Casual Christianity
What Paul is predicting in these verses is exactly what is happening today. The most important thing for people today are their pleasures, because they forgot God, they don’t care for His will and seeking truth. As a result these people developed all the negative characteristics listed by Paul. Even the people who declare themselves to be Christians do the same, retaining only a pretense of piety, which Paul predicted:
In our days, people, even Churches, are committing such heresy by teaching that sin is something casual and it is not possible to live without it. The only important thing is to confess every sin, but with all assurances they are convinced that they can live sinful lives and still be saved.
People are sure that Jesus took upon Himself all their sin and does not mind if they keep on sinning, He will save them regardless. How can men believe that?
Christ did indeed die for our sins, but only those of us who repent their past sins and turn away from sins for ever. Here is what Jesus said to the woman who was caught committing adultery:
He didn’t say: go and try not to sin, as we hear in the churches today. He said very plainly and straight forward. From now on sin no more.
Let us remember, that Adam and Eve were kicked out of paradise for just one sin!
They opposed God’s will and that was their sin. And the goal of our lives is to return to the state of unity with God as it was in the place called Eden. That is what Jesus came to teach, and by giving us the Holy Spirit, he made that possible.
Salvation is deliverance from sin – isn’t it?
Jesus died to cleanse us and restore us to purity – right?
Jesus set us free – didn’t He?
So, how is it that churches are teaching that it is alright to sin?
Well, okay, they do not say so directly, but since they do say it is impossible to stop sinning, it automatically mean that is okay to sin, - doesn’t it?
They justify their sin by saying that no one is righteous except Jesus Christ alone.
They deny the teaching of Christ who said:
Jesus set up the requirement to become righteous, and sin not!
We need to understand the difference between sin and a stumble or fall.
To stumble does not mean to sin.
Since it is written, that righteous man stumbles seven times a day, and still sins not, the bible would not call a sinner righteous or a righteous man a sinner.
Righteous man can stumble, and fall but he will get up and recover, but sinner will be destroyed because of his sins.
Sin is braking God’s commandments, and even if we keep God's commandments, we still may stumble and fall in doing things not as perfect as we could.
Many Christians are not sinning, but stumbling, but they are afraid to say, that they are not sinning, because of criticism and judgment of those who truly sin and call themselves children of God.
Whoever brakes God’s commandments, he is child of the devil. Plain and simple.
Let us understand what John is saying about sin, and what Proverbs is saying about failing to be perfect. Please, understand, man can be unperfected but not necessarily a sinner.
Let me give an example: Let’s say, God’s command is to cook dinner. Who refuses to cook would be the one who sinned against the will and commandment of God – right? And who did obey and did cook, he is righteous man, because he obeys God, and do His will. But then amongst all there who cooked, there will always be some people who cooked better than others. Some people’s dinner was very tasty and about perfect, but other people dinner did not taste so good, however they did do a lot of effort to cook, it just didn’t come out perfect, maybe because of little experience, or they didn’t try hard enough, maybe they failed to prepare to have everything at hand, like spices to flavor their food or knowing how long to cook not to under or overcook.
So they stumbled and failed to make a tasty dinner, but they did cook, they did not disobey, so they did not sin. So sometimes we can obey better then other times.
So, let me say it again that sin is a refusal to obey God's commandment, and needs to be repented confessed, and forgiven, but a stumble or fall needs to be recognized, worked on and practiced to do better whatever we are doing. Like learning to memorize a poem can be learned but with stammer or it can be learned flawlessly and perfectly fluent.
There can be lousy obedience and perfect obedience, that’s why the apostle said:
or:
Why does it say "with difficulty"? Because it is not quite enough to be righteous it takes to be perfect and holy. Jesus was not only righteous, but He was also perfectly holy, and that is what, He said, we need to be as well.
The truth is, that we can not do anything without Christ, but with His Holy Spirit we can do it and we can become holy as He is holy, otherwise His word and requirement would be ridiculous and impossible. He knew the power of the Helper, the Holy Spirit which He promised to send to us (John 16:13), and baptize us with. So He expects of us not only sinlessness, but righteousness and holiness.
Another place says:
To be perfect is not virtue, but virtue is to be holy, because perfectness is only description of value. There can be as well perfect crime, as there can be a perfect holiness. We know God is Holy, therefore we know our holiness must be perfect in total surender to God, and ONLY to God, with all heart, all soul, all stranght, and even all thoughts - it is radical command, and our duty is to obey.
The teachings are clear, we have to stop sinning and obey perfectly, not just obey, but obey perfectly. What Jesus is saying is, not only obey and cook dinner, but cook a perfect dinner. He may not like sloppy dinner, He wants to see us doing a perfect job, whatever we are doing in obedience to Him!
The stakes are high, it is not enough to serve God, but the requirement is to serve Him perfectly with a lot of fruit and result.
Polski
Are you ready to die?