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Now let us look at what the Bible teaches for specific
instructions to those that have been born of God. Most of
the New Testament is written to instruct Christians how to
live Christian lives.
The New
Testament standard for God's people is sinlessness. In 1
Jn 5:18 tells us-- We know that whosoever is born of God
sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth
himself and the wicked one toucheth him not. Almost the
whole sixth chapter of Romans is devoted to the subject of
Christians' deliverance from sin and instruction not to
yield to sin, Rom 6:11 speaks of being "dead indeed
unto sin" and Rom 6:12-13 commands--"Let not sin
therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey
it in the lust thereof. Neither yield ye your members as
instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield
yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the
dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness
unto God." Paul tells of Christians deliverance from
sin in Rom 6:18. Being then made free from sin, ye became
the servants of righteousness. He goes on to say in verse
20, "For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were
free from righteousness." Jesus says in John 8:34,
"Verily, verily I say unto you, Whosoever committeth
sin is the servant of sin." Then in verse 36, He
promises perfect freedom from the bondage of sin when He
says: "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye
shall be free indeed."
Since
children of God are delivered from sin and commanded not
to sin, let us look at what method or system decides what
sin is.
GOD'S
LAW DEFINES SIN
Without a
law defining and limiting human actions and conduct there
would be no sin. However, there is a law that defines what
sin is. That law, of course, proceeds from God.
DIVINE
LAW OF GOD
Divine
law consist of God's supreme moral law and His enacted
laws. Moral laws are those fixed principles of right and
wrong that are written in man's nature. Even those who do
not have the Bible are responsible to this law. (see Rom
2:12-15) Enacted laws are laws that came into force by
commands, hence may not be essentially moral laws. Moral
laws are eternal and universal, thus are always in force:
whereas enacted laws may be temporary. For example, during
the old dispensation Israel was responsible for various
laws contained in the Mosaic law system which were not
moral laws and are no longer in force (circumcision, the
passover, sacrifices, etc.).
In our
day, the gospel dispensation, we are responsible to the
"law of Christ" (Gal 6:2) or all of His
teachings. Heb 1:1-2 tells us--God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers
by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by
His Son whom He hath appointed...Then Jesus says in Jn
12:48--He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words,
hath one that judgeth Him, the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day. The "law of
Christ" also covers the moral law, for His perfect
law of liberty prohibits everything that is by nature
wrong, or as James says--"every evil work" and
enjoins everything that is right or as Paul says
"Every good work."
There is
one teaching of Christ concerning sin that we would like
to specifically deal with and that is the sin of
worldliness.
WORLDLINESS
Almost
everybody agrees that lying, stealing, adultery and murder
are sin. Likewise most admit that homosexuality, taking
dope, drinking, etc. are activities that true Christians
cannot and do not do. However there are many worldly
activities, places of amusement and worldly apparel that
are equally condemned by the Word of God. Thousands of
worldly things and places of amusement have been devised
by Satan to either draw souls into sin or to keep their
minds off God and spiritual things. Worldly places and
worldly music tries to especially draw the minds and
hearts of young people into an unwholesome atmosphere. The
sensuous beat and suggestive lyrics found in worldly music
draws the mind into a mood that leads to moral decay. Paul
advised young Timothy in 2 Tim 2:22--Flee also youthful
lust: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace,
with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Paul
is teaching to not only "flee from" but also to
"follow righteousness...with them.. of a pure heart.
Therefore even the close associates of the Christian are
important. For the Bible teaches us there is a definite
line of distinction between the "world" and the
Christian. In old Testament times God had a "peculiar
people" that were separate from the rest of the outer
nations. Likewise in New Testament times Jesus says of His
followers in Jn 17:16--They are not of the world, even as
I am not of the world. 1 Jn 5:19 tells us--And we know
that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in
wickedness. Then we learn in Gal 1:4 that "Who
(Christ) gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver
us from this present evil world. We also see that God's
obedient children no longer live like the world from Eph
2:2--Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power
of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of
disobedience. James 4:4 says--know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God. Then in 1 Jn
2:15-16 we are specifically commanded to Love not the
world, neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the
Father, but is of the world. Paul also tells us in Rom
12:2-- And be not conformed to this world.. This is one
area that separates many professors of Christianity from
true Christians. To keep from "conforming to the
world" it takes the real experience of salvation in
one's heart to withstand the pressure and pull of the
world. 2Tim 3:12 says--Yea and all that will live godly in
Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Jesus says in Jn
15:19--If ye were of the world, the world would love his
own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth
you.
The true
Christian is not one to rush right out and buy the latest
fad; for his interest is no longer making the outward man
stylish. His desire to please God in all matters of
conduct and dress is greater than the "pull" to
"conform to the world". This is why the true
people of God seem to appear "old fashioned" to
some. However this is also where the enemy of souls
trips-up many. Satan tries to "blend-in" or
erase the line of distinction between the Christian and
the "world".
He is
many times aided by "false prophets" or
"blind guides" who fail to warn the flock by
crying out against worldliness. The enemy whispers that
"it isn't necessary to go to the extremes the old
fashioned Christians do to prove you have salvation."
Granted, there are some who go fanatical perhaps even
being "proud" of their unique or old fashioned
apparel. However just because some "pervert" the
dress standards for Christians, that does not discount the
Bible teaching of....be not conformed to the world. Some
attempt to justify worldly apparel by saying--"It is
not what on the outside that counts, only what is on the
inside that count." Granted, if one is not right on
the inside, it will not make them right to dressed
modestly on the outside. However, those that are right on
the inside will want to obey all the Bible teachings and
the Bible definitely teaches us that what is on the
outside does count. Peter gives instruction on
"outward adorning" in 1 Pet 3:2-4. Then Paul
says in 1 Tim 2:9--In like manner also, that women adorn
themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and
sobriety...He gives instruction on hair that would apply
to the worldly trend today of long "hippy" hair
on men and short cropped hair as we see on women in 1 Cor
11:14-15. Doth not even nature itself teach you that, if a
man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman
have long hair, it is glory to her: for her hair is given
her for a covering. We also learn of God's attitude toward
women dressing like men and men like women in Deut 22:5.
"The women shall not wear that which pertaineth unto
a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for
all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy
God." We know filthy habits, like the use of tobacco,
are forbidden for 2 Cor 7:1 ...says to cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
Be not
deceived by false preachers that tell you if you are
"born again" you can live just any old way and
make it to heaven.
For
"pure religion and undefiled before God and the
Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in
their affliction, AND TO KEEP HIMSELF UNSPOTTED FROM THE
WORLD." Then we might add that those who are truly
born of God find it not grievous to keep unspotted from
the world. 1 John 5:3 tells us--For this is the love of
God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments
are not grievous.
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