|
 IS
EVIL INHERENT
OR
LEARNED BEHAVIOR?
by:
Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.
"For
My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me the
fountain of living water and have hewn themselves out cisterns,
broken cisterns that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2:8-13)
ARE
WE BORN EVIL OR DO WE LEARN EVIL?
Many
years ago, on Canada Day, I was a guest of Radio CJCA's Ron
Collister show. For many years I joined that popular host
and his listeners in lively debates, on interesting and relevant
topics.
Our
July 1 program featured the very important subject, 'Is evil
inherent or is evil a product of environment or learned behavior?'
Is a person born with the propensity to do evil, or is evil a
learned behavior?
IS
GOOD OR EVIL WINNING IN OUR WORLD TODAY?
Ron
Collister asked each caller the same question he asked me:
"Which of these - good or evil - in winning in our world
today?"
Most
of the callers seemed to think that the scourge of evil was
dominating our society and winning big time. The callers
felt that evil was ruling this world.
INCREASE
OF EVIL IS A SIGN OF THE LAST DAYS
My
answer mirrored the words of Jesus when he referred to the
increase of evil as a sign for the last days: "Because
iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
(Matthew 24:12)
"As
it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the
Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives,
they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into
the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."
"Likewise
also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they
bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same
day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from
heaven, and destroyed them all. Even this shall it be in
the day when the Son of man is revealed." (Luke
17:26-30)
HOW
EVIL WERE CONDITIONS ON EARTH BEFORE GOD SENT THE FLOOD?
The
conditions on earth were VERY EVIL when God sent the flood
& the conditions on earth were VERY EVIL when God wiped out
Sodom & Gomorrah with fire & brimstone!
The
conditions on earth were very evil during those 2 time
periods. Here is the Bible record of the EVIL that existed
during those 2 events:
"And
God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of his heart was only EVIL
continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man
on the earth, and it grieved Him in his heart. And the Lord
said, I will destroy man....." (Genesis 6:5-7)
Again
Moses reports: "The earth also was corrupt before God, and
the earth was filled with VIOLENCE." (Genesis 6:11)
DID
GOD DESTROY THE EARTH WITH THE FLOOD DUE TO MUCH EVIL ON THE
EARTH? What about Sodom & Gomorrah? Were the
people evil?
The
people of Sodom & Gomorrah was so IMMORAL, EVIL & VIOLENT
that when two angels visited Lot - to evacuate him and his family
before the destruction began - the men of the city demanded
that Lot bring out the two strangers so they might sodomize them!
"But
before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom,
compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from
every quarter. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him,
Where are the men which came into thee this night? bring
them out unto us, that we may know (have sex) them."
(Genesis 19:4-5)
When
Lot refused, the large crowd of homosexuals tried to break down
his door, TO COMMIT GANG RAPE! They told Lot to get
out the the way, warning him: "Now we will deal worse with
thee than with them." (Genesis 19:4-9)
THE
HOMOSEXUALS IN SODOM & GOMORRAH WERE VIOLENT, EVIL &
BRUTAL
Please
NOTE...The homosexuals in Sodom & Gomorrah were extremely
evil, violent and brutal. They threatened Lot with violence
and punishment if he refused to turn over these two young
strangers to satisfy their EVIL and perverted lust.
The
angels forcibly rescued Lot and smote the attackers (the men of
the city of Sodom & Gomorrah) with blindness, in order to
prevent them from tearing down the door.
OUR
WORLD IS NOW AS EVIL AS THE DAYS OF THE FLOOD & SODOM &
GOMORRAH
Wow!
That is strong and hits very close to home! When you
consider what is presently happening in the world today, violence,
evil, hatred and immorality is at an all time high, sexual
morality is almost non-existent. The violence and evil is all
over this earth, this world, and we are in days as EVIL as the
time of Sodom & Gomorrah.
St.
Paul warns that evil will escalate as we near the last days,
the end of this age.
EVIL
WILL INCREASE GREATLY AS WE GET CLOSER TO THE LAST DAYS
"This
know also, that in the last days PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,"
"Without
natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady,
high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God."
"But
evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and
being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:1-4, 13)
Again,
he admonished: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in
the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and DOCTRINES OF DEVILS;"
"Speaking
lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot
iron." (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
When
you consider the recent evil, brutal and horror filled deaths of
eight foreigners in Uganda's National Park by Rwandan rebels, it
is not hard to believe that they were very unconscionable.
A
study of the horrible raping and killing of dozens of young women
by pornography sadist Ted Bundy, and the serial killings of dozens
of young homosexual men - whom he first sodomized - by pervert
killer John Wayne Gacy proves that consciences can become seared.
The
killing of little children by their mothers like Jones of Alabama,
and recently the three small children killed by their mother, as
well as the killing of parents by children like the Menendez case
when the 2 Menendez brothers brutally murdered their mom and dad
for their wealth is ample evidence of the evil that reigns in the
heart of lost and depraved humanity.
No
wonder the prophet declared: "The heart is deceitful above
all things and desperately wicked: Who can know it?"
IN
THE END, RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL TRIUMPH BECAUSE JESUS SHALL RETURN AS
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS
I
answered Ron Collister: "Yes, it appears that evil is gaining
ground and at present, may have the ascendancy but in the end,
RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL TRIUMPH. One day, Jesus Christ will
return and put away EVIL for good."
I
interjected that there is however, some good news, a great revival
of righteousness is presently occurring in our world.
Since
the break up of the Soviet Union, a revival of Christianity is
sweeping Eastern Europe. Recent estimates put the figure at
6,000 conversions to Jesus Christ every day.
Although
gangsters, evil and crime is rampant in those countries, yet a
mighty statement of righteousness and goodness is being made
through the successful endeavors of God's people.
I
might add, that in our recent crusade (1992) in Truskavets,
Ukraine - a health resort city which boasts many sanitariums and
draws people from across Eastern Europe - Mikhael Gorbachev's
sister - Galina Sergiovana - answered a salvation altar call to
confess Jesus Christ as her Saviour.
Evangelical
Christianity is so strong in South Korea, the Church is growing
faster than the population in that former Buddhist stronghold! And
in 1986, Newsweek carried a story titled, 'LATIN AMERICA:
TRADITIONALLY ROMAN CATHOLIC RED IS TURNING PROTESTANT BLACK'.
The
large feature article reported that the gospel of Christ as
preached by Evangelical Christians were gaining converts at 400
per hour. That's 9,600 every 24 hours! The 'red' spoke of the
scarlet colors used by Roman Catholic prelates and the 'black'
referred to the Bible carried to church by Protestants.
CHRISTIANS
TORTURED DYING FOR THEIR FAITH
Believers
in Jesus Christ are being tortured in a number of Muslim dominated
countries, and forced to convert to paganism under threat of death
and starvation! A classic case is Sudan, where fanatical Muslims
have since 1989 murdered more than a million black Christians in
an unparalleled "religious cleansing".
They
are being given the ultimatum, "Convert to Islam, or
die". From numerous authenticated reports, we understand that
this present genocide is much greater than that of the demonized
Muslim strongman, Idi Amin, who terrorized Uganda in the not too
distant past.
And
who is presently being granted protection by Saudi Arabia. Several
years ago, 'Newsweek' carried a report by one of their journalists
who had proof that the Muslims of the north were selling black
animist & Christian women as slaves for $15 US. Recently, Rev.
Cal Bombay, long time TV broadcaster with 100 Huntley Street
together with a TV camera crew traveled to Sudan, met the Muslims
and documented the purchase of 319 black Christian & animist
women and girls, into freedom.
After
his initial success, Bombay undertook a second dangerous and
costly journey to purchase the freedom of hundreds more slaves
from their Muslim captors! The 'Canadian Press' quotes
Bombay: "I want the world to know what a rotten thing is
happening in the south of Sudan, by a rogue government that is
fundamentally violent and trying to force people to become
Islamic".
