Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a story.
Up here in the forest of Northern Minnesota, we are slowly beginning to undergo a change. The sound of chainsaws are beginning to permeate the woods. You can hear the thumping sound of an axe, as it splits a piece of ash in two. The trees are preparing to turn colors and drop their leaves. Sticks are being gathered, new pipes and dampers are being installed on the wood stove, as people prepare for another beautiful carpet of white snow, as it canvasses the lanscape.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
With every change of the season, God is reminding each of us, that we too, need to undergo a change. We must turn from sin, and be converted to the truth.
2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
Whenever somebody professes that they are follower of Jesus Christ, they need to become an example to the world of goodness, righteousness and truth. In order to do that, we are going to have to change our lives around. We must make the daily choice to live differently than the way we have in our past. We must choose to do what’s right instead of what’s wrong. We must learn how to follow the will of God rather than our own. We must transform from sinners into saints, and that requires departing from iniquity. The Apostle Paul warned the church that those who were on the path to become saints, much not allow certain sins to be named among them at all.
Ephesians 5:3-10 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
We must prove that we are faithful and obedient children to God. It is by our actions that we prove what we are. You can prove that you are a sinner, or you can prove that you are a saint. It all comes down to obedience. This is why the Apostle warned the church to be doers of the Word and not just hearers only. A soul cannot be transformed to the truth, unless you become a doer of the truth.
James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
The Lord knows those who are His. If you truly are a follower of Jesus, you will listen to what He commands and teaches. You are going to follow his leading.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 10:26-27 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
Obediently following Jesus is going to result in a new creature, a new person that is created through knowledge of God’s calling and will.
Colossians 3:9-10 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 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.
If you are going to claim to be a Christian, we must depart from sinful living. Granted, we can come boldly to the throne of grace in time of need, but we must use God’s forgiveness to go on unto perfection. We must use God’s mercy to undergo a complete conversion and transformation in order to inherit eternal life someday. This is why the disciples preached that men needed to turn away from sin.
Acts 26:19-20 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
We need to do works meet for repentance? You better believe it! Without works of obedience, your faith is lifeless, spiritless and dead.
James 2:20, 24 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
If you never turn from sin, how can you profess to be a real believer? You’re only deceiving yourself. To receive God’s grace, you must accept the truth of your own sinful condition. Jesus was sent to turn us away from our sins, and the Apostle Paul was sent by Jesus to continue to repeat that same message throughout the world.
Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
We must depart from iniquity because God calls us out of darkness.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Getting involved with sin is so bad that it can completely deceive you. Pride begins to develop, and it will result in someone becoming puffed up, and justifying one’s own sinful behavior, rather than accepting the truth of God’s Word.
Hebrews 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
All of us are sinners, myself included. From the richest to the poorest, from the highest in society to the lowest. There is one thing that each of us need to do if we really want to enter into eternal life. We must turn away from our sins, and obediently follow the way of Jesus Christ.
Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Just as fall leaves abandon the tree, we must abandon sin, if we really want to begin…….
…… A New Season
Let’s think about these things for today, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 