If something is evil, then it is the duty of good men to stand firm and try to correct the situation.”
–D.C. Adkisson (Mal de Ojo)
“So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.”
“So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better.”
–1 John 1:5 (NLT)
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NLT)
In these wearisome days of trouble we are to be people of prayer. We pray for ourselves, our family, and other children of God. We are not to be busybodies, but if we see someone in danger we should go to them and especially pray for them.
“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin leading to death.”
–1 John 5:16-17(NASB)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
–Galatians 6:2 (NASB)
There are a few things seen in the above verses. We are to care for our family in Chriist. We should have a genuine concern for those who are Christians that are seen in sin. Remember, all unrighteousness is sin; that is not living in accordance to God’s way of life. Sin interrupts fellowship with God and we should be concerned. These verses also answer the problem with antinomianism–living as I want. We live according to the Lord’s will and word.
“When we fall into sin, what grieves us most of all is not the sin we have done, but the fact that we have hurt the Person.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
I mentioned briefly in the last lesson regarding “a sin leading to death.” This is the doctrine of the antichrists, those evil people who have come out from the body of Christ and preach a false doctrine. I do not want to get into a discourse regarding the “unpardonable sin,” but I want to mention a few things. In my experience I have dealt with individuals who have believed they have committed this sin. Young people with their life in front of them now living in fear thinking that there is no hope for them.
First of all, those who believe they are guilty of the sin against the Holy Spirit are not guilty of it. People who sin against the Holy Spirit are not worried or troubled about it. They go on their way thinking they do not have a care in the world. They are certain they are right and pour contempt on the truth. The people guilty of this sin are arrogant and self-satisfied; they dismiss the gospel and do not want to hear from God.
Jesus in Matthew, chapter 12, deals with this subject. He is talking to the religious leaders, those who should know the Scriptures. Therefore, we should look carefully at that and look back at today’s verses from 1 John 5. A Christian would never blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Second, an unbeliever cannot do it for they have no concept of what it is. That leaves those who are religious. Those who went out from among us with false doctrine to spread. Also, remember Jesus said that the religious leaders were in danger of committing the unpardonable sin, not that they had already done so.
In bringing this up, we can see the importance of praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also see how important it is to know right and true doctrine. It is easy for someone who does not know the truth to be duped into believing a falsehood. I will leave these thoughts from the NLT in closing today,
“With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you both in person and by letter.”
–2 Thessalonians 2:13
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How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the power and control of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NLT)
In these wearisome days of trouble we are to be people of prayer. We pray for ourselves, our family, and other children of God. We are not to be busybodies, but if we see someone in danger we should go to them and especially pray for them.
“If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin leading to death.”
–1 John 5:16-17(NASB)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
–Galatians 6:2 (NASB)
There are a few things seen in the above verses. We are to care for our family in Chriist. We should have a genuine concern for those who are Christians that are seen in sin. Remember, all unrighteousness is sin; that is not living in accordance to God’s way of life. Sin interrupts fellowship with God and we should be concerned. These verses also answer the problem with antinomianism–living as I want. We live according to the Lord’s will and word.
“When we fall into sin, what grieves us most of all is not the sin we have done, but the fact that we have hurt the Person.”
–D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
I mentioned briefly in the last lesson regarding “a sin leading to death.” This is the doctrine of the antichrists, those evil people who have come out from the body of Christ and preach a false doctrine. I do not want to get into a discourse regarding the “unpardonable sin,” but I want to mention a few things. In my experience I have dealt with individuals who have believed they have committed this sin. Young people with their life in front of them now living in fear thinking that there is no hope for them.
First of all, those who believe they are guilty of the sin against the Holy Spirit are not guilty of it. People who sin against the Holy Spirit are not worried or troubled about it. They go on their way thinking they do not have a care in the world. They are certain they are right and pour contempt on the truth. The people guilty of this sin are arrogant and self-satisfied; they dismiss the gospel and do not want to hear from God.
Jesus in Matthew, chapter 12, deals with this subject. He is talking to the religious leaders, those who should know the Scriptures. Therefore, we should look carefully at that and look back at today’s verses from 1 John 5. A Christian would never blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Second, an unbeliever cannot do it for they have no concept of what it is. That leaves those who are religious. Those who went out from among us with false doctrine to spread. Also, remember Jesus said that the religious leaders were in danger of committing the unpardonable sin, not that they had already done so.
In bringing this up, we can see the importance of praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also see how important it is to know right and true doctrine. It is easy for someone who does not know the truth to be duped into believing a falsehood. I will leave these thoughts from the NLT in closing today,
“With all these things in mind, dear brothers and sisters, stand firm and keep a strong grip on everything we taught you both in person and by letter.”
–2 Thessalonians 2:13