Be honest. Does that make any sense? Not only that, but it also means that Jesus would have to go to the cross again and again. So, Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. (Hebrews 9:28)
What about those who say you can pluck yourself out of God’s hands (John 10:28-30). Does that make any sense at all when God is the Only All-Powerful One. Anyone who believes they can pluck themselves out of God’s hands, are saying they have more power than God has.
Brothers and sisters, believing something so absurd hinders our ministry (service) to others. Why? If you believe these untruths you really don’t understand who you are in Christ.
a. We fall into sin, but we are not sinners, because Jesus took care of our sins on the cross. If people say they are sinners, then they are saying that Jesus didn’t do the finished work of salvation. So, when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit (John 19:30). Please remember that we live in a fallen world and our flesh is not perfect, that’s why we fall into sin. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John1:7). If we are not walking in the light, we’re out of fellowship with our Father; not out of relationship.
b. If we’re all sinners, we could not go to heaven because sin cannot enter God’s Kingdom. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:50).
c. If we are sinners, we would be separated from God. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, or height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
d. If you are still a sinner how does this scripture apply to your life? For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).
We are sinners: We (the believers) are not sinners! Yes, we sin, yet we are not sinners. Paul calls us saints. To the church of God, which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours (1 Corinthians 1:1).
Paul also said we once were and who we are now– old things are passing away, all things becoming new (2 Corinthians 5:17). And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:11).
For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9). The best way to word it if you are going to use sinners is: We were sinners, but now we are saved by God’s grace through the faith he put in us.
Gifts - I heard some people say if you don’t use your gift you will lose it. That is not true. What God gives, He never takes back; the gift is still there, but it is dormant (inactive, in a deep sleep). For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29); For I am the Lord, I do not change (Malachi 3:6). In other words, whatever God gives He does not take it back.
I plan to continue this tomorrow
His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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