Today's Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 08/01/2021
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Sin
Sin is the problem!
Several words that give different shading to comprehend the complexity of sin include:
Sin; meaning offense
Transgression; meaning
rebellion, or trespass, breaking, violation
Iniquity; meaning
perversity, (moral) evil:- fault, mischief
We have also heard
general definitions such as, “missing the mark”
violating God’s law,
distortion of the image of God, being stupid.
As believers in the
atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross, we understand that the wrath of God,
against the sins of mankind, is satisfied, and salvation is made available to
anyone who calls on the Name of the Lord.
Acts 2:21; Rom. 10:13
We have been set free
from the power, and authority of sin, and given a new life (born again) and a
new nature. One day we will be free from the presence of sin.
But today we still sin...what’s up with that?
One of the most
perplexing questions that has plagued the church and caused much division is
the dispensation of residual sin. In other words: What becomes of those who
continue to sin even after receiving God’s free gift of salvation, and what do
we do with our sin?
In order to unpack this
subject we must categorize sins into: sins of commission and sins of omission.
Willful sin and sins of happenstance. Thoughtful sins and sins of action.
Unfortunately God does not categorize sin Jas.
2:10
Our residual sin should
leave us sorrowful leading to repentance.
II
Cor. 7:10
Our old nature was
sorrowful for conscience sake and fear of consequences.
Our new nature is
sorrowful because we know that our sin grieves God and causes a breach in our relationship. Eph. 4:1 “Walk worthy of the
calling”
Some denominations teach
that those who persist in sin were never really saved. Their confession of faith was not from the heart.
Others believe that one
may lose their salvation by persisting in unrepentant
sin.
Catholic believe that
there is a place called purgatory where residual sin is dealt with by punishment.
And some believe that
all sin was dealt with at the cross, and residual sin is of no consequence.
Gal. 6:7, “Do not be
deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows
to the Spirit will fo the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Options of what to do
with sin:
1) Denial
a. that it has consequences Rom. 6:23
b. that our actions are sinful at all. I Jn. 1:8&10
Dangerous
2) Justify
Make excuses before God; see Lk. 10:29
Why would you
do that? We are justified by faith. Rm. 3:20-26
3) Spend more time in
purgatory
Really??????
II Cor. 5:8
4) How about facing our
sin, humbly bringing it to the foot of the cross, confessing, asking for
forgiveness (I Jn. 1:9) and power to walk in repentance. Acts 1:8 “you shall
receive power” and I Pet. 1:5; trusting God that, “He who began a good work in
you shall see it through” Phl. 1:6
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