What about you?

What is your response to being accused of sin?

RW wrote the following to Don as a comment to the post Universal Atonement – Don Fortner since RW worked so hard writing this out (comment boxes are tough) to get such an angry response from Don I decided to post it.

Don got mad because he had been accused of being a “liar. 5. I’ve been called a whore-mongeror. 6. I’ve been call an adulturer.”

So put yourself in Don’s place, see if your response is an angry retort that you are not what God says you are. That you are righteous in your own eyes and really a good person?

RW’s comment to Don:

Do you consider yourself to be a good person?

Let’s see if that is really true, ok? Let’s discuss the problem of Sin because I am sure you would agree that “Christ died for our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:3 Sin is a universal problem. We see evidence of it everywhere. The news stations and newspapers would be out of business if it wasn’t for sin.

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20

“Sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4

Have you ever told a lie?

That’s a fair question isn’t it? Even if it was a small lie when you were a child….

You have? Great, me too. What does that make you? ….

Begins with “L”… What would you call me since I have told many lies? … That’s right a liar.

Have you ever stolen something, no matter the size or value of the item? Of course you have, we all have.

What do you call someone who steals? That’s right- good- a thief.

Have you ever used God’s word as a filthy cuss word? Have you ever used it flippantly? Ever taken the name of the Lord in vain?

Yeah? Me too. That’s called blasphemy. Very serious. That’s the third commandment.

Ok, here’s one that really got me. Have you ever looked at a woman with lust? That’s a hard one isn’t is? I am sure you have we are human after all aren’t we? We men have issues with lust right?

Jesus said “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (NASB) Matthew 5:27-28

Boy that one really got me. Have you ever done that? Yeah, I am sure you have.
Well Don, by your own admission you are a lying, thieving, blasphemer adulterer at heart.

Now Don, we have only looked at 4 of the 10 commandments. But if God were to judge you by these 4, and you have already admitted that you are guilty. Would you go to heaven or hell?

Heaven? Now common Don, you admitted to lying, and God is a just and righteous judge, He won’t let you in. You know what you just did Don? You broke the 2nd command! You created a God in your own image. Yep, a loving good God who is going to overlook your sin and that’s not the God of the Bible.

Yeah I know…. You’ve done a lot of good things, helped a lot of people. Won’t my good outweigh my bad? God says “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

Don, The standard is God Himself. God’s holiness demands perfection! “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

So Don, as you can see sin disqualifies us from getting to heaven on our own ability.

If we were to use the Grand Canyon as an example where we are one side and God and His perfection is on the other side and we had to jump across to the other side, no doubt some would jump farther than others. But we would ALL fall short of making it across. Make sense? This is true in our spiritual lives as well.

So, if God’s standard is absolute perfection and all have sinned- how many would make it to heaven on their own ability, Don? None, Zero!

Now let’s take a look at the penalty for sin.

As we noted, and you agree with and understand, “Christ died for our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:3. That is what we are celebrating this Glorious weekend- Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

But why did Christ die for our sins? Good question huh? It is because there is a penalty for our sins and someone has to pay it.

It is a just penalty. “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. Just as you earn wages at your job your wages for your sin is death. Now we know everyone dies, so what is this death that the Bible is speaking of? “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.” Romans 20:14

This second death Don, is separation from God in the lake of fire and this is a punishment and judgment that we deserve.

But RW, that seems so harsh. Is it really necessary? Yes Don, it is.

“A God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.” Deuteronomy 32:4

“Shall not the judge of all the earth do right.” Genesis 18:25

The truth of the matter is Don, we want a God who is right, just and holy. If God overlooked your sin and let you into heaven, would that be justice? No it wouldn’t.

Justice demands that sin be judged.

Don, the Bible says that “the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8.

“but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4

That’s you Don.

Let’s face it, that not good news.

GOD’S HOLINESS DEMANDS PERFECTION.
GOD’S JUSTICE DEMANDS JUDGMENT

Don, if you died right now, where would you go? Does that concern you?

“Christ died for our sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:3

This is the good news of the Gospel.

God’s holiness will not tolerate sin.

God’s justice must judge sin.

But Don, God’s love provided a way to satisfy His own holiness and justice. You know what He did Don… “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Who is Christ? He is God! Matthew 1:23 states is “God with us”- He was God in the flesh.

Christ died for our sins. But what did that accomplish?

Christ suffered the judgment WE DESERVE.

“And the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

“Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” 1 Peter 2:24

“…When He had by Himself purged our sins.” Hebrews 1:3

Christ payment is in full….”It is finished.” John 19:30

Since your sin Don was paid in full, is there anything left for you to pay?

“And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Don, this means past, present and future sin. His righteousness is credited to your account.

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

You sin was credited to Christ so that His righteousness might be credited to you.

Now this is where the rubber meets the road so to speak Don.

Who can believe?

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

But what does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord?

“How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?” Romans 10:14

The truth of the matter Don is not the act of praying, but belief or faith in the heart.

“Repent ye and believe the gospel” Mark 1:15

This is not just common faith Don. Common faith understands and agrees with what I just mentioned. And I think you probably do, don’t you Don?

“And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou are the Christ the Son of God.” Luke 4:41

Demons aren’t going to be allowed to heaven now are they, so you can see that it just isn’t believing about Jesus – you must believe in Jesus.

You must repent (turn away from your sin) and put your dependence for salvation on Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of your life.

For example…If you were to sit on two chairs at the same time you are depending on both chairs. You need to depend entirely on a single chair. If you are depending on both chairs, this would show a mistrust in either chair. So depending on Jesus plus baptism, Jesus plus church, Jesus plus good works, Jesus plus anything show that you are mistrusting Christ alone.

A split trust is mistrust.

What do you get if you believe?

Forgiveness of sins. “Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission (forgiveness) of sins” Acts 10:43

Credited Righteousness. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:5

Everlasting Life. “He that believeth on Me [Jesus Christ] hath everlasting life.” John 6:47

Based upon the Bible- God’s Holy, Perfect, Inerrant Word you must depend 100% on Jesus Christ to save you from sin and hell. He will save you if you are willing to be saved.

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

The question is Don, are you willing to depend 100% on the finished work of Jesus Christ?

If you are, pray and ask Him to save you and then depend on Him. He will do it because He promised it in His Word!

“And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:28

John 16:8 KJV “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”