Tag: sin

Bound In The Land Of Blessing: Our Problem With Sin

On By joshnnomiIn christian living1 Comment

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In part 2 of this series, Bound in the Land of Blessing, I want to focus on our problem with sin. This series was came about after I read this passage from Nehemiah, “Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves.” (Neh. 9:36 ESV) As I read this passage in Nehemiah I began asking myself, is it possible for believers to be bound in the land of blessings we have received through being in Christ. Today we focus on our problem with sin.

I bought a watermelon this weekend. I picked it out and was looking forward to eating it because I thought this is going to be a very good watermelon. My wife cut it open last night and it was bright red in its core, I could hear that it was crisp as the knife slid through the green core. Have you ever eaten those watermelons that when you cut it, the aroma of the watermelon lets you know it is going to taste good? This was last night.

As I got up to get me a piece I put it on the cutting, little did I know that this cutting board was used to cut up some very strong onions and every piece of watermelon that sat on the cutting board had a light onion flavor. What a way to ruin my heavenly watermelon experience?

The Permeating Nature of Sin

The nature of sin is corruption, it corrupts all it touches, just like the strong onion that was used on the cutting board infecting my watermelon with its flavor, sin has the same powerful effect on our lives.

Here in lies the problem, before the watermelon touched the cutting board it was good, ready to be eaten, with no issues. In our case we our rotten to the core, Jesus said,

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” (Matt. 15:18-20 ESV)

Jesus pointed out that our problem with sin is not just an outward problem, it is in inward problem, a problem of the heart, it is who we are. The reason we sin is because we are sinners, ever since the Adam and Eve ate that fruit (Gen. 3) sin has permeated this world we live in, and it has permeated our hearts.

The problem is we like to view ourselves like the watermelon, good to the core, but in actuality we are rotten to the core, we are the onion infecting the flavor of sin in every thing we do and touch. This is why Jesus came, to destroy the power of sin in our lives.

Destroying The Power Of Sin

The apostle John express some very powerful truths here,

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. (1 John 3:8–9)

The first truth John shares with us is those who practice sinning are under the realm of Satan, Paul describes sinners as being part of the kingdom of darkness (Col. 1:13). We have all been here before, before Christ rescued us, we were willing participants in the realm of Satan whether we knew it or not.

Which leads us to the reason Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, who John tells us has been sinning from the beginning. I find it interesting that John says from the beginning, because I believe he may be trying to get us think of the fall in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve decided they did not need God and ate the fruit. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil and the power of sin which permeated our world in the beginning.

Finally, John says those who have been born of God, those whom God has called, rescued, sanctified, those who trust in Jesus and repent of sin, those “born of God” do not make a practice of sinning. John explains why those born of God do not practice sinning, “for God’s seed abides in them”. God’s seed could be the Spirit of God who indwells the Christian (Eph. 1), it could be the Word of God (1 Pet. 1) it could be the divine nature (2 Pet. 1) or it could be all three working in tandem. What we do know is the person who has been born of God does not make a practice of sinning.

So is John saying we should be sinless?

No, he would not say believers should be sinless, when earlier he says this,

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 ESV)

What I believe John is saying is the believer does not make a practice of sinning because the Spirit, the Word and the new nature, which has been given to the those who repent of their sin and trust in Christ, will continually put the spotlight on the sin through conviction until repentance comes. When their is no conviction and godly sorrow for sin, we who claim to be followers of Christ have a cause to be concerned because that is one of the functions of the Holy Spirit, God’s word and the new nature have in our lives, to continually point the spot light on sin in our lives and bring us to repentance, to conform us into the image of Christ.

Bound in the Land of Blessing

This leads us to our question, can there be a time when the Christian is bound in the land of blessings of our salvation, where his struggles with sin prevent him from enjoying the new life in Christ?

Yes, whenever we have unrepentant sin in our lives we grieve the Spirit of God and thus hinder the work of God in our lives. Our sin diminishes the relational aspect we have with God. This is true even in our human relationships, think of the last conflict you had with your spouse or a very good friend, if there was wrongdoing involved one person is hurt, there is a something causing friction, lack of communication or a rift in the friendship or the marriage. The full joy of the relationship will not return or grow without repentance and a turning away of the wrongdoing.

