JUNE 23
NO REMISSION OF SIN, NO PERMISSION TO WIN
THE NO’s – June theme
NO confrontation NO Transformation
NO gory NO Glory
NO Apostolic design, NO Apostolic signs
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All pretty black and white statements ? This is intentional because when it comes to taking the red pill (the Matrix movie) that was what it was like. Sometimes facing up to our issues in life is tough stuff.
We live in a world where people are crying out for peace, true peace is more than the lack of war or strife. The gospel offers us peace with God and that comes through the remission of our sin. When we have peace with God, our capacity to live in abundance and forgive others is how we can be red Gospelled and do it well!
WHAT IS REMISSION OF SIN
Reminds me of my Catholic upbringing , it seemed there was always mention of remission of sin, I just didn’t understand growing up what that actually meant.
Lu 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.
Phil and I have been on both sides of the story. Where due to some misjudgments we owed money to creditors, there were quite a few. Phil approached each and every one to advise we acknowledged we owed them money, but didn’t have that money on us to pay. We offered a commitment to pay a % each week until it was paid off – even if it took years. In a situation like this, you get to see the spectrum of good, bad and ugly.
The good - where the creditor forgave the debt instantly because we were ‘up front’ about it. Then there were those who accepted the weekly payments and after a year or two some of those creditors would tell us due to our faithfulness they were going to forgive us the rest of what was owed.
The Bad – slander, gossip, people talking about us behind our backs - even church folks, the atmosphere causes a sense of ill although nothing may be said, general looks, a swirl that is moving around you but can’t quite be identified … it is in the air, so thick you can touch it almost.
The Ugly - those who threatened court until we paid back what was owed – even if we had to sell our house. We explained that at that time, if we did sell the house there would be no equity in it to pay the creditors off due to the market crash in the 90s.
We also have had folks default on money they owed us which Phil and I have forgiven.
It’s a humbling experience to be forgiven something that we don’t deserve. I still remember the sense of real gratitude when grace was extended to us and then also on telling someone they had no need to pay back the joy that wells up in releasing the debtor is great!
We have a God who has made a way to full remission of all that we have ever done. Wouldn’t it be great to have all the regret, those things you did in your past that don’t seem to ever go away but come to your remembrance again and again? Well let’s see what and how God provides remission of sin.
Red Gospelled factor – we will receive God’s forgiveness and choose to forgive others so we are not a slave to bitterness, hatred, envy, spite, jealousy, and we are set free when we also release others who have hurt us.
The fullness of gospel is that we know offences will come, we also will offend, not only do we ‘get away’ with what we have done that was wrong but realizing the nature of God and that we want to become like God. God loves, forgives, forgives again and again, and has taken all of our offences of mankind upon Himself in order that we might know real peace.
Romans 5:12-19 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Remission of sin then means our sins have been forgiven as if we had not committed them.
Greek meaning of Remission:
Aphesus - forgiveness, deliverance, Liberty
Matt 26:28 - For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Lu 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Without the shedding of blood there is no remission
The first instance in the Bible of shedding of blood for the remission of sin
GEN 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
Adam and Eve sinned, God killed some animals and used the skins to cover their nakedness – this is the first instance of shedding of blood and it was to COVER their sin!
They tried to use fig leaves which was not acceptable because there was no shedding of blood and it was ‘self effort’. Nothing we can do can cover our sin.
1 Cor 15: 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Heb 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission
Heb 10: 18 Now where remission of these is there is no more offering for sin.
There it is guys, there is no other way to have our sins washed away – it is by what Jesus did, His blood once and for all has ‘covered’ us of all sin and unrighteousness.
1 John 1:7 and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.
In order to benefit from Jesus shedding His blood
No remission of sin is for the losers. And WE are NOT LOSERS right?
To get that remission, we must accept what Jesus accomplished on the Cross! That then is the base from where we can become winners
NO PERMISSION TO WIN
There are some general schools of thought on permission to Heaven and permission to winning
By being good, I will earn my way means - I will gain permission by all those good things I do that outweigh the bad stuff I have done.
I don’t think I need permission - God is a God of love and so He is going to let everyone in to heaven.
Both these stances are based on arrogance, foolishness, lack of respect, pride, rebellion, and ignorance of what it says in God’s word, the BIBLE.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
You gotta have a permit
Generally when we enter a race or a competition there is some criteria - to enter the Commonwealth games or the world games it takes years of training, regional and national competitions all which have to be won to give us that permit to the next level. This has to come first before we even get a place in such an event.
God has provided a way of entry and a permit to heaven, to eternity – it is one of the greatest moments in life for all of us. We will get our names written in the Lamb’s book of life.
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatever worketh abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
God’s permit to heaven is free.
There is nothing you have to work at to earn it, there is nothing you can do of yourself to earn it. God gives permission to us as a FREE GIFT.
1 John 1: 8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Gods Permit is to WIN in this life and the life to come
Jesus came that we might not just live but have abundance of life
John 10:10 I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
2 Cor: 9: 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8: 27 in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
B.I.D
1) If you don’t have an assurance that you have received a remission for your sins and/or
2) you don’t think you have got that permit from God then you can have both of those things right here, and right now. I would like to pray for you.