Christians and Sin

Must I Sin?

by Michael Sanabria

Must I sin? Is a question that Christians need to ask themselves. By professing Christianity, you are telling the world that you are like Christ. And if you are like Christ, there should not be any sin in your life, because Christ is sinless. We were all born in sin and the stain of sin was in our hearts. God saw our sinful condition and sent his only son Jesus to save us and renew our relationship with Him. You see sin, separates us from God, it was the sin of disobedience that separated Adam from God. And in Christ (the second Adam) we are restored to that relationship Adam had with God. The only thing different is that Adam was created holy and remained holy until he sinned. We are conceived in sin but we become holy through Jesus Christ.

Self is not the fleshly being that we see, but the real person is your spirit (your heart). If you say you have Christ in your heart, then everything flowing out of your heart will be like Him.

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruits; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruits. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:43-45.

Christians are like trees planted in Christ and they are known by the fruits they bear. Note here the fruits of sin, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies and so on. Gal. 5:19-23. A good tree planted in Christ does not bear these sinful fruits, but a good tree will bear the fruits of the spirit which are love, peace, joy, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. You don’t see apples on a pear tree; NO!! A Christians’ nature is holiness unto the Lord and whatever proceeds out of his heart will be holy. Jesus states in Mark 7:21-23, what comes out of your heart defiles you, so if you claim salvation and corruption is proceeding out of your heart, something is definitely wrong. A Christian cannot bear two fruits.

And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewed down and cast into the fire. Luke 3:9.

You see if you are not bringing forth good fruits you will be cast into the fire.

You see when God saves you, He forgives you of your sins and justifies you, but that sinful nature still remains in you, and if you don't allow God to take it out, it will start bearing fruits. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 God has provided two definite works of grace for us. Forgiveness is the first and the cleansing of the soul is the second. That second work is called sanctification, it is the inner cleansing that takes the Adamic nature out and the in-filling of his Holy Spirit.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I Thess. 5:23.

God expects a blameless life at his second coming, whether you are sanctified or justified. If there is any sin in your life, you are not blameless. In the 6th chapter of Romans, Paul instructs us that we should walk in newness of life. Paul says the "old man" should be crucified and the body of sin destroyed, and henceforth we should not serve sin! You see if your old man is dead (the old man is your old self before you were saved) then the very nature of sin is no longer in you. The Holy Spirit then takes residence in your body driving all of you out. Verse 7 says, for he that is dead is freed from sin. The dead there does not mean a physical death, but dead to the world and sin.

Verse 12 says, let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lust thereof.

Paul states in verse 18, being then made free from sin we became the servants of righteousness. The wages of sin is death and death is the reward of sin. The Bible is telling us to stay away and not to commit sin.

In Colossians 3:3 we read,

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Now if we are dead and Christ is reigning in our life, and we have the Holy Spirit in us, where does sin come from? The reason why some Christians say they have to sin is because the old men is still alive. They have not crucified him and he is still in full control. You might be able to keep him down for a while but sooner or later he will erupt and expose just what is in your heart. God wants our spirits to be perfect. Look at Col. 4:12, the last clause,

that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Eph. 4:13 unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

God has a perfected life for us, if we would just allow him to have full control of our lives. In the Old Testament under the law, people could not live free from sin, so the people offered up sacrifices (goats and lambs) to God for their sins. Now in Christ we have a perfect sacrifice, which died once for the sins of all. So now under grace if we say we can't live free from sin, we are saying that the blood of Jesus and the blood of the goats and lambs are on the same level. If the blood of lambs can not keep people holy and Jesus' blood can not either, MY GOD WHAT CAN? But thank God there is power in the blood of Jesus. There is power to keep us holy in this present world.

I John 3:9 whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

I John 5:4 for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the "victory" that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Praise God for Victory over sin! So if we can overcome the world, why should we yield to sin? I John 3:8 tells us if we sin we are of the devil and certainly no one can belong to both God and the devil. Some say well, my spirit is holy, but my flesh is sinful. That is foolishness! Your flesh cannot sin without the spirit sinning. You see your spirit controls the flesh, and if your spirit is free from sin your flesh will not sin. If you take the spirit out of someone, can their body sin? NO! So you see the flesh is only sinful if the spirit controlling it is. So-called Christians all over are saying that there is too much sin in this world for God to expect us to live without sinning, we should just do our best and God will accept us. They claim the temptations are too great for any man to resist. Let’s look at

I Cor. 10:13, there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to men: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

That’s right, you have no excuse for yielding to sin. God will not allow anything to happen to you that you can’t go through. The Bible says that God is the God of all grace and he will keep us in the sorest temptation. He is so good that he also makes a way for us to escape it. You see that is why Jesus came in the form of men, to show us that we can live holy just as he did. God says,

"Be ye holy for I am holy"

Jesus was tempted in all areas and not once did he sin. The same power Jesus had is available to you today if you want it. If the power of God could not keep us from sinning, then God could not justifiably send anyone to hell. What sins must you commit daily? Do you have to lie, cheat, lust, covet, backbite, hate, fornicate, commit adultery or have anger every day or every other day? NO! You do not have to commit any of them. So since you don't have to, why do you? It’s because you are not accepting the fullness of Jesus Christ. Before we were saved when we sinned it hurt God. Now that we are saved, why should we continue to hurt God?

