Cure for sin
If a person is diagnosed with terminal cancer, shouldn’t the doctor tell the patient that he or she has cancer? The truth is that the patient has cancer. But the doctor, fearing that the truth would hurt the patient, decides to hide it from the patient. But the patient will feel the effects of cancer and eventually die from it one day. Whose mistake would it be if the patient died without knowing he or she had cancer? What if the patient could have received proper treatment that extended the patient’s life? Whose mistake would it be if the patient did not know that he or she had cancer? It would be the doctor’s mistake. Mistake number one. Secondly, what if the doctor had a cure for the cancer and did not tell the patient about it? Mistake number two. So, we must remember that although the truth may hurt or sound offensive, it is wrong to hide the truth. It was wrong for the doctor to hide the truth about the existence of cancer in the patient’s body and the cure for cancer.
Likewise, it is wrong to hide the truth that there is sin (cancer) in every person and that there is a cure for sin. Because of sin, there is suffering and death in this world. If we live and die as sinners, then we will not be saved and will not have eternal life, which is what Jesus said: “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins. (John 8:24).” The truth is that there will be a day when God will judge all people by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:29 - 31) – both dead and alive. The dead will be raised and all those who did not believe in Jesus or who rejected His love, will be condemned to hell (John 5: 28, 29) – a place where they will suffer torment and separation from God’s goodness forever. The bad news for all of us is that we are sinners by nature, and we deserve to be punished for our sins and condemned to hell. The good news is that we have a cure for our cancerous sin that brings about death (James 1:15). That good news is: Jesus paid the price for our punishment with His own blood and died for our sins so that now we don’t have to be punished or die for our sins. We can freely receive the gift of eternal life (salvation) from God by believing in Jesus Christ (Romans 6: 23, 1 Thessalonians 5:9). This is the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ. We cannot do anything or perform some good works to gain our way to heaven. No one can be saved without believing in Jesus. After believing Jesus, He gives us to do the works of God, which are the good works that God has prepared beforehand for all who believe in Jesus (Ephesians 2:10).
Jesus Christ came to call sinners to repentance (Matthew 9:13) and to be His disciples (John 8:31, 32). He came to take away our sins because God loves us and desires no one to perish in hell. Through Him we can receive forgiveness of sin (Colossians 1:14). Those who don’t believe in Jesus will not have eternal life and will be judged and condemned to hell. But God does not desire anyone to perish but all to come to the knowledge of the truth about salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:3-5). Through Jesus, we will be delivered not only from sin but also from the wrath and judgment of God, from the captivity of sin and the devil, from death, from condemnation, and eventually from eternal damnation (in hell).
So, we must not get offended at nor reject the bad news that we have cancer (sin) in us. Instead, we must believe in the gospel (the good news) of Jesus Christ, turn away from our sins, and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Being straightforward about the gospel of Jesus Christ
If you have the cure for cancer, would you not share it with the world? Of course, you would. Likewise, if you know the cure for sin, would you share it with those who don’t know the truth about sin and about salvation through Jesus? Or like the doctor, would you also keep quiet in fear of offending the person, when you know that you could have saved that person from going to hell?
Jesus and His apostles were very straightforward in their message. Their message led their hearers to make a decisive action, either to repent of theirs sins and to believe upon Jesus or to reject His gospel and deny His love, which He proved by dying on the cross for us all. Before He ascended to heaven, Jesus gave strict instructions to His apostles. He instructed them to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name (Luke 24: 47). And commanded them to go and make disciples of all nations and to teach them all the commandments that He had taught them (the apostles) to observe (Mathew 28: 19, 20).
