galatians 5:16 says:

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh."

and

Galatians 5:25 says:

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."

I think that part of this Pastor's problem might be, like so many of us, that he was raised in a legalistic sin-focused church and was never truly grounded in the knowledge of God's grace and of spiritual living, but instead was taught to stop sinning in his own strength rather than relying on God to work that work in him by His Spirit.

I think his sin problem may be a backlash, a rebellion if you will, to the legalism that says "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch..." (Colossians 2:21)

In context, Colossians 2:20ff says:

"If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!"... in accordance with the teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence."

What is the Biblical solution then?

Colossians 3:1-11:

"Therefore if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is...not on the things that are on the earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God...Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed...and in them you once walked, when you were living in them...put them all aside: anger, wrath...abusive speech. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him...Christ is all, and in all."

And Isaiah says:

"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You." (Isaiah 26:3)

I like to paraphrase it by saying that God didn't say to keep your mind stayed on sin. He said to keep your mind stayed on Him!

I was looking at a blog called "Herescope". And it said a very interesting thing in an article entitled "The Dominionism of Sin" (Aug. 4, 2007):

"This blog [Herescope] spends a considerable amount of time examining and exposing the swift rise in our age of the false doctrines and practices of Dominionism.

"Indeed, it is human nature to seek human solutions to overcome the fallen nature of man. And that, in brief, is precisely the temptation of the heresies of Dominionism.

"Dominionism promises that mankind can better himself, perfect his nature, change societies, cultures and governments; and even reverse the effects of the Fall, build the kingdom of God on earth, bring Jesus back as King, and restore Paradise.

"It is easier to look outwards at the world and try to fix it than to look inwards at the heart. For it is the heart, and the dominion of sin over the heart, that truly must undergo transformation."

http://herescope.blogspot.com/2007/08/dominionism.html

And that really sums it up for me. We can try to tell people what to do, do, do all day if we want to, but it will not change the person's heart unless he is told how to be, be, be.

It may seem easier to tell people what to do, but it cannot change the heart. There will usually only be a temporary fix, if anything. Only God can change the heart, and, with regard to a particular sin, that may take time...and in many cases, a lifetime.

The biggest problem with sin in the Church is that too many of us do not know who we are, so we don't know how to be. And until we do learn who we are (in Christ), and how to be (in the Spirit), we will not be able to control what we do, because that control can only come from God's Spirit, not by "the will of man".

As we learn who we are, and how to be, and our focus is on Him, He will control our sin, by His Spirit, and in His time...in His perfect timing.

Who Are We In Christ?

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light..." (1 Peter 2:9)

And we are Saints. Paul never said "To the Sinners who are in Ephesus..." He called us what we are, not by what we sometimes do.

Now, go and "be" that Saint by walking in the truths of who you "are".

Don't Just Be A Bible Scholar (Transcript)

As I give this message, I've just returned from a Bible Conference. I'll tell you the truth, I've gone to a lot of Bible Conferences over the years, and I love them. I really enjoy getting together over a weekend and listening to some good Bible expositors, preachers and teachers, teaching the Word of God that I love, along with a bunch of other people who also love the Word.

There is a camaraderie of intensiveness, usually combined with music and worship, that you pretty much only get at a Bible Conference. It can be hard work, if you really pay attention, but it's also a lot of fun.

Coming away from this latest Bible Conference, however, I'm reminded of something that I have to keep reminding myself of, when I get a big fat head full of Biblical truth crammed in me, in a space of three days, or even daily when I “study my Bible”.

Let me illustrate this reminder by asking you a question. I'm going to give you two descriptions. And I'd like to ask you which description you would prefer to be a description of you.

1. “They really know their Bible. They are a real student of the Scriptures. If you've got a Bible question, they can answer it.”

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Here's the second description.

2. “They really know Jesus. They really spend time with the Lord. When they give answers, they are spiritual, life-giving answers.”

