Opening song
Scripture james
4:10-17
Closing song
4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord,
and he shall lift you up.
4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He
that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of
the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of
the law, but a judge.
4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save
and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow
we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and
get gain:
4:14 Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the
morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a
little time, and then vanisheth away.
4:15 For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord
will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all
such rejoicing is evil.
4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good,
and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.
It has come to my knowledge that legalism is taking
over our church; and by legalism I mean that, just like the Pharisees did to
Judaism of old, a sect of Adventists are burdening the Christian walk with a long
cold list of rules/ethics/morals.
This is not just a local problem however as there is
abundant evidence to suggest that this has become a problem that plagues the
worldwide church. New rigid conservationist doctrines are popping up everywhere;
and each one seems to be more rigid and restrictive than the last. The one underlying theme/thought
however that ties them all together is “if this new found doctrine is not
adhered to with unwavering regard, the knowledgeable Christian is in peril of
losing his Salvation”, which Christ so dearly paid for.
The Christian walk has become frustrating because
you are being put under bondage, by rule making and fault finding.
(by lawkeepers vs secularists---jew vs gentile---pharisaical
thinking)
Instead of feeling free you have been made to feel a
prisoner. It is extremely important that we know how to identify sin
(recognizing) that deeds are only an indication of your submission to the will
of Christ
Is there any degree of truth to this? While guiding
standards are a necessity; the wake of these New, Liberty Revoking Doctrines
(conservative) bring nothing but frustration to the Christian walk for even the
most sincere and truth loving brothers and sisters.
Living
by the letter of the Law
So that we too are not swept away in this swelling
tide, there arises the necessity to have a clear understanding of where Sin starts
and where it ends. Surely right doing, or the neglect of wrong doing cannot
declare me righteousness because I know
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall
no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the
law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
3:22
Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto
all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
If we are not
justified/made clean by right doing then how are we made clean?
What
is Justification?
Rom 1:17-23 justification occurs when by faith we
swap places with Jesus and live. If you are to be just you live by faith in the
promise of God that he is able wash away your sins.
1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
1:18 For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
1:19
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath
showed [it] unto them.
1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal
power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
1:21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God,
neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened.
1:22
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
1:23
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like
to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things
However once knowledge has come that you in wrong
doing you are held accountable for that knowledge.
What role does
justification play in our salvation?
Only the righteousness of Jesus is good enough for
heaven. And we can only obtain this through faith. Heb 11:1
What
role then does the law play in or lives?
The knowledge
of sin…
if we confess our sin 1 jon 1:9
(without the knowledge we cannot confess.)
Pharisees
After coming out of Babylon the Pharisees, The
Pharisees were extra careful about keeping the letter of the law, wanting to
never go back into slavery, hence they introduced/added more laws to Gods laws.
Well this might have been done with good intentions, however the end result was
to make Judaism burdensome for the Jews; and the law itself became the new
idol, and the Jews esp. the Pharisee prided themselves on how well they were
able to keep the law. No wonder Christ gives a rebuke in
Math 5:20
5:20 For I say unto you, That except your
righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye
shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Except our righteousness shall exceed theirs we
cannot inherit the kingdom. Wow! Is Jesus really saying that except our right
doing/righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisee we shall have no part in His
Kingdom? That’s not possible!!!! Who were better equipped to keep the law than
the Pharisee? Who made the law a part of their entire society? It is not possible for us in the 21 century
to live a more law centered life than the Pharisee; unless, law keeping has
nothing to do with our salvation. What am I saying!? Let’s turn another text found
in
Eph 2;8-9
2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it
is] the gift of God:
2:9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The righteousness of Christ is the only acceptable
ticket into heaven which we claim through faith in God’s word. His sacrifice is
sufficient for all our sin.
As our scripture reading says we need to give heed
to God in anything we do.
1 Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the Glory of God.
This brings us to the definition of Sin. Sin is the only thing that
can keep us out of heaven; more specifically un-confessed sin. If we are to
confess sin we must first be able to identify it.
