Good evening, all. Tonight we're back to our regular forum, although the question-and-answer format seemed to have been fairly enjoyable to all, so I figure on doing that once a month or so, probably the last Friday in each.

So, before we took that "break" I gave a series of three studies on victory over sin - hoping to help people to the understanding of what the Gospel truly is. Tonight, in a study I call "All Have Sinned," I'd like to summarize it a bit, make sure we're clear on all the points... and of course genuine (corteous) questions are always appreciated :)

The Word says of the Good News about God: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Rom 1:16) Paul calls it "The power of God to salvation." This would mean to all of us, hopefully, that it is infinite in it's ability to change our lives. In the first of the three studies, I endeavored to show from Scripture that such a thing was even possible, that we can conquer sin completely in our lives. In the second, we looked at verses that seemed to be saying otherwise (such as Romans 7, some places in 1 John). In the third, we looked at what sin itself was, so that we could "know our enemy," and we saw that to be tempted was not sin, only the conscious choice to do something that is known to be wrong.

To make this choice is to invite a hardening of one's heart, which eventually leads the victim to be unable to even hear the Grace and call for forgiveness. Those who remain in known sin eventually come to the place where they reject the very Spirit which summons them to Christ: "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." (Mat 12:31)

Christ is in no way teaching that there will be no forgiveness of the truly repentant. What this means is that if we walk in darkness after learning of the light.. WE change. John wrote: "If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." (1 John 1:6)

Those are some heavy words. For how often is it on the lips of even those who consider themselves Christian - "I'm only human," "We all fall short," "I'm working on it..." Do you know... all three of those things are lies? The first, I'm only human, is refuted here: "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Peter 1:4)

Chirst became a man, He reached down to humanity, so we could reach up and claim a part of what we lost in the fall. Divine nature does not mean we of ourselves become divine, of course. But through our Savior, we can lay claim on those promises.

I'll do the third one second, because that second one deals directly with this week's study, which I've actually named "All Have Sinned" in honor if it :) The second statement, "I'm working on it... I mentioned a while ago I would do a study on what effects the "Evolution" doctrine has on Christians, and that by itself would be a series of studies... however I'd like to have you with this thought present in mind. A belief in the literal, 6-day creation gives us a picture of a God who creates instantly, by the very Word of His mouth.

When Christ healed, it was always immediate: "So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him." (Mat 20:34) Reading the Gospels, we find this is the ONLY way the Father and Son do things. It is never by a process where healing is concerned. Some things are processes: growth (both physical and spiritual), education, development of maturity and character. But in terms of healing and creation (for when we are converted we are new "creations") it is always immediate.

When this is applied to the Christian life, when we become true Creationists, we find that this works for sin as well. When we find a fault in ourselves, we confess it, repent (turn away), and ask for Grace to overcome it. Then it is gone... and forever. And immediately, even if we don't "feel" the effects right away, by our faith we thank Him for it, claim it, and we discover to our own amazement that it's gone. This is the testimony that fulfills the promises: "Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you." (1 Cor 1:6)

"We all fall short." This is one of the more dangerous thoughts in even Christian thinking. And it kills on two levels. First of all, the Bible never says this. This is a twisting of a certain verse, and this is what it really says: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23) Don't like the traditional King James version? Here it is in the NKJV: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom 3:23 NKJV) If you like the NIV, it's also worded the same way there... "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." In all but the most liberal (and consequently least true to the original spirit of the texts) versions of the Scriptures, that statement says we fall short of the glory of God... but because we all HAVE sinned.

I spend a bit of time there, because that's vital. It is NOT an excuse to Sin. Paul himself said: "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid!" (Rom 6:15) What Paul is underscoring is this point: "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Cor 15:22)

We have a sin nature inherited from Adam. Because of this, before we accepted Christ, we were sinners by nature... we couldn't help it then. And what he says about coming short is simply this: nothing we can do can ever, ever make up for even ONE sin. ONE sin condemns us to destruction. We all fall short. However, reading Romans 7 and 8 continuously, we find help for this lost condition: "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Rom 7:24)

Who? The very next verse answers that: The Messiah, that's who. In Him we can do all things.