Which description would you rather have true of you? He really knows his Bible, or, he really knows Jesus? Now I don't mean to say that a person can't have both. In fact it should ideally be that way. But my reminder to myself is that biblical scholarship doesn't always equate to a spiritual fellowship with Jesus Christ.

One of the most important verses in the Bible is John 5:39. Jesus is speaking and He says, primarily to the Pharisees,

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;”

Now before I explain why this is one of the most important verses of the Bible, let me clarify something, if I haven't already.

I love the Bible. I love the Word of God. I believe that those of us who own a Bible are the most privileged in the World. Many of us have not just one copy, but several copies, and that is a great and precious privilege.

And I'm well aware of 2 Tim. 3:16. Let me read it for you. It says,
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;”

I'm well aware of that, and I of course agree with that. The Scripture is inspired by God and profitable. All Scripture.

I'm also well familiar with Colossians 3:16. Let me read that for you. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. “

The Word of God, the Word of Christ should dwell in us richly. I believe that. I love the Word of God, I love the Bible.

But an even more important verse than those, as far as our purposes here, is John 5:39. And let me read it one more time for you. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;”

Another way of saying what Jesus is saying to these Pharisees is, “You're Bible Men. And you think being Bible Men will give you life. But what you don't understand about these Scriptures [and Jesus was speaking at this time of the Old Testament] what you don't realize is that these Scriptures bear witness of Me, they point to Me, the promised Messiah. And if you miss that, you've missed the ultimate point of those Scriptures.”

Well, how true that is, and it's even more true of the New Testament Scriptures.

I'd like to give you four reasons why John 5:39 is one of the most important verses in the Bible. Four reasons why you shouldn't just be a Bible scholar:

1. Relationship is more important than raw data.

Let me give you a dictionary definition of data (or DAY-ta...you say tomayto, I say tomahto):

“Factual information, especially information organized for analysis, or used to make decisions.”

Look at those two aspects of data, “for analysis”, and “used to make decisions”.

Isn't that often why we study the Bible? We either want to analyze it to the nth degree, and I confess I love that. I love digging down into the fine points, dissecting a passage and squeezing every bit of analytical juice out of that scriptural orange. Or we merely use it to "make decisions". We are prone to think of the Bible data as rules and regs and reduce it to a manual.

That's data. But what the Scriptures teach over and over is that relationship, in this case to our Lord Himself, is far more important than raw data. You see, Jesus is more important than the facts about Jesus. The Lord is more important than the facts about the Lord.

It's important that He be understood as our Sacrifice Lamb, our Advocate, our Defense Attorney, our Shield, and our Defender. But also our Savior, our Lord, our Brother, our Friend, our Beloved. He is our Beloved, and we are His beloved.

And the important thing there is to understand that that relationship with Him is even more important than the information about Him, as important as that information may be.

2. A Guide Is More Important Than A Guidebook

I've always disliked the idea of thinking of the Bible as some kind of Owner's Manual. I've heard that through the years. You know, “Things are broken in your life? Get back to the Owner's Manual. He's the Creator, He's the One who made you, and you need to get back to that Book to learn how to fix things.”

And although there's a certain amount of truth to that...which is more important, a Guide, or a Guide Book?

Now I don't want to press the point too far, but which would you rather have, when you have a little problem with your computer, a fine-print Microsoft Manual, or a friend who helps you click a few buttons and get things right again?

If you're traveling to Rome, you're a lot better off with a Guide taking you step-by-step, place-by-place, having a relationship with you, showing you the sights, giving you background information, giving you understanding. How much better that Guide is than having a book on “How To See Rome on $100 A Day”, or whatever.

Likewise, in the Scripture, a Guide who is the Holy Spirit, who is Jesus Christ Himself, is far more important than looking at the Scripture as an Owner's Manual.

3. Life Is More Important Than Lists

Now I happen to like Bible lists. I'm a geek there. So is my son, surprise surprise. There are several books in print with titles like “Wilmington's Book of Bible Lists”. And these books are interesting, and you can learn a lot from them. All the Kings of Judah, all the wells in the Bible, the Ten Commandments, and other laws and rules. All kinds of fascinating lists.