We must be straightforward about the gospel message of Jesus Christ. It is wrong to beat round the bush and not give a clear answer form the Bible (the Word of God) to fundamental questions on salvation and sin. For example, what does the Bible say about who will and who will not go to heaven? What does the Bible say about homosexual practices? We can either be straightforward in telling the truth or not straightforward by saying, “We are not the one to judge,” “I don’t know,” “We need to show love and acceptance,” “We need to be inclusive of everyone,” etc. Such answers convey the wrong message and leave the hearers confused and deceived. Jesus and His apostles preached about repentance from sin and dead works. It is wrong to compromise and distort the message of Christ in fear of offending someone or in the interest of pleasing someone. If we please people, then we are not serving God (Galatians 1:10). As the God’s word teaches us, we must speak the truth with grace on our lips (Ephesians 4:29) and love in our hearts (Ephesians 4:15). No person or church organization on earth has the authority to distort or change the original message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Authority is with Jesus (Matthew 28:18). He has the authority to forgive sins and to justify all those who believe in Him, because it is He who suffered and died for us. God has approved of His authority by “ raising Jesus from the dead and making Him sit at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.” (Ephesians 1:20-22).
The church is not supposed to be viewed as an organization or as a business entity. Jesus is the head of the church, which is spiritually defined as His body (Ephesians 5:23, Colossians 1:18). Those who believe in Jesus are members of His body (Romans 12:5). And He gave the Holy Spirit to His church to lead His people into all truth, to sanctify them, and to help them do the ministry. All members of His body must be subjected to Him (who is the Head) and follow the commandments of Jesus Christ and the doctrine which He gave through the apostles. The foundation of the church has already been laid by Jesus Christ and His apostles (1 Corinthians 3: 9-15, Ephesians 2:20, 21). We must be careful of how we build our lives and our churches on that foundation.
Therefore, we must be straightforward when it comes to confessing Jesus before the world. If we are not straightforward in answering simple questions like the two example questions above, then we will leave people confused and deceived. We will be judged if we lead people astray from the truth. We must not forget that the primary reason for believing in Jesus Christ is to be saved from our sins. Learn what it means to be saved through Jesus Christ (https://www.seekgodtoday.com/post/what-does-it-mean-to-be-saved). God loves everyone and that is why Jesus died to save us from our sins. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” Jesus did not reject sinners, but He asked them to repent and to have faith in Him. We must not forget that as members of the body of Christ, we must live pure and holy lives just as He is pure and holy. Those who name the name of Christ must depart from iniquity (2 Tim 2:19). Today, many are making their own decisions and interpretations of the Bible about what actions are sinful and what actions are not sinful. Many are teaching and preaching messages contrary to what Jesus and His apostles preached.
Consider how apostle Paul was straightforward in the truth of the gospel – both in speech and in works. Paul once withstood against the hypocrisy of Peter on the topic of circumcision. Peter and Barnabas separated themselves from eating with the Gentile Christians when some men (Jewish Christians) from James came to meet them in Antioch, in fear of what these men would think of when they see Peter eating with the Gentile Christians who were uncircumcised (Galatians 2:11 -13). Paul saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel and preached to them that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2: 14 – 16).
Consider how Jesus was straightforward to the woman who was caught in adultery. When the Pharisees brought the woman to Jesus, they wanted to condemn her and throw stones at her according to the law (John 8: 1- 9). But when Jesus told them that those who had not committed any sin may throw the first stone, no one could do it. Because, nobody could deny the truth that they are not sinners. Thus, no one could condemn the woman. But Jesus could have thrown the stone at her and condemn her because Jesus had no sin in Him. But He did not condemn her because He came to call sinners to repentance and not to condemnation. But after telling her that He does not condemn her, He said to the woman, “Sin no more” (John 8:11). Jesus is merciful and does not condemn the woman. But His message to her is very clear and straightforward. ‘Sin no more.’
Likewise, we are not to condemn any person because of their sin, knowing that we ourselves lived as sinners before coming to Jesus. But we still must be like Jesus who said, ‘Sin no more.’ We must turn away from our own sins. And then, tell others to turn away from their sins and to follow Jesus, but not in a rude or condemning way. We must speak the truth with grace on your lips and with the love of God in our hearts. Only Jesus can save us from our sins and from the sinful passions of our flesh. We need to be straightforward both in our speech and in our works.
Now, let’s think about the two example questions above. My answer to the first question is to both Christians and non-Christians. My answer to the second question is to the Christians.
Question 1: What does the Bible say about who will and who will not go to heaven?
According to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the same question can be asked in different ways, such as “Who will and who will not receive eternal life? Who will and who will not be saved? or, who will and who will not enter the kingdom of God?” The straightforward answer to the question is that no one can receive eternal life after they die, unless they believe that Jesus died for their sins and rose again. It does not matter whether a person is born or raised as a Christian, as a Jew, as a Muslim, as a Hindu, or as a Buddhist. Unless a person makes Jesus their Lord and Savior and keep His commandments, he or she cannot enter the kingdom of God. See this video to learn what it means to be saved through Jesus Christ (https://www.seekgodtoday.com/post/what-does-it-mean-to-be-saved). Without receiving the forgiveness of our sins through faith in Jesus, we cannot be made righteous before God. The scriptures declare that we are all sinners, and no one is righteous before God (Romans 3:9-11). The unrighteous cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Our salvation is not determined by how much our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds. Our good works does not give us right of passage to heaven. Being born in a Christian family does not qualify us to be partakers of the heaven. Each person must believe in their heart and confess with his or her mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of their souls. It is only by faith in Jesus, one can become and stand righteous before God.
Just as it is written in Romans 3:21 – 26: “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Believing in Jesus is the first step towards heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)” He also said, “For God so loved the world that whoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)” Believing in Jesus is not about converting to Christianity or following a religion, rather it is about having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is about recognizing the love of God demonstrated by Christ when He laid down His life for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). It is about being saved from sin, from the wrath and judgment of God, from death, from condemnation and eternal damnation (in hell).
Now, let’s look at the second question.
Question 2: What does the Bible say about the practice of homosexuality?
Homosexual practices are considered sin in the sight of God. Homosexual men identify themselves as gays. Homosexual women identify themselves as lesbians. There are “Christians” and “Christian groups” who practice them or approve of those (unbelievers) who practice them, saying, “God loves everybody, so we have to accept them.” Yes, there is no doubt that Jesus loves everybody, and that’s why He died for everybody so that everybody should turn away from their sins and dead works to serve the living God. He died that we would be free from our sins. Jesus loves every sinner because He laid down His life while we were still sinners. This is how we must understand His love. After coming to Jesus, if we willfully choose to continue in sin, then we must ask the question, “Do we really love Jesus?” Jesus said, if we love Him, then we would keep His commandments (John 14:15).
Those who don’t think homosexual lifestyle is a sinful lifestyle, willfully forget that, according to the commandments God gave through Moses, ‘two men having sexual union is an abomination in the sight of God. In Leviticus 20:13, it is written “If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.” The same applies to a woman lying with a woman. Homosexual unions and practices were publicly acceptable with no shame in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the whole land was so full of it that God destroyed them with fire and brimstone. The God of Israel hasn’t changed. He is still the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. If He judged the homosexuals in Sodom and Gomorrah, He will surely judge the homosexuals of today, unless they turn away from that lifestyle and believe in Jesus. God does not show partiality in judgment.
It is contrary to the word of God to say that one can live as a gay or as a lesbian and still go to heaven. Committing homosexual sins is just like committing any other sexually immoral sin, such as adultery and fornication. Those who are truly children of God through faith in Jesus, cannot live homosexual and adulterous lifestyles. They will always have a conviction of sin from the Holy Spirit unless they were not truly born again and do not have the Spirit of God in them. If they were born again, and if they harden their heart against the Holy Spirit and against the word of God when they are convicted of sin, and willfully choose to live the sinful lifestyle, then they are deceiving themselves and will eventually fall away from the faith.
Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth and said,: “ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God . (1 Cor 6:9, 10)” In this passage of scripture, homosexuals are considered sinners along with idolators, thieves, drunkards, and sexually immoral people who fornicate and commit adultery. The gospel of Jesus is preached without partiality to murderers, idolators, thieves, drunkards, adulterers, and homosexuals alike. God does not show partiality in judgment. If God does not judge those who live the homosexual lifestyle, it would not be fair to judge thieves, drunkards, extortioners, adulterers, fornicators, etc. It is wrong to give special consideration to homosexuals and exonerate them from sin when all other types of sins mentioned in this verse are condemned.
