Msg #24016 Abiding in Sin

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Be careful, 1John.3:9 “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin,” not kept in balance with 1John.1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar,” can produce groups touting some errant ideas about “Sinless Perfection!” Seemingly contradictory Bible statements can gender strife and require a Bible student to rightly divide the word of truth (2Tim.2:15). Solomon subtly introduces such paradox by giving, back to back ways of dealing with a fool (Prov.26:4,5). Some deep divisions come about when contradictory implications are left standing: Peter preaches “be baptized… for the remission of sins,” and writes “baptism doth… save us” and voila there is a whole denomination errantly dedicated to baptismal regeneration, while the larger truth, “for by grace are ye saved” gets lost in their quagmire. God announces a couple things he assured before the foundation of the world, the Romans errantly suppose “God, from all eternity, did, … unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass,” and voila a host of otherwise thinking individuals are tenaciously locked into supposing they were chosen for salvation, I for hell, and supposing everything that happens in life is fatalistically, unavoidably, ordained by God! The larger truths, 1) God works with individuals, or around individuals, to accomplish his will, 2) prayer changes things, and 3) whosoever will may come, truths that get lost in a quagmire of Bible ignorance. Again, be careful, there are many that “do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God” (Mt.22:29).

The Apostle John uses this paradoxical prose to induce some deep thinking. He did it in 1John.2:7,8, a new commandment vs no new commandment, and now in 1John.3:9, conflicted with 1:10. The larger truth, if you are not abiding in Christ, you are abiding in sin, and that is pretty serious business.

An Essay for week #16, Apr 21, 2024

Visit Israel in a Bible accurate book www.GSBaptistChurch.com/israel23

Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs240421.mp3

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