Before we were followers of Christ we had no option but to sin. But now that Christ has given us his Spirit, and the Word has come alive in our hearts and he has blessed us with a new nature, we have the ability to put sin to death. Paul says,

Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Rom. 6:16 ESV)

Paul is saying when we willing sin, we are enslaving ourselves to sin. We are willing disrupting the blessings of the freedom we have in Christ for the temporal and permeating nature of sin, which leaves its stench on our lives.

So if we find ourselves in this condition what do we do?

We must continually turn to Christ. Too often I think we as believers see turning to Christ as a one time event, but turning and fixing our eyes on Christ is a habit we must develop and continually do. Take a look at John’s words,

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1–2 ESV)

John tells us when you sin, turn to Christ, he is your advocate, he will fight your battle trust in him, he will plead your case. He also tells us why, the cross. His death on the cross gives you the victory over sin. This victory over sin is not just in position but also a practice. Those born of God are infused with Spirit of God who gives us the power over sin (Rom 8)

We must continually repent and confess our sins through prayer. John tells us us,

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 ESV)

We must turn away from our sin and agree with God that what we are doing is sin. We must do this to restore the relationship with God. Our sin caused a rift in the relationship, therefore we must repent and confess to restore the full joy of the relationship and continued growth.

We must walk in the Spirit. Many people may try to make this a mystical experience but walking in the Spirit is living life according to the Word of God by the power of the Spirit of God. So what does this require? We must read the Bible to know how we should live. As we read the Scriptures, the Spirit of God convicts us, encourages us, grows us into the image of Christ. The Spirit uses the word to change our desires from sin toward God.

We must be involved in an accountable church community. Did you notice that all of the Scriptures I have quoted today are to believers, involved in a community of believers, who are holding each other accountable? Being involved in a safe accountable community where you can share your struggles, be encouraged, be challenged is crucial to growing in Christ and remaining free from sin.

There are many more things which can said, but this is a start, a springboard for continued growth.

Until Next Time

Soli Deo Gloria

 

 

Gleanings in Joshua: Achan’s Scales

On By joshnnomiIn Gleanings in Joshua1 Comment

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Grandpa Tony  and Grandma Florence are my heroes. Whenever I could spend time with them I would and whenever they could spend time with me they would. I would spend days at their house, looking back they provided a safety and security I longed for. Their only flaw, in my childhood eyes, was they had a bad habit of smoking. When I would ask them why they wouldn’t quit they would say it isn’t hurting anyone. We know this isn’t true.

My grandparents lived into their mid 70’s, my grandmother passed first, among her various illnesses, one of them was lung cancer and it eventually took her life. Her passing had a profound impact in my life and one thing I learned in my preteen years is that her bad habit of smoking impacted more than just her. The ripple effects of her passing reverberated through my family like a loud boom in a cave.

Sin has that kind of effect in our lives and a great example of this is Joshua 7, where we learn of Achan’s treachery. In Joshua 6 we read of how God brought down the walls of Jericho and the command of the Lord was to destroy everything, except Rahab and those in her household. When Israel was done with Jericho everything appeared to be fine and they were ready to move on to the next battle.

What the Israelites didn’t know is that Achan took for himself some of the devoted things from Jericho and hid him in his tent, buried in the ground. Achan may have been thinking; Taking these things isn’t going to hurt anyone. No one will know. Who is gonna find out? If anyone does find out it will only affect me.

Sin is a sickness that has a profound impact not only on the one committing the act of disobedience but also to his family and the community he is involved with.

Sin Impacts The Community 

When Joshua sent his military strategist to Ai to develop a plan of war, the strategist returned saying they only needed 2-3 thousand men to take Ai. Joshua sends them out to take Ai and instead of the men returning in victory they return defeated by the hands of Ai and in fear.

