05/06/24 UNTO GOOD WORKS

05/06/24 UNTO GOOD WORKS

Separation from God is a reality in every person's life, at some point, for all have sinned and sin separates us from God.

All have sinned, but some people come to faith in Christ, resulting in confession of sins, turning from sin and turning to God, and obediently following Christ. This salvation reconciles the sinner to God.

Faith is how we begin a right relationship with God (enter into salvation), and faith is how we continue in a right relationship with God (salvation is God's ongoing deliverance from sin, though our faith). That which is not of faith is sin and sin separates us from God.

Sadly, it is not unusual, at some point, for a Christian (follower of Christ) to falter and fail in his faith walk and relationship with Christ. This happens when a person willfully does that which he knows to be disobedience to God's will.

The devil wants people to sin; God does not want people to sin.
The devil leads people into sin: God leads people away from sin.
The devil excuses people sinning; God justifies repentant sinners.

If a believer slips into sin, falls into sin, or even boldly steps into sin, then that person must repent of his sin and believe that Christ will forgive, cleanse and restore him. Faith, confession, repentance and following are part of our salvation. If we do not continue to walk in the light of salvation, we are no longer believers.

We cannot excuse our sins and still be saved. If or when a believer sins, he must not deny his rebellion, he must own up to sin and its consequences. Denying our sin (inherent sinful nature), and denying our sins (our willful disobedience to God), is lying to ourselves and to God. God has made provision for sinners (and backsliders) to be forgiven of their sins and He has made provision for believers to be cleansed from their sin nature. We must acknowledge our sins and our sin, we must recognize Christ's provision of forgiveness and cleansing, and we must live in a state of continuous obedient faith if we are going to experience the saving grace of God. And, by the way, living by faith is God's grace at work in the Christian. The Christian life begins, continues and is completed by faith. 

Consider First John 1:5-10 in context with 2:1-6.
Read slowly and carefully.
Believe each verse individually, but believe each verse in context with the entire passage.
Each verse must agree with the previous and the following verses.
Each idea must fit into the larger idea of the passage.
Each truth must be understood in the light of the complete truth.

The obscure meaning must be explained by the obvious meaning.

Let the passage tell you what it means.
1 John 1:5-10 (I have put spaces between verses, reminding us to get the message of each verse and to understand the verse in the greater context).

1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

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

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

1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Remember, Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins, He did not die and rise again to save us in our sins. Salvation is salvation from sin. He saves us from our sins, from our sin and He continues to save faithful believers from the penalty, power and pollution of sin.