Proverbs 21:8 A man is known by his actions. An evil man lives an evil life; a good man lives a godly life.
I had three opportunities to sin yesterday and I passed by two of them. After I repented, I was so proud of my humility. As the Apostle Paul would say, “Oh the wretched man that I am.” Why is the heart of man so corrupt? No wonder only the blood of Jesus can cleanse a heart. We have too many layers of deception at work within us; therefore, we should always remember that Christ’s sacrifice is the only one that can cleanse absolutely and is acceptable to God the Father. Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
1 Tim. 1:15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst. I find it interesting that the Apostle Paul, who wrote so much about being the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, claimed to be the worst sinner. He continued to understand the power of sin and its nature, also the potential of that nature rising up in our everyday living.
Here was a man who had been given revelatory insights into the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus and the resurrection power from the dead by the Holy Spirit, yet would not take his calling in God as a licence to sin – so to speak. 2 Cor. 12:2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago–whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know; God knows–such a man, having been caught up to the third heaven.
Like Paul, I am so grateful for the cleansing blood of Christ that washes away sin and the condemnation of it. I am also so thankful to God that through the blood of Jesus we have the ability to wrestle the power of sin because we are no longer under the authority of sin. Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Here was a man who had been given revelatory insights into the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus and the resurrection power from the dead by the Holy Spirit, yet would not take his calling in God as a licence to sin – so to speak. 2 Cor. 12:2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago–whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know; God knows–such a man, having been caught up to the third heaven.
Like Paul, I am so grateful for the cleansing blood of Christ that washes away sin and the condemnation of it. I am also so thankful to God that through the blood of Jesus we have the ability to wrestle the power of sin because we are no longer under the authority of sin. Rom. 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Paul, like us, had to deal with the everyday fallibility that awaits at the doorstep of our hearts. Only the blood of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit can keep us in Christ unto eternal life. The older I get the more I see my need for the continual washing of Christ’s blood and the righteous standing that comes through it. Not because I am living a life of practicing sin on a perpetual basis, but rather living the fact that only the blood of Jesus can make me whole. Eph. 1:7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
One would think the older we get, the more skilled we would become at not sinning. Not so! The story of the woman who was caught in adultery and was about to be stoned to death shows us that the older we get does not necessarily mean we have a handle on sin and its facets.
Jesus says to the crowd, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” At this point, something remarkable happens. The scriptural passage says that from the oldest man to the youngest the crowd dispersed because of the conviction of conscience. John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
The oldest and more experienced in life did not have it all together when it came to a sinless life. The only thing that old age seemed to do for sin was the ability to cover it up with religious antics. It takes the constant covering of God’s gift of Jesus’ sacrifice to keep us clean in the presence of God. It is not a personal righteousness record that can be boasted about as we come to God in prayer, but it is the gift of God through Jesus that welcomes us humbly before our God. Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
Jesus says to the crowd, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” At this point, something remarkable happens. The scriptural passage says that from the oldest man to the youngest the crowd dispersed because of the conviction of conscience. John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
The oldest and more experienced in life did not have it all together when it came to a sinless life. The only thing that old age seemed to do for sin was the ability to cover it up with religious antics. It takes the constant covering of God’s gift of Jesus’ sacrifice to keep us clean in the presence of God. It is not a personal righteousness record that can be boasted about as we come to God in prayer, but it is the gift of God through Jesus that welcomes us humbly before our God. Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
The older I get the happier I am that God has the whole salvation plan under His control. We only have to look around at all the world’s confusions to see what man-made religions have caused. Do good, get good. Do bad, get bad. Do nothing, get nothing. Do something, still get nothing. What a mess we create for ourselves when we become our own savior.
Jesus, our Savior, accepts us the way we are and turns us unto a vessel for His honor because of His works. Yes, my fallibility lurks around me ready to point out my missteps in life, but more importantly, I have my Savior who walks with me clearing the land-mines that can bring harm to my soul. What a God we serve and what a love He has for us.
As long as we live on this earth, we will always have the opportunity to fall on our faces because of sin, but thank God that Jesus is right there beside us picking up the broken pieces of our life and turning the same pieces into victory. 1 Cor. 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you so much, Lord Jesus, for all that you do and have done for us. Amen.
Jesus, our Savior, accepts us the way we are and turns us unto a vessel for His honor because of His works. Yes, my fallibility lurks around me ready to point out my missteps in life, but more importantly, I have my Savior who walks with me clearing the land-mines that can bring harm to my soul. What a God we serve and what a love He has for us.
As long as we live on this earth, we will always have the opportunity to fall on our faces because of sin, but thank God that Jesus is right there beside us picking up the broken pieces of our life and turning the same pieces into victory. 1 Cor. 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you so much, Lord Jesus, for all that you do and have done for us. Amen.
Thank you Doug
Blessings
Seasoned word from a seasoned man!
Thanks, Norm!
Thank you Norm! What a powerful message in Jesus blood and name! Blessings my brother… Monique