Awakening From Slumber

Be not deceived: evil communications

 corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, 

and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: 

I speak this to your shame.

1Corinthians 15:33-34

     Our view of sin is determined by our theology and our theology determines our character, and our character determines our actions. Our theology is not something that we are born with, not to say that we all have within us a knowledge that there is something or someone greater than us or the world, but say that our theology is formed by outside influences. Those influences might be good, that is they lead to live moral lives, even if our theology is that there is no God as with the Atheist (they do have a theology). Some of those influences that determine our theology may be bad as when we are being influenced by evil communications. A most important influence that determines our character and actions is that of sin. In today's Churches you seldom hear much, if anything, about sin. One reason is that those liberal preachers and teachers have been influenced by those who hold to a theology of sin that is not Scriptural. They do this by two things: 1. Don't speak about sin. 2. Soften the impact of sin by giving it meaning that would not offend someone. Here is how this is done: If sin is merely imperfection(s); how then could there be some process, some teaching, by some absolute negation be ventured upon when the culture of this world is ever changing as to what is sin? It cannot! Let us get this idea of sin right: Sin is more than imperfection in man, it is a transgression of a fixed law, or standard, and this involves a conception of absolute goodness. Now, if you are a sane person you know that there is not one man, now, or ever, or will be in this world to have absolute goodness. Liberal Churches, viz. The Bethel School of the Supernatural that give the word supernatural a meaning that is not found in Scripture for the only Supernatural is God Himself. If we use the word Supernatural in regards to God who Himself is Absolute Goodness is to have this Absolute Goodness to invade us and be involved in so that sin could be resolved. Man cannot resolve, not his/her imperfections, but more importantly, cannot absolved sin. This a liberal Christian wants to avoid because God, the One who has fixed laws and standards, requires a person to allow this Supernatural One to be affirmed that only He can remove this stain of sin. God manifested Himself to us by His Only Begotten Son Jesus who showed us what it means to live without sin, without sinning and more than that He died on the cross so that by His death and resurrection and our faith in Him to be what He said He was and is, God, Savior, a propiation for our sin, this then means that God can do this through Jesus because He is the Only Supernatural One and the Only Absolute Goodness. Jesus came to earth to pay your debt a debt that all men owed to God for that debt is death and no man, no matter how good he or she is, is not good enough by their lives or death to pay that debt. When Jesus said: "forgives us our debts" in this prayer given to us known as the Lord's Prayer, and if this is not true, not possible what an outlandish assertion and logically then, doubt will be the result. If as an Authentic Christian you do not give some outlandish assertion to what Jesus said then you will have what a liberal Christian cannot have: assurance because for you Jesus is not just an example, He is God come to rescue sinful man by His death. Authentic Christians do not get caught up on some academic debate as whether or not Jesus was sinless, or could sin, what a waste of our spiritual energies, there is no way any finite person can understand the Infinite One who by Jesus did the supernatural that only One who is Absolute Good could do. It is supernatural, not some supernatural things to be done by us, no, God did the supernatural once for all time. 

     Jesus spoke this: "And He said unto him, Why callest thou Me good?.." (Matthew 19:17a)? Was Jesus giving acknowledge to a fact: that He was not sinless? Some will point this out but only to their shame because this verse is only part of the epistle and is not to be taken out of context. No, Jesus was answering a statement made about Him: Good master, an address used in those days and due to what Jesus had just done in early verses. A man was comparing what he knew about himself, that he was not always a "good" person, and only a "good" person could do and say what Jesus said and did. Jesus never referred to Himself as being sinful. Yet Jesus is always dealing with the problem of sin. There is a great chasm of difference between Jesus and ourselves. 

     Authentic Christians do not go around attempting to do some supernatural thing: no, not ever, but do see in Jesus what it means to live sinless, and deals with sin, in their lives, and when appropriate in the lives of others. Here is an important point: UNLESS A PERSON COMES TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE SINNERS IN NEED OF A SAVIOR: THEY WILL NOT COME TO FAITH IN JESUS, BUT WILL OFTEN FIND HOPE IN SOME SUPERNATURAL WORK DONE BY LIBERAL CHRISTIANS. 

     Have you come to know that you are really, actually, sinful and in need of a Savior? Do you see yourself as God sees you: a sinner? Only through the lens of the work of Jesus, His work on the cross, and His death on the cross, and His resurrection can or will God see you as sinless and give to you that which He desires to give to you: EVERLASTING LIFE! 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, 

     come ye to the waters,

and he that hath no money;

    come ye, buy, and eat;

yea, come buy wine and milk

    without money and without price.

                     Isaiah 55:1

Come now to living waters

Richard L. Crumb