Is sin a cancellation of a debt?
What matters the most: Sin is pictured as a debt, and the sinner as a debtor. Accordingly, the word represents sin …
Tag Archives: Sin
Will we stop sinning?
We can learn to think like Jesus. He didn’t expect to get His own way. Now that is radical. Who doesn’t …
Why should we show mercy? Do we get to throw the first stone?
Jesus challenges us. Are we “sinless”? If so, we get to throw the first stone. Jesus challenged the elite religious leaders. …
Do we have victory in Jesus?
Jesus the Messiah triumphs over and disarms all the powers of evil arrayed against him. Believers are able to share …
Was I a dupe to sin?
I was a dupe of sin. I missed God’s goal for my life and needed to be delivered from the …
Will God forgive us and purge us of all wrongdoing?
God has made us a grand promise. And, He is true to His word. We know that we’ve missed God’s …
How can I not go to Hell?
What is Hell? What does the Bible say about Hell, and how can I not go to Hell? Not going …
To judge or not to judge …
Jesus can be very straightforward and direct. His suggestion on criticizing and judging others is to not do it if …
“If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.” ~Apostle Paul
Our friends in Jesus are amazing. We are to look out for our brothers and sisters. Paul presents a hypothetical …
“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” ~Apostle John
The most common old covenant expression of the means of atonement was the sacrifice and offering up of the blood …
“No, I tell you; but unless you radically change your mind, you will all perish as well.” ~Jesus
I love to compare myself to others who miss God’s goal for their life (aka sinners). It is embarrassing but …
“He [Jesus] has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” ~Religious elites
I miss God’s goal for my life (aka sin or sinning). That is my natural state. Does this bother Jesus? …
“And the Holy Spirit, when He comes, will convict the world concerning missing God’s goal and righteousness and judgment.” ~Jesus
The Holy Spirit convicts me. I miss God’s goal for my life (aka sin) and the Holy Spirit of God …
“Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” ~Author of Hebrews
There was an old agreement (aka covenant or testament). I wasn’t a party to the old agreement. Jesus has initiated …
“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private.” ~Jesus
We all miss God’s goal for our lives. I certainly do. Sometimes that is obvious to other brothers and sisters …
“The man called Jesus …” ~A blind man after healing
I must tell the truth. The man called Jesus has changed me. Not just a little but radically. I’ve changed …
“For if we go on missing God’s goal willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” Author of Hebrews
I need to be very careful. God loves me but God has expectations. What can I expect if I know …
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that the Messiah Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.” ~Apostle Paul
I am always looking for trustworthy statements. They get my attention. I have missed God’s goal for my life (aka …
“Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.” ~Jesus
Jesus wants me to have courage. Jesus wants me to be bold in my faith. Jesus doesn’t want me hanging …
“Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” ~Jesus
Jesus is clear. Jesus doesn’t condemn me. I stand before Him guilty. I am VERY guilty. I have missed God’s …
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” ~Jesus
The Jesus Manifesto (Matthew 5-7) continues with Jesus teaching us how to pray. I must learn how to forgive. How …
There is a whole lot of wrongdoing going on out there. I miss God’s goal. You miss God’s goal. Everyone does. Multiply that by 7 billion people and it adds up. I can see the problem.
Let’s look at God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They are completely holy and set apart from the nonsense of …
“Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.” ~Jesus
Jesus makes a stunning assessment about slavery. We are slaves of sin. Jesus warns me that continuance in the Word …
I need to hang out with the “wrong people” more.
People come in and out of my life. I participate in ministries that focus on the outcasts. I need to …
“God made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in the Messiah.” ~Apostle Paul
The message of the Messiah’s sacrifice for missing God’s goal (aka sin) and His resurrection (the message that Paul refers …
“Generous in love — God, give grace! Huge in mercy — wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down.” ~King David
David has committed a terrible sin with Bathsheba in committing adultery and then having her husband killed in battle. David …
“John the Baptizer went into all the vicinity of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of changing our mind for the forgiveness of missing God’s goal” ~Luke
John is on the move. He is covering all the territory. John has a message for me. I need to …
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” ~Author of Hebrews
There is a big thing I need to start with. It is always the central point. Jesus is the Son …
Do friends help restore believers when they miss God’s goal for their lives?
Our friends in Jesus are amazing. We are to look out for our brothers and sisters. Paul presents a hypothetical …
“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” ~Author of Hebrews
I have missed God’s goal for my life (aka sin). A penalty must be paid. Jesus, the innocent lamb of …
Does Jesus have authority over sin?
I miss God’s goal for my life (aka sin). I sin. I need forgiveness. I need a pardon. Jesus stands …
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” ~Jesus
What a treasure we have in the joy that Jesus brings into our lives. God has a country. Jesus is …
“Don’t bicker among yourselves over me. You’re not in charge here.” ~Jesus
The Jewish people were arguing over Jesus: “Isn’t this the son of Joseph? Don’t we know his father? Don’t we know …
Does Jesus the Messiah purify believers?
