08 October 2017
Two-Minute Features | 15 October 2017 | 01 October 2017

We Should be Sin-Free Before God's Eyes (TMF:755)

Friday, October 13, 2017
Peace to Live By: We Should be Sin-Free Before God's Eyes (TMF:755) - Daniel Litton
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       Indeed, Jesus promised us in John 16: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak” (John 16:13, ESV). King David talked about the fact that we have sin in our flesh, things that we do wrong against God, that we don’t even know about and aren’t even aware of. He said in Psalm 19:13, “Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression” (ESV). And again, he says in Psalm 139:23, 24 : “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” (ESV). That should be the attitude of us all in that we want to be able to tell God to search our hearts and have God show us areas where we can make improvement. The good news to all of this discussion with identifying sin and repenting of it is that fact that when we do identify it, God will forgive us of it.

Christians Will Still Struggle with Temptations (TMF:754)

Thursday, October 12, 2017
Peace to Live By: Christians Will Still Struggle with Temptations (TMF:754) - Daniel Litton
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       If we move over to Romans chapter 7, we can see how Paul continually struggled with the fact that sin was still part of his earthly body. Now, it makes sense that we all face the struggle of temptations to sin everyday. For Paul said, “when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.” So, as we struggle and fail at times, we need to repent to the Lord of our failure. Sometimes we recognize when we sin, and sometimes we don’t realize where are committing sin until after we do whatever we were doing. We feel conviction from the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us as Christians. We should not based our actions on what we think or ‘feel’ is okay for us to do. We should base our actions on what the Word of God says and where the Holy Spirit is leading us. The Holy Spirit will convict us when we knowingly do wrong, and even when we unknowingly do wrong. Indeed, Jesus promised us in John 16: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak” (John 16:13, ESV).

We Have Been United with Christ in His Death (TMF:753)

Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Peace to Live By: We Have Been United with Christ in His Death (TMF:753) - Daniel Litton
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       Paul says, “and, having been set free from sin, [we] have become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18, ESV). And again, in verse 20, what we use to be before becoming saved: “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness” (Romans 6:20, ESV). But anyway, back at the beginning of Romans chapter 6, Paul talked about how we were baptized into Christ when we were saved. What is he talking about here? Well, this is a baptism that occurs when we are united with Christ in his death, he having taken our place on the cross, and we are declared righteous before God. Paul is not talking about water baptism here, as some have mistakenly concluded. If he was, then anyone who is water baptized becomes saved. Look at the text carefully! If that were the case, all evangelists would need to focus on is water baptizing everyone so everyone could go to Heaven when they die. But he obviously isn’t talking about water baptism here.

We Have the Ability to Choose Not to Sin (TMF:752)

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Peace to Live By: We Have the Ability to Choose Not to Sin (TMF:752) - Daniel Litton
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       “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:1-4, ESV). The idea here in what Paul is talking about is that we should not choose to sin, but we should choose not to sin. To be sure, we as Christians now have the ability to choose not to sin. We are not slaves to sin any longer, as Paul tells us if we move down to verse 18. He says, “and, having been set free from sin, [we] have become slaves of righteousness” (Romans 6:18, ESV). And again, in verse 20, what we use to be before becoming saved: “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness” (Romans 6:20, ESV).

Why Do We Still Have Sin Within Our Flesh? (TMF:751)

Monday, October 09, 2017
Peace to Live By: Why Do We Still Have Sin Within Our Flesh? (TMF:751) - Daniel Litton
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       But why aren’t we just cleansed of the sin within our flesh, or why is it not just taken out of our flesh, when we become a Christian? If we are “born again” like Jesus talked about, then why don’t we now have new flesh whereby we do not sin? These are good questions for us to consider. Indeed, we will have ‘new’ flesh, or new bodies, in the future, but God has chosen right now not to give us our new bodies at the moment of conversion. In Romans chapter 6, the Apostle Paul talks about our current relationship with sin. Turn over there, or tap there. He says the following, starting in verse 1: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:1-4, ESV).