We are not bad because we sin. . . but rather we sin because we are bad. . .
We are not bad because we sin. . . but rather we sin because we are bad. . .
Sin is a symptom, and not a root cause. Our nature itself is one of selfish, and prideful hungers. No matter how idyllic our childhood. . . no matter how abundant our lives. . . no matter how fine an education we have. . .no matter the advantages and blessings which befall us, if we are left to our own devices, we will eventually express the blackness which inherently resides inside of us.
Sin is the rule and not the exception. Without God, the only difference between the scarred and tattooed thug sitting in a prison cell and the little white haired grandmotherly lady with her apron and her hair done up in a bun, is the battle ground on which they fight their battles. . . be it meth or crack cocaine or peaking at cards at gin rummy. . . sin is sin is sin. . . and it befalls all of us.
Externally applied righteousness is no righteousness. The Law of Moses was given to show, that rules written on tablets of stone, were not if themselves able to confer righteous behavior. Moses could only convey the rules of God. The people requested that God not speak directly to them:
Exodus 20:18-19
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. (19) And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
He could not convey the relationship he had with God. He could only pass along the rules and commandments of God. . .rules without relationship = failure. This is as true today as it was 4,000 years ago and yet most who call themselves Christians today, continue to strive for righteousness and holiness without the power of the direct relationship with God available to all people today.
The final words before Jesus ascended into heaven:
Acts 1:4-8
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit fell upon the waiting disciples and they were baptized with the Spirit of God as evidenced by their speaking with an unknown tongue:
Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It is this power given to us by the Holy Spirit of God residing within us, which make a way for us to overcome our sinful nature. It is estimated that there are some 2 billion Christians in the world today. Of those only about 500 million are spirit filled. . . some 75% of all Christians do not have the Spirit of God within them. They love God. . .they seek after God, but they have been misled into believing that the Spirit of God come to them automatically at the time of baptism or at the time when they “accepted” Christ even though the Bible clearly shows this not to be the case.
Up until Acts chapter 10, the entire Bible is concerned with salvation of the Jews only, but Peter after being given a vision from God, was called to the home of a gentile to preach and when he did:
(Acts 10:44-45) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
How did they know that they were filled with the Holy Ghost?
(Acts 10:46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Did this filling of the Holy Spirit of God come at the same time as their belief? Did it come when automatically when they were baptized?
(Acts 10:47-48) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
No, it did not. . .
Did this filling of the Holy Spirit of God come at the same time as their belief? Did it come when automatically when they were baptized?
(Acts 19:2-6) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
No, it did not. . .
(2 Corinthians 13:1)
. . . In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Are you a Christian? Do you believe in the Bible? Then I suggest to you, that you need to model your faith and actions on what is recorded in the Bible. . .
Sin is a symptom, and not a root cause. Our nature itself is one of selfish, and prideful hungers. No matter how idyllic our childhood. . . no matter how abundant our lives. . . no matter how fine an education we have. . .no matter the advantages and blessings which befall us, if we are left to our own devices, we will eventually express the blackness which inherently resides inside of us.
Sin is the rule and not the exception. Without God, the only difference between the scarred and tattooed thug sitting in a prison cell and the little white haired grandmotherly lady with her apron and her hair done up in a bun, is the battle ground on which they fight their battles. . . be it meth or crack cocaine or peaking at cards at gin rummy. . . sin is sin is sin. . . and it befalls all of us.
Externally applied righteousness is no righteousness. The Law of Moses was given to show, that rules written on tablets of stone, were not if themselves able to confer righteous behavior. Moses could only convey the rules of God. The people requested that God not speak directly to them:
Exodus 20:18-19
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. (19) And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
He could not convey the relationship he had with God. He could only pass along the rules and commandments of God. . .rules without relationship = failure. This is as true today as it was 4,000 years ago and yet most who call themselves Christians today, continue to strive for righteousness and holiness without the power of the direct relationship with God available to all people today.
The final words before Jesus ascended into heaven:
Acts 1:4-8
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. (5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (7) And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit fell upon the waiting disciples and they were baptized with the Spirit of God as evidenced by their speaking with an unknown tongue:
Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
It is this power given to us by the Holy Spirit of God residing within us, which make a way for us to overcome our sinful nature. It is estimated that there are some 2 billion Christians in the world today. Of those only about 500 million are spirit filled. . . some 75% of all Christians do not have the Spirit of God within them. They love God. . .they seek after God, but they have been misled into believing that the Spirit of God come to them automatically at the time of baptism or at the time when they “accepted” Christ even though the Bible clearly shows this not to be the case.
Up until Acts chapter 10, the entire Bible is concerned with salvation of the Jews only, but Peter after being given a vision from God, was called to the home of a gentile to preach and when he did:
(Acts 10:44-45) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
How did they know that they were filled with the Holy Ghost?
(Acts 10:46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Did this filling of the Holy Spirit of God come at the same time as their belief? Did it come when automatically when they were baptized?
(Acts 10:47-48) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
No, it did not. . .
Did this filling of the Holy Spirit of God come at the same time as their belief? Did it come when automatically when they were baptized?
(Acts 19:2-6) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
No, it did not. . .
(2 Corinthians 13:1)
. . . In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Are you a Christian? Do you believe in the Bible? Then I suggest to you, that you need to model your faith and actions on what is recorded in the Bible. . .
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