sin – Page 7

You Don’t Have a Sin Problem, part 1

July 7, 2017 by Michael Wilson

I want to begin a new series of posts concerning living in the flesh and believing lies. As a believer in Christ, we are to walk in the Spirit and live according to the truth. Yet, many find themselves struggling with sin and living defeated lives. We can live in the abundance that Jesus gives

Questions & Answers about Grace

July 3, 2017 by Sandra

It’s been a very long time since I’ve been this excited to share something with you on my blog! I’m always excited, but this time I’m super excited. I can just imagine how encouraged and inspired and probably even shocked you’re going to be when you hear this good news! I just discovered these ladies […]

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Have I Committed the Unforgivable Sin?

June 21, 2017 by Paul Ellis

Here is a conversation I have on a regular basis: Reader: “Paul, I’m worried that I have committed the unforgivable sin.” Me: “You haven’t.” Reader: “But I had these terrible thoughts about the Lord…” Me: “You didn’t commit an unforgivable sin.” Reader: “I shook my fist at heaven and said these wicked things…” Me: “Still no.” Reader: “But I took the Lord’s name in vain.” Me: “The good news is he forgives you. Jesus said, ‘Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven’ (Matthew 12:32).” Reader: “But the rest of that verse says those who speak against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. I’m doomed!” Me: “Uh-huh. So you think Jesus is gracious and forgiving but the Spirit of Christ holds a grudge? What’s wrong with that picture? Relax. The Holy Spirit keeps no record of your sin (Heb 10:17).” Reader: “I still worry that I committed the unpardonable sin.” Me: “Do you love Jesus?” Reader: “Of course.” Me: “What does Jesus mean to you?” Reader: “He’s my Lord.” Me: “You could not know that except the Holy Spirit showed you. The only thing that cannot be forgiven is rejecting what the Spirit says [...]

602. God’s Love: Jesus Became Sin; We Became Righteous

June 4, 2017 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Experiencing God’s peace and joy will be connected to gaining the understanding that His love for you has no strings attached. People often go through life wondering where they are positioned with God or they live in fear that God is angry with them. They have been smothered with teaching which proclaims faith, hope and love are based upon working at attaining a higher level of morality, an area where they are constantly falling short. God loves you because He loves you! He demonstrated this unconditional love through Jesus Christ dying for us, when all humans were still identified as sinners. He took our place by becoming sin, so we could receive His righteousness through belief, apart from works.

Does God Love Me When I Sin?

April 26, 2017 by Paul Ellis

I heard a pastor of a large church tell his congregation, “God hates you, God is sick of you, God is frustrated with you, God is weary of you.” And why is God in such a dark mood? Because of our sin and apathy. Jesus went through hell for us, but we can’t even show up to church on time. I wish sermons like this were rare, but they are not. Religious manipulators love to frighten those Christ died for because those who are afraid are easier to control. The truth is God loves you like crazy. He loves you when you’re up and he loves you when you’re down. He loves you when you get it right and he loves you when you get it wrong. Whether you’re preaching condemnation from the pulpit or receiving it in the pew, he loves you. “But Paul, does he love me when I sin?” Aren’t you listening? Haven’t you seen the cross? The proof of God’s amazing love is this: that it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, Phillips) You need to settle this in your heart. God loves you. Period. Whether you’re in the zone [...]

592. A Heart Condition

March 26, 2017 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The sin condition of the heart entered the world through one man (Adam). This form of the word for “sin” is a noun in the Greek and appears nearly four times more often than the verb in the New Testament. Death entered through this “sin condition” and it spread to all men, because the noun would lead to sinful actions, since all have sinned (verb). Jesus came to destroy and take away the sin of the world, the condition that resulted in everyone being identified as sinners, as inherited through Adam. Through one sacrifice at the cross, God dealt with and resolved the sin problem forever; both the sinful nature and the sinful actions. If this was not the case, Jesus would need to keep suffering repeatedly, and the cross would have to be considered inadequate. Fortunately for us, His one-time shedding of blood was more than enough, and now the issue is simply choosing to believe in order to receive the new nature of righteousness within our hearts.

Myth 9: The Hyper-Grace Gospel Encourages Sin

March 15, 2017 by Paul Ellis

Preach the scandalous grace of God and some will misinterpret your message as an endorsement of sin. It’s practically inevitable. But those who dismiss grace as a license to sin merely show their ignorance of it. As John Calvin may have said, “How can the medicine that’s supposed to kill the disease (grace) feed the disease (sin)?” “Hyper-grace preachers are soft on sin. They don’t condemn the sin that’s right in front of them.” The same accusation could be leveled at Jesus. An adulterous woman was brought to him for judgment and he didn’t even mention her sin. Not once. Instead he said “go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Jesus wasn’t making a threat. He was saying, “Receive my gift of no condemnation and be set free from sin.” “Hyper-grace preachers are closet sinners who distort the message of grace to accommodate their ungodly lifestyles.” Grace preachers are sometimes compared to the licentious men of Jude 1:4. Because we stand with Jesus instead of the rock-throwers we are thought to be soft on sin and sinners. But this is a slanderous accusation made by the ignorant and graceless. For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to [...]

588. Fake News: Believers Still Have a Sinful Nature

February 26, 2017 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

Many Christians have been taught they are living with two natures; one that is holy and righteous, and another that is sinful. At the very least, this is misleading and at the most it’s just plain erroneous. One who has come to belief in Christ, born in the newness of life and given a new heart, cannot also have a nature of evil dwelling within the spirit of the inner man. Confusion occurs when we define the flesh as a sinful nature, and some of this stems from a popular Bible translation using the phrase "sinful nature," although it has been revised in many instances since 2011. Believers are not defined as sinners with a nature to match - we are now described as partakers of the divine nature.

587. Jesus Became Sin – You Became Righteous

February 19, 2017 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The Bible states in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that Jesus became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Jesus had never sinned, yet He became sin. Likewise, we didn’t come to a place of acceptable behavior, yet we’ve been declared and identified as righteous. Jesus didn’t become sin progressively over a long period of time, neither is the gift of righteousness something that occurs progressively. We died with Him and rose to newness of life. As a believer in Jesus Christ, whatever struggles you continue to endure, it doesn’t spiritually define who you are as a holy child of the living God. Jesus put away sin once and for all by the sacrifice of Himself.

Do You Really Believe You Are Completely Forgiven?

December 7, 2016 by Sandra

I would definitely have to say that one of the most pivotal and life transforming moments in my husband’s and my life was the moment we came into an understanding that our complete forgiveness for all of our sins – past, present and future sins – was made possible for us by Jesus Christ alone […]

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The Sinless Life (1 John 3:6)

October 26, 2016 by Paul Ellis

When the Holy Spirit came into your life the change in you was like night and day. It’s like you were given a heart transplant. Your old heart, which was captive to desires of the flesh and enslaved to sin, was replaced with a new heart with new desires and appetites. Your new heart beats […]

568. The New Covenant: It’s Not About Us

October 9, 2016 by Mike Kapler and Joel Brueseke

The Old Covenant which Israel was under would put the spotlight upon the people and their sin, behavior and dedication in trying to keeping the law. The New Covenant which began after the death of Christ would not be like the first covenant when the Israelites came out of Egypt. Many believers have the erroneous mindset that Christianity has to do with our performance getting better and sinning less in order to become more set apart and accepted by God. Fortunately, the second covenant is something God would make with Himself, because He could swear by no one greater. Whereas fault was found with the people not holding up their end of the agreement with the Old Covenant, it is God who will uphold the New.