Sunday, March 27, 2011

Vanquishing Your Past Sins!

Vanquishing Your Past Sins!

WHERE O WHERE IS YOUR PAST? It’s in your past!
Get it?

What does God’s Word tell us to do with our past?

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

Did you catch the instructions in this passage?

• Forget
• Reach
• Press

There are a myriad of biblical examples of how our LORD freely forgave, cleansed,and restored precious souls – and that’s what YOU are to Him.

“The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3

Where are your past sins?

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12

The true believer is to “go and sin no more” and so we do not have a license to sin. We are called to confess them and turn from them by His blessed, infinite power – “He giveth more grace” to the humble (James 4:6-10).

The LORD made full provision for man's sin - before and after He saves that person. For those who feign to live in sinless perfection, they scoff at, ignore, and purposely neglect the many verses on this topic. The modern pharisee is self-righteous and will not acknowledge his present need for God's grace and mercy. I am not hinting of sin being okay or necessary - it's not (Rom. 6:14). We have been given His full ability to choose life and live pleasing to the LORD in all things. We are also told that God's grace and mercy are abundant towards His children - if they will return, repent, and forsake their evil ways. Go read Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:24-26; 1 John 1:3-2:2, etc.

"For in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee." Isaiah 60:10

God is able to grant the victory in every single situation and instance:

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57

When there is sin, it is 100% our fault - not God's.

"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: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." James 1:13-18