This is Not a Toy
Matthew 5
29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Sometimes we hang on to “do not judge” to the point we handicap ourselves. Its like standing in a doorway with one foot in the way. We never commit to going forward and still hang on to what is behind us. When we talk about sin it causes an up roar and some will scream legalism or call you self righteous. They will bring to your attention of your own sin. Its not like you are talking to those who don’t believe on the name of Jesus Christ… If we are claiming Christ and have sin in our life, with Christian love we need to be judged and corrected (1 Corinthians 5). God takes sin very seriously, especially sin in the lives of His elect. Yes, God loves us and He loves us to much to let us destroy ourselves. So we get disciplined but keep in mind that this doesn’t apply to those who don’t belong to Christ Jesus. I know years ago neighbors or family member would discipline the kids in the community or family but never a child outside of that group. In the same way, the church is to correct in love but to the outside world God will judge. We are to present the Gospel to them so that they might know Jesus. People hate to think that God would show tough love but He does. If I was a child of God who is struggling with alcohol what if God allowed me to injury myself to release me from that bondage? That does seem harsh and evil. It seems that way because we have this idea that we only desire the best. We so easily forget that we are sinners, children of wrath and once were enemies of God. Jesus said that it is better for you to lose one part than the whole to burn in hell. We never think of God’s eternal and infinite view of life. When we fix our perspective the following verse will start making sense: Romans 8:28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[j] who[k] have been called according to his purpose.
Yet, we continue to play with sin like its a toy, like we are playing a kid’s game. This is not a board game and we don’t get multiple chances to get it right. We will never take it seriously until we change our hearts but we can’t do that only God can change a man’s heart. We don’t even have the faith to believe in/on Christ, our faith is a gift just like our salvation. But we get trapped into doing good deeds because for some reason we think earning salvation is easier than stop playing with sin. We think we can earn it by doing things, so we ignore sin and let it live with us. We soon forget our sin and continue to live like nothing is wrong with us. We become that beautiful woman or handsome man who has aids and don’t know it. Even though they live risky lives that put them in danger, they deny it completely. Their pride, selfishness and arrogance infects everyone they come in contact with. They think that they are good because they do good things. Others who have suffered with aids or overcame it try to correct them but are rejected.
10While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”
12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
The key to salvation is in the hands of the Lord and you can’t even see the key unless God opens your eyes. But if He opens your eyes and shows you your sickness, do you tell God that you are good enough? If we don’t repent and confess that we are sick, the Gospel will have no affect. Jesus didn’t die for people who were ok or descent; Christ died for those who not only know but admit that they are dead in their sickness of sin. The elect are the people who admit that without Christ they are good as dead and deserve hell. If you think that you are righteous or a good person, the cross is not for you. The elect are chosen by God for Christ and they are no longer slaves to sin. If God has changed your heart and you no longer serve sin; then why do we play with it?
Luke 18
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
If we are continuing to pursuit our sins with lust in our eyes; we deny Christ and the power of God’s transforming grace. Do we turn our backs on His mercy? Do we taste the goodness of a holy God and still choose sin? Do we still submit to the flesh and turn away from Christ? How can we do that and still say “I love God”? Do we dare make a mockery of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection? Can you wrestle with a lion and don’t expect to be devoured? Who is that foolish? The treasure we hold on to give evidence to what we love. If we love anything more than God, we are idolaters. If we remove anything or deny anything that God proclaims to be of Him or apart of His character; then we no longer worship the True and Living God. Because of this wickedness we suffer brokenness and soon the unrepentant heart will fall into wrath proving that we were never saved at all. See, to be in Christ is to hate sin and not dwell in it.
Romans 1
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 2
5But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will give to each person according to what he has done.”[a] 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 9There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; 10but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 11For God does not show favoritism.
You can choose to reject what is presented but what you reject is conviction of God the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8). The Pharisees hated Christ for calling them hypocrites as He called into question their pride. It is our pride that blinds us to our sin and the urgent need of a Savior. The Gospel is so against human nature and habit unlike other “religions”; how can it be an invention of sinful men? (2 Peter 1:16-20). If we cannot deny (Luke 9:23-27) ourselves and abandon our pride we can’t hope to follow Christ. And until we are following and abiding in Christ, until we put on Christ sin will not have meaning. Without Christ as our love and Him living His life through us we will continue to play church and play with sin like its a toy.
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Anointed Place Ministries 
ugh… Thanks for your obedience bro. I just left a study this evening and the leader said something that I challenged. Then, I started questioning self-righteousness and put the question on him about any repeated sin in his life. Then, on the way home, I was convicted and the Lord said “He’s right Joseph”. Finally, I get home and read your post.. the first part – “When we talk about sin it causes an up roar and some will scream legalism or call you self righteous. They will bring to your attention of your own sin.”
I contacted him and apologized. I’m so thankful for having good leaders who allow the Holy Spirit to work… as all things work together for the good, for those that love God. Thank you so much.. Keep on keepin’ on.
joseph
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