No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Life of sin or saved? You can't have both
Many years ago, I remember attending a children’s church service ‘skit’ that had two characters. I don’t remember the names, so we will call them Bill and Ted. Bill and Ted are both Christian friends who walk past a snack vending machine. Ted stops, looks both ways, and then quickly reaches his arm up into the machine, stealing a piece of candy. “What are you doing?” Bill asks. Ted explains that he has been stealing candy from this vending machine for weeks, and has yet to be caught. “But, the Bible says not to steal.” Bill reminds him. Ted stands up proudly and declares, “I know! Since I am a Christian I can steal all I want and not even worry about being punished. Jesus has already forgiven me!”
Although I didn’t know it when I first saw this skit as a child, it is now obvious that many Christians use the, “I can sin freely because I am saved” argument. I have met and heard of countless ‘Christians’ who have no problem regularly viewing pornography, having extra-marital sexual affairs, working in strip clubs, doing drugs, getting drunk regularly, stealing, lying, and even blaspheming the name of God. Often, when confronted with their lifestyle of sin, the person blows it off because they “have already been saved.”
Let’s take a look at what scripture has to say about this, “the saved can keep on sinning” mentality:
Paul was so adamant that a true convert cannot live in sin that he devoted all of Romans 6 to the topic. In verses 15-16, he even addresses the excuse most used by Christians today:
People often say in reference to sin, “Well, I love God. But I am on the fence right now with this area of my life. I just don’t think it is that big of a deal.” Paul was clear, there is no middle ground. There is no fence. Look again at the end of verse 16, Paul explained that we are living in sin, or living in righteousness for Jesus Christ. You are doing one or the other. You cannot have it both ways.
Obviously, Christians fall into sin, but do not run to it. So, ask yourself, where are you at? Are you fleeing from sin? Or are you running straight into its venomous grasp? Can we lift our hands together and say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live!” (Galatians 2:20)? Or are we hypocrites, who dive into sin head first? Maybe you know of a sin you are running into, but do not know what to do about it. Kill it. Shut it off. The Bible tells us that the Lord will not give us any temptation we cannot handle (see 1 Corinthians 10:13). Know that the words of Proverbs 3:3 are true:
Sin is tempting. If it wasn’t nobody would do it. If it wasn’t pleasing to the eye and the flesh, no one would fall into its grasp. But is the Savior not much more precious? What are we saying to Jesus Christ when we knowingly run into sin? In essence, we are telling the One who died for us, “Jesus, thank you for being tortured and dying on the cross for me. But I really don’t love you enough to give up the very thing you died for.” What horrible words to say to the Savior.
The world is constantly telling us, “Everyone is doing it. Go ahead, it will be OK.” It will not be OK! Is that sin you love so much worth your soul? Is it worth facing the full wrath of God? Is it worth telling God we love our sin more than we love Him? I was once talking to three teenagers who were very open about their sin. They all drank and did drugs. One of them had just gotten out of a Juvenile Delinquent Center. And the other two were very open about their relationship involving sex (of course, they were not married). The two boys in the group were pretty much laughing off almost everything I said, but the girl had a much more serious outlook. Near the end of the conversation, I looked at her and asked, “Do you love your sin and sex here on earth so much that you are willing to go to hell for it?” Indeed, Jesus was right when he posed the question, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36)
I beg you to ask yourself the same questions. Are you running into sin’s deadly grasp? Do you have such a low view of sin and what Christ did for you on the cross that you could care less that you are doing is wrong, and a sin against the God who gave you life? If you truly are running into sin without a care in the world, don’t make the mistake of thinking you are saved. But, if you are reading this, it is not too late. Think about your sins, think about what Jesus did for you on the cross, and repent. Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as you would a parachute. Please, don’t put it off. Death could come upon you this very second, put your trust in Christ while you still have time. Is that sin you love so much really worth hell for eternity?
“The Devil’s Daring Falsehood” – J.C. Ryle
“I can imagine nothing so pleasant to men, as the
fallacious theory that we may live in sin--and yet
escape eternal perdition; that although we "are
slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures"
while we are here in this world, we shall somehow
or other, all get to heaven hereafter! Only tell the
young man who is "wasting his substance in riotous
living," that there is a heaven at last, even for those
who live and die in sin--and he is never likely to turn
from evil. What does it signify how he lives, if there
is no "future eternal punishment?" Why should he
repent and take up the cross--if he can get to
heaven at last without trouble?
Six thousand years ago, sin entered into the
world by the devil's daring falsehood, "You
shall not surely die!" (Genesis 3:4) At the end
of six thousand years, the great enemy of
mankind is still using his old weapon, and
trying to persuade men that they may live
and die in sin--and yet at some distant period
may be finally saved! Let us not be ignorant
of his devices. Let us walk steadily in the old
paths. Let us hold fast the old truth, and
believe that, as the happiness of the saved
is eternal--so also the misery of the lost is
eternal.
Unrepented sin is an eternal evil--and can
never cease to be sin; and He with whom
we have to do--is an eternal God!
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows. The one who
sows to please his sinful nature, from that
nature will reap destruction; the one who
sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit
will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:7-8