Certainly Not!
Romans 6:10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I stand amazed at how God works; I have seen so many examples in just recent days of his intimacy in my life, some encouraging, some convicting. This morning I was awoken by God at 4am, a clear call to sit with him in his Word. I had heard three sermons just 48 hours ago on the judgement of sin, and something inside of me knew where we were headed. I felt lead to Romans, spent time in chapters six and seven where Paul deals with sin, even his own personal struggles, as he tries to convey the battle of good and evil that lies within us all. He openly addresses the Law and Grace, and condemns the abuse of both, in the NKJV, using the term, “Certainly not!” There are countless sermons to be preached from the depth of these two passages, messages that go back to the beginning of time, to the Garden of Eden, to the present day of hyper grace, softening the scriptures to fit our lifestyles, while denying the judgement of God on the Day of his return. Is God shaking his head above at us, ready to return to cast his judgement, to change the world as we know it? We hear the Good News preached everywhere, the blessings of God declared rightly and wrongly, but there is no good news without the understanding of bad news; Hell awaits those who do not repent and believe, who feel they have earned their way into heaven by their own merits, who don’t believe, or believe in the wrong God.
Paul talks about his own sin struggles, although we know not what they are. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I have always said I will not let my testimony glorify the sin, but glorify God. I have battled countless things through my life from drugs, porn, lusts, idolatry, covetousness, and I could go on. The porn struggle still lurks beneath the surface today, running in cycles of sin and conviction. Most men struggle with it, hiding it, and with our phones it’s access is with us at any time. I continually talk to God about it, and repent and believe he understands my struggles such as Paul. It is the sin that dwells in me, and it surfaces in so many ways in my life.
I laughed at the preacher this week that said, “If you know what went on inside my head, you would not let me preach to you. If I knew what went on inside of yours, I would not preach to you.” How do you do address the sins in your life? How do you clear your conscious when the sting of the Holy Spirit pricks? There is only ONE thing you can do; repent of it and turn to God in prayer and his Word. You will be amazed at the cleansing of a repentant plea. You will be amazed at the perfect verse he places you at when you seek him in his written Word. You will be moved to a newer place with God, an intimacy that will encourage your spirit from within. You can’t keep on doing what you have been doing, or you will keep getting what you have been getting. James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. You don’t want Judgement Day to appear on the horizon, and not have repented of your sin do you? Certainly Not!
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