2 Corinthians 5:17-21 “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Pastor Herk continues that the Christmas Advent celebrates the coming of our Savior. The remedy for sin and spiritual death arrived, but only to those who accept and receive Him by faith. John 1:9-13 explains, [Jesus, God incarnate] was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the Cross exchanged our sin and due wrath deserved, for His perfect righteousness in His blood in the process of justification (being found just as if we had never sinned). In our repentance of sin, believing and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, believing and accepting that God sent Him, that He died for our sins in our place, and that He rose three days later from the grave, just as the Holy Scriptures prophesized, conquering sin and death, then salvation is our free gift and we are sealed by the Holy Spirit unto eternal life in Heaven and glorification is at the end of the life of a Believer.
But there is the immediate “born again” transformation of our heart and regeneration of our spirit in conversion and being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In Ezekiel 36:26 God tells us, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” In Hebrews 8:10 the Lord explains, “I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” We are given a godly heart that desire to follow and please God and which spiritually discerns truth by sanctification (the lifelong process of growing into the likeness of Christ). Holiness is not what we do, but who we are as “born again” Christians. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “We all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Yet, on this side of glory, though we have a new heart and the indwelling Holy Spirit as our Helper, we still are in our fallen flesh with its lusts. Galatians 5:16-18 instructs us, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” We need to consciously and intentionally align our walk (our words, will, and way of life) with God’s Word, Will and Way – walk in the Spirit. Colossians 3:9-10 gives an example: “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
How do we tackle the sin problem? First, do not focus on surface issues. Being culturally religious with ceremonially and ritually clean does not mean spiritually clean. We often try to solve our problem with sin by fixating on surface issues (instead of the heart of the matter) with legalistic and traditional nitpicking on subjects that the Bible doesn’t say anything about. Second, confusing our ideas for God’s ideas. This is hypocritically challenging the Lord and misses the heart of the matter. We may not nullify God’s commands with misaligned human traditions. Do not think that God tells us what to do, but we decide how we are going to do it. The Bible is adequate to live a holy life.
There is nothing wrong with good traditions, but putting traditions on equal footing as the Bible dangerously leads to confusing our ideas instead of God’s ideas. Following Jesus Christ means affirming the supreme authority of the Bible (the living Word of God) over traditions and ceremonial rituals, thoughts and opinions, scientific theories or interpretations. We cannot pharisaically exalt interpreted applications to the same level as the Holy Scriptures. Prayerfully read and understand the Bible and be careful, cautious and open to clarification and correction. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Let's conclude Pastor Herk's message on sin being the heart of the matter today and the solution provided by God for the sin problem in the world and in each individual heart on Sunday.
In Christ, Brian
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