“Everyone who sins breaks
the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he
might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps
on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” 1 John 3:4-6
The
law spoken of here is not some local, state or federal law, but rather God’s
law. John clearly proclaims Christ’s
intention for coming to earth in bodily form.
It was to take away sin. More
correctly, to make the payment required by God.
If you break the law this side of heaven there is a price to pay. You will more than likely go to jail, thus
revoking your right to freedom for a court determined period of time. God has a behavioral pattern that we are
called to follow. He requires us to quit
sinning and live according to this prescribed pattern. It’s a pattern that leads us to godly living
that is just the opposite to that of the worlds. To truly know Christ is to be free from your
past. Not being defined by our mistakes,
we can move forward knowing that our past will never be held against us
again.
In Christ there is no sin, therefore, those who continue to
sin must not know Him. Saying you
believe in Jesus or in God doesn’t make you a Christian. I know scripture says in various places to believe and be saved, but if taken in
its entire context it means much more than that. If just believing God existed, yet not
allowing that belief to transform your life was all that was required for
entrance into heaven, what was the point of Christ’s death? If having all our sins wiped away didn’t
bring about a 180 degree turnaround in our behavior, then salvation becomes a
fruitless exercise. No, just knowing that anyone would take on the punishment
for our past sinful behavior is supposed to revolutionize our lives. To accept
God’s gracious gift of forgiveness yet not allow a spiritual metamorphosis to
take place in your life is to trample on God’s grace.
In the end God will sort it all out by separating the sheep
from the goats, the real disciples and the pretenders. Then it will be too late to alter your lifestyle. If you profess to be a believer yet are
living in sin, stop making God’s grace a cheap thing. If you say you believe but deny Him by your
lifestyle, turn from your self-centered ways and surrender your will to
Almighty God. Don’t make a mockery of
the cross. God alone can save us from
ourselves. Until next time, walk with
the King and be a blessing!
