Get a New Heart and Live Free From Sin
Ezekiel 18:31a
Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.
I was asked during the first sermon on Forgiveness if I would address forgiving ourselves (in the middle of the sermon mind you – lol). I hope that we have touched on this subject and plan to do more in the final installment of the three part series on Sunday – May 20th. Join us at Mt. Oak Fellowship (pictured). This passage from Ezekiel spoke to my heart and I wanted to share it in the MONews and in our Friday devotional thought.
We have said a number of times that the heart is very important as we walk out our faith in Christ. Christianity boils down to attitude is now a common phrase many of us know. The position and condition of our heart is very important – so I like the simplicity of today’s passage – Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.
Other scriptures speak this truth to us as well. We’re told that when we come to Christ we will be given a new heart – we will be a new creation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
We’re told that if we want to know God’s will for our lives we are to turn our hearts and minds over to Godly thoughts. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
I’ve used the example of a glass half filled with water and half filled with air. If the air represents sin – the water the things of God – and the glass our lives/heart – how do we get rid of the sin in our lives/heart? The easy answer is to put more water (God) into our glass (lives/heart) and the air (sin) will be forced out. It IS that simple my friends. Some try to make it so difficult and give us so many hoops to jump through to get rid of sin. We simply need to realize/confess that we have sin in our lives and ask God to come in to our heart/lives. If we simply spend more time with God – doing godly things – we will sin less and Rid ourselves of all the offenses we have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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We’re All Sinners Saved By Grace
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.
Yesterday we were reminded that our holiness is from God and not by our own doing. Strive as we might – and we should with all that is within us – to walk in holiness – our sinful nature battles our every effort it seems. Even when we read if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17) we realize that the old is gone but it hasn’t gone very far (see Paul’s expressed struggle in Romans 7:18-20)! Forgiven people – saved persons – still battle with temptation and sin.
One theological struggle – and maybe we all battle this – is realizing that while we are all sinners – saved by grace – we are not called to condone sin in our lives or in the life of the church. Someone once said it this way – we are to love the sinner but not the sin. This is not always an easy concept.
Some of the struggles the church is facing today stem from wrestling with this dynamic. For instance – can we accept and love a person in the life of the church while not accepting the sinful lifestyle they live? Realizing we are all sinners – striving by God’s grace to live holy lives – can we extend grace to others without condoning sin in their life or in our lives? 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.
Self-righteousness is not a good thing for a Christian – because we cannot be righteous apart from God. Being pious in our faith or devoted to God is a good thing – as long as we realize that our holiness (see yesterday’s devotional thought on holiness here) is from God and ALL because of God working in our lives. I believe we battle this in a number of ways. An example is when our sin doesn’t stack up to the sins of others in our feeble minds. Hear me when I say sin is sin in its ability to separate us from God’s holiness – and all sin is in need of God’s grace. I also realize that a person needs to be more separated from God to murder than to steal a candy bar. Having said both of those statements – some in the church wrestle with a holier than thou attitude – saying my sin isn’t as bad as someone else’s sin (see the Pharisee’s statement here). Again – I am reminded of today’s passage – 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.
Maybe there aren’t too many answers today – but some good things to think about – as we wrestle together to be all that God calls us to be for Him.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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A Changed Heart
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
For those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Savior – I have a question this morning. Can you remember life before Jesus? Might sound like an unusual question – some of us may not remember – because we were very young when we accepted Jesus into our lives and we are very old now. Some might remember it very well. Maybe another question might be – what is your testimony? As a young person I always envied those who have a dramatic conversion experience – you know what I mean – I was a drug dealer – a pimp – a murderer – and when I came to know Jesus my life has never been the same – I was on my last legs and suddenly my life changed when I received Jesus. The dramatic shift between the life before Jesus and the life after Jesus – it always seemed to powerful.
The story doesn’t say therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come – only if there is need for a dramatic change in your life. Even those who feel their life wasn’t that bad before Jesus (or since) need the dramatic heart change – the new creation within them. The heart change is not about what we do but about how we feel – how we think – where our heart is based. Many who didn’t act out the dramatic sins that others experienced – probably thought about them but some filter of their life kept them from happening. Scripture tells us in Romans 3:23 – for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Scripture also says in Matthew 5 that when we think of sinful things – it is sin – not just when we do it.
