Your Relationship With God - 25 June

Now that we’ve been reminded that we are all sinners we need to find out what the consequences of our sin are. Earthly children receive consequences for their misbehavior from their loving parents. Our heavenly Father also doles out consequences for our sin.

Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of His time at the Temple Mount. He told them that He IS God. He let them know that simply having a religious background and following all the law was not enough for salvation.

I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” 19 They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20 These words he spoke in the treasury, as he taught in the temple; but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come. 21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” John 8:18-24 (ESV)

What one thing did the leaders need to believe to keep from dying in their sins? Remember, these people lived and breathed the Torah (the first 5 books of the Old Testament). They followed all the laws. They were the “super religious”. But yet, Jesus said they would die in their sins if they didn’t believe that He was Messiah.

Just in case you don’t know what “sin” is J, let’s look at specific examples of unrighteousness that the Bible clearly says will keep us from inheriting the Kingdom of God.

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor 6:9-11 (ESV)

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21 (ESV)

Many of the sins listed here seem to be celebrated in today’s society. We see books on sorcery marketed to young people. Sexual immorality and homosexuality are portrayed on many if not all television shows. “Mommy porn” books are all the rage. We recently saw the dissolution of a law firm for greed and swindling. Are you the office gossip, constantly telling tales and leading to divisions in your workplace? Do you fly off the handle in fits of rage when things don’t go your way? Do you drink to excess? Who or what do you idolize? The Bible is very clear about specific sins. Do you routinely practice any of these sins? If you do, you need to repent TODAY! Where will you go if you don’t repent?

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. Rev 21:8 (ESV)

A few minutes of “fun” is not worth an eternity in that lake.

We’ve been challenged in the last couple weeks, seeing our sins listed in the pages of Scripture, knowing that we ALL sin and seeing that we need to turn from our sin because we are children of God. On Wednesday, we will see the hope that we have when we develop our relationship with God.

Do you need prayer? Do you need to find your way from the morass of sin? Do you need the free gift of salvation? Are you looking for an accountability partner? Email me or talk to a pastor. We are here to help you find your way through the grace of Christ Jesus.