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It is illegal in the United States to arrest a man without telling him what he is charged with!
It is unfair (and ineffective) to tell a man he is a sinner without telling him what sin is!
Sharing God's definition of sin is the most loving thing you can do for another person, and the
most life-changing. Here is why...
It is sin that separates us from God. Isaiah 59:2 "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear." Sin is what Jesus came to save us from. Matthew 1:21 "And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins." It is what Jesus did. Luke 5:32 "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." It is what the Holy Spirit does. John 16:8 "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment." The knowledge of sin is the first step to freedom from its guilt and power. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness." The greater one's understanding of the depravity of sin, the greater one appreciates God's forgiveness. Luke 7:47 "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." It brings life-changing hope. Luke 1:77 "To give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins." All of Heaven rejoices when one sinner repents! Luke 15:7 "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." Telling the truth (not political correctness) identifies you as a true friend. Galatians 4:16 "Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?" The truth is, all men have sinned and come short of the glory (perfect holiness) of God. Romans 6:22-23 "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. Rom. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." And, what is sin? 1 John 3:4 says, "Sin is the transgression of the law." What law is John talking about? The same one Paul was referring to in Romans: Romans 7:7 "What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, 'You shall not covet.'" The law Points us to Christ! Galatians 3:24 "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith." Please know, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, through Christ alone, plus nothing! Our obedience is the result of our salvation never the cause of it! Many think the Ten Commandments only applied to the Old Testament Jews. However, God's definition of sin has never changed. The Old Testament revealed the letter of the the law, the New Testament reveals the spiritual nature of the law... Matthew 5:17 Jesus: "I did not come to abolish the law. I came to fulfill it." See also: Matthew 5:18-19, Matthew 19:16-19, Luke 18:19-20, Romans 2:15-16, 3:20, 3:31, 6:1-14, 7:7, 7:12-14, 8:7, 13:8-10, John 14:21, 15:10, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Galatians 3:24, Ephesians 6:2-3, 1 Timothy 1:8, James 1:25, 2:10-11, 1 John 2:3-4, 3:22-24, 5:2-4, 2 John 1:6, Revelation 12:17, 14:12. If you would like to access some resources to help you learn more about the Biblical method of presenting the Gospel, please visit our Resources page. More immediately, if you would like to hear a message that will sharpen your sword in evangelism, and increase your impact on souls being saved, just click on the Listen to Sermons from the menu bar. It will take you to a message that might just set you on fire! |