I confess to God that I have missed His goal for my life (aka sin). That has me walking in …
“Today is salvation day in this home!” ~Jesus
Jesus says that today is salvation day. Imagine hearing those words from the Master Jesus. You would have to pick …
In His life on earth, was Jesus a friend to those who miss God’s goal for their life?
I miss God’s goal for my life (aka sin or sinning). That is my natural state. Does this bother Jesus? …
“Whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus paid the price for my having missed God’s goal (aka sin) for my life. A penalty had to be …
“For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man.” ~Apostle Paul
The believer has an old nature that wants to keep him in bondage; “I will get free from these old …
Does justice come through the Holy Spirit of God?
The Holy Spirit convicts me. I miss God’s goal for my life (aka sin) and the Holy Spirit of God …
God-deniers and God-haters show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation.
There are many people today who know about the moral code (law of God) established by God in the Old …
Is Jesus the Lamb worthy?
I must say with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb Jesus who was slain for me. I must sing …
If I continue missing God’s goal willfully, will I go to hell?
I need to be very careful. God loves me but God has expectations. What can I expect if I know …
“Be alert. If you see your friend going wrong, correct him.” ~Jesus
There is a dual message here. I am not to lead astray the little ones in the Way of discipleship. …
“But a man must examine himself.” ~Apostle Paul
I need to be careful. I need to examine myself and not look at others as missing God’s goal. I …
“If you then, being evil …” ~Jesus
I need to know about evil. I need to know how to recognize it. Jesus challenges me to recognize …
“He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends.” ~Religious elites about Jesus
Who does Jesus want to hang out with? It is definitely not the religious elites (although He does). Jesus has …
“I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” ~Jesus
I get angry. I say things I shouldn’t and clearly regret later on. I say them though. It isn’t pretty. …
How did my new life in Jesus begin? Was it by “being a good person” and working my tail off to please God?
Have we gone mad? Has someone put a hex on us? Have we taken leave of our senses? Clearly something …
Is humanity enslaved to sin?
Jesus makes a stunning assessment about slavery. We are slaves of sin. Jesus warns me that continuance in the Word …
“Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?” ~The 2 Marys
It is a real and practical question from the 2 Marys. Great, they are thinking, here we are and how …
Do we get insight into the Bible through Jesus the Messiah’s teaching?
Insight is the spiritual quality that enables a person to appreciate God’s mind and will in matters of behavior, truth …
“The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run off even when no one’s after them; Honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions.” ~King Solomon
A lion is a mighty and very courageous animal. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. I want …
“The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” ~Apostle John
Now this is stunning news. If I practice missing God’s goal (aka sin) then I am of the devil. Jesus …
“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, the Messiah died for us.” ~Apostle Paul
Jesus is my example of the pure model of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His …
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering for our missing God’s goal.” ~Apostle John
I miss God’s goal (aka sin) for my life. That separates me from God. I need reconciliation to God. When …
“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.'” ~Jesus
I must change my mind (aka repent). My nature, along with all of us, is one that is fallen and …
Did Jesus demonstrate His friendship with us in his death on the cross?
I don’t understand completely why Jesus would die for me. That is mighty powerful love. And He did it because …
Jesus won’t let us down. No way. He will change us. He will clean us up. He will be true to His word. Now that is some good news.
I can’t claim I haven’t missed God’s goal for my life. None of us can. We are sinners. That is …
Exaltation – Will God exalt those who are humble?
It is possible to submit outwardly and yet not be humbled inwardly. God hates the sin of pride, and He …
Lamb of God – Is Jesus innocent and sacrifices himself for us?
I have missed God’s goal for my life (aka sin). A penalty must be paid. Jesus, the innocent lamb of …
Sin – How does God remove it from us? How is the penalty paid for?
Jesus paid the price for my having missed God’s goal (aka sin) for my life. A penalty had to be …
“Behold, the Lamb of God!” ~John the Baptizer
This is hard to understand since there is no sacrificial system in religious life today. The jewish, christian and islamic …
Kindness — Is failure to acknowledge God’s kindness missing God’s goal (aka sin)?
When I exhibit the kindness of God, I am tender, benevolent, and useful to others. Every action, every word …
“I have not come to call the righteous but those who miss God’s goal to radically change their thinking.” ~Jesus
Jesus challenges me to radically change my way of thinking. Repentance (the original Greek means radically changing my thinking) is of central …
Victory — Is it complete in Jesus as He defeated Sin?
