It is commonly believed that everyone is sinful and commits sins. Many reasons are given for such. This statement is true if limited to those who have not received the salvation that Christ made possible. The good news of the gospel will tell us that we can be delivered, not only from the penalty of sin, but also from the power and nature of sin. Listed below are ten of the many reasons given that "everyone" commits sin. Also stated is why they don't apply to people who possess salvation.
1. Everyone sins because man "just has to sin".
This is the reason Jesus came: "For he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21). Two times Jesus told people to "go and sin no more" (John 5:14 and John 8:11). He would not have said such if man "just had to sin".
2. Everyone sins because the Bible says so.
Yes, the Bible says so. In stating such, it teaches us that no one is good in his own power and resources. When Christ came, He told us in regards to committing sin; "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)
3. Everyone sins because of the power of the devil.
Some people have said, "The devil made me do it". Jesus can give you power over the devil. "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." (I John 5:18b)
4. Everyone sins because man is weak.
Salvation imparts strength to man that counteracts his weaknesses "I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me." (Phillipians 4:13).
5. Everyone sins because of the flesh.
Through the resources of Christ's blood and resurrection we are delivered from giving in to the flesh to the point of sin. Referring to saved people, Romans 8:1 says, "They walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit". Also Romans 8:9 says, "They are not in the flesh but in the Spirit".
6. Everyone sins because of the body.
God made the body and he called it good. Jesus had a body like ours and did not sin. Bible salvation can enable us to bring our bodies in subjection to God's will (I Corinthians 9:27).
7. Everyone sins because of temptation.
Saved people are tempted, but I Corinthians 10:13 tells us we won't be tempted above what we are able to bear. Temptation in itself doesn't make us sin.
8. Everyone sins because the world is sinful.
The world is sinful! Saved people are not of the world and by the sanctifying power of Christ are kept from the evil therein (I John 17:15-17).
9. Everyone sins because my preacher says they do.
We will allow your preacher his own personal belief. We must accept the testimony of the Word of God; "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." (I John 3:9).
10. Everyone sins because I know I sin.
II Corinthians 10:12 says, "It is not wise to compare ourselves among ourselves". We are sorry that you have not experienced the deliverance from sin that is possible in Christ. There are those who have heard the good news pertaining to such and have been delivered . By Pastor Duane Spanogle
'Twas sung by the poets, foreseen in the Spirit,
A time of refreshing is near;
When creeds and divisions would fall to demerit,
And saints in sweet union appear.
We stand in the glory that Jesus has given,
The moon, as the day-spring doth shine;
The light of the sun is now equal to seven,
So bright is the glory divine.
Now filled with the Spirit and clad in the armor
Of light and omnipotent truth;
We'll testify ever, and Jesus we'll honor,
And stand from sin Babel aloof.
The prophet's keen vision, transpiercing the ages,
Beheld us to Zion return;
We'll sing of our freedom, though Babylon rages,
We'll shout as her city doth burn.
The fig-tree is budding, the "evening" is shining,
We welcome the wonderful light!
We look for the Savior, for time is declining,
Eternity's looming in sight!
Oh, glory to Jesus! we hail the bright day
And high on our banner salvation display
The mists of confusion are all passed away.
Dear reader, how do you stand before God just now? My heart is burdened for you. Do you not know that the Bible says ". . . It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"? (Heb. 9:27). The first part of this verse is being fulfilled before our eyes day after day. And surely the last part is sure. Do you know that you shall stand before the judgment bar of God to give an account of how you have lived in this world? No one shall be spared. "Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess." (Phil. 2:10-11). If you do not bow here nor confess here, you will do it some time-but will it be too late? Dear reader, there is a way out of your sins. There is a way that your sins may be blotted out and you can in the judgment stand before God clean and spotless.
Jesus said, "I am the way." He is the way out for us. He was willing to come down from that beautiful home in heaven and live here in this sinful world, taking on human flesh and then dying on the cross that we may be delivered from our sins. When He arose from the grave and ascended up on high, the plan of salvation was made complete for us. He is our mediator between us and God. As we come to God confessing our sins and asking God for Christ's sake to forgive us of our sins, He will do that. But there is a way that we must come to God. We must come with godly sorrow, and with a "broken and contrite heart." We must be sorry that we have transgressed the commands of a loving and just God, asking His forgiveness, and then believe that He does forgive us. "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness: and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Rom. 10:9, 13).