INHUMANE
EVIL TREATMENT OF CHRISTIANS IN MUSLIM COUNTRIES HAS INCREASED
The
inhumane, EVIL treatment of Christians in Muslim dominated lands
today, has to go down in history as comparable to Adolf Hitler's
holocaust of 6 million Jews, Joseph Stalin's murder of 7 million
Ukrainians by starvation in 1933 and Mao tse Tung's genocide of
between 40 to 80 million Chinese.
According
to Dr. David Barrett, an Anglican minister & statistician -
who has been tracking this phenomenon for more than a decade - an
estimated 330,000 Christians are martyred every year, somewhere in
the world - for their faith in Jesus Christ! That is what I
call real EVIL.
Oral
Roberts said a number of years ago: "I don't know how we're
doing it, but somehow we are winning." And Billy Graham
stated, "I have read the last chapter in the book and it
says: 'We win'!"
EVIL
- EXACTLY WHAT IS EVIL?
The
Webster Dictionary meaning of evil: Daniel Webster defines
'evil' as "morally wrong, immoral, sinful, wicked, causing
injury, mischief, trouble, pain, bad, harmful, repulsive".
The
Webster Dictionary meaning of inherent: And his definition
of 'inherent' is: "forming an essential or intrinsic element
of; existing inseparably within an object or person".
Is
the human race cursed with two strikes against it at birth? Could
there be a genetic defect in those who rise to infamy such as
Attila the Hun, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Saddam Hussein,
Jeffry Dahmer or John Gacy?
Or
has this evil come to us because of the fall of our first parents,
Adam and Eve, as the Bible states?
WHAT
ABOUT ENVIRONMENT: home, church, school, friendships,
fraternities? What part does upbringing, training, nurturing,
learning and companionship play in a person's character?
I
BELIEVE THAT EVIL IS BOTH INHERENT & LEARNED
In
more than 40 years of very active Christian Ministry, I have
formulated a definite opinion that - without doubt - EVIL is both
inherent and learned.
The
Bible states, "The wicked are estranged from the womb. They
go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies". (Ps alms
58:3) And, "The scripture hath concluded all under sin".
(Galatians 3:22)
You
don't need to teach infants how to lie. We've all seen them do
that even before they can talk. Holding a cookie behind his back,
little Billy will shake his head saying, "No, I didn't raid
the cookie jar".
St.
Paul blames Adam for our fallen condition: "Wherefore, as by
one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for that all have sinned". (Romans 5:12)
THE
REMEDY or ANTIDOTE AGAINST EVIL
Then,
he gives us the antidote or remedy against EVIL. "For as by
one man's (Adam) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the
obedience of One (Jesus Christ) shall many be made
righteous". (Romans 5:19)
Again,
the Bible says, "For all have sinned and come short of the
glory of God; Being justified freely by His grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus". (Romans 3:23-24)
Here,
we find the dilemma of the human race. We were born with a nature
that is at enmity with God. We are sinners by birth, by nature and
unfortunately, sinners also by choice.
But
God, sending His Son to die for our sins - as our substitute -
paid the ransom price to purchase our salvation. Through His
grace, we receive a new nature and are born again from above.
Here
is the good news, then: "For the wages of sin is death; but
the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our
Lord". (Romans 6:23) In the letter to the Romans, St.
Paul agonizes over the fact that.
"For
I know that in me (that is in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing:
for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is
good I find not, for the good that I would I do not: but the evil
which I would not that I do."
"O
wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this
death?" THEN HE GIVES US THE KEY: "For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of
sin and death". (Romans 7:18, 19, 24; 8:2)
EVIL
IS ALSO A LEARNED BEHAVIOR
The
Bible verifies this as well: "Be not deceived: evil
communications corrupt good manners". (1 Corinthians 15:33)
Here
are a couple of true sayings: "Birds of a feather flock
together", and "Show me who your friends are and I'll
show you who you are".
It's
a known fact that most child abusers were themselves abused as
children. And the majority of perverts were themselves corrupted
by older relatives, friends or authority figures.
Sad
to say, the fourth case involving molestation of young boys in the
Edmonton area - a number of years ago - was reported
among the Uncles-at-Large membership.
Homosexual
child molesters know how to infiltrate places of respectability,
influence and position of authority among the most vulnerable to
their advances, namely teenage boys.
Proof
of this has been documented and reported far too often in the past
few years, about young Canadian hockey players sexually
manipulated, intimidated and perverted by coaches and others
working around hockey arenas.
EVIL
HOMOSEXUAL SEX CRIMES IN THE NHL
Our
hats go off to NHL hockey player Sheldon Kennedy - who fingered
well-known hockey coach, the homosexual predator, who is now
serving time in prison for his EVIL sexual crimes.
It
is no wonder the sodomist community around the world rejoiced in
jubilation when OUR GUTLESS CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, against all
decency - lowered the legal age of homosexual activity to 14,
something which the child molesters who have been lusting after young
boys have desired for years.
RONALD
REAGAN CALLED FORMER SOVIET UNION an "evil empire"
COMMUNISM
- EVIL OF EVILS! US President Ronald Reagan called the
former Soviet Empire an "evil empire" and he was right!
Now we know the enormity of the crimes of that wicked system, with
Eastern Europe bankrupt economically and the ecology so terribly
polluted that it will take billions of dollars and decades of hard
work to bring things back to normal there.
The
Bible says that God will destroy those who destroy the earth!
(Revelation 11:18) The callous attitude of Soviet Communists
toward human life and the ecology has brought God's judgment upon
them.
GOD
WARNS US ABOUT PEOPLE "WHO CALL EVIL GOOD AND GOOD EVIL"
God's
Word warns about those who, "call evil good and good
evil". (Isaiah 5:20) Prophet Amos exhorted, "Seek good
and hate evil". (Isaiah 5:14-15) And Moses warned: "Thou
shalt not follow a multitude to do EVIL". (Exodus 23:2)
THE
LORD'S PRAYER: Deliver us from Evil
Jesus
knew that we would be targeted by the "enemies of
righteousness", who seek our destruction. Being in "all
points tempted" like ourselves. He knew that we would be
tempted, tried and buffeted by the flesh, the world and the devil.
He
gave us 'His Model Prayer'; so that we would know how to pray and
what to pray about, in order to receive strength from Almighty
God! Our Lord declared: "Even so every good tree
bringeth forth good fruit; but a good tree cannot bring forth evil
fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."
"Wherefore
by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:17-20)
Again
Jesus stated: "For out of the heart proceed EVIL thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness,
blasphemies:" (Matthew 15:19)
10
YEAR OLD BOYS COMMITTING MURDER - NOW THAT IS EVIL
The
tragic killing of two-year-old James Bulger in Liverpool, England
a number of years ago by two ten-year old boys certainly tells us
something about EVIL.
How
the two boys could have conceived in their hearts to trick a
little toddler -- who had walked away from his mother in a
shopping mall - into accompanying them to his death is
inconceivable! - Except for one thing ..
THERE
IS A REAL DEVIL and he came only to "STEAL, KILL &
DESTROY", and the devil is to blame! But so are
parents who refuse to serve God themselves, and have no regard for
their children's spiritual upbringing.
And
now, the golden text of the Bible: "For God so loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life". (John
3:16)
Jesus
said: "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because THEIR
DEEDS WERE EVIL". (John 3:19)
He
invites us all: "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are
heavy laden and I will give you rest". (Matthew 11:28)
WE
CAN NEVER BECOME GOOD ENOUGH, IN OUR OWN STRENGTH, TO PLEASE GOD
OR BECOME RIGHTEOUS:
ONLY
THROUGH THE ALL-ATONING DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS FOR US,
CAN WE ATTAIN RIGHTEOUSNESS OR GOODNESS.
