1 Timothy 2:1-8 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man
Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling."
Last Sunday, Pastor Kyle asked, "What is it that you want to be known for?" Anything that we ultimately do, is a picture of how others see us and the legacy that then leave behind. Our words, our actions, and our attitude paints a picture of who we really are. John 17:15-17 Jesus prays to God the Father, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth." We are in the world [the fallen, God-rejecting world system], but not of the world. The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 2:15, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." The admonition is given in Holy Scripture because the fallen flesh desires worldly pleasures and possessions, popularity, power and position, prosperity, pomp and prestige that shine and tempt the sin nature. The Lord Jesus explains to us in the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:22, "As for the seed [symbolizing the Word of God] that was sown among thorns [symbolizing the lustful heart], this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, [hedonistic and materialistic distractions that preoccupy the mind] and it proves unfruitful.
Galatians 5:16-17, 21-25 "Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do... I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
In reality, it is easy to become desensitized to all of the sin in the world that tempts the flesh desires of our fallen heart. As distracted followers of Jesus, we have become anesthetized and blind to the deceitful cares and ungodly temptations of this secular world that do not acknowledge God, demand our undivided attention and take our mind's eye of the Lord. By deffiniton, that is a nominal Christian and a lover/follower of the world. On this side on eternity, we remain in the fallen flesh as a sinner and must remind ourselves of what sin really is: the voluntary departure of a moral agent from a known rule of rectitude or duty, prescribed by God; any voluntary transgression of the divine law, or violation of a divine command; a wicked act; iniquity. Sin is either a positive act in which a known divine law is violated, or it is the voluntary neglect to obey a positive divine command, or a rule of duty clearly implied in such command. Sin comprehends not action only, but neglect of known duty, all evil thoughts purposes, words and desires, whatever is contrary to God's commands or law. Sinners neither enjoy the pleasures of nor the peace of piety. We must not make light of sin or become desensitized it sinful distractions and temptations, but intentionally focus of the Lord and discipline ourselves to walk in the Spirit, take up our Cross daily and follow Jesus.
Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Willful sin contributes to dark grim that causes the world to question our Christian walk, to question the Bible, to question church, and even question God. I fear that as Christians we are becoming blind to how much immoral and unethical sin is going on around us and how much of that is getting inside and polluting our minds and affecting how others perceive us, Jesus and the church.. 1 Peter 1:15 tells us, "He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct." Holy is defined as: Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections.Hallowed; consecrated or set apart to a sacred use, as a holy priesthood. Proceeding from pious principles, or directed to pious purposes. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Not my will, but God's will be done.
Let's continue Pastor Kyle's message on Sin and the Gospel in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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