Secondly, even if this WERE what the Bible said in that verse, it shouldn't be in our thinking... it certainly shouldn't be an excuse. In the first of the three studies, I compared living a life free of known sin to walking on water. Both are impossible for the natural man (and it is the "natural man" who protests against even the thought of sinless living), but both are DONE by those called by Christ.

I'm not saying we should go out and try to walk on water :) No, that's the symbol to the spiritual reality, but look what happened in Peter's experience: "And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.' And He said, 'Come.' And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, 'Lord, save me!'" (Mat 14:28-30)

What caused Peter to start sinking? He grew afraid. Why did he grow afraid? He looked _around._ He took his eyes off of the Redeemer. Let's apply that to our own "walk over the water" of living that victorious life. What causes people to think it's okay to sin?

I'll tell you a sad story. When my girlfriend first became a Christian... she believed everything I'm teaching you tonight, and for the past few weeks. No pastor or priest let her in on this "secret." She sought the Redeemer, and she found Him (for all who seek Him will), and He told her she was now free. She didn't have to sin anymore... not ever - not once. And you know what? She did it. She started walking that walk, living that life. If she knew something was wrong; convicted of it in her heart, she would NOT do it. It just wasn't an option.

However, she was not a member of a Body of people who believed this. The congregation were much like... well.. most Christians today. "What do you mean we should stop sinning completely? Don't you know we're still in the flesh?" Yes, we're in the flesh... but as Paul said: "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom 8:3-4)

Yes, we are in the flesh, but we do not "walk after" it or "mind the things of" it. We are tempted, but so was Christ. We must overcome, as did Christ. Every time. Is grace weaker sometimes? Are we every now and then walking past a "blindspot" in the protective eye of our Father? How can that be? So then we are always able, and when we KNOW Him, we are always choosing right :) "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21) If we say we love Christ, and we do not do this...

Now someone may stop me here and say, "Who are you to judge our walk? Are you telling us we're not Christians because we're not doing everything the Bible says?" Well, at least by this point, I hope we're beginning to see that the Bible DOES say these things :) Let me finish the story I'd begun above and see what I am saying.

So, this girl, taught this wonderful freedom by the Lord Himself, was joyfully living the victorious life. But Christ gave His followers a warning: "Then Jesus said unto them, 'Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.'" (Mat 16:6)

Leaven. A little, it is written, raises the whole lump. A tiny bit of poison will kill. And so these churchgoers continually pressed upon her the "fact" that no human being except Christ ever has, or ever will, be able to live sinlessly. Now, what was their motive for this? It should be obvious to a child - to justify their OWN flaws that they were unwilling (not unable) to confess and turn away from. But... eventually they got to her... and she abandoned her belief in the life of Victory. She started "slipping up" every now and again. She learned to justify things she would never have dreamed of doing before. A sad story.

It does have a happy ending, though :) When she and I met, I'd just come to this truth, and just accepted it myself - and being her friend, and a Christian, I of course shared this wonderful testimony with her. She was a little surprised, I think, to find someone who believed in this. But thankfully, she was willing to listen. I told her one day, "No, no... you were right the FIRST time. Go back! :)" And she did.

So am I judging those who haven't accepted this? How can I? Even our Lord, while He was on earth, said: "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world." (John 12:47) He was not the Judge then, not yet. How then can I, still being on earth? Paul said in 1 Corinthans 6 that someday the saints will judge all things, even the angels. But that day's not come yet... not for me, anyway :)

Rather than judge, I invite. To her, I said, "Go back to where you were." If you've never believed it before, I say, "Run to Him. He will teach you Himself, even as He taught her." The Psalmist wrote: "I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." (Psa 119:32)

Are you "running" to fulfill His laws, His commandments, His love of God above all and your neighbor as yourself? Is it your delight? "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5:3)