The
Bible says, "The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us
from all sin"! (1 John 1:7)
And
St. Paul states: "If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new
creature; old things are passed away, behold all things are become
new". (2 Corinthians 5:17)
FOR
BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED
"For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God; Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in
them." (Ephesians 2:8-10)
"For
unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...of the increase
of His government and peace there shall be no end....with justice
from henceforth even for ever." (Isaiah 9:6)
God
is eternal and infinite. He does not think with a finite
mind as we do! His thoughts and actions reflect His
omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and eternalness.
God's
plans and purposes for this universe and all of us, were
formulated in His mind before He created the foundations of the
world.
He
cannot make a mistake, lie or be wrong in His intentions of deeds,
for He is totally righteous, all knowing and all wise.
EVERYTHING
GOD DOES IS FOR ETERNITY
He
knows the future and sees the pitfalls and snares that await our
stumbling feet. And He helps us, protects us from the devil,
the world and ourselves! In these the last days, the last days
before Christ returns in the blessed Rapture, God is protecting
his children from evil.
WHY
ARE WE SO IMPORTANT TO GOD?
Firstly,
we were made in His image. Secondly, Jesus personally died
for our sins and finally, through the new birth, we are a part of
Him - his body.
The
words, "there shall be no end" and "for ever",
show the eternal purposes of God in the birth of Christ. THE
INCARNATION WAS SERIOUS STUFF.
The
moment, of God the Son - wrapping Himself in human flesh - coming
down to save us, was deliberately and perfectly timed and
executed.
"But
when the fullness of time was come, God sent His Son, made of a
woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians
4:4-5)
This
wasn't an after thought or a fill in. The decision to send
King Messiah to this earth, was communicated to Satan - the
adversary - immediately after Adam and Eve's tragic fall.
"And
I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed
and her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shall bruise His
heel." (Genesis 3:15)
Here,
God promises a "virgin born" savior (her seed),
Who would conquer Satan through His substitutionary death.
In the process, the Savior would suffer a minor wound (bruise His
heel), and Satan would be totally defeated (bruise his head).
Although
Jesus suffered more than any man, was wounded and marred for our
total salvation, it was minor because He laid down His life of His
own free will. (John 10:15-18)
Satan
could not take it from Him! And He arose again on the third
day, destroying Satan and his power over us!
"Forasmuch
then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also
Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He
might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil;" (Hebrews 2:14)
FROM
THE INCARNATION TO THE RESURRECTION, AND THROUGHOUT THE 'GOSPEL
AGE', GOD HAS CONTINUED THE EXECUTION OF HIS ETERNAL WILL, THROUGH
HIS CHURCH, THE CALLED-OUT-ONES.
This
is why it is so important that we live with "eternity in
mind". All our plans and goals should reflect this mind
set, in our relationships to God, the Church - His body - and the
world! We need to prepare, in these last days, for eternity, for
Christ's return and to spend eternity in heaven with God.
Let
us study the Word, pray, witness and give joyfully, to help build
His eternal Kingdom.
Jesus
said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom
of God. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born
again." (John 3:3,7)
The
Bible makes it clear that, "He who hath the Son hath
everlasting life: and he who believeth not the Son shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:36)
That
means that all those who do not personally know Jesus Christ, must
receive Him as Savior and Lord in order to be saved.
IS
THERE A REAL HEAVEN & A REAL HELL
St.
John emphasized: "If we receive the witness of men, the
witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He
hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of
God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God
hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God
gave His Son.
And this is the record, that God hath given to
us eternal life, and this life is in His son. He that hath
the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not
life. These things have I written unto you that believe on
the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal
life, and that ye may believe in the name of the Son of God."
(I John 5:9-13)
HERE
IS THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH - All who reject Jesus Christ and refuse to
receive Him as Lord & Savior are calling Almighty God a LIAR,
"because he believeth not the record that God gave of His
Son." (I John 5:9-10)
Do
you think for one moment that anyone will escape the judgment of
God when they reject Jesus Christ - His gift to the world - and
call Him a liar?
That
is serious stuff, since He is the judge of the entire world!
How do you think an earthly judge would react if someone in his
courtroom called him "a liar"? He would
immediately be guilty of 'contempt of court' of worse.
St.
Paul puts it all in perspective when he says, "For if the
word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and
disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we
escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began
to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that
heard him." (Hebrews 2:2-3)
In
the Apocalypse, St. John warns: "And the DEVIL that
deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where
the BEAST and the FALSE PROPHET are, and SHALL BE TORMENTED DAY
AND NIGHT FOR EVER AND EVER. And I saw a great white throne,
and Him that sat on it, from Whose face the earth and the heaven
fled away; and there was found no place for them."
"And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books
were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of
life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were
written in the books, according to their works."
"And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged
every man according to their works. And death and hell were
cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:10-15)
HERE
IS THE GOOD NEWS
Jesus
invites, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
"For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life." (John 3:16)
May
the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father and
the fellowship and communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all,
both now and forevermore.
WHAT
DOES THE BIBLE SAY
ABOUT SIN
A
discussion of sin is very important to anyone who believes in God
and wants to live for Him. If you accept the existence of a Creator, your next
major concern is to please Him. Consider...an Omniscient,
Omnipotent Being is responsible for your existence. Your
continued well-being is totally dependant upon His whim. Is
it not in your best interest to determine what He desires of you,
what is acceptable and unacceptable to Him.
SIN
SEPARATES US FROM GOD
Sin,
put as simply as possible, is that which is unacceptable to
God. It is what angers God. It is what separates man
from God, and from the possibility of ultimate happiness.
Since the Bible is the word of God, it is logical to go to it to
find out about sin. This is an important initial
point. If you want to know what sin is, and what things are
sinful, you must go to God to find out...NOT MAN.
Many
do not believe that dressing immodestly is sin. Others go so
far as to think there is nothing sinful about lying, getting
drunk, gambling or cursing. Are abortion, homosexuality,
racism sin? You can always find someone who will deny such things
are sinful. But it doesn't matter what man may think about
such things. The question must be, "What does the Bible
say about sin?"
It
is only in asking this question that we can know what God
considers sinful And it is only in knowing what God
considers sinful that we can ensure we are pleasing to Him.
THE
DEFINITION OF SIN
The
Greek word translated "sin" in the Bible is an
interesting term. It, (hamartano) literally means "to
miss the mark". Think of it this way. In shooting
an arrow from a bow, if you arrow flies beyond the target or falls
short of it, if it veers to the right of the target or to the
left, you "miss the mark."
If
in our lives we go beyond the will of God, doing things God has
said not to do; if we fall short of the will of God by not doing
these things commanded by God; if we veer away from God's will,
doing things for which we have no authority, we "miss the
mark" or we sin.
As
John states in 1 John 3:4, "Whosoever committeth sin
transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of
law."
So,
sin is lawlessness. God has revealed to us His law and His
will. The Bible is the final authority on sin and its
consequences.
WHAT
DOES THE BIBLE SAY IS SIN
So,
what is sinful and what is not sinful? The Bible clearly
states the things that are sinful in the eyes of God.
In
the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul identifies a list of sins
as 'works of the flesh'. "Now the works of the flesh
are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which
do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
(Galatians 5:19-21)
All
things that are in conflict with the nature of God and God's will
are sinful.
WHAT
ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN?
Sin
is serious. Sin is repugnant to God and there are consequences to
sin. Sin separates us from God. "Behold, the LORD'S
hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy,
that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between
you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that
he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Sin,
in separating you from God, separates you from life. Paul
rejoiced in the fact that we can be forgiven from our sins and do
not have to be separated from God.
"And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all
trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was
against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross:"
"And
having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:13-15) All
of us are "dead" in our tresspasses (sins) until we
receive forgiveness.
