A Problem That Happened - Is Salvation Something To Be Lost Because Of Sin? (Part 3 Of 3) Series

A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENED - IS SALVATION SOMETHING TO BE LOST BECAUSE OF SIN? (PART 3 of 3)

[10]. INTRODUCTION

This is the last part in the series that looks at the belief by some that we lose salvation through sin, or grievous sin, or by wilful sin. The idea is based on the fifth tenet of Arminianism that says we can fall from grace; that there is conditional security and we must persevere until the end. It is almost a gospel of works.

In Part 1 that concept was examined and then we moved to a Christian in sin, or a Christian who has sinned. We looked at the path back to God from that sin. We saw that a son in the family is a family member and if he sins or goes off the rails, he is still a member of that family. The parable of the Prodigal Son demonstrates that very well.

This time we continue looking at the matter of a Christian overtaken in a sin or by sin. We look into David’s experience. These are serious issues and it is so sad that people want to cut believers off from salvation when they sin. To do so is not to understand the love and compassion of God and to reduce belief to man keeping a ritual or way of life, doing so in his ability, not God’s.

All this originated from a matter I had to deal with in a church. I hope it is a help to people, especially to those who have sinned and let the Lord down. It is best you read all three messages to follow the argument right through.

[11]. THE GRADING OF SIN – IS ONE WORSE THAN ANOTHER ? ULTIMATELY?

Does our mind consider lying, stealing, being proud, hurting another Christian, as lesser sins than murder and adultery? Which sin does not condemn you? None! If a man was perfect and committed only one sin e.g. lost his temper and swore (James has specific things to say about the tongue), would God overlook that because it is not one of those “major sins”?

The rich young ruler came to Christ and he was self-righteously perfect but there was one thing - - - that is all it takes. Adam was a perfect man even though he had no knowledge of good and evil, but he slipped up in one act, and that was all it took. He was disobedient, yet so many Christians are disobedient all the time, and barely gets any consideration.

I truly think we don’t understand (appreciate) the deep significance of what sin does. How much can we appreciate the holiness of God? We speak about it, pontificate about it, but to plumb its depths would be life changing for many Christians. God is holy, and sin is an absolute wickedness that opposes God’s righteousness and holiness. Without holiness one can not see God.

I believe the more we appreciate the holiness of God, the more concerned we would be about our own condition; the way we live carelessly before our God; we drink at muddy fountains and not even realise it.

{{1 Corinthians 6:8-10 “On the contrary, you yourselves WRONG AND DEFRAUD, and that your brethren, or do you not know that THE UNRIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God,”}}

Note how this list begins. It starts with defrauding/cheating a fellow believer; doing wrong to a brother. Then Paul lists another 10 sins that debar one from the kingdom of God. They are listed together because just one of them will condemn a person to be excluded from the kingdom. In this regard all are equal because all will destroy inheritance in the kingdom of God.

Man would scale those sins but God does not in the ultimate outcome. What is idolatry? It is what replaces the one true God. Is that television rather than being with God’s people? Is that strong support of a football or baseball team, and matched by very weak support for fellow Christians? Is that devoting Sundays to personal passions and not to Christ’s passion for salvation, or being with God’s people?

[12]. DO WE FOLLOW THE INCORRECT STANCE?

One definition of sin is “missing the mark”, and the illustration of an archer is sometimes given. The archer keeps shooting his arrows but every one of them falls short of the target. How often do we apply sin to the outside world and to sinners, BUT rarely to ourselves?

I am sure those in the church at Laodicea never considered themselves as being sinful. Such was the delusion. Christians can easily fool themselves. The devil is the master of deception.