Being Dead to Sin – Is This an Eternal or Temporal State?

Romans 6:11

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

At times I sure wish this passage were a one and done deal.  I wish I could count myself dead to sin once – and always be alive in Christ and never struggle with sin again.  I am not talking about my salvation folks – this is not a discussion of once saved always saved or falling from grace.  It is a discussion about the ongoing process called Sanctification being made holy.  Being done with sin – not on the eternal stage – but on the temporal right now stage of life.  Is this only a hope for eternity or is there a place in this life where our sin nature is completely destroyed?

Just before this verse – Paul is writing about grace – and how grace covers our sins (I’m so thankful for grace).  He writes about grace being BIG enough to cover all of our sins – but that we shouldn’t go out and sin all we can to let grace show off (paraphrase).  Here is the actual:

Romans 5:20b-6:2 – 5:20b But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

I understand that Christ died once to pay for sin – past – present – future.  I understand that His death paid for my sins – and the sins of the world – for those who would accept Him.  I just get caught up in day-to-day living!  Am I alone?  The sin nature – defeated on the cross – still raises it head from time to time – at times too often for sure (even once is too often).  I am caught somewhere between these two passages of Scripture:

2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Romans 7:19 – For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.

Am I alone – or do other Christians experience day-to-day struggles with sin?  Or even moment-to-moment?

I know I have victory in Christ.  I know I do not have to sin.  I know God will not allow me to be tempted beyond the place where He can give me a way out.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Yet – like Paul – the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing.  Not always – but once is too often!

Lord – my prayer for myself – and for any others who struggle with sin in their lives – is that more and more we would grow into the grace You have given us.  I pray that we will be a brighter light with each passing day – as You give us victory over the temptations of life.  Looking forward to the eternal blessing while living in it even now!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

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The devil is real, but not to be feared, he has been defeated!

1 John 3:8

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

The devil is real and not a figment of someone’s imagination.  Some churches try to suggest that the devil is not real – that he/it is merely a personification of evil as a whole.  Not sure what Bible they read – if they read the Bible at all – but the Bible tells us over and over that the devil is real.  Please do not fall prey to false teachers and false religions.

According to Scripture, the devil tempted Jesus after His baptism.  Matthew 4:1-11 – 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

If the devil is the tempter, must we yield to him?  Of course not!  1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

We ultimately have power over the devil – he is not all-powerful – he is not a deity – but rather a fallen angel.  Revelation 12:7-11 – 7 And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down — that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.

In yesterday’s sermon we mentioned sound doctrine.  The devil is real – not all-powerful – and under the control of the believer through Christ.  We are tempted – but we do not need to yield.  We can stand strong against the devil’s temptations and follow Jesus’ example.  We can have eternal victory – but we can also have victory here and now – as we place our trust in Jesus.

This is not meant to be an exhaustive look at the devil – but rather something that will cause you to think.  The devil is real – but can be and ultimately has been defeated!

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Satan Will Tempt You – He Tempted Jesus – But Stand Strong in Christ!

Matthew 4:10

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ “

Starting this Sunday – October 10 (it will be 10/10/10 by the way) – we will begin a sermon series titled – What Is Biblical Worship.  Yesterday we took a quick look at the Commandment to have no other gods before me. This Commandment reveals God’s desire to be the only god in our life – the only One that we worship.

Today’s passage is from the story about Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness.  You can find the story in Matthew chapter 4.  Here is a wider view of today’s passage.

Matthew 4:1-10 – 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Satan tried to tempt Jesus with things he thought would be areas of weakness for Jesus.  Satan tried to tempt Jesus with His claim to be God – with the ability to change the elements.  Satan tempted Jesus with a promise from His Father – and His claim that He was the Son of God.  Satan tempted Jesus with power and glory.  Each time Jesus turned Satan aside with Scripture – with the Word of God.

Where does Satan tempt you?  Do you stand strong – most of the time?  Do you know the promises of God found in His Word – so you too can rebuke Satan’s temptations?  No temptation can come your way that God will not give you victory over – if you seek it!

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

We Are Tempted By Our Own Evil Desires

James 1:13-15

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Today we will continue to look at the above passage zeroing in on but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

We’ve already read that our righteousness is like filthy rages.  Isaiah 64:6 – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

I remember a comedian from my youth – Flip Wilson – who had a character (Geraldine) who had a line that she repeated often – The Devil made me do it! The good news today is that the devil can’t make us doing anything.  The bad news is that it is our own evil desires that cause us to yield to temptations and fall to sin.

Remember – God has promised us a way out of every temptation – 1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Remember – God has not only promised we can avoid sin – God has given us protection – the armor of God – Ephesians 6:10-18 – 10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

I know these are repeat Scriptures – but they need to be driven home.  We do not need to sin – we are not forced to sin – we sin because we put something before God in our lives.

We are called to love Jesus more than anything – Mark 12:30 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Tomorrow we will finish the study of James 1:13-15 by looking at Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

God Cannot Be Tempted by Evil

James 1:13-15

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Today we will continue to look at the above passage zeroing in on for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.

We typed a little Monday about all of us being tempted.  Yesterday we typed about God not tempting us – while God is all about protecting us from temptation (Ephesians 6:10-18 – the Armor of God).  Today as we move forward we will type a little about God not being tempted by evil and again about God not tempting anyone.

1 Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The first part I want to highlight in this passage is that God is faithful.  God is good – God is trustworthy – God is good to God’s word.  God cannot be good and fall to temptation.  I am using good in the Biblical sense here – perfect.

Luke 18:19 – “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good — except God alone.

Isaiah 64:6 – All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

God is good and so God cannot be tempted – but we can be tempted.  So God provides not only the armor of God to protect us – but God provides a way out of any temptation – he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

I love this promise from God.  I don’t always avail myself of this promise – but I love it.  A good and faithful God has promised to protect me from temptation and has promised to give me a way out of any tempting situation.

Just something to think about today as you go on your way.

Tomorrow we will continue the study of James 1:13-15 by looking at but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.