Can you not see the great loving heart of our great God as He sent Jesus, His only Son, here? How He loved us! See the love of Jesus! He told the great multitude who came to take Him with swords and staves that He could have called, and more than twelve legions of angels would have come to His rescue; but then how could the plan of salvation be complete? (Matt. 26:53-54). How could we have been saved if we did not have Someone to die for us? How we should thank the Lord and fall in humble contrition before Him for dying in our stead.
What are you here told to do? Work out your salvation. How are you told to do it? With fear and trembling. Are you doing it? You are burdened down with the cares of this life and are not much alarmed over it.
Do you not know that it is the cares of this life that choke out the Word of God? Then just a little of the cares of this life ought to alarm you. You thought salvation was by faith and not works. But faith and works go together. There is a work for you to do to keep saved. You must have faith, but if your faith is real it will be attended with works in fear and trembling.
A little girl comes home from school with a fever. The fond mother says to the father, “I fear it is a contagion.”
He replies, “I fear it is, and we must do something.”
They get in earnest and call mightily on God and the little girl is well in the morning. Thank God.
A few evenings later some trouble comes up in the home. The husband speaks in a harsh, cutting tone to the wife. She replies in the same manner. There is a contagion in that home, a terrible contagion. Now is the time to fear and tremble, and to call mightily to God in deep repentance and not to cease until the heavenly winds are wafted down and that contagion is swept out of the heart and out of the home and a sweet peace is shed over all. That is works in fear and trembling.
A man buys a home. He pays cash, all he has. The contract is made out and signed, and now he goes to working out the monthly payments. He moves in, takes possession and goes to work. One day the final payment is made and the warranty deed is given.
A man gives all he has to Christ and gets saved. The contract is signed. He takes possession and goes to work in fear and trembling. Some day he will have it all worked out and his heavenly home is forever secured. When the “little foxes” get in, get them out at once. That is part of your work. Another part is to go about helping others all you can. Another work is to do much praying and keep the heart full of blooming flowers for the Master.
Many people believe that all non-Catholics are Protestants. But this is not so, as we trust you will see, as you read this article.
The Church of God
The Church of God is a divine institution and has no relationship with Protestantism. Christ built his church, His body, of which He is the Head, He places the members in the body (church) as it pleases Him, His church is made up of lively stones, saved, born-again people. There are no dead stones (sinners) in the Church of God, for the Church of God is without spot or blemish.
The Church of God was not built upon Peter, and he definitely was not the first Pope, Jesus said He would build His church upon the rock. The Apostle Paul tells us: "And that Rock was Christ." The Church of God is built upon the Rock Christ Jesus. He is also the chief corner stone. In contrast, all Protestant denominations are man made organizations, who elect their heads, make rules, laws, etc.
If members of the Church of God are not Protestants (and they surely are not Roman Catholics) what are they? They are called saints. Members of the Church of God, have always been called saints, Christians, Children of God, etc., but never Protestants. The name Protestant belongs to Babylon, and the true Protestant belongs to Babylon, and the true saints of God have no part of Babylon. Many have come out of Babylon (Protestantism, Catholicism, etc.) into the true light and as they come out, leave the Babylonish garments behind, of which the name Protestant is one.
Believer's Fellowship God's Way
To become a member of a Protestant denomination, one must subscribe to a creed or discipline.
By that act, one severs full fellowship with other Christians who do not belong in their sect. Someone may say, that is not true, for we have fellowship with all Christians. They would learn different if they would try to partake of the Lord's Supper in some sects. It would be denied them, because of not being a member of that sect. Or try to find full fellowship in a denomination that one may worship with, and not join. The person would be denied many privileges that their own members have.
Born-again people are not Protestants, unless they join a Protestant sect. If they join a Protestant sect, that makes them Protestants and a part of the Protestant system. But God did not make them Protestants, Man does that. God makes saints out of sinners, but never Protestants.
