11/15/24 MAJOR ON THE MAJORS

11/15/24 MAJOR ON THE MAJORS

It is one thing to acknowledge the pertinent points of a subject. It is a different thing to focus (to exalt, to emphasize, to magnify), a particular point.

When we consider the condition of man and the salvation of God, we must acknowledge sin (its origin, nature, extent, and its end result). It is essential for us to understand our own sinfulness and the consequences of our sins. But the Christian message and experience does not magnify sin or the sinful condition of man. The focus of the gospel is the Divine deliverance from sin and the believer's victory over sin.

Obviously, final and ultimate victory over sin will come at our resurrection and glorification. But there is a definite and miraculous experiential deliverance from sin for the believer in this present evil world.

We still have weaknesses and infirmities, and we are still subject to sin and corruption. But those who live by faith are not held captive by sin. We are not the servants of sin. We do not walk in darkness, disobedience. Debauchery and death do not define us.
1 John 2:1-6
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 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Sadly, sinning religion in Christendom has produced another form of "salvation," which is focused on sin more than salvation from sin, on disobedience more than deliverance, on failure more than faith.

Salvation includes forgiveness, but it is much more than forgiveness. It is transformation; it is newness of life; it is conformity to the image of Jesus; it is deliverance from sinning; it is walking in truth, in love, in light, in Christ's steps, in holiness. If your salvation does not include these realities, neither does it provide forgiveness.

Major portions of popular preaching and teaching and exhortation and testimony magnify Satan rather than God; rebellion rather than submission; the "flesh" rather than the Holy Spirit, corruption rather than conformity to the image of Jesus.

Some people who claim Christ and salvation focus on their sins and sinful condition; they scoff obedience, holiness, righteousness, purity, and faithfulness.They boast in their sin and apologize for the idea of spiritual excellence, as if deliverance from the evil one is evil.

Remember, Christians boast in Christ, not in self or sin. If salvation does not save us from sin, it is not salvation. If salvation does not make us different from those who continue to sin, then we do not have anything to offer them.
God's salvation, Christ's atonement saves those who believe in Him from all sin (its penalty, power, and pollution) in this present world.
It is demeaning to God to magnify sin, disobedience, failure, rebellion, carnality, the flesh, Satan.

God delivers us from, and makes us more than conquerors over these problems.
Magnify the Lord!
Psalm 34:2-3
2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 69:30
I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psalm 92:1
...It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: