To hear a pastor lament to an OSAS believing group of Christians about how many Christians have "no sense of sin" and that they treat "sin as no big deal", caused me to ponder the statements.
Let me say first that I thank God many times for my friends that happen to believe OSAS to be true and they do try to live for Jesus the best they can.
I feel this issue is a dangerous natural outcome of OSAS and I have seen it brought to light many times. Saved Christians that feel no need for corporate worship on Sundays with a church...ever. Some that I know have a particular sin that they continue to live in because "Jesus died for ALL of their sins, past, present, future" and so they give in constantly to this one sin because they are prone to it with no regard for its consequences . Didn't Jesus already forgave them for it? On one occasion I tried to point a sin out, in a loving manner, to someone and they indicated that it did not matter if it was sinful or not because they had been forgiven. So, in essence, you can never sin again if you were once forgiven?
I think you can sin and that it could still count against you. When I wake up every morning, I still believe that I am married to my wife. Is that belief going to cut it? No, I need to recommit to her every day. By doing nothing, or by doing something that is contrary to our vows, I cause harm to our relationship.
To an even greater extent, the same holds true for Jesus. By doing nothing, or doing something that breaks his commandments, I cause harm to our relationship. Only through repentance and the Grace of Jesus does the relationship get restored.
Romans 11:17-22.
17If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." 20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. 22Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
Luke 8-13
13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
1 comment:
Brother, I do believe you're getting better at this. To believe in OSAS will leave you flat on your osas in the end.[But wouldn't it be wonderful if it were only true] That's a dogma I could live happily FOREVER after with. Unfortunately SOSA [same old sin again and again] is our human condition. [Which is why our knees SHOULD hurt so much] Love you brother.
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