Please open your Bibles to Genesis 1:11-12, 20-25 which we will read in a few minutes.
As we prepare to read this we hopefully can remember what we learned last week when those following Jesus asked Him:
John 6:28b NIV
“What must we do to do the works God requires?”
In other words, “What do I need to do to make God happy enough so that He’ll let me into heaven.”
And Jesus replied:
John 6:29b NIV
“The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”
God is working on our behalf to draw us to Himself.
Out work is to accept His proposal.
So, if salvation can be found by placing our faith and trust in Jesus apart from works what does the Lord expect from us once we are saved?
With that in mind let’s go ahead and read: Genesis 1:11-12, 20-25
There is a phrase that is repeated over and over in these verses.
That phrase is, “According to their own kind.”
Let’s read the Scripture again and look for that phrase.
This is a law that the Creator put into place.
- When you plant corn you get corn
- When you plant beans you get beans
- When birds mate the hatchlings are birds
- When fish eggs are fertilized the hatchlings are fish
- In the old days before ultrasound imaging was invented, when a woman went into labor the question always was, “it it a boy or a girl?” The question was never, “What is it?” The parents always knew that the baby would be a human baby.
A corn stalks produces corn cobs.
A chicken produces eggs.
A Christian, a son or daughter of God, out of their very nature produce acts of righteousness.
Anyone who is a son or daughter of God, anyone who is saved, lives in righteousness and no longer lives in sin.
That does not mean that a son or daughter of God CANNOT sin it means that living in sin is not what a truly saved person would do or even desire.
So, what does it mean to live in sin?
It means to consciously disobey the known will of God in a way that is a continual, unrepentant part of your life.
You can either live in Christ or you can live in sin, you can’t do both!
The idea that you can love God and live in habitual, unrepentant sin is a lie of satan.
Think of it like this: On the western front in WWI there was a method of fighting called trench warfare. Both sides would dig trenches in which a man could stand. Sometimes these trenches were only a couple of hundred feet from each other.
What if a person decided they wanted to live in both trenches. What if he thought, “I’m going to go back and forth between the trenches and see who’s got the most food or whose trench is drier and if things get too dangerous over there or if I need help of some kind I’ll just head back to my home trench and get the help I need.”
That’s just crazy talk, isn’t it?
That’s like thinking, “Well, I’m saved now but I still like this sin so much that I’m going to continually and repeatedly enjoy this sin until even though I know that God hates sin.
Can we really live in Christ and Christ live in us and then choose to live in rebellion against Jesus Christ?
Two Biblical facts:
God loves you. God hates sin.
When we are saved Christ comes to live within us.
Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
If we have been saved, truly saved, we take Jesus with us wherever we go.
How do we know God love us? He tells us so in the Bible! He shows it by His actions.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
How do we know that God hates sin?
Well. He says so …
Proverbs 5:16-19 AMP
“These six things the Lord hates; indeed, seven are repulsive to Him: A proud look [the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that creates wicked plans, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], and one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers.”
Because He sent His Son to die so that we could be free from slavery sin.
Because He sent His Son to deliver us from the penalty of sin.
God is not just irritated with sin.
God is not just annoyed by sin.
God HATES sin.
God hates sin because He loves you and living in sin will kill you, now and forever.
A couple of weeks ago I came across a blog called “Loving God and Living In Sin”
I’d like to take a look at parts of that blog and see if it reconciles with Scripture.
Here is her response:
My sister, I get it.
Sin is hard. Sin is enticing. Sin is strong.
It’s a part of your lifestyle.
Deep down, you feel the guilt.
Deep down, you know your shame.
You want to stop, but you wouldn’t even know where to start.
Hear me. You are so loved.
Every single part of you. Even down to the deepest cracks in your heart.
You are loved. You are prayed for. You are sung over. You are prized.
So, my friend, let’s talk. Let’s talk about sin.
It’s a three letter word that I don’t like hearing, but don’t hear enough.
Sometimes, I hate living in America because our culture has normalized and embraced and even praised sin.
Having sex with strangers. Getting drunk. Cheating the system. Stealing. Rebelling against parents. Using the name of “Jesus Christ” as a cuss word. Watching porn. Cheating in relationships.
And sometimes I hate how American church communities, having been influenced by our culture, how many have normalized and accepted different types of sin:
Worrying about our future. Being greedy with our blessings. Making idols of marriage and kids and work. Believing that religious activities save us.
Listen, my sister.
Sin killed the only One who has looked on me with pure love.
Sin killed the only One who has pursued me through the ages.
Sin killed the only One who my heart burns with passion for. (True or False?)
I hate sin. God hates sin. Hates it.
Sometimes, when people are struggling with sin, I hear people saying, “It’s okay…”
I’ve told it to people. I’ve been told it.
