Are You Bound By Sin?

I am glad you have chosen to join me today to open the Word of God, so that we can gain insight to living a victorious life in Christ! Today’s post is part one on the topic of sin. Eric

Over the years, I have counseled with many people who, even though in a personal relationship with Christ, are held captive by past sins. The guilt and shame of those sins keep them from enjoying the freedom they have in Christ.

I ministered to one young woman who was convinced that she had committed the unforgivable sin.

Let’s see what the Word says about the unforgivable sin. Matthew 12:31 and 32, “Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” The Greek word blasphemia, translated blasphemy means: slander, speech injurious to another’s good name, railing, reviling and evil speaking. There is an unforgivable sin made known in the scripture, which is to rail, revile or to speak evil against the Holy Spirit.

The Pharisees slandered the Holy Spirit by knowledgeably attributing Jesus’ works to the devil. The works Jesus did were performed by the power of the Holy Spirit. It was not an act of ignorance on the part of the Pharisees, but the result of a continual and willful rejection of truth concerning Jesus. They were very much aware of what the Scriptures declared about the Son of God. (Matthew 12:24 and 28; John 9:40 and 41)

Hebrews 6:4-6 reads, “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” In verse 4, the word ‘impossible’ or adynatos in the Greek means: unable to be done. ‘Enlightened’ photizo in the Greek means: to enlighten spiritually or have come to a saving knowledge (my word - become a believer). ‘Tasted’ in the Greek means: experience. ‘Gift’ or dorea means: free gift- a spiritual or supernatural gift. Then, the word ‘shared’ (partakers in the NKJ) is metochos in the Greek and means” being a partner in a work, participant, and sharing in or partaking of. The phrase ‘fallen away’ or parapipto means to fall away from Christianity. Finally, ‘restore’ is to renew that he should repent.

Using these Greek meanings, I will paraphrase verse 4 and 6a. “It will be impossible tor one who has come to a saving knowledge (is a believer), having experienced a heavenly, spiritual or supernatural gift, and has partnered in the work with the Holy Spirit, to be renewed again to repentance, if they fall away from Christianity (or choose to walk away.)”

Willful rejection of Jesus after the full experience of relationship with Him cannot be reversed. Anyone who is concerned that they may have committed the unforgivable sin, has not, because if they had, they would no longer care.

We find in Scripture that satan is the accuser of believers. Revelation 12:10 (NKJV), “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” Satan is a liar and the father of lies. John 8: 44, “You are of your father and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Satan uses the weapon of guilt to keep believers in bondage and from becoming all that God created them to be.

Being aware of satan’s strategies then, we can understand why it is absolutely crucial for us to know what God’s Word reveals to us concerning sin in the life of a believer. Ephesians 1:7 (Amplified Bible), “In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood [which paid the penalty for our sins and resulted in'] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sins, in accordance with the riches of His grace.” It is important that we recognize and not deny that, even as believers, (those who by faith received what the shed blood of Jesus has accomplished in them), we sin.

Even though His shed blood paid the penalty for our sins and they are forgiven, we must realize that the sins we commit as a believer affects our fellowship with God. That sin has to be dealt with and God, in His amazing mercy and grace, has made a way for that to happen. 1 John 1:9 (NKJV), “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and restore our fellowship with Him. The word ‘confess’ means: to admit or declare oneself guilty.

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin. John 16:7 and 8, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

Jesus is our advocate or intercessor, who sits at the right hand of God. 1 John 2:1 (NLT), “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” Romans 8:31b, 32 and 34, “If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? ... 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

We mentioned earlier that satan is the accuser of the brethren and that he accuses the children of God day and night. However, thank God, Romans 5:1 reveals that we have been justified (declared righteous and therefore acceptable) by faith and have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

We read in 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” Jesus is the mediator between God and men. Mediator, mesites in the Greek means: go between, one who intervenes between two, or a medium of communication, or arbitrator. So, when satan accuses us to God, God’s response is, “I only see Jesus!” When the accuser comes before God to accuse us, God turns to our mediator Jesus, and we are deemed innocent.

Jesus rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of God. (Colossians 1:13 and 14).

Our past is no longer held against us for we have become new creatures in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Also, 1 John 1:7 (NLT) reveals this wonderful truth, “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” The blood of Jesus cleanses us from “all” our sin - past, present, and future.

Romans 8:1 (NLT), “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God, because of the sacrifice Christ made, our debt has been paid and we are free from condemnation!

Then we read in Hebrews 9:14 (NLT), “Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.” Amazing, the blood of Christ will also purify our conscience!

Finally, we will look at one more revelation we find in the Word about what God does with our sin. It is found in the following Scriptures and it is also is amazing!

Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV), “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."

Romans 4:8 (NKJV), “Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." ‘Impute’ translated from the Greek word, logizomai means: take into account, lay to ones charge.

Isaiah 43:25, “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” ‘Blots out’ according to Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon means: wipe out, erase, and cancel. ‘Will not remember’ means: recall or call to mind. What good news! God not only forgives our sin, He forgets it. He wipes it out, erases it, cancels it, and will not remember it any more!

If the one you have sinned against can let it go, it is time for you to do the same.

Jesus’ blood is more than enough to cleanse you from all your sin. Let the power of His blood and the knowledge of His Word give you freedom from guilt and shame!

Know that you are the redeemed, blood bought, forgiven child of God!

Do not let the enemy continue to shame you with his accusations and deceive you concerning how complete God’s forgiveness is!

Psalm 103: 12 (NLT), “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.”

Feel free to leave a comment, I would be happy to hear from you.

Unless noted all scriptures are taken from the English Standard Version.

KJV King James Version

NKJV New King James Version

NLT New Living Translation