by R. L. Morrison

Sin had its beginning in the Garden of Eden. It has been the curse of mankind from then until the present time. Not one who has lived or is now living has failed to be affected by it. Probably, we all know why. Paul said, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). "For the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). We have all sinned and as sinners were separated from God. Sinners are dead spiritually, which is the result of that separation. We are also subject to physical death because of sin being introduced into the world.

But God made provision for man's sin. It was not because we deserve it, earn it, are worthy of it, or for any reason on our part. It is provided because of the love and by the grace of God for man whom He created in His own image. Surely all are familiar with John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Let us notice carefully what this passage teaches. Jesus did NOT say, as some affirm, "the believer SHALL NOT perish"; rather He said, "the believer SHOULD NOT perish." There is a great difference in the meaning of the two words, even though they are forms of the same word. One is simply past tense of the other. However, "SHALL", according to Webster, means, in the second person: "to express compulsion; obligation; necessity." "SHOULD" expresses the idea of "expectation or probability." Some render this portion of the passage in these words: "whoever believes in Him MAY NOT perish."

Please consider: God provided for man's redemption in Christ. "Now all things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them..." (2 Cor. 5:18-19). This means that God made reconciliation possible. God provided the means for bringing it about. However, it does not mean that God forces reconciliation upon anyone. Surely, we realize that man is a creature of choice; that is, he has the power and ability to follow his own will in regard to reconciliation. Each one makes the decision for self and for no other. It has always been so. God desires the service of men but it must be a willing service. He invites men to be reconciled, but each one personally accepts or rejects the invitation.

A brief study of the New Testament will reveal to anyone what is involved in accepting the invitation to reconciliation or obtaining the forgiveness of sins. While He lived in the flesh Jesus taught of it, preparing men for it. Later the apostles whom He selected and to whom He gave the responsibility of setting forth the terms of forgiveness, did so in words that are unmistakable and easily understood.

As Peter, standing up with the eleven in Jerusalem, on Pentecost, began to address the Jews regarding Jesus, he said, "Men of Israel, listen to these words" (Acts 2:22). He then declared to them Jesus whom they had rejected and caused to be crucified. Peter, referring to Old Testament prophecy, proved that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the promised Messiah. He also convinced his hearers that God had raised Jesus from the dead; that He had returned to the Father in heaven and had sent forth the Holy Spirit. He declared that even then, the Holy Spirit was revealing these things through these apostles, Peter being of the number.

Many of the Jews, hearing these things, were pierced to the heart. They could see (understand) the truth of the things declared unto them. They realized that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, the Savior of the world. They also realized they had rejected Him. They then cried out: "Brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter replied: "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:37-38). Here, in the first recorded sermon of the gospel of Christ, we find the full plan of reconciliation revealed to mankind. Those who obeyed these commands and were baptized for the forgiveness of sins were reconciled to God. What did they do? First, they heard the gospel; then they believed what they heard; they indicated they believed what they heard, and repenting of their sins, were baptized for the remission or forgiveness of their sins. They were then reconciled to God.

Let us consider this again. Peter preached Christ unto them. He proved what he preached by the prophets of old. The Jews heard it. They believed what they heard. They realized they had rejected He whom God had sent into the world to save men. They knew they were sinners. They wanted to escape the consequences of their sin. They asked, "What shall we do?" In asking they acknowledged their belief of what they heard. Peter then told them what they must do to complete their obedience and be forgiven. He said they were to "repent and be baptized" for the forgiveness of sins. This is easily understood. Every example of conversion in the New Testament reveals the same pattern of obedience and obtained the same result.

When Paul wrote to the church in Rome, he told them, "You became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness" (Rom. 6:17-18).

There can be no doubt that when one chooses to obey from the heart the form of teaching these apostles delivered, that one is freed from sin, is reconciled to God, or becomes a Christian.

However, this is not the end of one's obedience. Regardless of man's attitude toward this, or the many excuses and objections we offer, it is from this point we are confronted with the greatest trials and temptations of life. The reason for this can be easily seen. The Christian has escaped from Satan's kingdom. Through his obedience to the gospel, he was translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God's love (Col. 1:13). Satan wants that one back again. So he makes every effort to overthrow the faith of the Christian, turn him from the narrow way, back into the way of the world. Many times Satan is successful. One reason, perhaps, is because some do not realize the necessity of continued obedience.

Let us first establish the point that the Christian can sin. In 1 Cor. 10, Paul refers to Israel in the wilderness. He first tells of the blessings they received. But then he says that with many of them God was not pleased and they were overthrown in the wilderness. Some of them became idolaters. Others committed adultery, became murmurers and tempters of God. God then destroyed them though they had been saved from Egypt. Paul tells us this is an example for us and written to warn us of danger. He then says, "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (vs. 12).

Now consider some things Christians are taught about steadfastness. In Acts 2:42, we find the example of the early Christians: "And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer." In 1 Cor. 15:58, Paul adds: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." In Col. 3:1-2, he says: "If then ye have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth." To this Peter adds: "Now for this reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self control, and in your self control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, Christian love" (2 Peter 1:5-7). And finally, John adds, as he writes to the church in Smyrna: "... be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).

