When A Christian Sins Series

WHEN A CHRISTIAN SINS - I John 2:1-2

My Little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

 This morning we saw how sin is to be dealt with in a believers life. We are not to deny sin as an issue nor are we to deny it as a problem(rename things we do with better labels) but we are to confess it(say the same thing about it as God says) and then He Who is faithful and just will cleanse us completely from all sin. ALL SIN cleansed by the BLOOD

CHARLES FINNEY: Great Evangelist of 1800’s was approached by a man before a church service. Asked that Finney would talk to him after church. Agreed. Deacons asked what man wanted…..you know who he is…that man is one of the worst men in the city…dare not go with him…hired killers…probably kill you….After service: you aren’t going are you…yes, I gave the man word.

Man met Finney and led him down the street, up an alley and into the back door of a building. Turned to lock door and told Finney to sit. Man walked behind a desk and pulled a gun out of the drawer and put it on desk. I heard you say something last night and I want to know if it is true or not. What did you hear me say? You said the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son can cleanse a man from all sin. Finney said, No, I didn’t say that, God’s Word says that. You don’t know me or what I have done.

1) You are behind a bar and we have an illegal gambling room: devices are fixed, taken last dollar from man and they committed suicide. God can forgive that? All I can say is that the Bible says, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin.

2) Not whole story: I own the bar, men come in and drink, wives come in rags and beg me not to sell them booze, I throw them out back into the streets and sell husbands booze until they run out of money and then kick them out. God can forgive a man like that. The blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse a man from all sin.

3) You don’t know the full story: This gun has killed several people who have gotten in my way. I have hired men to kill others. God can forgive me? All I can tell you is that the Bible says all sin.

4) Across street in big house I have a wife and a beautiful little child to whom I have been wicked and cruel and haven’t spoken a decent word to in 16 years

Finney stood up and grabbed the man and shook him. Listen to me, you have told me one of the most horrible stories I have ever heard and if it were up to me I dare say you would find no forgiveness but all I can tell you is that the Bible says that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

That is all I wanted to know, he went over unlocked the door and said you can find your way home from here.

NEXT MORNING: Sun coming up man was walking from bar to his home. Wife was in kitchen cooking breakfast. Went upstairs. Mother told child, ’Go tell your daddy breakfast is ready. Ran halfway up and yelled, ’Daddy, mamma said breakfast is ready’ He answered, ’Sweetheart, tell your mommy daddy doesn’t want any breakfast this morning’. Ran down, ’Mommy daddy said he didn’t want any breakfast and he called me Sweetheart’…you must have misunderstood, go up and tell him again. Ran halfway up stairs….Daddy momma said breakfast is ready…..Come here honey.. Went to father and he picked her up and set her on his lap…began to tell her how much he loved her….mother came and stood in door and saw him holding daughter on lap for first time with tears coming down his cheek….come over here honey….I found out something last night that is the greatest thing I have ever heard and it is true: The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son cleanses a man from all sin. Closed the bar…began to be a benefactor to that community..a man changed by the power of Jesus Christ. HOW IS SUCH A WONDERFUL THING POSSIBLE.

 This is the wonderful news we have to announce to the world because of what Jesus Christ has done. This morning we looked at our responsibility towards sin: confess it. Tonight we will look at what God had done with regard to sin. Two important title are given to Jesus in these verses: #1 Advocate #2 Propitiation