how to stop sinning

Take away the noise of your songs until righteousness reigns! By Alan Ballou

Doesn’t it feel good to praise the Lord? Amen. However, can we praise the Lord and still not make it to Heaven? Can we be on fire for the Lord, and still not know the Lord, according to knowledge? Romans 10:2 says that we can. It’s easy to get caught up in giving the Lord what we think He would be pleased with rather than offering Him what His Word says to sacrifice, when we don’t know the truth for ourselves (Romans 12:1-2).

That’s the same mistake Cain made (Hebrews 11:4), and we are instructed not to do as he did (Jude 1:11). By faith, Abel made a better sacrifice than Cain did, and so Cain murdered him because Abel’s actions were righteous (1 John 3:12). The same is true today; people who live according to the flesh always persecute the people who are born according to the Spirit (Galatians 4:29, 1 Peter 1:22-25, Romans 8:12-14). How do we live according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4-8)? Check!

If we live according to our feelings and not according to what is written, we could begin to think that we are very pleasing to the Lord, when all the while we are hostile toward Him (Romans 8:7). A song is no substitute for right living. The Lord says to take away the noise of your song until righteousness reigns (Amos 5:23-24).

Amos 5:23-24

23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. 24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream. NKJV

Make no mistake about what is important. Now that we are saved, seeking God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness first, is more important than anything else (Matthew 6:33). It is far better to read the New Testament to the point of being transformed into a new person, than to carry on all types of business or whatever else that needs to be done for the church (Luke 10:38-42, John 8:31-36, Romans 1:28-32, 12:1-2, James 1:21).

My friend my heart goes out to people who have come to believe that they are safe and secure, but have no idea that they have been deceived. Their trust is not in Jesus, but in their leader, and because of that, they will end up exactly where he ends up (Luke 6:39). Yes, they read one or two verses on Sunday morning, but they reject our new agreement with the Lord (New Covenant). Listen to what the Lord says.

Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ NKJV

If you do not know the Word of God for yourself, then ask the person you have put your trust in, “How can we know that we know Jesus?” If you do not want to hear “away from Me I never knew you” on the last day, and you are trusting in your leader to show you the way, then he should be able to answer that question, because if he doesn’t make it, you will not make it. When the blind lead the blind, “both” fall (Matthew 15:14). Who you allow to lead you, is extremely important. Those who don’t know the truth have no business leading. Let them encourage, preach every now and then, or whatever else, but not lead.

If your leaders answer to the question above does not match Ephesians 4:20-24 and 1 John 2:3, then you were on the road to hell before you read this post. Like Cain, you were sacrificing what you thought the Lord wanted. Most preachers today have already rejected those verses because they do not get the crowd going, and people pay more when they don’t feel bad about their sins. However, if no one has taught you to know Jesus by now, in accordance with the truth, then surely you have become a disciple of your leaders (Acts 20:29-31). Check the verses.

There is parable after parable in the Bible that describes how people will be deceived into thinking that they are “going to make it, but don’t.” The Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), The Ten Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), The Servants (Matthew 24:45-51), The Wedding Feast (Matthew 22:1-14), and the Minas (Luke 19:11-27), all include people who thought they were going to make it, but did not. Any one of these parables will show you that the “once saved always saved” and the “we don’t have to do anything” gospel is not true.

If you have been in Church for years, but you cannot tell me how to come to know the Lord according to what is written in your Bible, then you are certainly a candidate to hear “away from Me I never knew you” on the last day. Don’t get caught up playing church, and for those of you who preach know that “all liars” shall be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 21:7-8, below). So go ahead and take a stand against the truth if you so desire.

Revelation 21:7-8

7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” NKJV

Notice that “all liars” shall be cast into the lake of fire (verse 8, above). If all liars will be cast into the lake of fire, then at some point during the Christian life, we ought to stop lying to each other, which is a part of putting off our old self (Ephesians 4:25). We can’t do that before we come, but after we have come to the Lord we are given the ability to live a new life (Romans 6:1-4). We have to choose to be slaves to God (Romans 6:15-22). Check it! Only a slave to righteousness is set free from sin (Romans 6:18). It’s time to teach the truth!

How does this tie in with John 3:16? Those who believe Jesus do “not” have to remain in darkness (John 12:46, below), and those who believe that and choose to follow Him, will not walk in darkness (John 8:12, below). Now tell me why you don’t hear those verses every week in a place where sinners gather if we care about them? There is more to believing Jesus, and following Jesus than just saying we are Christians. Imagine that.

John 12:46

46 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. NKJV

 John 8:12

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” NKJV

It’s time to live according to what is written. It’s time to “work out our salvation” with fear and trembling. Does that fit into the gospel you have come to believe? It’s in there.

