If we should be saying that we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us
First Epistle of John 1: 8, Concordant New Testament
I have a good friend whom I work with. This man is a believer and a good family man, but he seems to have one flaw. That flaw is his dependence upon the words and doctrine of the Eastern Orthodox religion which he follows rather...religiously. I was once again reminded of his devotion to his religion this week as our discussion once again turned to his daily admission that he was seemingly a bad man due to the sin in his own life. Now, I do not put the blame on him, for he has been spoon fed the lies of the mainstream church for too many years. In my travels, I come across too many people who anguish daily over the perceived sin which they believe that they have committed. Now, do I myself believe that I have sinned, absolutely. But I also know in my heart that this is not who I am. That guy is dead and gone, crucified with Christ at the cross {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}. I also believe that trying to explain to someone who has been immersed in the theology of the mainstream church for so long that they no longer need be in fear of sin is a monumental task. Indeed, when I counted myself as a loyal church attender, I offered prayers unto the Lord many times each day, for I felt that I was unworthy of the gift which God had given me. This is what the church had taught me. I learned of a Jesus who, despite dying for my sake, was quick to condemn me for each and every misdeed I had done. This is an alternate version of Christ spoken by the sin merchants within the mainstream church. Yet this is NOT the Jesus who I have now come to know. The Jesus I now know is not a Lord of condemnation, but reconciliation {Johns Account 3:17}. His purpose is not to remind me of sin, but of who I am in Him {Johns Account 17:21}. Not as one separated from Him by my own sin, but as one who lives his life THROUGH Christ. For as the apostle Paul has declared, if we have died with Christ, we shall be living together with Him also {Paul to the Romans 6:8}.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are of God, for many false prophets have come out into the world
First Epistle of John 4: 1, Concordant New Testament
As I've said, I once followed the precepts of the sin merchants as a member of the mainstream church. I refer to those within the church as sin merchants due to the fact that they expend vast amounts of time and effort attempting to convince others that sin is the main issue in their lives. I see the anguish that my friend goes through daily and I see that these teachings are doing more harm than good. My question is this, did God desire for His children to live in fear? Fear of losing their salvation? The fear of the God who loves them some day casting them aside because of their sin? No! For fear is not perfected in the love of God {First Epistle of John 4:18}. How is it that the same church who speaks to being free in Christ Jesus also proclaims that it is sin which prevents us from a relationship with Him? I wondered that same question. I also wondered why the same church who spoke to Jesus dying on the cross for the forgiveness of my sins would go out of its way to convince me that my sin is still in front of me. Is this what the Father intended? No, for this would take away from His one true nature, which is love {First Epistle of John 4:8}. It is because of His love that we have been created in his likeness {Genesis 1:27}. It is also because of His love for us that He dispatched His Son to reconcile us once again to Him {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:18}. We know that there is no love in condemnation {Paul to the Romans 8:1}. I also do not see the love of God in the theology spoken by the church.
~Scott~
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