If
we remain in our sin, and die without having our sins forgiven, we
are consigning ourselves to an eternal death and punishment,
separated from God for eternity.
There
are many examples of dire consequences of sin in the Old
Testament. Below are a few examples:
Because
of their sin, Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden,
and were denied access to the tree of life. (Genesis 3)
God
destroyed the world with a flood because of wickedness and
ungodliness. (Genesis 6-8)
Sodom
and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire and brimstone because of the
wickedness and sin, and the abomination of homosexuality (Genesis
19)
The
Bible tells us of these recorded events to serve as examples of
the consequences of sin and disobedience to God.
The
LORD saved the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but
afterward destroyed some of them because of their unbelief and
disobedience. This is documented in the book of Jude as
follows:
"I
will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this,
how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of
Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
And
the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own
habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness
unto the judgment of the great day."
Even
as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner,
giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange
flesh, ARE SET FORTH FOR AN EXAMPLE, suffering the
vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 1:5-8)
These
examples show us that there are many physical consequences to
sin. We only need to look as far as to our current society
to see the truth of consequences to sin.
We
see a world plagued with addictions, drug abuse, teenage
pregnancy, crime, anarchy and hatred. In government and
business we see greed, dishonesty and slander as the norm.
Division and the rejection of Bible truths is characteristic of
religious denominations in our times. All of these things
have figured prominently in destroying the homes and lives of so
many. The devil has been very thorough in his work.
But
even though the physical consequences are great, the spiritual
consequences of sin are even greater and more devastating.
In the book of Galatians Paul spoke of the eternal consequences of
disobedience and sin.
"Now
the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, "
"Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies,"
"Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I
tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they
which do such things SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
(Galatians 5:19-21)
THERE
ARE ONLY TWO DESTINATIONS IN ETERNITY
When
we die, there are only two destinations in which we will spend
eternity. Those who inherit the kingdom of God will spend
eternity in heaven with the Lord. Those who do not
inherit the kingdom of God spend eternity in Hell. The Bible
describes Hell as a place where "their worm dieth not and
the fire is not quenched".
"And
if thy hand offend thee, cut if off: it is better for thee to
enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,
into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their
worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark
9:43-44)
Hell
is also described in Matthew as a place of "outer
darkness" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of
teeth". "But the children of the kingdom shall be
cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth." (Matthew 8:12)
"In
that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you
see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the
kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out. (Luke 13:28)
"The
Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out
of his kingdom all things that offend, and then which do
iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: they
shall be waiting and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:41-42)
"But
the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into out darkness:
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12)
THE
CURE FOR SIN
We
are all sinners, no one is exempt from sinning. Every person
alive is guilty of sin, and as such we all face eternal separation
from God. "For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
Because
God loves each and every one of us so much, and does not want any
to perish, he had to make the ultimate sacrifice to atone for our
sins. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die in our
place. "For God so loved the world that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Because
God is just, the penalty for sin had to be paid. Because God
cares for us, He sent His Son to pay that ultimate price.
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might e made the righteousness of God in him." (2
Corinthians 5:21)
Jesus is the cure for
sin!
SIN
IS A DISEASE, A SPIRITUAL CANCER
Dear
reader, your eternal well-being is at stake. Sin is a
disease, a spiritual cancer. Sin leads to death, but Jesus
Christ paid the ultimate price for humanity to have a possibility
of rebirth. You can be born again through the precious blood
of Jesus. There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus that asked
Jesus how a person can be born again. Jesus answered him the
following:
"There
was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the
Jews: The same came to Jesus by night and said unto him,
Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher came from God: for no man
can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with
him."
"Jesus
answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of
God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he
is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and
be born?"
"Jesus
answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of
God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that
which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:1-6)
Have
you repented of your sins?
The cure for sin is Jesus. You can turn to Jesus Christ and
repent of your sins. The invitation is open to all, no exceptions.
You can be forgiven and you will be able to stand before the
judgment seat of Christ, secure in the knowledge that your sin has
been removed through the blood of Jesus Christ the Saviour.
"And
Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to
me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never
thirst. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and
believe not."
"All
that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to
me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from
heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."
"And
this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he
hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again
at the last day. And this is the
will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and
believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him
up at the last day." (John 6:35-40)
I
pray that you will turn to Christ, and have your sins forgiven
before it is too late.
 THERE
IS POWER
IN
THE BLOOD OF JESUS
by Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D
"He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with
His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
HOW
TO RECEIVE TOTAL HEALING THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS
The
ancient
prophet Isaiah set forth a graphic picture of the coming Jewish
Messiah in the 53rd chapter of the book we call "The
Gospel of the Old Testament."
"He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and with
His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
We
can receive total healing through the wounds of Jesus Christ -
According to the prophets, the Messiah would suffer, bleed and die
for His people. He would be cut off in death, but rise again in
power. He would be wounded, bruised, chastised and striped
in order to purchase our salvation and bring deliverance from sin,
sickness and eternal death.
And
St. Peter records the glorious results of Christ's terrible
sufferings as our substitute. "Who His own self bare our
sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were
healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
 THE
SEVEN WOUNDS OF JESUS SPELL COMPLETE REDEMPTION
Jesus
Christ received seven specific wounds in His body during His week
of suffering and death. The number seven in biblical terms speaks
of perfection and completeness.
Wounds
according to the dictionary are divisions of the soft part of the
body by a mechanical force applied externally. They are classified
as: contused, lacerated, penetrating, perforating and incised!
Jesus Christ received each of these plus an additional two, by
mutilation and falling.
1)
THE CONTUSED WOUND
- produced by a sharp instrument.
"They
shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek."
(Micah 5:1)
St.
Matthew wrote, "They smote Him with rods."
(Matthew 26:67; John 18:22) (Newberry & Revised) "Then
they did spit in His face and buffeted Him, and others smote Him
with the palms of their hands." (Matthew 26:67)
Very
definitely, Jesus suffered pain and humiliation as Roman soldiers
beat Him about the face with their rods!
Others,
including the servants smote Him with their hands. The rod would
cut into the flesh, leaving a contused wound.
 2)
THE LACERATED WOUND
- produced by a tearing instrument.
The
Romans used the cruel cat-of-nine tails to scourge criminals. On
the end of the whip were nine pieces of leather to which were
attached sharp ivory or metal balls with protruding nails. As the
whip was cracked, it would tear out pieces of the flesh.
Jewish
law demanded that not more than 40 lashes be administered, since
often the victim would faint or even die during the scourging.
The
Romans did not need to adhere to Jewish law. As a matter of fact,
crucifixion was a Roman mode of execution! The Romans always
scourged a condemned man before crucifying him.
Some
historians and Church Fathers believe that Jesus Christ may have
received many more than 30 stripes. The more punishment a
prisoner took on the whipping pole, the shorter was the guard duty
for the Roman Soldiers at the scene of execution.
Since
the Jewish leadership had accused Him of perverting the people,
the Romans certainly had no reason to "go easy"
on Him! And no doubt the tough Roman soldiers would have been
happy to see Jesus squirm and cry out - especially since he had
refused to talk to the Governor!
We
do know that St. Paul was whipped by the Jews on five separate
occasions: "Of the Jews five times received I forty
stripes save one." (2 Corinthians 13:24) Paul was
not a candidate for crucifixion, by the Romans. He was prosecuted
under the jurisdiction of the Jewish hierarchy.
If
Jesus received 39 stripes in Pilate's Judgment Hall, that would
have inflicted a total of 351 gashes on His lacerated back. If He
received more than 39 stripes, the gashes would have been more
numerous.
EACH
WOUND HELPED TO PURCHASE OUR HEALING: SPIRITUAL, MENTAL AND
PHYSICAL
The
Old Testament prophet declared, "The ploughers ploughed
upon My back. They made long furrows." (Psalms 129:3)
Seven hundred and fifty years earlier, Isaiah had prophesied
concerning the Messiah, "I gave My back to the smiters"
(Isaiah 50:6)
"But
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with
His stripes we are healed."
