The Good News About Sin Part 2

The Good News About Sin Part 2

A believer’s perspective on life:

·        We are imperfect and we know it.

·        We understand that God is Holy, righteous, good and truthful. He is 
      perfect in every way.  Only through Jesus’ work, can we as sinners be  
      reconciled to God.

A sinner saved has these qualities: 

 (Note: These qualities develop over time)

• One who does not habitually sin
• One who has a biblical worldview
• One who acts on their faith 
• One who trust in God's promises  
• One who loves God and desires to live in obedience to Him. 
• One who desires to live a Christ centered life. 
• One who loves others and fellow believers in Christ.
• One who puts the need of others even above His own.   
• One who has growing faith and displays signs of spiritual maturity.
• One who is undergoing Sanctification: A process by which God conforms  a person to the image of Christ. 
• One who reads, studies and abides in God’s Word. 
• One who has received the Holy Spirit and lives by the Spirit
• One who is able to recognize the sin in their lives 
• One who regrets their sin and is willing to repent of their sinful behavior. 
• One who understands the need for a Savior.
• One who is able to discern the truth from error. 
• One who recognizes false teaching  
• One who is bearing fruit and being productive and effective for God’s kingdom. 
• One who displays the Fruit of the Spirit (the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control)

So, what is the good news about sin?

The Good news about sin is that God Himself dealt with of the sin problem we all possess from the original fall of man. Jesus’ redeeming work on the cross was the solution for a sinful humanity that could not save themselves from spiritual death. Those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior, have a new right relationship with God even though they still posses a sin nature. Jesus' blood pays the debt for sin once and for all. When believers do sin, the Holy Spirit convicts them of their transgression and that conviction leads to repentance. God will still discipline His people out of His love and desire for them to be Holy.  God will also allow His people to experience difficult circumstances as part of His good purpose.  

James 1:2-4  says this about trials:

 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything". 

Romans 5:3-5 says this about suffering: 

 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

So God has a good purpose for trials as well as suffering and that is good news for believers.
 

True followers of Jesus understand that their sin separates them from God and has detrimental effects on others, they know they must turn back to God in order to get the help they need to get back on the right path to a life pleasing to Him. Because of God's unfailing love, believers can rejoice over His persistence in wanting them to remain in a right relationship with Him. Believers can rejoice over the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who convicts them of their sin and leads them back into repentance.

As we develop a greater understanding of our sin nature, we also develop a greater awareness about God’s desire to see us live a life set apart to Him.

God wants believers to be effective and influential Ambassadors for Jesus and the Gospel. Because of this fact, followers of Jesus need to make whatever life style changes necessary that will honor God and transform them into having Christ-like character. Remember, sin causes harm to ourselves and others. In some cases the sin in ones life can cause others to stumble in their walk with God. To be sure that we don’t act on our temptation to sin, we must be determined to live a God centered Spirit filled life. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can turn away from sin. To help us live this Spirit filled life we must include daily prayer, the reading and studying of God’s Word, and application of God's principles. Ultimately our goal is to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit. It all comes down to us making a choice to live this way. True Followers of Jesus have the desire to live differently from the “world” and do what they can to avoid its trappings. That is why I say we have to make life style changes so that we do not conform to this world. It is God’s desire that we prepare ourselves for being in His presence for eternity. This means we need to take steps in anticipation for this event and not get distracted by the world.

Read these verses from Romans and meditate on their meaning:

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 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.

Our goal should be to honor, love, worship and praise God in everything we do.  Unless we daily turn from sin and change the way we think from a world influenced perspective toward a Godly eternal perspective, setting ourselves apart to God will be difficult. It is hard to live in a fallen world. There will always be tension between the God centered life and the self centered one. Both are battling to gain predominance in our lives. So what we must do is to ask God to help us live a life pleasing to Him. When God reveals to us what we must do, we must act on His revelation.  Acting on God’s revelation shows Him we are faithful and serious about living a life set apart to Him, willing to sacrifice worldly pleasure for His sake and desire. We are also conveying our love and devotion to Him through our obedience. The Bible says that those who show obedience to the Lord truly love Him.

1 John 5:3 NIV 
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,

John 14:15 NIV 
"If you love me, you will obey what I command.

Lastly, here is some good news for followers of Jesus:


Because of God’s love, sinners saved are no longer condemned:

Romans 8:1 NIV 

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,


Because of God’s love, sinners saved have the gift of eternal life:

Romans 6:23 NIV  

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Because of God’s love, sinners saved are under God’s authority and protection: 

Romans 8:31 NIV  

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?


Because of God’s love, sinners saved will never be separated from God:

Romans 8:38-39 NIV  

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Because of God’s love, sinners saved will receive a new imperishable Body when Jesus returns:
 
1 Corinthians 15:42-43 NIV  

So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 NIV

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—

in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead

will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.



Because of God’s love, sinners saved have a Home in Heaven prepared by Jesus who will come back to get them to bring them to that place:

John 14:2-3 NIV  

In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Because of God’s love, sinners saved will not die nor suffer once in Heaven:

Revelation 21:4 NIV 

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Actually, there's really no good news about sin. The only good news is that God loves us in spite of our sin and does not want us to perish. The proof of God's love is demonstrated by God's plan of salvation through Jesus' work on the Cross. Believer's know they can trust God and His promise of forgiveness and eternal life. This hope of eternal life is available to anyone willing to put their faith and trust in Jesus.    

I love these verses below because they remind me that we have a merciful God who has gone out of His way to make Himself known to us. He is patient with us, giving us time to receive His gift of eternal life. This gives me hope for all those in my family still separated from God. 

1 Timothy 1:15-16  NLT
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.  But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

2 Peter 3:9 NIV  

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

No matter the depth of our sin, God’s Love is so much deeper. We truly have an awesome God. 

In conclusion, the good news about sin and spiritual death is that it has been defeated. Because Jesus paid the price for our sin, all who believe get to experience amazing love, amazing grace, hope, great blessings and eternal life.

Just Sayin……………Dave