Living Above Sin
Jesus Did It All For Us.
Living Above Sin
Here is a Happy Thought that will stick with you. When I caught sight of it, it blessed me all day long.
It will be a Happy Thought and a blessing to you, too.
Acts 3:26 says, "When God raised his servant (Jesus), he sent him first to you to BLESS YOU by turning each of you from your wicked ways." WOW, WHAT A BLESSING.
What would I have been like if God hadn't sent Jesus and raised him from the dead? How many sins would I be in today if it weren't for God's love to raise Jesus? What destitute, degrading situation might l be in now if it wasn't for his concern for my wicked ways? Thank you, God, for your care for me.
Yes, it is a happy thought to think that because God hates sin so much, but he loves us so much that he provided a way to tum us away from our wicked ways. His teachings about right and wrong are so powerful now that God raised Jesus from the dead. It gives proof of a life after death. It proves there is something better to live for than the “here and now.” It points out the reason for making choices that seem to go against the crude way of living. Furthermore, it isn't having the -"I deserve it" or the "do it now" attitude. We don't have to “have our cake and eat it too.” Yes. God has provided a way to direct our hearts from wicked ways by leading them in the path of righteousness.
In the OT, when the Israelites would sin and disobey God, He repeatedly sent his prophets to tell them to repent and turn back to God’s ways.
In the New Testament, John the Baptist told his hearers to repent so he could baptize them.
Jesus then commanded his apostles to go into all nations, and teach them to be His disciples, and baptize them (Matt. 28:20). God would then forgive their sins and call them his children as he is now their Heavenly Father.
Now that is a HAPPY THOUGHT. God is taking GOOD CARE OF US by turning us from our evil ways and living for Him.
Are we loving God enough that we are living in obedience to Him?
I started this on 2/ 7/1992.
Copied on a new hard drive on 10/27/2018
Larry E. Whittington
I think it is important to remember that sin has both consequences and penalty. While the death of Jesus on the cross removed the penalty for sin (which is our eternal death), most of us still get to live with the consequences of our bad choices. To be obedient is to escape both the penalty and the consequences of sin. His discipline is for our good and comes from His love for us...but most of us choose to learn the hard way...forgiveness and no penalty - but still consequences that hurt and linger.