(Isaiah 53:5)
St.
Matthew records, "Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and
scourged Him." (Matthew 27:20; John 19:1)
Prisoners
who were scourged usually lost a lot of blood and sometimes
fainted. Jesus suffered the agonizing and brutal scourging for us!
3)
THE PENETRATING WOUND:
a deep wound caused by a sharp, pointed instrument.
The
crown of thorns that was pressed upon the head of Jesus caused
such wounds. The Jerusalem thorn, known as the Arabian Nebulae,
was 4 inches long and as sharp as a needle. The cruel diadem
containing over 100 spiculets, was driven into His head with blows
from the rod.
The
Bible scriptures record, "And when they had platted a
crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His
right hand: and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him,
saying, Hail, King of the Jews." (Matthew 27:29)
"Then
came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple
robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!" (John
19:5)
It
was the Governor's intention to scourge Jesus and then release
him. He had hoped the pitiful sight of a weary, weak and
bloodies man would satisfy their blood lust and evoke sympathy for
the prisoner.
Instead
of being satisfied, they craved more blood, crying out "Away
with Him, crucify Him, crucify Him!" (Matthew 27:22-23)
THORNS
SPEAK OF THE ORIGINAL CURSE
Thorns
speak of the original curse, "Cursed is the ground for thy
sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy
life;"
"Thorns
also and thistles shall it bring forth unto thee..." (Geneses
3:17-18)
JESUS
TOOK THE CURSE FOR US
Jesus
Christ bore the penalty for our sins, transgressions,
sicknesses, diseases and pains!
St.
Paul writes, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that hangeth on a tree."
“That
the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through
faith."
(Galatians 3:13-14)
In
the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 28, Moses enumerates the
blessings of keeping covenant with God. He also lists the curses!
The curses include sickness, disease, insanity, torments,
plagues, pestilence, famine and war. The Apostle to the
Gentiles states unequivocally that, "Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law." So we are free!
The
Roman soldiers tried to drive Jesus insane by beating that crown
of sharp Arabian Nebulae into His head. But He didn't lose His
sanity but rather through this horrible experience purchased our
peace and tranquility.
"And
having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to
reconcile all things unto Himself."
(Colossians 1:20)
Because
of the penetrating wounds He bore for us, WE HAVE PEACE!
4)
THE PERFORATING WOUND:
From
the Latin word; "to pierce through"
A
Messianic psalm stated, "They pierced My hands and My
feet" (Psalms 22:16) At the time of David's
prophecy, he knew nothing of crucifixion, for the Hebrew method of
capitol punishment was stoning!
The
prophet Zechariah also foretold of the Messiah's death by
crucifixion. "And one shall say unto Him, What are these
wounds in Thine hands? Then shall He answer, Those with which I
was wounded in the house of My friends." (Zechariah 13:6)
By
the time Jesus was born, the Romans had conquered Palestine and
crucifixion had become the mode of execution. The New Testament
records: "And when they were come... to Calvary, there
they crucified Jesus." (Luke 23:33; John 19:16-18)
The
Bible says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
Jesus
Christ suffered the torments, agony, pain and death of the most
horrible of all deaths - The Death of Crucifixion! He suffered for
us. He bled for us. He died for us! And He arose again from the
dead, for us!
5)
THE INCISED WOUND:
a cut
produced by a sharp edged instrument:
"But
one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith
came there out blood and water." (John 19:34)
As
the Sabbath was approaching the soldiers helped speed up the
expiration of the victims by smashing their thigh bones, thus
allowing asphyxiation. When the Roman soldier came to Jesus, he
noticed that He was already dead. The soldier then went on to the
thief on Jesus' other side and with his large axe, smashed the
femur bone (thigh bone) causing a quicker death.
In
order to verify Jesus' death, the soldier then plunged his spear
into the left side of Jesus!
This
fulfilled the scripture, "They shall look upon Him Whom
they have pierced." (Zechariah 12:10) So large was the
wound that after the resurrection, Thomas "the doubter"
was invited to thrust his hand into that wound.
"Then
saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands;
and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side: and be not
faithless, but believing."
(John 20:27)
St.
John was standing near the cross and noticed blood and water
coming out of His side. The pericardium is a closed sac
encasing the heart, lubricated by a small amount of fluid to
facilitate the motion of the heart.
Mallory
& Wright's pathological technique answers the question,
"How could John have seen such a small amount of water flow
out of the wound? The normal amount (of pericardial fluid) is
about a teaspoon, but it may be increased to 100 c.c. (24
teaspoonfuls) where death agony is prolonged."
Another
miracle was that contrary to nature, blood flowed from a dead man,
proving that the blood of Jesus did not die but is efficacious
even today !
"There
is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Emmanuel's veins,
And sinners plunge beneath the flood, Lose all their guilty
stains."
The
blood and water which St. John saw coming out of the side of
Christ may also have been the physiological aspect of death.
Medical
science teaches that, "Blood in a cadaver readily separates
into clear serum and red blood cells, thus certifying that the
person is clinically dead." It could be that both of these
things were happening at once. Either way, it proves that the
death of Jesus was a reality and that there is life through His
precious blood!
The
Bible says, "Without the shedding of blood there is no
remission of sins." (Leviticus 17:11,14)
"It
is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul." (Hebrews
9:22) "And the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth
us from all sins." (1 John 1:7)
THE
BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST, SHED FOR US ALL ON GOLGOTHA, HAS PURCHASED
OUR SALVATION
I)
WE RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF OUR SINS THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"In
Whom we have redemption through His blood, even THE FORGIVENESS OF
SINS, according to the riches of His grace." (Ephesians
1:7)
(II)
WE RECEIVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Forasmuch
as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition
from your fathers;"
"But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish
and without spot:"
(1 Peter 1:18-19)
"Take
heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church
of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood."
(Acts 20:28)
(III)
WE RECEIVE CLEANSING FROM SIN THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"But
if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, And the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth
us from all sins."
(1 John 1:7)
(IV)
WE ARE LOOSED FROM OUR SINS BY HIS BLOOD
"And
from Jesus Christ, Who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own
blood."
(Revelation 1:5)
(V)
WE ARE JUSTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Much
more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through Him."
(Romans 5:9)
"Being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through
faith in His blood, to declare the righteousness for the remission
of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"
(Romans 3:24-25)
(VI)
WE RECEIVE PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"And
having made peace through the death of His cross, by Him to
receive all things unto himself;"
(Colossians 1:20)
(VII)
WE RECEIVE ACCESS TO THE FATHER THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the
blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated
for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh;"
(Hebrews 10:19-20)
(VIII)
WE RECEIVE DIVINE HEALING THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"But
He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with
His stripes we are healed."
(Isaiah 53:5)
"Who
His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose
stripes ye were healed."
(1 Peter 2:24)
(IX)
WE RECEIVE VICTORY OVER THE DEVIL THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"And
they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word
of their testimony."
(Revelation 12:11)
(X)
WE ARE SANCTIFIED THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"Wherefore
Jesus also, that He might sanctify His people with His own blood,
suffered without the gate." (Hebrews
13:12)
(XI)
WE RECEIVE A CLEAR (PURGED) CONSCIENCE THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"How
much more shall the blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal
Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience
(mind) from dead works, to serve the Living God?" (Hebrews
9:14)
(XII)
WE RECEIVE ETERNAL GLORY THROUGH HIS BLOOD
"These
are they which come out of great tribulation, and have washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and
night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell
among them..."
"For
the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and
shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes."
(Revelation 7:14-17)
6)
WOUNDS BY MUTILATION
- the plucking out of His beard.
