Now I know the title of this blog doesn’t make sense because when the Lord gave me this word I did a double take too.
I woke up a few days back to an interesting word from the Holy Spirit.
“There are those not under the law that sin.”
Shaking my sleepy head I said, “Huh? Where is that in the Bible?”
Then the Bible verses starting popping into my head.
The grace of God teaches us to say no to ungodly passions and to live self controlled upright and godly lives in this present age while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14
That my friend says it all in a nutshell!
The grace of God teaches us.
In other words God’s grace or paideuō in the Greek, trains, educates, instructs, disciplines and chastises us so that we live godly lives in this wicked world.
Those born again of God’s Holy Spirit are being redeemed or rescued from wickedness and purified by the fire of God’s Holy Spirit to do what is good.
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18
Let me give you some background context. Many moons ago I got saved out of a ….how shall I put it? 70’s culture. Without going into the details, you can imagine the stains of sin on my lost soul!
I was not raised in a Christian home. My family members were believers and I gave my heart to Jesus when I was nine at a Bible camp but due to hardship I ended up an orphan at an early age with no parental guidance in my life.
I was constantly around the DS&RR 70’s culture, so naturally, I fell into that lifestyle.
When I got saved in my twenties I never knew it was sin to smoke a reefer or to drink a beer or to smoke a cigarette.
Everyone I knew did it, so it was normalized to me.
Sure I knew it was wrong to steal and murder but wearing mini skirts? Come on!
When I got saved, I had to have my mind renewed. A lot of things just did not seem wrong to me but were wrong according to scripture.
Little by little God cleaned me up. Out with the reefers when I got the baptism in the Holy Spirit. No more playing around with the occult. No more ‘anything goes, free love‘ mentality. I was under Holy Spirit reconstruction!
This brings me to my point.
Under grace Christians still sin. That’s what the Bible says!
1 John 1:8-10 KJV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
The word of God tells us that if we confess our sins, God shows us his mercy.
However, in order to confess our sin we must know it’s a sin!
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 7:7
Outward things that people can see are more obvious to deal with, but inward sins are not so easy to detect.
Your heart can actually deceive you! You may think you are a pretty good Christian, but if you go on a week fast and seek the Lord, you may be confronted with a whole bunch of stuff you didn’t even know was there!
The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. Jeremiah 17:9
That’s what a fast does. David said, “Search my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me into your life ever lasting!” Psalms 139:23-24
The Holy Spirit searches our heart to reveal things we have hidden in our heart. Knowingly or subconsciously.
More context concerning this word I received.
On one particular day, I led someone to the Lord who was really messed up. He was cussing up a storm. This person told me that he wanted to get saved, but he had a whole bunch of issues. These issues need to be dealt with. This guy was willing to come to Jesus but he didn’t know what to do to change his old ways. He sincerely wanted to be saved but felt powerless to give up his sin.
I told him that God saves us, not because we deserve it but because he is merciful.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Romans 5:8
This guy was ready to surrender his life to Jesus. He called upon the Lord to save him.
I know the journey with the Holy Spirit has just begun for him.
He got saved by God’s grace. He did not have to work for his salvation, but now he must work out his salvation. Philippians 2:12
Now that does not mean he doesn’t need help. He needs to be mentored and start reading the Bible. However, because he was saved out of a sinful lifestyle and abuse he will need to go through a lot of inner healing and deliverance. Sometimes, these things take time.
Many of us are quick to judge other believers because they don’t live up to our standards. Someone is struggling with an addiction or has a bit of a potty mouth or dresses a little too revealing. We are ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater! The churches are full of these religious zealots quick to crucify every sinner that has a speck in his eye!
Instead we need to take our critical finger and point it back at ourselves.
What is the spiritual protocol for stone throwing? Oh yeah, back at us!
The Lord loves sinners so much that he gave his life for them. It goes even further than that.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.2 Corinthians 5:21
He who knew no sin BECAME SIN.’
That we might what?
Be the righteous of God IN CHRIST JESUS.
Not in ourselves.
The Christian under grace still sins but God is working in them.
The unbeliever who is under law is a sinner too but is not covered in the righteous of God in Christ Jesus.
That is the difference.
So the word I got from the Holy Spirit was a reminder to me not to judge my brother or sister when I see flesh operating in their life. Instead, my assignment is to pray for them. What did Paul say? He said, “My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” Galatians 4:19
“I’m a sinner saved by grace.” is a phrase some Christians balk at, but it is scriptural.
If you don’t believe me, then read the book of Romans.
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counselor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. Romans 11: 33-36
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