Sermons for the Scattered & Starving Christian
Touchet, Baptist Church  -  Touchet, Washington
Mike Paulson - Pastor

More from Paul on "Sin"
Ok, if it isn't 'sin', what is it?
In this Series on Sin according to Paul, we have been looking at 'sin' to a Christian according to rightly dividing the Scriptures.  This is so easily misunderstood and/or misapplied in one's personal life.  I ask you to listen to the audio sermons if you are truly interested in this series.  We are not saying that we have no sin.  We have sin for sure - but it is cut away - it only dwelleth within.  Any sin in our lives is sin doing the work itself. My sin has been judged because I am saved.  We now need to tend to our walk in preparation for the Judgment Seat of Christ!
We have seen what the Holy Scriptures say about 'sin' is NOT written TO us as Christians.
In this series so far, we have looked at 'sin' according to Paul that IS written TO us and how it is just 'flat' not to be in our vocabulary concerning us today.  We are dead to sin, etc. etc. all based on Romans 5-7 as well as other mentioning of 'sin' by Paul.  The key here is knowing that we are now separated from that sin that brought us death - yet, we know it is still there within us.  Spiritual circumcision is so instrumental in this understanding and my presentation of this series on sin.

Series schedule
Today, we will take a general review and look at what point I am trying to make with this series.  Tonight, we will look at more specifics; then in SS for the next few weeks, we will continue to look at what Paul warns us about concerning our judgment fires over our WORKS, not our SINS!  It is quite a study to look at specific ways our works will burn!

Getting Right!
So let's first look at II Corinthians 7:9-11 - Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

True godly sorrow will bring about:
1)  a persons salvation;
2) a christian getting 'right' in their walk as they realize more and more what will burn in their judgment seat - how they will lose inheritance, etc. that they are shown to be a joint-heir with.

Notice the godly sorrow brought about:
the carefulness wrought in folks
the clearing of yourselves
the indignation
what fear
vehement desire
what zeal
what revenge

these folks have got right with God!

Godly Sorrow from Paul's preaching is two-fold:
1)  Fear of God - preached to the Corinthians as they were a bunch of carnal Christians.
2)  Love of God - preached throughout his epistles as he tells us about all that God has done for us, to us and with us - and our response back to Him will be brought about by our love of Him and love to Him!

Two-Fold Approach to the Lost
You can even see his two-fold approach to the lost folks in Romans 1 & 2.  Either through:
1) fear of judgment of God or
2) the goodness of God...
...leading them to repentance.  Either way, they have to be preached about their sin!

The schoolmaster's route is still the correct way, but once the schoolmaster has done the job, we are no longer under the schoolmaster!  The schoolmaster's job was to preach about sin and thus lead folks to Christ who takes care of sin once and for all; but for Christians, faith has come into the picture while sin has been taken out of it!

Christians ought not need to be preached about sin - other than an awareness of that wicked scum being 'within' us, yet we are cut away.  The battle with sin and from sin during our walk is the essence of our battle (Romans 7) and for us to learn what Christ really did for us concerning sin ought to lead us to a cleaner walk out of love and thanksgiving to Him!

Backwards Preaching from Our Pulpits
Why do we preach to the lost about the love of God and to the Christian about sin?  We have it backwards in this Great Commission oriented church growth during apostasy era!  No wonder the churches are growing in attendance but dying spiritually, as stated in Revelation 3:14-18.

Paul Grows in His Preaching
In either manner, - for the lost of for the saved, SIN is dealt with completely by Jesus Christ.  As Paul grows, we see him lifting Christ and God's love more and more to the Christian - and as he gets into specific things, I notice that he leaves one word out - 'sin.'  The few times he mentions it is in his early ministry to the carnal Corinthians.

II Timothy 2:24-26 takes away much of the 'intense drive' that we tend to throw at saved and lost folks in these days - days when most folks can't endure sound doctrine anyway - days that they would rather follow fables for their itching ears!  And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,  In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Fellowship with God is what Christianity is suppose to be about for us "today"...
Inheritance is what it is all about for "tomorrow!"

Reconciled - bridging the gap!  Why do we try to extend it by walking 'away' from Him?

II Corinthians 6:16-18  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. But remember, it is us who have walked away, not Christ.  Revelation 3:20 - He continues to knock on our door for fellowship!

Confused?  Do you not understand the conclusion yet?

I am fascinated with this study - I only hope to pass it on to you correctly!

Do you think that I am saying that we don't sin in our daily walk?
I believe that I/we have had the liberty and grace from the PBI camp for so many years that
we tend to forget there is an issue called 'walk' that Paul preaches about very specifically!

So, the next question just has to be,
"Knowing that we all still 'do wrong,'
and if what we do wrong as Christians is not called 'sin,'
then what is it?"

Before we start the detailed look into the Pauline Epistles about what it is that we 'do wrong' that it seems most still call sin, first prayerfully consider these verses:
Introduction Scriptures

Romans 6:1,2  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Romans 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Romans 7:6   But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

II Corinthians 5:21  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.

Galatians 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:  We have been delivered spiritually, soon physically!  Paul calls it delivering' us, but he doesn't call it all about "soul winning"...  Paul's directive is to 'feed the flock' as well as see folks saved.  The church is to feed, the sheep are to witness, etc.
 

We Are to Work Out Our Salvation
And what a workout it is these days!
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, 
but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12

Colossians 1:9-12   For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;  Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Read all of Colossians 1:19-29, with emphasis on verse 29

Philippians 3:12: Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:21-23  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Now, on to what Paul says about the things that we do 'wrong'
but yet knowing we can't call this stuff sin!
(note that it is just that sin within, it is not us!)

We should do things that makes us acceptable and approved unto God, amen?

II Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  Shew it means people will see it - the walk!

II Corinthians 10:18  For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Romans 12:1,2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Prove it in in your talk AND in your walk!

Ephesians 5:8-11  For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  This will be done literally in the Millennium and beyond, (see Psalms and the word 'light') but for now, our daily walk is what is being challenged here, to walk the LIGHT OF THE BOOK!  Psalm 119:105, 130

This is What Won't Go Away Until It Burns!
See Part II
to be continued up to the end of Philemon
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