October 6, 2024 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John (2SoJ)
Your Sins & Spiritual Readiness
Have you ever kept a record of your sins and placed them in categories? It would surprise you. A very few people in the Body of Christ say, “I do not sin anymore.” They are liars and should not be trusted with any position in the Body of Christ. Matthew 5:3, states that we are blessed if we stay in a constant state of brokenness and repentance.
Most people understand the power of their sins, though not understanding that their sins carry consequences. As soon as one thinks “they are good and/or doing better by not sinning”, they are no good to God or the Body of Christ. We are all sinners but all of us have access to God’s forgiveness that is in Christ, 24/7. This is what makes Christianity a great religion and above all other religions, because of the Trinity of God and God’s great forgiveness and non-remembrance of my sin. Once I give and acknowledge my sin to Christ and do what Christ asks of me, God honors His forgiveness and the sacrifice of His Son to me.
One of the many jobs of the Holy Spirit, to bring one to acknowledge one’s own sin. The Holy Spirit causes us to acknowledge our sin, making our sin exceedingly sinful, so we repent and ask God to remove our sin from us. It is through repentance and forgiveness that we find ourselves clean, whole, and free. Jesus did all of this for us on the cross.
Nevertheless, sin is complicated and needs great mercy; mercy David found in Christ, mercy you and I can have every day because of Christ. His love for me brings His forgiveness so I can depend on His mercy each and every day. Christ’s mercy is new to me every morning, noon, and evening of each day. This is His promise to you and me, but we must believe and ask for it each day.
Sins come under three categories, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. These sins affect not just the physical body but all so the mind (your mind processes), your heart (feelings, attitudes, and motives), spirit which I think is one’s personality, and one’s soul—the decision-making processes we all have. It is often the sins of pride that precede all sins. Whenever I think, act, or say that I am better than another person, more talented, better looking, or in any way better than another, this pride can move me to commit acts of transgressions, iniquities, or sins in such ways to destroy my relationship with others. (There are so many examples of this in the Bible, I could not state them all without writing a book about the prides of life and the destruction they bring.)
Here are some general Biblical concepts of sin: one, sins of not obeying the commandments of God (mostly Old Testament laws); two, the failure to obey the Words of Christ (Christ’s sayings, Sermon on the Mount, and commands He gave His disciples); three, presumptuous sins (actions and attitudes of being arrogant, over confident, pushy, rude, cocky, pompous, and smug); four, iniquities (the effect of your sin on others); five secret sins (sins that you hide not only from others but also yourself); six, sins against the Holy Spirit which cannot be forgiven, and lastly, number seven, sins of offence which the Bible says Jesus never did, He did not bruise or injury people that were weak, unable to function, castaways by society, (Isaiah 42:3says, “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.”) Jesus would not bruise someone on the inside even though they are bruised on the outside, which all could see.
We must become accountable for our sins. Finding forgiveness not only for the sins we commit but accepting and finding forgiveness for the effects of sins on others, as well as, trying to make things right when it is in our power to do so. We are called to be peacemakers not people haters. We must carry each other (carrying our cross as Jesus commanded) and that includes forgiving each other and helping others find forgiveness for their sins. You cannot do any of this without staying in a constant state of forgiveness for ourselves, others, and whoever God brings our way.
There is no readiness for Christ’s return without forgiveness and making our “robes white in the blood of the Lamb” (Book of Revelation). I encourage everyone to wake up each morning rejoicing in the mercy of Christ and willing to stay in a state of repentance and forgiveness no matter what comes our way. This is ‘walking in the Spirit’, not just allowing the Spirit to live in us (Galatians 5:25).
(using Google or other search engines)
http://www.twitter.com/wwjwmtd
WWJWMTD
What would Jesus want me to do?
Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com
This email, including attachments, may include confidential and/or proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to which it is addressed. If the reader of this email is not the intended recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this e-mail is prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.
wwjwmtd 