"I
gave My cheeks to them that plucked out the hair." (Isaiah
50:6)
Not
only did they slap and spit upon His face but they yanked out His
beard causing the wounds of mutilation. Can you imagine the awful
pain, as cruel Roman soldiers pulled out His beard! The blood
flowed down upon Christ's chest as cruel tormentors mutilated His
face by tearing out handfuls of His beard.
He
did it for us, because by "His Sore" (original
Hebrew) we are healed! He was "one sore" from
head to toe, by the time He had undergone the full mistreatment
which the Roman soldiers heaped upon Him! He suffered more than
any man and He did it all for us - to purchase our salvation.
7)
WOUNDS BY FALLING:
They
laid the rugged cross upon His lacerated, bleeding back and forced
Jesus to carry His own cross, as was the custom for condemned
criminals. Due to loss of blood because of the scourging, He was
unable to do so.
As
He stumbled and fell, His body received more bruises and sores,
and He suffered more pain, for us.
Historians
claim, that after His striping in Pilate's Judgment Hall, Jesus
was subjected to a heavy wooden cross laid upon His raw, bleeding
back.
Apparently,
the cross bar was tied to His wrists and the stock to His left
ankle. When He stumbled and fell, He had no way to protect
Himself, so His body was further bruised and battered! And Roman
soldiers then forced a stranger, Simon of Cyrene to bear His cross
up Calvary's hill.
"And
He bearing His cross went forth to the place of a skull..." (John
19:17) "And as they led Him away they laid hold upon one
Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid
the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus." (Luke
23:26) (Mark 15:21)
Apparently
that event caused such an impact upon the Cyrenian that he became
a convert to Christ. And it appears that his two sons also entered
the Ministry and preached the gospel of Christ after His
resurrection.
CHRIST
WAS WOUNDED FROM HEAD TO FOOT WITH SEVEN WOUNDS IN ORDER TO BRING
US HEALING
And
St. Matthew stated, "When the even was come, they brought
unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the
spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick:"
"That
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Easias the prophet,
saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our
sicknesses."
(Matthew 8:16-17)
"It
is no wonder, St. Thomas, upon his encounter with the risen Christ
declared, "My Lord and my God." (Jn.20:28)
MAY
THE RISEN CHRIST BLESS AND HEAL YOU AS YOU APPROPRIATE HIS
PROMISES FOR YOURSELF.
I
pray you will receive total healing through the wounds and blood
that Jesus Christ shed for you.
"Believe
me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe
Me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the
Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in
My name, I will do it." (John 14:11-14)
Amen.
What
are the
SEVEN
DEADLY SINS?
by Pastor Max
Solbrekken, D.D
"For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans
3:23)
ARE
WE ALL GUILTY OFF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS?
Is
this generation guilty of the seven deadly sins, as catalogued by
medieval theologians?
YES,
we are guilty of the seven deadly sins! And this consensus
of opinion comes from groups as diverse as ecologists, historians
and theologians!
According
to Richard Pollay, historian at University of British Columbia,
the values behind modern advertising look much like the seven
deadly sins.
States
Pollay, "But the other side of the coin is almost absent.
Ads don't encourage compassion, selflessness and the values that
build a strong community"!
The
business community
has for many years succumbed to the "dog eat dog" value
system, in aggressive and often unethical competition among its
members. And we've known for a long time, that advertising
agencies exploit everything available, in their quest for
business.
ADVERTISING
AGENCIES EXPLOIT THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
Like
sex (lust), for example. Scantily dressed, sensual females,
selling anything from holiday packages to automobiles, to lingerie
to a night out at the cabaret!
And
a ruggedly handsome cowboy promoting "cancer-causing"
cigarettes, or an elegantly dressed, jet-setting young couple,
standing beside a deluxe car in the driveway of a super expensive
home...promoting vodka! (greed)!
Some
years ago (Dec. 1998), Alberta’s Telus
(phone company) came out with a Christmas television commercial
with 3 wise men bringing gifts, supposedly to the Christ-Child (He
was not shown). Their gifts consisted of gold, frankincense &
a mobile telephone from Telus.
After a lot of callers objected, the ad was pulled!
When
contacted by the TV media, I voiced my opposition declaring,
"Nothing is sacred or holy anymore! Nothing is off limits to
the materialistic, secular humanistic MINDSET! It shows a
terrible lack of sensitivity and reverence for God & the
Bible!"
"This
is but another calculated move by an unthinking, secular &
materialistic advertising agency to utilize a part of the
Christmas Story to further the economic goals of the TELUS
Corporation. We do not agree with that concept. They have crossed
over the line of decency and good taste! This practice must stop!
We won’t put up with it!"
Now,
an advertising historian is saying the same thing. Our advertising
value-system is seriously flawed! And that's upsetting, when you
consider the thousands of ads we are all subjected to through
radio, television, billboards and printed materials.
WE
HAVE BECOME GREEDY, ENVIOUS PEOPLE, FULL OF PRIDE & SELFISHNESS
IT'S
NO WONDER THAT A LOT OF CHILDREN ARE GREEDY, SELFISH, ENVIOUS!
They want everything they see, and have a problem sharing what
they have with others.
The
same could be said about many adults who have become narcissistic
and hedonistic in their approach to life. This corrupted value
system helped spawn the Me Generation, 'if it feels good, do it'
attitude and the present YUPPIE mentality.
THE
WORLD HAS BEEN PLAYING GOD & ABUSING THE PLANET
The
Asian economic recession has taken a big bite out of the economic
pie and a lot of people are frustrated and let down.
And
the news about the depletion of the ozone layer causing enormous
increases in skin cancer, possible global warming, a deteriorating
eco-system and the stampeding HIV and AIDS endemic, is causing
people to rethink their philosophy of life.
Unfortunately,
large numbers are rudderless without any proper spiritual and
moral grounding in God's Word, the Bible...so become fair game for
the deceptive occultist and pagan teachings of the New Age
Movement and other cults.
Several
years ago Newsweek named the guilty nations which are adding to
the destruction of our planet. They presented their own list of
the "seven deadly sins" in an attack on
polluters.
Newsweek's
special report titled, Earth at the Summit details the three
important items on the table at Earth Summit '92, in Rio de
Janeiro:
1)
Global Warming: A treaty intended to curb emissions
of "greenhouse gases" - principally carbon dioxide - but
without specific target or timetables.
2)
Agenda 21: A plan for the industrial nations to help
poor countries develop their economies without ruining their
environments - or the planet's. Estimated cost: US $125 billion
per year.
3)
Biodiversity: A treaty to slow the loss of
endangered species. One approach, give countries royalties for
products (such as drugs) that are developed from indigenous plants
and animals
ECOLOGIST'S
HAVE MADE THEIR OWN LIST OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
The
Newsweek report stated, "Adam was supposed to be the first
environmentalist - the caretaker in Paradise, even a vegetarian.
His fall doomed us to repeat his sins, time and again despoiling
the garden, and casting ourselves into a more imperfect
world".
Here
are the Ecologist's 7 SEVEN DEADLY SINS: despair,
gluttony, temptation, hubris, neglect, envy and hatred.
ECOLOGIST'S
7 DEADLY SINS LIST
The
ecologist's blame the condition of the world on their own list of
the seven deadly sins. This is the list they have devised:
despair, gluttony, temptation, hubris, neglect, envy and hatred.
Ecologist
Sin #1 - DESPAIR - Despair:
For the poor in the large city ghettoes of Third World nations
like Brazil, the only real concern is getting enough to eat,
staying alive using whatever means to do it.
With
open sewers and inadequate clean water supply, speaking to them
about pollution control and global warming, is totally irrelevant.
They are filled with worry and despair.
Ecologist
Sin #2
- GLUTTONY - Gluttony: Americans have an insatiable
desire for raw materials. They can consume anything. The European
immigrants cut down all but 5% of their forests, since arriving in
the New World. Ecologists are blaming the rich Americans for
consuming more than necessary, further polluting the planet!
