What About The Sins Of The Saved?

What About the Sins of the Saved

Selected verses

This past week, in bible study, I was teaching from the book of Joshua. In that book then is the story of the sin of a man named Achan. Achan sinned when, in the middle of a battle at Jericho, he found some silver, some gold, and some fine clothing. He took them and hid them in his tent. He had been instructed by Joshua not to take anything because all of the spoils belonged to God.

Joshua called Achan forward in front of the whole assembly of Israel and told him to “fess up.” Which he did ...completely. However, that confession was too late. But the point I made was that one day we would all stand in judgment by God and we would all have to "fess up to every word or deed in our whole life. They will all be there for us to see. Satan will be there as our accuser. And we will be asked to stand in front of a holy, righteous God and give our excuse for why we told that lie, stole that thing, indulged in that lustful thought, said that sinful word, etc.

Someone asked, "I thought that God had removed our sins as far as the east is from the west." Actually that comes from Ps I 03:12: As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

HOWEVER...There was a small problem with that belief. The problem is not a problem or scripture but a problem of TIMING!!!

SALVATION IS A PROCESS Today I want to share with you what the scriptures say about that process.

Before I get started I want to share three scriptures with you.

Phil. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Phil. 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Eph 1:13-14 In whom you also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

These three verses are critical in the understanding of our salvation.

Many believe that salvation is a static event... "a done deal." They speak of salvation only in the past tense.

They talk about when they were saved. By that they refer to the time when they made their profession of faith and got baptized. They say they ARE SAVED!

In certain respects that is true... but the incomplete truth.

Phil 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

1. CONVICTION

The first step is that the person becomes convicted of the fact they are a sinner. That truth breaks their heart and they are truly sorry for the way they have hurt God. They desire to be forgiven of their sin and put in right relationship with God.

2. CONFESSION

The next step is to confess sinfulness. Confess that you are a sinner by nature, choice and action. Confess that you are powerless over sin and need Him to deliver you from the power and the punishment for your sins.

3. REPENTANCE

The next step is to repent... or to change the mind. This not just feeling sorry.

It is to be so broken by the sorrow that you are moved to change your thinking and actions.

2 Cor. 7:8-10 spells out the difference between just feeling sorry... which does not lead to salvation, and true Godly sorrow and brokenness that lead to change and to salvation.

8For though I made you sorrow with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

1For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

When you do that, God does some special things in and for you

These things are spelled out in 1 Cor. 6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.