Grace Is Not A Charm That Excuses Continuing In Sin

Regarding 1 John 3.

When I was 6 years old and committed my life to Jesus, I was told 1 John showed us how we can know we are born again. As I grew older and drifted from following the Lord, 1 John did not comfort me. Brothers and sisters, you should know that you are God’s child and have been changed. Never stop seeking God and his holiness. Repent quickly and turn from sin. Do not continue in sin. Continuing in sin is a sign we do not know God.

Though these scriptures are written to God’s children, there is no comfort given if we practice sin. Verse 6 tells us that if we keep on sinning we have not seen the Messiah and do not know him. Do not hold on to sin and think “grace” is a New Testament charm that will save you. Countless preachers and teachers preach “grace” as a charm that excuses those who willfully continue in sin. 

The grace of God is not a new thing. Father Abraham was saved by grace through faith. Beware of preachers who preach grace and do not warn of the necessity of holiness! It is about your soul. Eternal life or eternal death.  

1 John 3 ISV

1See what kind of love the Father has given us: We are called God’s children—and that is what we are! For this reason the world does not recognize us, because it did not recognize him, either.

2Dear friends, we are now God’s children, but what we will be like has not been revealed yet. We know that when the Messiah is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him as he is. 

3And everyone who has this hope based on him keeps himself pure, just as the Messiah is pure. 

·         There is a famine of hearing. The ear tickling preachers have abandoned the truth. Do not partake in their folly. We are to “keep ourselves pure”!

4Everyone who keeps living in sin also practices disobedience. In fact, sin is disobedience. 

5You know that the Messiah was revealed to take away sins, and there is not any sin in him. 

6No one who remains in union with him keeps on sinning. The one who keeps on sinning hasn’t seen him or known him.

·         We must listen to God’s warnings, not false teachers who are looking to please people and profit from them.

7Little children, don’t let anyone deceive you.

·         Warning! Warning! Warning! Don’t be deceived!!

The person who practices righteousness is righteous, just as the Messiah is righteous. 

8The person who practices sin belongs to the evil one, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning.

·         The reason that the Son of God was revealed was to destroy what the devil has been doing. 

9No one who has been born from God practices sin, because God’s seed abides in him. Indeed, he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born from God. 10This is how God’s children and the devil’s children are distinguished. No person who fails to practice righteousness and to love his brother is from God.

Mark 8 ISV

34Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples and told them, 

“If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continuously, 35because whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. 

36What profit will a person have if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life?37Indeed, what can a person give in exchange for his life? 

38If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes with the holy angels in his Father’s glory.”

Proverbs 3 ISV

1My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments:

2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you.

   

3Let not mercy and truth forsake you: bind them about your neck; write them on the table of your heart:

4So shall you find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding.

6In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.

7Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.

The scriptures do not teach God wants you to have “your best life now” as false teachers like Joel Osteen teach. Satan offered Adam and Eve a better life and they died spiritually. Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world and all they had. Jesus rebuked Satan and went to the cross. We too are told to take up our cross and follow Jesus. We should be looking for the return of Jesus the Messiah to rule and make everything right, not falling in love with this world system. "Stop loving the world and the things that are in the world. "If anyone persists in loving the world, the Father's love is not in him." 1 John 2:15 ISV

Brothers and sisters, obey what Jesus and his apostles told us to do and not to do. False teachers are fleecing the flock and making millions tickling listeners ears. Though these teachers will be punished severely, the hearers are responsible and we are actually told it is the hearers that raise up teachers to tickle their ears.  "For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people's own desires."

2 Timothy 4:3 ISV

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!

Revelation 5 ISV

11Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels, the living creatures, and the elders surrounding the throne. They numbered 10,000’s times 10,000 and thousands times thousands. 12They sang with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the lamb who was slaughtered

to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise!”

13I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea, and everything that is in them, saying,

“To the one who sits on the throne and to the lamb

be praise, honor, glory, and power forever and ever!”

14Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!”, and the elders bowed down and worshipped.