“When Adam sinned, the entire world was affected. Sin entered human experience, and death was the result. And so death followed this sin, casting its shadow over all humanity, because all have sinned. Sin was in the world before Moses gave the written law, but it was not charged against them where no law existed. Yet death reigned as king from Adam to Moses even though they hadn’t broken a command they way Adam had. The first man, Adam, was a picture of the Messiah, who was to come.
Now, there is no comparison between Adam’s transgression and the gracious gift that we experience. For the magnitude of the gift far outweighs the crime. It’s true that many died because of one man’s transgression, but how much greater will God’s grace and His gracious gift of acceptance overflow to many because of what one Man, Jesus, the Messiah, did for us!
And this free-flowing gift imparts to us much more than what was given to us through the one who sinned. For because of one transgression, we are all facing a death sentence with a verdict of “Guilty!” But this gracious gift leaves us free from our many failures and brings us into the perfect righteousness of God–acquitted with the words, “Not guilty!”
Death once held us in its grip, and by the blunder of one man, death reigned as king over humanity. But now, how much more are we held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah!” (Romans 5:12-17 Passion Translation)
The gift of the grace of God is the most precious gift we could ever receive because it literally frees us from sin’s prison! Everything about God is power and love. Grace is God’s dynamite that blows sin’s prison to smithereens. We CAN walk in freedom from sin. I’ve seen two kinds of views on the grace of God.
The first is “I’m just a dirty sinner saved by grace, so its inevitable that I’m going to sin.” No! Isn’t God’s grace powerful enough to give us freedom from sin’s grip to empower us to live righteously before Him? He requires that of us. “Be holy as I am Holy” the Bible says. God wouldn’t be just if His grace and the Blood of Jesus isn’t powerful enough to KEEP us in righteousness. We are not powerless to sin anymore. Will we go the rest of our lives without sinning in word, thought or deed like Jesus? Probably not, BUT the reality that we CAN is still there because the Bible says we can. It all depends on how intimate your relationship to God is. I’m telling you folks, the intimate relationship is the key to living free in Christ Jesus.
The second is “Jesus loves me and His grace covers this sin, so I can do it and say I’m sorry and grace covers it.” This is a way that seems right, but the end thereof is death. Why would you WANT to sin and put Jesus to an open shame like that? Where’s the love for Him? On the surface, it is true. Jesus does love us and His grace does eradicate sin, BUT only if we REPENT. Repentance is NOT saying “I’m sorry Lord” and then keep doing it over and over. All this does is prove to the Lord that you don’t value His sacrifice. You don’t value His presence in your life.
Jesus said “I have to come give you life and give it more abundantly!” Jesus is completely victorious over ALL the power of Satan. He defeated him when He rose from the grave. Why should we settle for so much less? We can live free in this life but it takes repentance and it takes selling out to follow Jesus all the way. Becoming friends with Him. The relationship is everything. He did not just die to give you a ticket out of Hell. He purchased access to the Father. The intimate relationship with God is the Pearl of Great Price we should all be pursuing with ever-increasing intensity.
Are you in a place where you think you can’t help but sin? Are you in a place where you have “said the prayer” and gotten your ticket to Heaven, so now you are free to live on your terms? Both of these beliefs lead to defeat and destruction. You must know Him to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus said it Himself. “Many will say on that day, but Lord, didn’t I….” and He will say, “but I don’t know you!” You must know Him personally and you cannot know a person by just saying a prayer and then never talking to Him again. Sin separates us from the relationship. It just does.
If you want to live free from sin you can. It starts with repentance for sin. From there the relationship begins with daily talks and worship. From there the sky is the limit and before you know it, you are living a holy life before God. When He fills your life, there is no room for sin. You can start right where you are at this very moment and begin the greatest adventure of your life.
Do you know Him?
To Repent:
Blessings everyone…
From the Heart of God... 