THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS
The young pastor was preaching vehemently against the evils of television.
He said, "It steals away precious time that could be better spent on Bible study. It teaches subliminal messages of immorality."
Then the pastor said, "We hid put our TV away in the closet."
His wife then said, "That's right, and it's crowded in there too!"
______________________________________________________________________________________
________SCRIPTURE____________________________________________________________________
Jeremiah 2:35
35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
KJV
______________________________________________________________________________________
_______THOUGHT______________________________________________________________________
Even though they were plainly ALL sinners, they considered themselves "innocent" by means of law and ritual.
Once, a man, who was a deacon in a church, told me that he did not sin. He said he read his Bible everyday, prayed everyday, gave his tithe, and was faithful in church.
MY! How PIOUS people can become! Let us not forget that Romans 3:23 says, "ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." The verb tense there: "have sinned" coupled with "come," is present perfect tense. It means that we are ALL sinners ALL the time!
As Christians, we certainly seek to not live in sin. However we do sin. Observance of law and ritual doesn't make a person clean from sin! Only humble confession and repentance can do that! (See 1John 1:9).
YES, God has washed us in the blood of Christ! YES, God has sealed us in His Holy Spirit! But God has not REMOVED from our heart the propensity to sin! ((He WILL do that, by the way, when we are brought to glory -- see 1Corinthians 13:12))
But today, in this life, we need to come DAILY before God confessing our sins, pleading forgiveness, and trying with all our hearts to refrain from evil.
Strive to live without sinfulness, and be humble and honest before God.
Love ya,
Bruce