PART 2
By Bro. Marcus of the Ministry of Reconciliation +232 76931955
FREETOWN, Aug 23 (232News)
GOD’S PERSPECTIVE
When I talk about God’s perspective of this topic, I’m basically talking about God’s view about the sinner, His thoughts about, and relationship with the sinner. So whats God’s perspective? We are going to look at some few areas to answer this. First thing you should know is that the sinner is God’s creation. God created every man, and so He sees the sinner as His creation. This ushers us to the important aspect of God’s perspective which is God’s love for the sinner. A lot has been said here by different people which some of the interpretation has been wrong and has affected some people. So let’s understand what it means by God loving the sinner. Does it mean that God is pleased with the sinner? Does it mean God loves the sinner no matter what he/she does? Or does it just mean God wanting the best for the sinner?
It has been said God loves unconditionally every man which is correct, but the interpretation of that love for the sinner and believer is different. God’s love for the sinner is NOT that He is pleased with the sinner, no! God is not pleased with the man in Sin, and this is why His wrath awaits the sinner, Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; God is light and in Him there is no darkness, God is not at peace with the sinner, for His relationship with the sinner is a broken relationship. So God’s love for the sinner should never be interpreted that God is pleased and okay with the man in sin(sinner). So what is God’s love for the sinner then? God’s love for the sinner is, His desire that the sinner be reconciled back to Him and be saved. As I have said in my teachings on Love, love is wanting the best for someone even if it means sacrificing your interests.
1 Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth*. And this desire was further elaborated in, 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This desire of love was fully expressed when He sacrificed His only begotten son, Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, (John 3:16). God has expressed His love to the sinner, and another expression of that love is His patience for the sinner to come to repentance.
WHAT GOD DID FOR THE SINNER AND THE SINNER’S DECISION
In the previous part of this series, I explained God’s love for sinner wherein I categorically made clear that God is not pleased with the man in sin(sinner). God’s love for the sinner is His desire for the sinner to be reconciled back to Him and be saved. It doesn’t stop at His desire, His love was also fully expressed when He sacrificed His son as an offering for the sin of mankind(sinner), John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. It continues also to the point where He waits patiently for the sinner to come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God had devised a plan for the sinner to be made free from his/her sins. He made way for the sinner to deal away with the nature of sin because the sinner remains a sinner as long as he/she has the nature of sin. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the way out for the sinner. A man that believes in the finished work of Jesus Christ experiences new birth (being born again by the Spirit of God). So when that man is born again, he is now born of an incorruptible seed, 1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. He/She no longer carries the nature of sin, but now has the nature of God’s righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
This is what God has done and is doing for the sinner. It is possible for the sinner to be made right with God, to be reconciled back unto God. But reconciliation takes agreement. Relationship is an agreement. The only way the sinner can walk with God is, if he/she agrees Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? God has played His part in reconciling the sinner back to Himself, but the sinner has to come to repentance and believe in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. To believe that Jesus has redeemed him/her from sin and the punishment of death. The sinner’s agreement is by exercising faith in the person of Christ and His finished work. It becomes the sinner’s decision to enjoy freedom or face the punishment, (John 3:15). Choose right and live.
ACT OF SIN
In this series I have explained that sin is much more than act, it is a nature. We are going to look at acts of sin in the light of the sinner and believer to understand the differences. When it comes to act of sin, we talk about 2 major areas, doing an act of sin, and continuing or living in sin. To do an act of sin and live in sin are 2 different things. Living in sin is basically having the life of sin, continuing and dwelling in sin. Living or continuing in sin is where a man is ok and comfortable with the practice of sin. Like Apostle Paul asked ‘Shall you keep on sinning (continue in Sin) that grace may abound?’ We’ll throw light on this question as we go on.
So in the light of the sinner, he is a man that do not just commit an act of sin, but a man that continually lives and dwells in sin. Living in sin goes beyond committing an act. Living in sin is your nature being alive to sin. This is why it is easier for the sinner to live in sin comfortably because his inner man is alive to sin and hence produces works of the flesh, (Galatians 5:19-21).
Act of sin in the light of the believer. There’s a tendency for the believer to sin, 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Apostle Paul also made some instances where that is possible when he was addressing the church in some of his letters. The reason for the believers involvement in acts of sin is because of the state of their minds. A believer commits acts of sin or struggles with sin because he has not engaged in mind renewal. The believer experiences transformation and manifest the fruits of the Spirit when he renews his mind with God’s word in the process, growing past committing sin (Romans 12;2). It has been said that the believer has the tendency to commit acts of sin, but it is not possible for the believer to live or continue in sin.