Truth is being suppressed by unrighteous works
When we read Romans 1: 18 -32, we will understand that ungodly and unrighteous people are suppressing the truth of God by their unrighteous works. They know the truth about God and sin, but they are willfully denying it.
Read what it says in Romans 1:18-32: “18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”
It is clearly written in Romans 1:26 – 27 that it is a sin and shameful for man to have sex with man, and woman to have sex with a woman. Verses 29 to 31 lists the unrighteous works of man and woman. Also note verse 32. God will not only judge those who practice unrighteousness and sin, but also the ones who approve of those who practice sin. When a person who professes to be a Christian and supports homosexual lifestyle and unions (even though he or she might not engage in such activities), they will also be judged by God along with those who practice the sin. Christians who don’t practice the sin but approve of the sin, are in danger of hell fire.
Feelings and emotions
All sexual sins stem from the lust of the flesh. It is not wrong to have a sexual desire, but it is sin to fulfill it outside the boundaries set by God. Sexual love is permitted only between a man and a woman, who are married to each other. But there are people who justify homosexual lifestyles and same sex marriage based on love and attribution of “sexual orientation” due to some emotion or feeling that naturally occurs in man and woman. This kind of justification is wrong! God never made men and women with different sexual orientations and desires. God made men and women to be upright, but it is they who have sought out wicked schemes (Ecclesiastes 7:29).
People who practice or support those who practice the sin argue that they are made that way and it is not wrong to feel same sex attraction and love. A man can feel attracted to a woman who is not his wife, but if the man chooses to lust for her and sleep with her, wouldn’t he be called an adulterer? Yes. The same applies to a woman: when a woman sleeps with a man who is not her husband, she is called an adulteress. Sexual temptations are common to both men and women. The truth is this: “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. (James 1:13-15) ” While sexual desires in a man and a woman can lead them to commit sexually immoral sins like fornication and adultery, why cannot homosexual desires lead a man and a man, or a woman and a woman to commit the sin of homosexuality? Hence, feelings and emotions are deceptive; we cannot be led by them and think that we are always right based on what we feel is right and wrong. God’s word refer to such feelings and emotions as sinful passions of the flesh. It is wrong to justify our sin based on how we feel and not on God’s word, and then call it acts of love. What’s happening in this world is that the truth of God is being suppressed by the unrighteous words and works of men and women.
Those who are Christ’s have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires
“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24)”
God’s word teaches that those who are Christ’s have to crucify their flesh with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24). As a Christian we must learn how to live a holy life through prayer and fasting, through the word, and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Every person has a sinful nature that makes them sinners. Jesus came to deliver us from our sinful nature and to give us the power (grace) to live a godly and righteous life according to the commandments of God. There is no sin that cannot be conquered in the name of Jesus Christ. Those who don’t understand this and walk to fulfill their fleshly desires, have not learned Christ (Ephesians 4:20).
Those who live to fulfill the desires of the flesh, have not learned to overcome sin in their life and they don’t know that they are supposed to put to death the works of the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit. “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24)” It is wrong to practice sin and willfully sin. Those who are children of God do not practice sin. We need to get deliverance from such sinful passions by the grace of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is important to understand that many go through sexual temptations and many are addicted to committing sexual sins. But Christ came to set us free from the bondage of sin. The first step to deliverance is to acknowledge that what I am doing is sin and I need to be free from it. Only after that you can know how to be free from sin and walk in the Spirit so that you don’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. A person who is not truly born again, cannot understand this and cannot experience the freedom from sin that comes through faith in Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus came so that we no longer have to be a slave of sin, but a slave of righteousness.