But hear me: No, it’s not okay.
Sin killed our blessed Jesus. It’s not okay.
There’s abounding grace and a beautiful redemption.
It’s forgiven. It’s paid in full.
But it’s not okay.
In the American church, there are so many wrong themes of the cross.
Sometimes, we use the cross as a means of self-help, making our hearts feel better about our sinfulness.
Jesus was not nailed to a cross for me to feel good about my sinfulness, for my sinful heart to feel comforted, for my guilt to be pleasantly balmed.
Sometimes, we use the cross as a means of manufacturing a type of love that demands no response and that we can pick and choose when we want it and lay aside when we don’t.
Jesus was not nailed to a cross for me to periodically acknowledge that there is always someone there who loves me, while I’m still living in my sin.
And sometimes, we look at the Man on the cross and are utterly unmoved.
We regard it in vain and as folly.
Jesus was not nailed to a cross, killed and crucified, for me to vainly praise and utter His name as Lord and Savior while denying Him and continually nailing Him back to the cross with my sin.
Jesus was crucified to set me free from my sin.
Spurgeon once said,
“Look to the cross, and hate your sin. For sin nailed your well beloved to the tree.”
Sin nailed Jesus to a tree.”
I hate those nails. I hate that old wooden cross that killed Him.
But what I must always remind my heart of, is that the nails and old wood didn’t kill Jesus.
As if pieces of scrap metal and some old wood could keep the Son of God hanging.
My sin kept Him there. My sin held my precious Savior to that cross.
His love held Him there. I hate my sin. I love His love.
On a softer note, hear this, my sister:
I think so often, and even unintentionally, our minds wander to feeling like God is angry with us, that He is mad and disappointed.
And because of that, we feel like we have reallyyyyy messed up.
Like we are done for. Like we are unworthy, unloveable ... just too messed up.
But this is the thing:
God’s heart for your repentance from sin isn’t a heart of a dictator, it isn’t the heart of an authority who makes demands of you to conform to His way.
No, no, God’s heart behind His desire for you to repent is because your sin is going to kill you. He loves you.
Yes, He loves you more than you even love yourself.
He sees you playing in the trash and dirt and filth of sin.
He sees that it’s not only bad for your soul, but that it’s going to kill you.
So, in a loving, Fatherly, passionate and desperate voice He says, “Repent.”
Repent, He loves you.
Repent, He is calling you out of the dirt.
Repent, He is better and sweeter and filled with more joy.
Repent, He has always loved you.
When we understand that the voice that speaks the word, “repent” is not an angry dictator, but rather a loving Father who desires your good, with all He is… it changes everything.
Suddenly, repentance isn’t such a dark and religious word.
Suddenly, it’s a beautiful and healthy and desired gift from our Father.
He died so you can repent.
He died so you can come out the dirt and grime and filth of sin ... into His love, His grace, His fullness of joy, into life.
Oh sister, He died to set you free from the slavery of sin. (Romans 6:22)
No more guilt. No more shame.
You are no longer held captive by a devil who’s leading you astray.
Your chains are broken. The shackles are undone.
You, my friend, are a child of God.
This following portion is un-Biblical ... The Bible says that we can arouse God's anger; that we CAN grieve the Holy Spirit
so ... we must be careful with this next portion in parenthesis ...
(((He’s not mad at us. He’s not even disappointed.
He’s not angry; He’s not giving up on us and slamming the door.
Rather, He is still looking on us with eyes full of love, with a heart that desires more good for us than we even do ourselves, saying, “My grace covers you ... My grace covers you.”))))
And that grace, what a beautiful thing.
We are so undeserving and He is so kind.
His kindness leads us to repentance.
His kindness leads us to repentance.
My sister, I want to be as blunt and brutal as I can be right now:
Sharp, rusty pieces of scrap metal pierced through the flesh and veins of Jesus, blood gushing down.
A jagged and sharp spear was thrust into His ribcage, spewing out blood in a pool.
Yet even then, He cried in the time of His torment, “Forgive them.”
Your forgiveness has come at a devastating price. It was never free.
His grace is costly. His grace is beautiful. His grace is lavished and lavished upon you.
By His wounds you are healed.
Repent, my sister. For He is alive.
With much, much love. And a plea to dwell in righteousness. –Melissa
Can a person truly love God and live in sin? Not sin occasionally but live a life of sin continually?
Yes, it is true that even the most righteous child of God has the capacity to take their eyes off from God from time to time and sin but a life of living in sin is impossible for one who has truly been born again.
(repeat what we discussed at the beginning about corn and chickens and fish, etc.)
Galatians 6:7-8 NIV
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
Final thoughts and prayer ...