Joshua tore his clothes and cried out before the Lord, let’s listen in to his cry,

Joshua 7:7-9 (ESV)
7  And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!
8  O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!
9  For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”

Joshua was confused, he knew the promises of God to provide for them the land and victory over his enemies. Joshua is dumb founded, a deer in the headlights not knowing which way to run. Listen to the Lord’s response,

Joshua 7:10-12

10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. 12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

I love the Lord’s response, get  up boy! It reminds me of the moment in Rocky 3 when Apollo Creed is attempting to train Rocky a new style of boxing. But Rocky appears unfocused, confused because of the fear he has of Clubber Lang, his opponent. In Apollo’s frustration he proclaims “what’s the matter with you?” This is God telling Joshua “what’s the matter with you?” Get up, you are in this situation because someone has sinned.

Sin impacts the community and yet many of us like Achan think, who’s it going to hurt?  When the questions we should ask are: How will this hurt my witness for the Lord? Who is going to stumble when they find out I am doing this? Who will doubt the Lord’s work because of my sin? How is this sin going to affect my church?

Achan’s desire for the material wealth of Jericho, his lust for stuff, his disobedience to God’s commands withdrew God’s presence, protection and power from the whole community. When Joshua discovers it was Achan he asks him, why did you bring this trouble on us (Josh. 7:25)?. What trouble is Joshua referring to? The trouble Achan’s sin caused was  36 men of war died by the hands of Ai (Josh. 7:5), the nation was confused and afraid and the Lord withdrew his presence, protection and power from Israel.

Sin Impacts Your Family

Achan’s secret sin comes to light and has tragic effects on his family. Take a look,

And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel…. 24 And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25 And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor. Joshua 7:15, 24-26

Punishment for disobedience wasn’t new for Achan. He may have been young but he knew why the nation of Israel was wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, because of the unbelief and disobedience of the generation before. It isn’t like the wrath of God caught Achan by surprise, he lived through the warnings and punishments of the generation before him. Achan knew that the sin of one, a few or many can affect the whole group.

Achan knowing all this weighed the pleasures and desires of the lust for more against God’s commands and his wrath and decided the devoted things of Jericho were more glorious, more pleasurable and more satisfying than God. As a result, Achan’s lust for stuff, for material positions, for the idea of more, costed not only his life but the lives of his family. The impact of sin on his family was tragic.

Before we cast our stones upon Achan, let’s take a moment to examine our own hearts. How often do we choose to sin without thinking of the consequences it will have on our family? Which sin/sins captivate our hearts enough to bring out Achan’s measuring scale? Is it pornography, outburst of anger, sex, gossip, excessive spending?

We all have Achan moments, when we weigh the pleasures of sin and compare them to an ever satisfying glorious God and still choose to sin. Our families have had to deal with those decisions and the consequences they bring, just like Achan’s family. Your sin impacts your family.

The Lord Turns From His Burning Anger

It would be depressing to end this blog without talking about grace. On the cross, Christ absorbed the wrath of God for our sins (1 John 2:1). He paid the ultimate price, a sinless divine saviour for sinful man so that we can be made right with God (2 Cor. 5:21).In Christ we are forgiven and declared not guilty. When we turn to Christ, repent, believe and confess him as Lord, God’s wrath is turned away from us.

Does that mean we should sin more? Everytime I hear a question like that I reminded how truly sick our hearts are, after recieving a gift so glorious we would want to sin more not less.

Suppose you come home and just explode in a fit of rage on your spouse. You know you’re wrong, she knows you’re wrong and when you realize it you apologize and ask for forgiveness and your spouse forgives you. Does her forgiveness mean you can explode in fits of rage more often? Of course not! Her forgiveness means you should attempt to never do it again. How much more so with the Lord?

If God has forgiven our sin, and his wrath and anger our turned away, does that mean when we sin as believers there are no consequences? A great question and one I will tackle next week.

Until Next Time

Put the scales away and be satisfied by Christ

Insights From Mathew : Overcoming Temptation Part 2

On By joshnnomiIn Insights from Mathew1 Comment

In Matthew 4 we read a vivid account of Satan tempting Jesus. Matthew records Christ victory over Satan and temptation and provides for us this great historical account. We are to rest in Christ victory over Satan and sin, if you are in Christ, His victory is our victory.

The apostle John tells us,

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. – 1 John 3:8-9

Do you see what John is saying? Continue reading “Insights From Mathew : Overcoming Temptation Part 2” →