Sin is the
"missing of the mark" of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus. Sin is that which separates our hearts from God. Some types of
sin are listed in Galatians 5:19-21 “Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance,
emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness,
reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told
you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom
of God.”
Another list of
sins is in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: “Know
ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not
deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,
nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” According
to Revelation 22, the fearful and unbelieving are also sinners.
One who
"practices" such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
A "practitioner" is one who confesses and practices that which he
preaches. A practitioner of a sin-lifestyle is death. Jesus was the
perfect sinless "Lamb of God" and has the nature of His Heavenly
Father. According to Romans, Jesus was the "last Adam." He
was in all things tempted like as we are and yet without sin. This is why
Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God without spot or blemish. Jesus did not
sin ... He had a divine awareness of that which is holy. Holy is the same
as "sanctified." Holy means to separate according to the purpose
designed by the designer. He said, "I always do my Father's will."
According to Isaiah
53:6, All we like sheep have gone
astray, we have turned everyone unto our own way. For all have sinned and
come short of the glory of God.
Jesus rode into
Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey on the tenth of the month of Nisan in
fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. This day was the day when the
Passover lamb was inspected to be an acceptable sacrifice "without spot
and without blemish." Israel thought that the Messiah would come as "King
of kings and Lord of lords" according to the prophecy in Isaiah. They
were not expecting Him to enter Jerusalem as a humble servant riding on a
donkey. They did not know that Jesus Christ himself was God's Passover lamb
without spot and without blemish.
The day that
Jesus was crucified was the tipping point of history. On that date, Jesus
fulfilled his holy purpose for which God ordained ... for he who was without
sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the
righteousness of God in Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed,
"If there be any way, let this cup
pass from me." The cup was the wrath of God against sin and death; the
cup of separation for sin of the world. Jesus' Will was to serve his
Father. Prayer is not aligning God's heart with our heart, but rather
prayer is aligning our heart with God's heart. The conclusion of Jesus'
prayer was "not my will but thine be done."
What was the
price that Jesus paid? He bore your sin and mine. He took upon himself the
sin of the world. He shed His innocent blood in exchange for our guilt.
All men and women deserve to die, for all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God. Upon the cross, Jesus died so that we may be presented holy and
blameless before the Father. What is the value of a life? Value is
counted by the price paid. God valued our life according to John
3:16: “For God so loved the World
that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish but have everlasting life.”
For what were
we sanctified, for what were we made holy? We were sanctified and set
apart for God's purpose ... that we may bear witness of the Cross of Christ.
For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Galatians 2:20 “I
have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives
in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in
the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
May God richly
bless you!
Your brother in
Christ, Michael
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