There are only two kinds of people in this world, saints of God and sinners. If you claim salvation and you sin, you are a sinner. There is no middle ground, you are either one or the other. Also, there is no difference between someone who practices sin and someone who now and then sins, you will both die and go to hell in that condition. Its Gods will that no one be lost, but that we all would be saved, but some aren't willing to take a clear cut stand against sin. That is why Jesus says,

"Not everyone saying Lord, Lord, will enter in. You will say, didn’t I witness for you, I preached in your name, cast out devils in your name, and Jesus will say, depart from me, I never knew you, ye hypocrites and workers of iniquity."

That means that many today will not enter into heaven, not just the open sinners but those who are religious sinners. God help us to see this before its too late. If the devil can keep you in that religious sinner condition, he has you. Open your eyes to truth, get a good dose of salvation, stop denying the power of God. What you are really telling him is that his power is not strong enough to keep us from sin and that the devil is stronger than him. God help us if we find ourselves in this condition. If you are truly saved, your body is the temple of God. (I Cor. 6:19). The temple is where God dwells and if you have sin in your temple God surely is not dwelling there.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. I John 4:17.

We can not have boldness on judgment day with sin in our lives. The presence of sin will indicate our love was not perfected. The scripture says as he is (Jesus) so are we in this world. He was without sin and so should we live in this present world. Don’t think it’s being self-righteous to say, "I can live without sinning," it is the only righteousness God accepts. People might say you are not Jesus, he was the only man that never sinned. That is true, Jesus is the only man that never sinned, but when we get saved, he makes us just like him. God calls us to perfection, Jesus states, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect." Matt.. 5:48.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Finally, brethren, farewell. Be PERFECT, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. II Cor. 13:5,11.

One last question, if you can sin and go to heaven, what do you have to do to go to hell?

Ten Reasons Everyone Commits Sins

It is commonly believed that everyone is sinful and commits sins. Many reasons are given for such. This statement is true if limited to those who have not received the salvation that Christ made possible. The good news of the gospel will tell us that we can be delivered, not only from the penalty of sin, but also from the power and nature of sin. Listed below are ten of the many reasons given that "everyone" commits sin. Also stated is why they don't apply to people who possess salvation.

1. Everyone sins because man "just has to sin".

This is the reason Jesus came: "For he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21). Two times Jesus told people to "go and sin no more" (John 5:14 and John 8:11). He would not have said such if man "just had to sin".

2. Everyone sins because the Bible says so.

Yes, the Bible says so. In stating such, it teaches us that no one is good in his own power and resources. When Christ came, He told us in regards to committing sin; "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)

3. Everyone sins because of the power of the devil.

Some people have said, "The devil made me do it". Jesus can give you power over the devil. "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not." (I John 5:18b)

4. Everyone sins because man is weak.

Salvation imparts strength to man that counteracts his weaknesses "I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me." (Phillipians 4:13).

5. Everyone sins because of the flesh.

Through the resources of Christ's blood and resurrection we are delivered from giving in to the flesh to the point of sin. Referring to saved people, Romans 8:1 says, "They walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit". Also Romans 8:9 says, "They are not in the flesh but in the Spirit".

6. Everyone sins because of the body.

God made the body and he called it good. Jesus had a body like ours and did not sin. Bible salvation can enable us to bring our bodies in subjection to God's will (I Corinthians 9:27).

7. Everyone sins because of temptation.

Saved people are tempted, but I Corinthians 10:13 tells us we won't be tempted above what we are able to bear. Temptation in itself doesn't make us sin.

8. Everyone sins because the world is sinful.

The world is sinful! Saved people are not of the world and by the sanctifying power of Christ are kept from the evil therein (I John 17:15-17).

9. Everyone sins because my preacher says they do.

We will allow your preacher his own personal belief. We must accept the testimony of the Word of God; "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin." (I John 3:9).

10. Everyone sins because I know I sin.

II Corinthians 10:12 says, "It is not wise to compare ourselves among ourselves". We are sorry that you have not experienced the deliverance from sin that is possible in Christ. There are those who have heard the good news pertaining to such and have been delivered . By Pastor Duane Spanogle

Book Links related to the SIN and the CHRISTIAN:

How to Become a Member of God's Church By: Harold Barber (.pdf)

The book "Sin and the Christian by Lee M. Hampton is an excellent study resource for Pastors, Clergy, Laymen or just a seeker of truth. It is clear and easy to understand. This book was released in 2006. Please contact Evangelist Lee Hampton for additional information and of how to order it. This book clearly shows how to insure that you will make it to Heaven. Please contact Evangelist Lee Hampton at 517-990-9635 to obtain a copy.

Contact us at librarycog@bellsouth.net for more information, help, prayer or assistance.

"Holiness Unto The Lord"