THE SIN FACTOR

We have been talking about being in the Light as He is in the light...and what we are to do once we get into this light. We have seen that once we get in the light and we are exposed...that we come into agreement with God and what He says about what is exposed (aka confession)... and then apply the blood of Jesus that will expediate forgiveness and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness...effectively bringing us from the point of Romans 3:23 to II Corinthians 5:21....that sets us out on this righteous walk mentioned in Romans 1:17.

In today's class we looked at the 8 places in the First Epistle of John that mentions the word sin. Sin is defined as: (ham-ar-tan'-o)= to miss the mark and so as not to share in the prize); it's meanings includes, to err (especially morally), to sin, faults, offence, trespass).

Dealing with sin is imparative for (1) coming into the Father's presence and (2) Fellowship with the Son, the Father, Others, and You.

I John 1:7: The blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL sin

NOTE: You cannot circumvent the blood of Jesus. It is what is known as the PROPTIATION...the satisfaction to God. It is what God has determined that will be the means of restoring our relationship with Him.

I John 1:8: If we deny that we (Christians) have sinned, we are deceived and the truth is not in us.

NOTE: Denial is the coverup...confession in the light is the revealer. Truth breaks deception...so that we can confess and leave denial.

I John 2:1 The expectancy is to NOT sin...but if we DO sin...then we
have and ADVOCATE with the Father. The Advocate is Jesus Christ.

NOTE: A lot of the New Testament is written as letters of corrections to saints who sin. The expectation is to NOT sin...but there is a clause for when we DO sin. We have an advocate, a lawyers, someone called along side to help us in the form of Jesus. He does not advocate how good we are before the Father...but points out that we are covered by the blood.

I John 3:4 The practice of sin is the practice of lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

NOTE: Lawlessness is not having a standard to be guided by. When we practice (do it over and over until we get it right) sin...we are practicing this thing called lawlessness.

I John 3:5 Jesus appeared to TAKE AWAY sin. In Him (Jesus) there is NO sin.

NOTE: When Jesus is in the LIGHT (that same light that we are to walk in)...we cannot find any sin....because there is NO sin. Jesus came to TAKE AWAY...the sin that is revealed when we are in the light.

I John 3:8 If you PRACTICE sin...you are OF THE DEVIL. The devil
has sinned from the beginning. Jesus appeared for the purpose of DESTROYING the works of the devil.

NOTE: If you practice sin...and you are of the devil (little d)...and Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil...you will be caught up in the destruction. That's why we need to deal with the sin...so that we will not be included in the devil destruction process. The solution is to quit practicing sin.

I John 3:9 No one born of God PRACTICES sin. The reason is the seed
God seed abides in you. You CANNOT sin...because you are born of God.

NOTE: Practice is the habitual nature of sinning. If you are born again by the seed of God...you cannot (practice habitually) sin. This means that you cannot do it...and not deal with it. You must "sin not" but when you "do sin"...(1) confess it (2) get blood washed (3) get on with practicing righteousness.

I John 5:16 There is a sin not leading to death. All unrighteousness is sin.

NOTE: There are sins that we do...that don't have the physical consequence of death. The spiritual consequence of separation from God is always there...but we can sin...if we want to. James 4:17 says "Therefore , to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin." I Corinthians 5:12 states, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything." You can do what you want...but it may not be benefical for you to do it. You can eat a dozen donuts...or you can eat one donut. One will not hurt you...a dozen may not kill you instantly...but you will suffer the consequence in some form or fashion. If you know to not eat a dozen donuts....and you eat a dozen donuts anyway...to you it is sin. It's not unto death...but it is still a sin.

Next time we will talk about how to deal with the sin. Check out Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 for some insights.

Until next time
Practice some righteousness

Rodney