Ecologist
Sin #3
- TEMPTATION - Temptation: Polluters cannot resist the
temptation to dump raw sewage in the rivers, lakes and streams of
the world. The greatest offenders are nations like Mexico and US
companies which have moved their operations there, to take
advantage of lax pollution laws.
Ecologist
Sin #4
- HUBRIS - Hubris:
The meaning of hubris is insolence or arrogance caused by
inordinate pride; exaggerated self-confidence.
For
years the Soviet Union tried to play God with nature. In 1960, it
diverted two rivers that fed the Aral Sea in order to irrigate the
arid lands of Central Asia. The chickens have come home to roost
and the water level in the Aral is down two-thirds, leaving boats
and towns stranded and drifting salt storms.
Ecologist
Sin #5
- NEGLECT - Neglect:
The pollution caused by decades of communistic rule in the
East-Bloc nations - with their disregard for human life - has
severely retarded these nations, affecting the health of millions.
Unsafe nuclear plants - like Chernobyl - and the virtually
unchecked dumping of raw, hazardous wastes into waterways like the
Elbe River has turned them into "sewers of death".
Ecologist
Sin #6
- ENVY - Envy:
In her rush to catch up to the west economically, China has thrown
caution to the wind and also endangered the population with deadly
gases from hundreds of factories. In Benxi - the world's most
polluted city - 200 factories spew out more than 87 million cubic
meters of gases each year. And Beijing is so smoggy that at times
it vanishes from satellite photos.
Ecologist
Sin #7
- HATRED - Hatred: When Saddam Hussein - Iraq's cruel despot -
retreated from Kuwait - he deliberately ordered the destruction of
700 oil wells. Black smoke hung over that nation for nearly one
year, polluting the entire region, until the fires were put out.
He
also released millions of gallons of oil into the gulf waters,
polluting, killing and destroying marine life, birds and insects,
endangering the underground water supply and causing respiratory
diseases in humans!
The
damage of his terrorism will last for years to come and the cost
of the clean-up could total $20 billion, says Ibrahim Hadi,
president of Kuwait's Environmental Protection Agency!
GOD
HAS THE FINAL WORD ON THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS
The
Bible has a lot to say about sin. Jesus was outspoken on the
subject.
Jesus
used the word "eaven" as an analogy of sin, which rises
and expands like leaven. The Lord Jesus also paralleled it
with tares or weeds in a field, that seek to choke out the good
grain.
THE
BIBLE STATES THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE:
The
Bible very clearly states the seven deadly sin are: Pride,
greed, lust, anger or hatred, gluttony, envy and sloth.
Deadly
Sin #1 - PRIDE  #1
- PRIDE, which makes one feel superior to others is totally
wrong. This sin was Lucifer’s downfall! The Bible says,
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before
a fall." (Proverbs 15:8)
Deadly
Sin #2 - GREED
#2
- GREED has caused more wars and created more gangsters and
promoted more theft than any other sin.
The
Bible says, "Thou shalt not COVET..." (Exodus
20:17) "For the love of money is the root of all evil:
which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man
of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (1
Timothy 6:10-11)
Deadly
Sin #3 - LUST #3
- LUST is the desire for something not lawfully yours. A
sensual desire for the forbidden fruit! It includes an inordinate
desire for power, control, sex, substance abuse or wealth. Lust
always brings spiritual death, in the end.
The
Bible says, "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth
sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James
1:15)
Deadly
Sin #4 - ANGER
#4
- ANGER or HATRED causes high blood pressure, ulcers,
violent confrontation and even murder!
Jesus
said, "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and
walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because
that darkness hath blinded his eyes. “Whosoever hateth his
brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal
life abiding in him."
"If
a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for
he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love
God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him,
That he who loveth God love his brother also." (1 John 2:11;
1 John 3:15; 1 John 4:20-21)
Deadly
Sin #5 - GLUTTONY #5
- GLUTTONY is an over indulgence in eating. A phobia or
inordinate desire to eat food, even when one is not hungry. A good
rule is: Eat to live, not live to eat! A day of fasting &
prayer each week does wonders for us - spiritually &
physically!
Let’s
use the extra money we save through fasting to give to the poor
& needy and to support the poor and the orphaned.
Deadly
Sin #6 - ENVY #6
- ENVY will also cause the blood pressure to rise and the
demons of jealousy and pride to fabricate lies and even fantasies
in a person, given over to this wicked sin.
The
Bible says, "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in
rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in
strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
(Romans 13:13-14)
Deadly
Sin #7 - SLOTH #7
- SLOTH goes hand in hand with laziness and poverty. St.
Paul stated, "Be not slothful in business". (Romans
12:11)
"For
God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love,
which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered
to the saints, and do minister.
And
we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the
full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but
followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the
promises." (Hebrews 6:10-12)
REMEMBER
- GOD HAS THE FINAL SAY IN EVERYTHING
The
Bible is the Word of God. Don't ever forget that God, our
Lord keeps the books. God, the creator or the world has the
final say in everything.
There
is only one way to be freed from these ‘seven deadly sins’ and
that is through the process of the New Birth. Only faith in Jesus
Christ's death for us on the cross and His glorious resurrection
from the dead, brings us into a vital contact with His saving
blood.
;Jesus
said, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
 WHAT MUST
I DO TO
BE SAVED?
Jesus
said, "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)
Yes,
my dear friend, God is still in the business of setting men and
women free from their sins, sorrows, heartbreaks, fears and
troubles. In this age of frustrations, nervous tensions and
mental collapses, Jesus Christ is still granting peace to the
troubled, joy to the discouraged, strength to the weary and
healing to the sick!
1
- You must admit that you are a sinner
The
Bible says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God”. (Rom. 3:23) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the
iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)
2
- You must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God
You
MUST believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that Jesus died
on the cross, was buried and rose again from the dead.
“That
whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal
life. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: buot he that
believeth not is condemned already.” (John 3:15,18) “Verily,
verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on
Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John 5:24)
 3
- You must repent of your sins
The
Bible says, “…except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
(Luke 13:3) “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous
man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will
have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon”.
(Isaiah 55:7)
4
- You must receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour
The
Bible says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,
but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)
“Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he
with Me.” (Rev. 3:20) “He that hath the Son hath life: and he
that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:12)
5
- You must confess Jesus Christ as your Lord
The
Bible says: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is
made unto salvation”. (Romans 10:9-10)
“…Whosoever
shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man confess
before the angels of God: But he that denieth Me before men shall
be denied before the angels of God.” (Luke 12:8, 9)
HOW
DO I INVITE
JESUS CHRIST INTO MY LIFE?
Pray
to God, a prayer - from your heart.
Tell Him that you
are a sinner and that you need forgiveness. Tell him that
you believe Jesus Christ died for your sins. Tell him that
you are willing to change, to turn away from sin. Ask Jesus
Christ to come into your heart and life and be your personal
Saviour.
"But
as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name." (John 1:12)
"Therefore
if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2
Corinthians 5:17)
If
you prayed and ask Jesus Christ into your heart - YOU HAVE NOW
RECEIVED THE GIFT OF SALVATION - YOU HAVE BECOME A CHILD OF GOD.
God Bless You.
