How Now Shall We Live?

You may have heard someone say that if faith in Jesus Christ and His promise of everlasting life is all there is to it, then people will go on sinning.  Well, if we are going to be truthful about it, those who teach faith must be followed by perseverance also go on sinning.  Look at the number of Pastors who teach a faith plus works salvation who have had to leave the ministry because of moral failures.  The last time I checked the stats show something like 20% of evangelical pastors have fallen into that trap.  So, preaching a faith plus works salvation is no protection against sin.  It might actually keep someone from believing in Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life by faith alone.    
 
A well known verse many use when sharing the Gospel makes it clear we never measure up to God’s expectations. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. We’ve all sinned in the past, but the second clause of that verse says we presently fall short.  It actually means we always fall short, no matter what we do! 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. the Bible states doing good cannot erase sin, only Jesus Christ can do that.  Urging people to do better, try harder will not change the reality of who we are; sinners who can only be saved by grace through faith. 
 
Likewise, faith is the only solution for dealing with our sin after having received everlasting life.  The Bible makes it clear we cannot live as we should by the force of our will.  It is only by faith in what He has revealed in His word, the Bible.  It requires the renewed mindset only the Holy Spirit can bring.  We cannot do it on our own. 
 
Romans 5:9-10 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
 
Romans 12:1&2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
 
Galatians 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
 
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
 
More on each of those in the next few blog posts.