These, as well as many other things, were written to Christians to tell them HOW to live. But we sometimes take a rather "one-sided" view of living the Christian life. Some Christians are heard to say, "I do not engage in practicing evil. I do not follow the ways of the world. I do not lie or cheat or steal. I do not become intoxicated. I do not commit adultery." Certainly not! God's people do not engage in such things. The final result of such practices are clearly shown by Paul: "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissentions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:19-21). Here Paul makes a positive declaration. They who engage in these works of the flesh which he has named SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom! Beginning with the next verse, Paul adds something more: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such there is no law" (Gal. 5:22-23). Not only must the Christian refrain from the practice of evil, he must bear in his life the fruits of the Spirit. We, as Christians, must WALK by the Spirit (vs. 25). This simply means that the Christian is to live this life as the Spirit directs through the Word of God.

As Christians we have responsibility to God daily. He expects us to follow the example Jesus set for us; to live as He lived; to reproduce the life of Christ in our own lives. As Christians, we have responsibility in worship. We must worship God in spirit and in truth. We must not forsake our own assembling together, as is the habit of some. As Christians, we have responsibility to our fellow Christians, to exhort, to encourage, to assist in every way, even rebuking when necessary, but always in the proper manner. And Christians have the responsibility of doing good unto all men as opportunity affords itself. Always there is the responsibility of setting the proper example of godliness before the world as well as teaching the truth.

Sin, then, is not JUST refraining from evil, refusing to engage in the lusts of the flesh. Sin, also, is leaving undone that which God requires of us; a failure to bear the fruits of the Spirit, or to obey His commandments in all things. James teaches this in these words: "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

Sin, whether it be engaging in any of the lusts of the flesh, or a failure to worship God as He directs, will cause any Christian to be lost eternally. James says, "For whosoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all" (James 2:10). Most Christians know this, yet many times we seek to justify ourselves in what we call "little sins." We may say, "Failure to worship on the Lord's Day (when we could if we would) is not as bad as committing adultery. Losing one's temper once in a while and saying (or doing) things we ought not is not as bad as murder. Gossiping, tale-bearing, causing dissention or discord is not as bad as stealing." But the Bible makes no such distinction in sin. It teaches us to abstain from the very appearance of evil. As far as the final result is concerned one might as well be a thief as a habitual absentee from worship on the Lord's Day. Let us not deceive ourselves. Offending in ONE POINT, if it remains unforgiven, will result in our being lost! This is not unfair or unjust! Suppose one deliberately remains away from the assembling of the saints on the Lord's Day and refuses to worship. He knows the command concerning worship. It has been stated, as found in John 4:24 and Hebrews 10:25. This sin of omission reveals the attitude of the heart toward God! It is rebellion! It is a refusal to obey an order of the King! It is a failure to do what one knows should be done and is sin. Oh, we may say this or that, we may offer one of a dozen ready excuses, but in reality, we know that we are NOT doing what we should be doing! We are doing our own will, not the will of the Father. This is rebellion! When we do so, are we "seeking those things which are above"? Are we following the footsteps of our Lord? The answer is obvious! Yet, many times Christians engage in this very thing, evidently thinking very little about the result, or perhaps thinking that for some reason "I will be excused for today".

In the Hebrew letter (chapter 11), the writer sets forth a list of heroes of faith. In the first verse of the following chapter, he brings to our attention that which I believe to be the cause of so much sin among God's people today. "Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1). Most of us are more familiar with the term "besetting sin" as it is found in the King James text. There seems to be no reason to doubt the condition he begins to describe here is the exact opposite of that described in the preceding chapter. There he speaks of faith and shows its result. Here he begins to speak of the exact opposite: the lack of faith and its result! This is the sin "which so entangles us." It isn't that God has revealed His will to us in words we cannot understand. It isn't because we do not have the ability to understand. It is because we do not believe what God has said! And so we make our excuses for our failures, salve our consciences and go our way in life, doing the will of God WHEN IT DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH OUR OWN WILL!

So by one act, a trespass or an omission, we become guilty of all, because that one act reveals the attitude of the heart. He who tries to excuse himself for his sin by saying, "God knows my heart", (and many say this), doesn't realize the extent and depth of the truth he has spoken, nor does he realize that his own statement judges him.

But God knew our weaknesses. In Christ, He not only made provision for the penitent believer to be cleansed of sin, He also provided cleansing for the members of His family when they fall.

This cleansing requires a change of mind, heart, or attitude. It was a condition of heart that led the Christian to engage in sin. It must be changed. This change is repentance. Repentance means a change of mind or will, resulting in a changed manner of life. To demonstrate: IF the habitual absentee from worship repents, he will be present for worship. Not just once, but continually! The temper and the tongue will be brought into subjection! Gossiping, tale-bearing, and the sowing of discord will cease WHEN there is repentance. There is a changed heart and this is the result of it. These are merely examples. Anything contrary to righteousness will be put out of the life of the penitent child of God who seeks forgiveness of sins. When we repent, we have the privilege of asking that forgiveness of the Father. And we have the assurance that if we ask according to His will, He heareth us!

Heaven's door will be closed to many in the judgment day. Many who have become Christians in this life will be among them, because they failed to bear the fruits of righteousness. Brethren, to fail to do so is to sin! To die in our sins is to be eternally lost. Let us avail ourselves of God's cure for our sin, the blood of Jesus Christ and obedience to His will! Let us strengthen our faith! Let us strive to enter in, lest we be found with sinners when we are called to give account for this life!

Is Heaven's door open to you?