-
Powerful AUDIO Bible sermons/messages
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Bible
Scriptures verses about Evil & Sin
 sins
& judgment, evil, violence, evil, immorality
(King James Version
- KJV)
Proverbs
19:23 - (kjv) - The
fear of the LORD [tendeth] to life: and [he that hath it] shall
abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. Proverbs
19:23 - (kjv) - The fear of the LORD [tendeth] to life: and
[he that hath it] shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited
with evil. Proverbs
22:3 - (kjv) - A prudent [man] forseeth the evil, and
hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. Proverbs
8:13 - (kjv) - The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride,
and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Psalms
5:4 - (kjv) - For
thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither
shall evil dwell with thee. Matthew
6:13 - (kjv) - And
lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
Amen. Romans
12:21 - (kjv) - Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil
with good. Romans
13:4 - (kjv) - For he is the minister of God to thee for
good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he
beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of
God, a revenger to [execute] wrath upon him that doeth evil. 1
Thessalonians 5:22 - (kjv) - Abstain from all
appearances of evil. Isaiah
5:20 - (kjv) - Woe
unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness
for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and
sweet for bitter! Ecclesiastes
8:11 - (kjv) - Because
sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore
the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. James
4:11 - (kjv) - Speak not evil one of another, brethren.
He that speaketh evil of [his] brother, and judgeth his brother,
speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but in thou judge
the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. James
1:13 - (kjv) - Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted
of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he
any man: Luke
6:35 - (kjv) - But love ye your enemies, and do good,
and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be
great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind
unto the unthankful and [to] the evil. Matthew
5:39 - (kjv) - But I say unto you, That ye resist
not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn
to him the other also. 1
Corinthians 15:33 - (kjv) - Be
not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Genesis
6:5 - (kjv) - And
GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and
[that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only
evil continually, Joshua
24:15 - (kjv) - And if it seem evil unto you to serve the
LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the
gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of
the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:
but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Ephesians
6:11 - (kjv) - Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Mark
7:20-23
- (kjv) - And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that
defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts,
covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from
within, and defile the man. Romans
12:9 - (kjv) - Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor
that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Genesis
50:20 - (kjv) - But as for you, ye thought evil against me;
but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day,
to save much people alive. 1
Thessalonians 5:15 - (kjv) - See that none render evil for
evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among
yourselves, and to all men. Proverbs
3:7-8 - (kjv) - Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the
Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy naval,
and marrow to thy bones. 1
Thessalonians 5:15 - (kjv) - See that none render evil for
evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among
yourselves, and to all men. Psalm
97:10 - (kjv) - Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he
preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the
hand of the wicked. John
17:15 - (kjv) - I pray not that thou shouldest take them out
of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Isaiah
1:16 - (kjv) - Wash you, make you clean; put away the evils of
your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil. Zechariah
7:9-10 - (kjv) - Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying,
Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to
his brother: And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the
stranger, nor the poor; and let non of you imagine evil against
his brother in your heart. Psalm
34:14 - (kjv) - Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and
pursue it, 2
Timothy 4:18 - (kjv) - And the Lord shall deliver me from every
evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Bible
Scriptures verses about
sins
& judgment, forgiveness of sins, what is sin, repentance
(King James Version
-KJV)
Hebrews
10:30-31 - (kjv) - I
will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall
judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God. John
3:18 - (kjv) - He that believeth
on him is not condemned: but he that believed not is condemned
already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. 1
John 1:9-10- (kjv) - If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have
not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1
John 3:4 - (kjv) - Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law. 1
John 3:5 - (kjv) - And ye know
that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no
sin. 1
John 3:6 - (kjv) - Whosoever
abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him,
neither known him. 1
John 3:8 - (kjv) -
He that committed sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from
the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was
manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1
John 3:9 - (kjv) -
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed
remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Mark
3:28-29 - (kjv) - "Verily I
say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and
blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: Nut he
that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never
forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation. Hebrews
10:26 - (kjv) - For if we sin
wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. 1
John 5:16 - (kjv) - If any man
sees his brother sin a sin [which is] not unto death, he shall
ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.
There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. Proverbs
28:13 - (kjv) - He that
confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall have mercy, but he that
covereth his sin shall not prosper. 1
John 1:7 - (kjv) - But if we walk
in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with
another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from
all sin. Isaiah
59:2 - (kjv) - But your
iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins
have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. John
14:15
- (kjv) - If
ye love me, keep my commandments Exodus
15:26
- (kjv) - And
said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy
God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give
ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put
none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the
Egyptians: for I AM the LORD that healeth thee. Romans
2:12
- (kjv) -
For
as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law:
and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. Romans
3:20
- (kjv) -
Therefore
by the deeds of the law there shall not flesh be justified in his
sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans
3:23 - (kjv) - For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans
6:1-2
- (kjv) -
What
shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may
abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live
any longer therein? Romans
6:14
- (kjv) - For
sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the
law, but under grace. Romans
6:15
- (kjv) - What
then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under
grace? God forbid. Romans
6:23
- (kjv) - The
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans
8:32 -
(kjv) -
He that spared not his own Son, but
delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely
give us all things? 1
John 2:1-4 -
(kjv) - My little children, these things write I unto you,
that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate
with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And
he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world. And
hereby we do know that we know him, of we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a
liar, and the truth is not in him. Psalms
103:3 -
(kjv) - Who
forgiveth all thine iniquies; who healeth all thy diseases, Ezekiel
18:20 -
(kjv) - The
soul that sinneth, it shall die. 3
John 1:2 -
(kjv) - Beloved,
I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
even as thy soul prospereth. 1
John 5:14-15 -
(kjv) - And
this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
thing according to his will, he heareth us: .. And if we know that
he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions
that we desired of him. Philippians
2:13 -
(kjv) - For
it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure. Jeremiah
30:17
- (kjv) - For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal
thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD: becuase they called thee an
Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. 1
Corinthians 6:9-10
- (kjv) - Know
ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with
mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,
nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Psalm
119:133
- (kjv) - Order
my steps in they word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over
me. James
4:4 - (kjv) -
Ye
adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend
of the world is the enemy of God. 1
Peter 4:8
- (kjv) - And
above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for
charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Psalms
51:1-2
- (kjv) - Have
mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according
unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my
transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse
me from my sin. 1
John 1:6-8
- (kjv) - If
we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we
lie, and do not the truth. But if we walk in the light, we
have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1
Peter 2:24
- (kjv) - Who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we,
being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed. Matthew
6:14
- (kjv) - For
if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also
forgive you. James
4:8 - (kjv) -
Draw
nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your
hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Hebrews
9:28
- (kjv) - So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them
that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto
salvation. Psalms
1:1 - (kjv) -
Blessed
is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor
standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the
scornful. Psalms
25:6 - (kjv) -
Remember,
O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have
been ever of old, Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my
transgressions: Psalms
28:13
- (kjv) - He
that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy. Ephesians
4:26
- (kjv) -
Be
ye angry, sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Neither give place to the devil. 1
Corinthians 15:56
- (kjv) -
The
sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. Proverbs
10:19 - (kjv) -
In
the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that
refraineth his lips is wise. John
8:34 - (kjv) -
Jesus
answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever
committeth sin is the servant of sin. Acts
3:9 - (kjv) -
Repent
ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out,
when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the
Lord. Galatians
3:22
- (kjv) -
But
the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by
faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 2
Corinthians 5:21 - (kjv) -
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. Ephesians
1:7
- (kjv) -
In
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace. 1
John 4:10 - (kjv) -
Herein
is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his
Son to be the propitiation for our sins. James
5:5 - (kjv) -
And
the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise
him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Hebrews
12:1
- (kjv) -
Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which both so
easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set
before us. 1
Corinthians 15:3 - (kjv) -
For
I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1
Corinthians 15:3
- (kjv) - For
I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how
that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; Romans
5:8
- (kjv) -
But
God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. Proverbs
14:3
- (kjv) -
Righteousness
exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
CONTACT
INFORMATION
For further spiritual counsel,
prayer or gospel literature, please contact us!
www.mswm.org
www.maxsolbrekken.com
email: max @maxsolbrekken.com Max
Solbrekken World Mission, PO Box 44220, RPO Garside, Edmonton,
AB T5V 1N6 (780) 460-8444
The House of Prayer, New Sarepta, AB (780)-941-2372
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