Message for June 28, 2015 from Pastor Jerry

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.  For this purpose was the Son of God manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” I John 3:8(NKJV)

        According to this verse sin is the work of the devil.  All sin is associated with the devil and all his works result in sin.  The root of all sin rests in the work of the devil.  In the Garden of Eden it was the work of the devil that led Eve to violate the “only” negative command given to her and Adam.  It was the only “thou shalt not” given to them by God.  The “thou shalts” included being fruitful, multiplying, filling the earth, and having dominion over every living thing.

        With all the good things they could do,  why did they get consumed with the only thing they were told not to do?  It was because they listened to the devil.  They walked with God every day in the garden and that fellowship must have been wonderful.  But they ruined their world because they could not escape “sin consciousness.”

        The Son of God was manifested to destroy sin.  When did He destroy it?  Was it once and forever at the Cross or is it an on going process on a day to day basis?  Under the Old Covenant sin was destroyed by the shed blood of the sacrificed animal.  It was only good for one year then the procedure was repeated.

        On the other hand, the New Covenant is a better covenant resting on better promises.  Listen to this. “But this Man, after He had offered ONE sacrifice for sins FOREVER, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.  For by ONE offering He has perfected those who are being sanctified.” Heb. 10:12-14(NKJV) The blood sacrifice of Jesus cleansed our past, present, and future sins.  Continuing to repent of your sins in order to make sure you are still saved is the result of your sin consciousness and is as good as saying the blood of the Cross did not do a complete job of taking care of my sin.  That attitude keeps the work of the devil alive in you.  Therefore you can never have confidence in your relationship with God.  The initial repentance of sin when you accept Jesus as Savior is the confession of our sins (sinful state).  Any later “repentance” is our admission that we missed it and are willing to change our direction of life to what is God’s will.  Even though there is a need to ask God to forgive us of missing the mark and limiting His work in our lives it is not for reestablishing our “saved” state.  Remember you are saved because of your faith in what Christ did and not in the works you do.  This enables us to have confidence which has great reward.  

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