But the Scripture makes it clear over and over that Life is more important than lists.

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” That's one of His major purposes in coming to this world, is that we, believers, may have life and have it abundantly.

Now, could you say, “He who reads his Bible everyday has life?” No. That's not a given. He who reads his Bible everyday may not have life.

I want to read to you a wonderful passage in the Bible. Listen to this from 1 John 5:11,12, “And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

Is it true that he who reads his Bible everyday has life? No, not necessarily, but he who has the Son has life. Life is more important than lists.

4. Spiritual Understanding Is Better Than Scholarship

Now scholarship is a fine thing, when it comes to the Scriptures. I believe we ought to study. I believe we ought to be diligent in our learning of the Scriptures.

I believe we should learn to discern between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, for example. I believe we should have a scholarly understanding of how Jesus took our sins on the Cross, and was able to declare us righteous, justified.

I believe we should have a scholarly understanding of our identity in Christ as a New Creation, forgiven of all our sins.

I believe we should learn about Grace, the radical Grace by which we are not just saved, but by which we live, no longer under Law, but under Grace. And why this means that sin shall no longer be master over us.

I believe there are a lot of things that we should be scholars in when it comes to the Scriptures. But spiritual understanding is better than scholarship, or more important than scholarship.

I don't know sometimes whether to laugh or cry over some of these Time Magazine or Newsweek Magazine features with titles like “Who Is The Real Jesus?” Or the Jesus Seminar, where a bunch of scholars get together to share their thoughts on who Jesus is, without any spiritual understand whatsoever.

What the Bible says is that the “natural man cannot understand spiritual things, for they are foolishness to him. He can't understand them, for they are spiritually discerned.” - 1 Cor. 2:14

The natural man, that means the one who is not born again, can't understand spiritual things. So his scholarship means nothing. Spiritual understanding is better than scholarship.

But it's not just the unbelieving scholars who miss the spiritual understanding in their scholarship. As believers, we too are prone sometimes to study the “stuff”, without seeing, and warming up to, and fellowshipping with, the One that the “stuff” is about.

Fellowshipping With The Lord

Well, in closing then, I'd like to read a quotation from a man named Norman Douty. He writes this: “Come to the Word for one purpose, and that is to meet the Lord. Not to get your mind crammed full of things about the Sacred Word. But come to it to meet the Lord. Make it a medium, not of biblical scholarship, but of fellowship with Christ. Behold the Lord.”

And then in 2 Corinthians 3:18 we see the value of this “beholding the Lord”:

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

So we see why it's important to have that relationship, rather than just the raw data. To have that Guide rather than just a guidebook. To have that life, rather than a bunch of lists. And to have that spiritual understanding rather than just scholarship.

Be a Bible scholar, fine. But don't JUST be a Bible scholar. “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me.”

Don't Just Be A Bible Scholar

This week's audio message:

Don't Just Be A Bible Scholar

Grace For Life audio archives are here.

When Gracers Go Too Far (Transcript)

When I say, “When Gracers Go Too Far”, I don't mean one can go too far with Grace. Grace is absolute.

I trust that those of you who have listened to or read my teaching of the Word of God know how strongly I believe in Grace. The Bible teaches that Grace is foundational to God's working with man. And if one doesn't have a good grasp on the truth of the New Covenant that we are "no longer under Law but under Grace" (Rom. 6:14), then much of the rest of their theology and practical Christian living will be flawed.

I am a Gracer from start to finish. I believe the Bible teaches that we are not only saved inititally by Grace through Faith, "not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9), but that the keeping of our salvation and our ultimate glorification is entirely by Grace through Faith. That our works had nothing to do with our salvation to begin with, and our works have nothing to do with our staying saved and going to heaven.

I believe that there is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and nothing we can do to make God love us less, as believers, as born-again children of God. He has set His love on us and there is nothing that can separate us from that love.