When we come to Christ – there MUST be a change of heart – if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Now let me say that Christians are not sinless – we are made perfect in God’s eyes by the blood of Christ. What I am saying is that when we come to know Jesus – a change will happen! Has there been such a change in your life? If not – or if you cannot notice a change – it might be good for you to search your heart and seek the face of Jesus.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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Denying Self and Following Jesus
Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Following Jesus is easy and hard at the same time.
It is easy – because God has done all the work to provide salvation for all who would receive it. Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
It is hard – because we must continually fight our human – sinful – nature. Psalms 51:5 – Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. The sin nature is something that Christ came to control if not destroy in us. 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! I have often said the old has gone – as Christ comes into our lives – but it hasn’t gone far. Paul mentions his struggles with the sin nature when he says; Romans 7:14-20 – 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 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. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Denying ourselves – our sinful nature – is what we must do as we follow Christ. Our cross is just that at times – denying self and giving Jesus Lordship of our lives.
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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Overcoming the Old Self
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
In quoting this passage – I have often added a postscript – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (but, the old hasn’t gone very far)!
Paul said it this way in another passage:
Romans 7:14-20 – 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 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. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Paul knew that he struggled with doing the right thing. Can you identify? Please – I’m not giving us an excuse for sinning – but rather acknowledging that we will struggle – even after Jesus becomes Lord of our life. The old has gone – but it hasn’t gone very far.
It is for this reason that we cannot slide or slack in our walk. We must persevere – we must maintain – we must walk daily in the Lord. More time in the Word – more time in prayer – more time in fellowship with other believers. The more we surround ourselves and fill ourselves with the things of God – the more we will walk the walk as well as we might talk and talk. Immersing ourselves in Christ – daily – even moment by moment – gives us a better opportunity to walk with Jesus in all our ways – because the old hasn’t gone far.
Here’s an example that might help. Have you ever been in the tub as a child or in a pool or in a body of water and played with a ball filled with air? If you want the ball to stay underwater – you must exert constant pressure to hold it under. The air in the ball wants to surface and in order to keep it under water – you must keep your hand on it or some type of pressure. If you let it go – it will pop up! The old self is like an air-filled ball – constantly wanting to rear its head in our lives. We must constantly walk with Jesus – not allowing the old to resurface. Persevere and run the race and fight the fight – living for Jesus in all you do today!
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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The Signs of a Christian – Denying Self and Following Christ
Matthew 10:32-39
32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
This coming Sunday we will start a new sermon series titled – The Cost of Following Jesus. This whole week I have been looking at the above passage – preparing us for that series.
Monday we searched the first part of this passage – “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” We mentioned that most of us like to hear Atta boy/girl when we have done well. We asked the question: how do we acknowledge God before men and women?
Tuesday we searched the second verse in this section of Scripture and saw what happens when we do not acknowledge God before people. It is a part of this passage I’m sure some wish Jesus hadn’t included: “But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
Wednesday we looked at a few verses: 34-37 – “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
Today we will cover verse 38: and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
There is a debate in the Christian church that is probably as old as the church itself. The two extremes would be a) salvation is free and we do nothing to get it or keep it, and b) we earn or work for our salvation and to keep it. I certainly do not believe we earn our salvation – it is a free gift – Ephesians 2:8-9 – 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. Having accepted that we cannot earn our salvation – there are signs that we have received this free gift. We need to persevere as Scripture says – we need to show forth a changed life – we need to have a new heart. Changes must be evident – or the possibility that we haven’t been saved arises. Here are some Scriptures to consider today.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Ezekiel 36:26 – I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Hebrews 10:35-36 – 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Today’s passage says anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Taking up our cross is denying self and doing the things God would have us do – in other words – loving obedience to God more than life itself. Isn’t that what Jesus did when He faced His cross for us?
Just something to think about today as you go on your way.
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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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