The Sin Infestation
Did you know that you can be “free from sin” but not “sin free”? I can also tell you that in order to be “sin free”, you must first become “free from sin”?
We know, by scripture, that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Rom 3:23). But where does sin dwell? In our actions? – No. It is within us. It is simply made apparent that we have it when it comes out in the actions of mankind. A ‘sin infestation’ is much like a termite infestation. Termites can destroy your home or the place you live, just like sin destroys our lives.
We do not want our home to crumble, right? So, do we focus on continually repairing or somehow stopping the damage (unsuccessfully) in order to stop the fall of our house? Of course not, this would be like trying to keep the Law of Moses? We instead find the root cause of the problem and eradicate the termite infestation to stop the destruction. We want to make our homes “termite free”. Then we repair the structure by rebuilding or replacing the parts that were damaged.
Sin dwells in mankind and the ‘root’ is in the heart. Matthew 15:18-19 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. Knowing this, if we are to address the sin problem in our lives, it only makes sense (and is very needful) that the heart of man is dealt with first – God definitely thinks so!
Conversion- the first step in God’s Plan of Salvation
There is a word that many in today’s church world do like… the word “conversion”. Why do they seem to not like it? Because it is taught in the Holy Scriptures as the first step of salvation, as revealed in the true doctrine of Christ?
Most people that proclaim themselves to be “Christians” nowadays believe that they were “saved” in an instant of time. If this were true (and it is not- biblically), then “conversion” no longer fits into the salvation equation. The fact is that The Truth, as taught, revealed, and proven by God’s Spirit, is a progressive work. Unfortunately for some, Satan knows that most people lack patience!...
Proverbs 14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
Jesus, speaking in Mark 4:11-12 And He said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
Let me ask you this question? When someone does wrong to someone else, is it right for them to ask the person that was wronged to forgive them if they do not intend to stop doing the wrong? Should they expect forgiveness? John 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
Jesus Christ gave His life here on earth to ‘take away’ our sins Folks! He wants to clean us up by removing them. 1 John 3:5 And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, AND to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness.
See above that Our Lord will forgive (have mercy on) us. This is when and where He imparts the Grace of His Gospel to us. -It is when our “conversion” takes place and we are, at that time, given our earnest share of God’s Kingdom until redemption – His Spirit.
The State of being “Free From Sin”
Acts 15:8-9 gives us an account of this. Here is what Luke says concerning this: And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Once conversion takes place, we are now FREE FROM SIN! -and Jesus said, John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. But what does that mean exactly? Romans 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. In this new state (being “converted”), you now have power over sin. You are no longer a servant of sin because the Word of God has set you free!
That’s right – now you are “free from sin”, BUT you still have sin in you, and it therefore can still get out – but only if you let it! (And you just might as a new convert, if you are fooled into it or drag your feet. This is a very dangerous situation to find yourself in with God though! But this is why we need Grace.)
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Remember that this is a process and the process is not to merely ‘stop us from sinning’, although that is also very important and should not be taken lightly if someone does commit sin. The goal is though, to remove the sin from within our members; to abolish it from within. Once this has been accomplished, then (and only then) can we guarantee that it will not get out – because there is no sin in there to get out!
Romans 6:12-15 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
So, how does this power of being “free from sin” (our hearts cleansed and Spirit-filled) work in our lives? How does God go about remove it from our total being? – Through our obedience to the instruction of His Word.
God takes care of our hearts at conversion, but it is our minds and bodies that are still totally infested with sin at this point. The Truth is that, if God’s plan of salvation is to ‘take away’ our sin (and it is), these two areas of our being must also be dealt with. We therefore then, through faith in His Word (proven by our obedience to it), are cleansed by Him (His Word), yet while under His Grace.
We are to now yield ourselves unto God, as stated in verse 13. This means yielding to God’s will.
How do we know what His Will is? Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
How are we “transformed by the renewing of your mind”?
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
What? You thought that I said that our “mind” and “flesh” needed to be cleansed? Why does it talk about our “spirit” here?... Ephesians 4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Once we are converted, the “Grace” period begins… His gift that we must have in order to “walk in His precious and wonderful light”! Can we give ourselves Grace? No? Then it is the gift of God that allows us this space/time and power to do His Will, perfecting holiness in the Fear of God – (2 Cor 7:1 above).
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (God’s Word) unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
What are these “good works” you ask? Let me just say this… If I wanted to, I could have funded mission trips, I could have joined a church group; put my name on the books there, been friendly, attended gatherings and been a part of something. I could even participate in spreading the bible stories about Christ and the prophets by going out into the world and participating in some of the things ‘churches’ are doing… and all of this without the Spirit of God! What’s that ONE THING that I could not do without The Truth and His Spirit??? -Abstain from the pollutions of this world!
And that is what God’s Grace is for People! It creates the space/time that He allows us to be renewed in our sprit/mind. What about the flesh? Well, let’s just say that the mind has power over the flesh, so long as it and the heart are in agreement to do God’s Will. It is two against one!
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from ALL sin.
Passing from the Point of Conversion to the Point of Being “Sin Free”
Here are the Word’s of Paul the apostle concerning his walk towards perfection: Philippians 3:11-15 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
The point here is that this is God’s work in us through our faith in His Word. We do not get to say when the work is finished. It is up to Him to tell us.
1 John 3:19-21 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ
John 10:27-28 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
Being “Sin Free”
John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Jesus is not only referring to making us free from the power of sin (giving us power to overcome it/conversion) here Folks. But I believe, by the Grace of God, that He means “sin free”. In other words to “make you free” is to make you pure in all ways concerning His righteousness. Amen. This, my friends, is that final stage of salvation. Once a person is brought to this point, they are “saved” in the sight of God and His operation on them is complete as it pertains to the sin removal process.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Ephesians 4:11-13 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ
Willful Sin
Although not likely, it is possible that after a person has been converted, they could change their mind again and choose a life of sin.
Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of Grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto Me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge His people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2 Peter 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Just keep this in mind: Hebrews 10:35-39 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
May the Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all – Amen!
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