Just because I behave in a particular way that does not align with the character of Christ, it does not mean that I cannot change or be like Christ. I may struggle with certain habitual sins but that does not mean I must succumb to it and live with it. A Christian’s goal in life is to become like Christ. The whole purpose of Christ coming was to save us from our sins, so that we don’t have to live as slaves to sin anymore (https://www.seekgodtoday.com/post/what-does-it-mean-to-be-saved). Those who know that they are sinning in an area, must have the faith that Christ can deliver them and help them overcome that sin. Anyone who is a child of God through faith in Jesus is considered a new creation according to Christ. Those who are born of God do not and cannot practice sin (1 John 3:9). When Jesus says, ‘Sin no more’, we must believe that it is absolutely possible to stop sinning. Some habitual sins take time to overcome or to be delivered from. For example, anger, lying, sexual sins, alcoholism, etc. You may struggle or wrestle with them for months or sometimes years, but if you are sincerely seeking to be free from it and not willfully practicing it or approving of it, then you should not feel condemned when you fall. If you fall into sin, confess it, get up and move forward. One day you will overcome it as you learn how to walk in the Spirit. You will be able to crucify the sinful desires of your flesh (Galatians 5:24). “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13)” The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin, righteousness and judgment. We must examine and judge ourselves by the word of God and follow the convictions of sin from the Holy Spirit.
Each one of us must know that it is God’s will and purpose to transform us from being a sinner (a person who practices sin) to a Christ like person. That means we need to think like Christ, act like Christ, love as Christ, serve as Christ, speak as Christ. We need to compare ourselves to Christ. If we are to be His disciples, then we should be like Him. The whole purpose of believing in Jesus is to be saved from our sinful nature and to be like Jesus. God will give us the grace through faith in Jesus Christ to overcome sin.
Do not downplay the sacrifice of Jesus
If we do whatever we think is right in our own eyes, we show that we don’t fear God. But remember that one day, everyone will have to give an account of himself or herself to Jesus. When they stand before Jesus Christ, He will tell them that he does not know them and all those who practice lawlessness must depart from Him: “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Mathew 7: 22 – 23).” Yes, sin is lawlessness, which includes homosexuality, adultery, and fornication.
We should sincerely ask this question to ourselves: Do I really want to follow Jesus or not? Don’t see Jesus lightly and His sacrifice as a common thing. Remember that, church leaders, pastors, teachers, preachers, prophets, or any Christian for that matter, including me, have no authority to say things that are contrary to what Jesus Christ had already said and what the Holy Spirit had already taught through the apostles of Jesus Christ in early church period. Those who are truly born of God, that is those who have become children of God by faith in Jesus, cannot live and practice sin. The Holy Spirit in them will convict them of sin. But if they chose to harden their heart against the Holy Spirit and against the word of God by willfully continuing in their sins, they are deceiving themselves and will eventually fall away from the faith. They forgot what it means to be saved by the blood of Jesus.
Did Jesus suffer and shed His blood on the cross, so that we can live any way we want? If people can go to heaven just by good works or by any means other than through Jesus, then why should Jesus die for their sins? If we are not straightforward about the gospel of Jesus, then we are downplaying the sacrificial suffering and death of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. This is a very serious matter. Jesus said, “repentance and remission of sins must be preached in Jesus name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24: 47).” When a person is not straightforward regarding the truth of the gospel of Christ, it means they are
1. fearing others instead of fearing God,
2. seeking their own glory and the praises from people,
3. wanting to hold on to position and name in the society,
4. wanting to be accepted by all groups, or,
5. wanting to please people rather than God.
We must learn who Christ really is. If we don’t speak according to Christ, we are not serving Him. If we live to please man, we cannot please God. We are living in a time when evil is called good, and good is called evil. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20).” Jesus Christ first came into this world as a lamb to give His life as a sacrifice for our sins. But He rose from the dead and He is going to come again a second time, not as a lamb, but as the King of kings to judge the world.
Let us therefore, be straightforward on the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, both in speech and in our works. Let us speak the truth in love and with grace on your lips. Let us not be like the doctor who does not want to offend anyone by telling the truth or like a person who want to please people for his or her own gain, glory, or selfish desires.
May God bless us and strengthen us. Praise the Lord Jesus! Glory to God!