The Issue

Now, having said that, I have noticed something a little disturbing among some other so-called Gracers. There is something I have seen among those who really do glory in the Grace of God, that goes too far.

I want to be kind here, but there is something that I have seen among those who really do glory in the New Covenant of Grace that I believe has made them gullible.

By gullible, I mean that they have embraced as a brother or sister in Christ, anyone who claims to be a Christian, no matter what that person believes.

Under the banner of Grace, these well-meaning Gracers have undermined the Gospel of Grace.

While denouncing works-based salvation, while denouncing Galatianism, where grace and works are mixed together in a false Gospel, while meaning to be Grace-centered, they have stepped over into a strange acceptance of Legalism, even another Gospel, which is not a Gospel at all. And they've done it without even knowing it.

Performance-Based Legalism

Now, I'm going to give a specific example of this. But first, I want to say a few words about that form of “legalism” which I call Performance-Based Christianity, as opposed to Grace-Based. It's that form of legalism that tries to earn God's favor or love by what we do.

There are several other forms of legalism, for example:

1. There is initial salvation by works;

2. There is the Seventh Day Adventist type of legalism, which speaks of initial salvation by grace, but it must be followed by law-works or you end up losing your salvation;

3. There is that extra-biblical type of cultural "legalism", such as "no lipstick", "no pants for ladies", etc.;

4. There is pure Galatianism, which mixes law-works with grace, which of course makes it not grace.

Which Paul points out makes it no longer grace, whereupon one "falls from grace", as the Galatians did in their foolishness, and gets on the ground of Law, which quenches the Holy Spirit, and inflames sin.

The problem with Law-based living is that the one who lives that way must, a. obey all of it, b. obey it continually, c. obey it perfectly.

"Striving to obey God's commandments" won't cut it, and one who lives that way is cursed by his own paradigm.

"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law to perform them.'" (Gal. 3:10)

But...We are "...servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Cor. 3:6)

And that New Covenant, of course, is in Jesus Christ, our Lawgiver, Lawkeeper, and Sacrifice Lamb, who became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God. What a Savior and Friend!

The Disturbing Habit of Some Gracers

Okay, let's get back to the problem I've seen in some Gracers. Those, who have come to see that our salvation from start to finish is completely by Grace, and not works.

Here's the problem. They have stood strong for Grace and against Legalism, but then in the name of Grace, have embraced those in false legalistic religions as brothers and sisters.

Some have gone as far a a form of Universalism, in which they teach that everyone will be saved, because after all, if Jesus paid for the sins of everyone, and unbelief is a sin, then didn't He pay for the sin of unbelief and therefore must welcome everyone into heaven eventually?

They are careful to say that no one EARNED their way into heaven, but everyone makes it anyway. This is, of course, a direct contradiction of the Word of God, which clearly teaches that some will never believe in Christ, and will indeed be thrown into the lake of fire.

But I'm not speaking of these Gracer Universalists. I'm speaking of those Gracers who have, in the name of Grace, embraced works-based religious leaders. This usually involves the works-based religion of Roman Catholicism, and might involve studying the monk Thomas Merton and his meditations. Or it might involve a dialog on the radio or the Internet with a Roman Catholic fellow who is so nice and loving that it is thought that he must be a true believer, and how can I judge him, when I'm not perfect myself? And so on.

And rather than give a detailed theological study of Roman Catholicism and how it so badly disagrees with the Gospel of Grace in the Scriptures, I will attempt to illustrate this disturbing tendency by asking the question:

Was Pope John Paul II a Great Spiritual Leader?

I choose John Paul, because he made so many public statements that sounded gracious, and was so attractive to Bible believing Christians, that if he couldn't be seen as a good spiritual leader, then who could, in the Roman Catholic Church?

To my Gracer friends, if the answer to the question, Was Pope John Paul II a Great Spiritual Leader? is “No”, then I would urge you to not extend your understanding of Grace to include the false Galatianist religion of [so-called] grace-plus-works of which he was a part. Use the Scriptures and your God-given discernment to discern the awful Legalism that his religion embraces.