In fact, is it SUCH a delight to you that known sin just isn't an option? It would be too _hard_, too much of a burden. If not, I invite: let your sincere prayer be that He "enlarge" your heart. And you know what? He will. Be Creationists and not Evolutionists - believe He will, and He will. Immediately. It won't take millions of years to perfect your heart. "And said unto him, 'Hearest thou what these say?' And Jesus saith unto them, 'Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?'" (Mat 21:16)

It happens AT ONCE, and after that we only continue to grow, to learn the better way. Growth, remember, is a process. Rebirth, the changing of our nature so we will desire that.. that takes place as fast as the time between Elohim saying, "Let there be light," and the first sparkle of visible energy.

Do I say those who don't do this, those who (believing it) refuse to accept the FULL power of the Gospel aren't really Christians? Well, we have to be very careful when challenging people :) If we disagree that what I'm teaching is what the Bible says, we can talk about that... if not, shouldn't we be doing it? So in other words, let me answer that with a question: What would the Savior do?

Rather let me say this: "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, 'Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.'" (Rev 4:1) You know, a lot of people don't study the last Book of the Bible much. But if they want to know their Lord, they must. Some just call it Revelation. Some call it, "The Revelation of St. John The Divine." That is not the name of that Book. It names itself in the first verse: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:" (Rev 1:1)

Says right there that the book is "The Revelation of Jesus Christ." Who does that book reveal? Whose nature and character is revealed in every chapter? Mercy and justice, the divine balance that only the Father can hold together pefectly... they are revealed to us by His Son, and His Son is revealed to us in His Book. And His book says, "Come up HERE, and I will show you things..."

Come up higher, come up to the Throne, and then look back at where you were. See where you'd rather be :) But first accept the challenge. That can only be accomplished when we stop relying on self. Get this, and get it well :) If we try, we will fail. As Paul rightly said, we're still in sinful flesh. But as Paul also rightly said, in Christ, we don't walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Only in Christ, though. Only when we completely FORGET that we used to be limited, when we FORGET the sins of those around us who haven't yet grasped this, when we FORGET the temptations that are even now threatening us... when we forget SELF, then we can walk on water.

Let me close by finishing the Peter story. We were here: "And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.' And He said, 'Come.' And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, 'Lord, save me!'" (Mat 14:28-30)

Okay, let's pause there: Peter "was beginning" to sink. Peter did not sink. Peter did not fall, to put it in spiritual terms. To "begin" to sink, or to be tempted, is NOT to sin, it's not to sink. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:15) Lust (or desire) to do wrong things gives birth to sin. Temptation happens to us all, but the sin is the "giving in" to what we know is wrong. That's what brings forth death. So Peter was beginning to sink. He saw the waves, the storm, and he began to fear, and it caused him to lose his confidence. BUT... Peter knew what to do! WE know what to do :)

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, 'Lord, save me!'" (Mat 14:28-30) And what happend "immediately?" "And immediately Jesus stretched forth Hhis hand, and caught Him, and said unto Him, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?'" (Mat 14:31) Immediately Peter was rescued from his temptation. Immediately we will be delivered from our temptation - so that we do not sin - every time we ask. And looking back, we'll see that the temptation wasn't that big a deal after all: "And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased." (Mat 14:32)

Our response to learning this? That we can walk on spiritual water, and never give in to sin? "Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, 'Of a truth thou art the Son of God.'" (Mat 14:33) The full story of the Gospel, all in one brief incident from our Savior's life. From conversion to Heaven, all in a few verses. We're at the point in History were we're almost to Him.. but many, most... all but a FEW are looking at the waves, and not at our Savior. He said, sadly: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Mat 7:14)

But none of those have to be us. We can be those who, like Peter know what to do when we are tempted... Immediately we cry "Lord save us!" And He will :) This is the promise, my final verse for tonight: "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Cor 10:13)

Let us all think on those things, and praise our Father that this is so, that we need never fall, no... not once :)

David.