According to the Strong’s Hebrew lexicon—Sin is
1) to sin, miss, miss the way, go
wrong, incur guilt, forfeit
a) (Qal)
1) to miss
2) to sin, miss the goal or path
of right and duty
3) to incur guilt, incur penalty
by sin, forfeit
c) (Hiphil)
1) to miss the mark
2) to induce to sin, cause to sin
3) to bring into guilt or
condemnation or punishment
d) (Hithpael)-)hithpiel) piel
being the verb that makes the word opposite
1) to miss oneself, lose oneself,
wander from the way
What is this mark
we have fallen short of?
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God;
Some of you might be thinking isn’t sin the
transgression of the Law, and it is but it goes deeper than that and unless we
go beyond mere law keeping we have become legalists.
Which law?
While am here let me clear something up. The laws
which we are to keep are not limited to the Decalogue. It is also a sin to
disobey the law of the Land, especially if they do not conflict with the law of
God. Rom 13:1-4
What is law?
1) anything established, anything
received by usage, a custom, a law, a command
a) of any law whatsoever
1) a law or rule producing a state
approved of God
a) by the observance of which is
approved of God
2) a precept or injunction
3) the rule of action prescribed
by reason
b) of the Mosaic law, and
referring, acc. to the context. either to the volume of the law or to its contents
c) the Christian religion: the law
demanding faith, the moral instruction given by Christ, esp. the precept
concerning love
d) the name of the more important
part (the Pentateuch), is put for the entire collection of the sacred books of
the OT
What is Sin?
After knowledge has come if you continue in wrong
doing that is a sin. Sin is the
fulfillment of the challenge to God’s will/authority. Sin is wrong
thinking/motives before it is fulfilled in wrong acting.
In this way we can see
that sin is a violation of the relationship between God and sinner. (rom 14:23)
But what should be our guide should we then practice
license because. God forbid rom 3:31
Sin in its broadest
sense falls into three categories
1) The transgression of the law
2) What is not of faith
3) To him that knoweth to do good
The transgression
of the law (body-physical)
Wrong acting as defined by the law
Wherever there is a commandment and we transgress
then we have sinned
What is not of
faith is sin (soul-feelings)
To the honor and glory of god
Challenge to any doctrine of Christ -
Sin is wrong thinking/motives before it is fulfilled
in wrong acting. (the heart)
To him that koweth
to do good and doeth it not (spirit-in the mind)
Neglect to do good
(prov 3:27)
Willful ignorance is sin!!!
Because you refuse to know
Ignorant sin
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked
at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the
which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath
ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath
raised him from the dead.
Imputed sin
When we willfully yield our members to go against any
of these 3 precepts, sin is imputed unto us. We are reckoned guilty and thus
deserving of the eternal punishment.
Application of our
understanding - appeal
But Thank God for Jesus. That although we have
fallen short, there is forgiveness with the Lord.
With a clean and pure heart render therefore the
things that you know to be God’s to Him. He will make intercession for the
rest, if you should fall short.
is it a sin to celebrate Christmas?
Is it a sin to wear ties?
Who
are idolaters/pagans?
1cor 8
Who are pagans
To wear ties or not
To celebrate Christmas
or not
Who are heathen (lev
26:38)
Who are infidels (2
corinth 6:15; 1 tim 5:8)
What is sin
To the honor and glory
of god
Challenge to any doctrine
of Christ
Is this matter
salvific?
Appeal
Having therefore having clear understanding n this matter
let us take the yoke of Jesus upon us, for his load is easy and his burden is
light.
It is through Christ and Christ alone that we have
access, not of deeds lest any should boast.
Every man has a measure of faith let us not judge
but speak the truth in love
What is the
fundamental reason for us to be here?
Matth 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the
salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good
for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
5:14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid.
5:15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
If you focus is on
keeping the words or obeying the rules, your focus is in the wrong place.
Love love love the
gospel in one word is love, Love God and your neighbor as your self
What does love do,
what
John 3:16
John 3:17
Instead of saying what
does the word say, another question we could ask is what does the love teach?
When we have mastered
love we would have fulfilled the law because love fulfills the law.
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