So, Was Pope John Paul II A Great Spiritual Leader?

First, let me say, I liked Pope John Paul II. He was kindly, charming, hard-working. A genius who spoke many languages, and he shared some of my own views on moral issues, such as the evil of killing our unborn, so I'm grateful for his influence in those areas.

And I wouldn't judge his final destination, heaven or hell, because it's God Who saves, by grace through faith, and none of us knows what may have happened, even on John Paul's death bed.

But was John Paul a great spiritual leader?

In the interest of slaying the dragon of Legalism, I must say "no", for three reasons:

1. He taught and supported a religion of "grace" plus works.

The Bible says clearly that if works is added to grace for salvation, it's no longer grace ("But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." --Romans 11:6)

Look at some excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (this is the "new" "modern" "open-minded" one...you should see the Traditional One!):

". . Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, so that 'we too might walk in newness of life,'"(Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 977).

Note this first of seven sacraments actually obtains the forgiveness of sins.

"In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere 'to the end' and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God's eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ," (CCC, par. 1821).

Note, "as God's ETERNAL REWARD for the good works".

"Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then MERIT for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification." (CCC, par. 2010).

Note we not only MERIT for ourselves, but for others.

And since the Catholic Church obviously teaches that salvation includes man's works, then it follows that the failure of man's works can destroy that salvation and damn him again, after he's been "justified".

The solution: more works! Listen to the following:

"Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as 'the second plank (of salvation) after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace.'" (CCC, par. 1446).

Acts of penance may be such things as prayer, saying the Rosary, reading the scripture, saying a number of "Our Father's" or "Hail Mary's", doing good works, fasting, etc.

Hold on, I gotta breathe in some fresh air of the Word of God, here:

"You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3)

2. John Paul also affirmed the Council of Trent,

...even traveling to Trento, Italy for the 450th Anniversary of the Council, and giving his approval. Among many other unbiblical teachings, the Council of Trent curses with damnation all of us who teach salvation "by grace through faith, not of works". Excerpts can be viewed at www.carm.org/catholic/trent.htm.

3. Like many false teachers, John Paul was deceptive in his public speeches,

...opening the gates of heaven to almost anyone from Protestants to Buddhists, Hindus, etc., ignoring the words of Jesus, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

Whether by deliberate deception, or personal confusion, John Paul spoke out of both sides of his mouth when it came to whom are children of God.

At best his sloppiness has caused masses (no pun intended) of people to miss the pure beautiful Gospel of faith alone, by grace alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

At worst, he deliberately said whatever itching ears wanted to hear, in order to win the crowds.

Either way, he couldn't qualify as a great spiritual leader.

Let me say, I have a particular love for Roman Catholics. I was once a member of the Roman Catholic Church myself, and my wife Michele was raised Roman Catholic. Many of our family members are of that faith.

If you are a Roman Catholic, or anyone who thinks that heaven can be earned by Sacraments or good works of any kind, I have terrific news for you. Jesus died on the cross for sins. He took the penalty for the sins of His people. He was buried and rose again from the grave, to give eternal life to all who will believe on Him and trust that His work on the cross was enough...who will believe that He meant it when He said on the cross, "It is finished." Whoever will may come to Him. God calls all men everywhere to repent, to change their minds. No works can earn it. It's a free gift of God. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

So, in conclusion, I hope my Gracer friends don't see this as some kind of hate piece against Roman Catholics, or any other religion. It's simply a plea to stay consistent in your proclamation of the wonderful Grace of God, and correspondingly to stand firm against Legalism in its all of its forms.

Preach the truth that we have been set free from the Law. We are no longer under Law but under Grace.

We love the laws of God, and we love the fact that He is working in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. We are His workmanship, and He is working in us His good works which He prepared for us before we were even born.

But we are free from having to perform to get the Lord's love and favor.

When Gracers Go Too Far

This week's audio message:

When Gracers Go Too Far

Grace For Life audio archives are here.