Let see what Apostle Paul said in answering the question above, Romans 6:2[2] Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? The reason why you can’t continue in sin is not because you go to church or pray; even though they are important, it is because you are dead to sin! A person cannot be dead to something and be alive to it at the same time, its either you are dead or alive to it. In addition, another reason the believer cannot continue in sin is because he has the seed of God in Him. You can’t have God’s seed in you and still live in sin, ABOMINATION, 1 John 3:9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. A MAN THAT IS LIVING OR CONTINUING IN SIN, IS A MAN ALIVE TO SIN AND THAT MAN CANNOT BE CALLED A BELIEVER, BECAUSE THE BELIEVER IS DEAD TO SIN. There are consequences for both the sinner and believer in relation to sin.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE SINNER REJECTING SALVATION
The sinner is saved from his sinful nature and eternal punishment if he receives the life of Christ by believing in Jesus and His finished work, John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life*. It is God’s desire for every man to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth in Christ. God’s will is not for any man to perish but for all to come to repentance. Jesus Christ has been offered as the perfect sacrifice to redeem the world of sin, and He fulfilled and accomplished that purpose by abolishing sin and death. But this becomes a reality in the life of the man that has exercised faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
There are obvious consequences to the sinner/unbeliever rejecting the salvation that Christ has offered to the entire world, Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. The gift of salvation has been offered to the sinner to accept. If he rejects there’s no way he escapes the consequences, Hebrews 2:3b How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation. So what is/are the consequences? The sinner is a dead man, because he does not have the life of Christ 1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. For this purpose Christ came to give man life, John 10:10 I am come that they might have life.
The man without the life of Christ is in danger of facing the wrath of God, John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (1 Thessalonians 1:10). The sinner that has refused to accept the gift of eternal life will not go to heaven but find his place in hell (eternal punishment). He will perish and remain dead in his sin because he refused to believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ. The way to heaven is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6) and only those that believe in Him will go to heaven. Those who do not believe will remain in their sins and face eternal punishment (Matthew 25:46). Christ came to give you life, receive His life today and be made free from sin and escape eternal punishment. And enjoying the benefits of a beautiful relationship with God. God bless you.
MESSAGE TO THE SINNER (SIN IS NO LONGER THE PROBLEM, UNBELIEF IS)
I have taken time to teach on the concept of the sinner and his position with God, but the goal here is to point the sinner to Jesus who offers eternal life. The message to sinner is for them to know that Sin is no longer the problem. The reason sin is no longer the problem is that Jesus Christ has paid entirely and completely the sin of the world. Christ was made the offering for our sin, Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. God sent Jesus to take away the sin of the world, John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Sin has totally being dealt with, it has been abolished by the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus Christ.
Like I said sin is not the problem but unbelief. Not believing is the only reason why the sinner will go hell and not his sins. Because when he believes he receives eternal life and the forgiveness of sin. But if he does not believe, he remains in his sin and face eternal punishment, John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. When a man refuses to believe in the finished work of Christ, he will not enter into the rest of God. So a man will not enter God’s rest not because of his sins, but because of his unbelief. The way to God is by faith and faith only in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ.
Dear sinner, please know that Jesus has died and paid for your sins completely and you need not do anything except to believe in Him and His finished work, and receive His offer of eternal life. Your faith in this truth sets you free from the bondage of sin and death. You are God’s creature and His will is for you to come to knowledge of the truth of your redemption in Christ and experience freedom and His love. All you have to do is believe for it is only by faith you are saved and can experience the new life in Christ. You don’t have to work for anything, just believe, Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. When you reject, you will die in your sins and face eternal punishment (go to hell) because of your unbelief. But God doesn’t want that, He wants you be saved. Believe today in Jesus and His finished work and receive eternal life.
Conclusion
One of the important reason for this series is to point the man in sin(sinner) to Jesus, for him to understand that Jesus Christ has paid for his sin completely and has offered him eternal life. For him also to understand that God wants to see him saved and come to the knowledge of truth in Christ. So there’s hope for you in Christ. There’s freedom for you in Christ. There’s a way out for you and its in Christ, to give you life, set you free completely from the bondage of sin and eternal punishment.
All that is required and needed is your faith in Christ. Believing in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ. You need not do anything, you don’t have to work to be saved, you don’t have to earn it, you just have to believe in the person that has done the work and believe in the work that has been done, Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Christ has completed the work, so come as you are and receive the eternal life of God.
Its also to make that same man (sinner) know that he already faces eternal punishment condemnation as a result of the state he is in.
So if you reject salvation and the eternal life of God by not believing in Christ, there’s no escape for you, Hebrews 2:3a How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation. The man that does not believe in Jesus will not see heaven, because Jesus is the way to God, John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. So when you do not believe in Jesus, you will die in your sins and face the punishment that is upon you, John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. Christ has abolished sin and death, believe in him and you will receive life.
God bless you. Jesus be glorified.