Jesus the Messiah triumphs over and disarms all the powers of evil arrayed against him. Believers are able to share …
“You’re looking for someone to blame.” ~Jesus
I’m not asking the right question. I’m looking to blame someone. I know this is directed at me. A judging …
“The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” ~Jesus
Jesus challenges me. Am I “sinless“? If so, I get to throw the first stone. Jesus challenged the elite religious …
Opposition to Jesus — Criticism of His Choice of Company
Jesus get’s constantly criticized by the religious elite of His day. They didn’t like who Jesus was hanging out …
Jesus the Messiah’s Ministry of Forgiveness was Foretold
I need forgiveness. I have missed God’s goal for my life (aka sin). I am guilty. God forgives me. Now …
Atonement — The Purpose of Jesus the Messiah’s death on Behalf of Others
The dictionary definition of atonement is satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury or making amends. Jesus has paid the …
“If you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” ~Jesus
Jesus continues the Manifesto. Jesus is teaching me how to pray. After the model prayer, Jesus emphasizes the importance of …
Hell — Temptations to Miss God’s Goal (aka sin) Must be Dealt with Drastically
Do you believe in hell? It is interesting that a much higher percentage of people believe in the existence of …
“This happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” ~Jesus
Who missed God’s goal? Somebody did something to cause this and it will help me if i can blame them. …
“In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.” ~Apostle Paul
It was God’s plan not to mess around any longer. God decided he would end the “I’ve missed God’s goal …
“Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” ~Jesus
The religious scholars are at again. They are non stop in their efforts to trap Jesus. Imagine the futility of …
“But if anyone does miss God’s goal (sins), we have a Priest-Friend in the presence of the Father: Jesus the Messiah, righteous Jesus.” ~Apostle John
God has a goal for me and for you. He has one today. Will I hit the mark? Will I …
“It’s not possible for a person to succeed—I’m talking about eternal success—without heaven’s help.” ~John the Baptizer
I like to think I can do it all myself and that I don’t need any help. I need to …
“Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” ~Jesus
Jesus is clear. I need to tell everyone I know how Jesus, my Master and the Messiah, has had mercy …
“And in Thy sweet breathing full of grace and glory how tenderly Thou fillest me with Thy love.” ~~St. John of the Cross
These words, penned by St. John of the Cross in his book Living Flame of Love, capture the heart-cry of …
"I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder." ~~Jesus
Jesus has a standard that is different than what religious leaders try to make us follow. His standard is one …
“I will put my way in their minds and write it on their hearts.” ~God
God has abandoned the old plan. He has completely left it behind. He did it in Jesus our Master. The …
"Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit." ~~Jesus to religious scholars
Jesus hangs out with “sinners” and the religious scholars slam him for His approach. Which raises the first question to …
“Grace doesn’t overlook sin, it empowers obedience.” ~~Bill Johnson
Grace leads us somewhere very important. It leads us to where Jesus wants us to go. Grace leads us to …
God formed us. Sin deformed us. Jesus transforms us.
Now here is some good news. God formed us. Sin deformed us. Jesus transforms us.
Did I go to Smart Mouth College? Do I hang out at Sin Saloon?
There is one place I don’t want to go. I definitely don’t want to graduate from Smart-Mouth College. I don’t …
“When the Messiah died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free.” ~Apostle Paul
I have died with the Messiah Jesus. I am free from living a “rule-dominated” life. That way of life is …
“If we claim that we’re free of missing God’s goal for our life, we’re only fooling ourselves.” ~Apostle John
Am I fooling myself? Sometimes, OK, a lot of the time, I say things that are nonsense. When I do, …
“I don’t condemn you. Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” ~Jesus
I get caught in the act of missing God’s goal for my life (sinning). It happens way too often. The …
“So what do we do? Keep on missing God’s goal (sin) so God can keep on forgiving?” ~Apostle Paul
I live in a new country now. I live in the country governed by God. Jesus is in charge of God’s …
“If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face.” ~Jesus
“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable” I …
Do you want bleach for the stains of missing God’s goal?
God’s love never fails. It just doesn’t stop. We see Him some days through our own eyes and we know …
“You, my brothers, were called to be free.” ~Apostle Paul
The old plan is finished. The rules, the regulations, the spirit of religion. It is done with. I was called …
“I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.” ~King David
Can I go morally bankrupt? It is possible. Without God’s word and promises stored up in a sufficient manner, we …
“It wasn’t long before they were living in a pigpen, smeared with filth, filthy inside and out.” ~Apostle Paul
Something happens when we choose not to follow God’s goal for our life (sin). There is a downward spiral. It …
“Jesus solved the sin problem for good—not only ours, but the whole world’s. ” ~Apostle John
Has the problem of missing God’s goal for our life been solved for good? Yes, it has. Our Messiah and …
"I write this, dear children, to guide you out of missing God’s goal for your life." ~Apostle John
John has a focus for his message to us. It is one we ought to all make the most of. …
“If we claim that we’ve never missed God’s goal for our life, we out-and-out contradict God.” ~Apostle John
Am I going to lay a stake in the ground, claiming that I have never missed God’s goal for my life? …
“He won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive us and purge us of all wrongdoing.” ~Apostle John
God has made us a grand promise. And, He is true to His word. We know that we’ve missed God’s …
Where is the sting of death?
Death has no power. It has been swallowed up whole by the triumphant resurrection of our Master Jesus. This is …
God Thoughts: The whole package
What is in a name? In lots of cases, it doesn’t really make a difference. With Jesus, it makes a …