Philippians 2:12-13

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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. NKJV

Luke 13:22-28 actually describes people who think they are going to make it, but will not be able to, and the reason given is that they did not come to know Jesus (Luke 13:25). So how important is that? Be honest with yourself and write down on a piece of paper how you think a Christian can come to know Jesus.

I’m telling you that I see whole denominations who praise God every week, but are lost. They tell people, “go have a personal relationship with Jesus,” but never even mention Ephesians 4:20-24 or 1 John 2:3. Just like the Pharisees, they have their own instructions.

I meet people almost every week that do not know that these verses are even in their Bible and most have no desire to check because they believe they are going straight to Heaven when they die without any regard to how they live here on Earth today. Their own Bible says “if” we die with Him we will also live with Him” (2 Timothy 2:11, Romans 6:5), and “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord, must turn away from sin” (2 Timothy 2:19, below), but they ignore the truth.

 2 Timothy 2:19

19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” NKJV

Even the grace of God that brings salvation teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12). As much as I hear people talk about grace, I wonder if they have even experienced the grace that comes from God? As it is written, “they turn the grace of God into lewdness;” a license for immorality (Jude 1:4).

 Titus 2:11-12

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age. NKJV

So what’s the problem? Millions of people believe the “once saved always saved” doctrine, hook, line, and sinker. However, read the verses for yourself and notice that being “saved” gets us into the Kingdom of Christ (seated with Christ, Ephesians 2:6-8, Colossians 1:12-14), and not necessarily the Kingdom of God. We have to be born again to even be able to “see” the Kingdom of God (John 3:3). That comes as we purify ourselves and obey the truth (1 Peter 1:22-25). Check the verses before you speak against them.

In the end, right before Christ turns the Kingdom back over to God (1 Corinthians 15:24), He will weed out of His Kingdom all who continue in lawlessness, which is sin (Matthew 13:40-43, 1 John 3:4). So many who are “saved” into the Kingdom of Christ today, will not enter the Kingdom of God in the end unless Jesus lied in the verses below.

Matthew 13:40-43

40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age.  41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness,  42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.  43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! NKJV

Do you believe Jesus lied in those verses? Whole denominations proudly declare that they believe Jesus did not tell the truth in the verses above because they preach directly against Jesus and proclaim a different gospel. They are betting their life on it, but Jesus has already proclaimed long ago that many would seek to enter in a different way; the wide path (Luke 13:22-28).

He knew and proclaimed 2000 years ago that many who would eventually call Him Lord, would end up in hell. How sad that must have been to see millions seeking to enter the Kingdom of God, but ignore the very Bible they would carry each week which could explain in detail how to do just that.

Take a look at the list of sins that lead to death to make sure that you are not on it. It’s not just homosexuality, but a whole lot of sins lead to death. You can serve on a deacon board today and still be on this list.

The Bible says that those who practice sins such as these, will not inherit the Kingdom of God; sexual immorality, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, drunkenness, orgies, prostitution, homosexuality, stealing, slandering, swindling, obscenity, filthy talk, coarse joking, unforgiveness, malice, rebellion, greed, debauchery, (sinful behavior), and the like are all sins that lead to death (Galatians 5:21, 1 Corinthians 6:10, Ephesians 5:5).

Each one of these passages of scripture contains this saying; “those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” That’s what it means. Many will hear “Away from Me, I never knew you” simply because they never came to know Jesus according to knowledge. Read the verses below and see how to come to know Jesus.

 Ephesians 4:20-24

20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. NKJV

Have you been taught the truth, or have you been playing church for years? Don’t be like Cain, but give God what God wants. I’m Alan Ballou; a servant. Let me know if I can help you. Leave your comments or questions below. Iron sharpens iron. I wrote a book on stopping sins that lead to death called “How To Stop Sinning.” Click this link to read the first chapter on Amazon.

I’m visiting different churches these days. If you think yours is in line with the truth, please let me know. There are many good worship churches popping up everywhere and you can even watch their service online. That’s kind of neat, but I haven’t found one with good Word-based preaching.

All the ones I have watched are basically saying, all we have to do is say Jesus is Lord and we are going straight to Heaven when we die. That’s very misleading. I believe that the strong delusion (below) is behind most of these satellite churches that are preaching that. The concert style music draws people in, and the preaching tells them what they want to hear, which is what is predicted in 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

I think it is a part of the strong delusion that God sends to those who have no desire of stopping their sinful nature, or being sanctified by the Spirit through believing the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:11-15, below).

 2 Thessalonians 2:11-15

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. NKJV

I expect to see more and more of this in the near future. You will recognize them because they will reject the truth and replace it with human wisdom. Ask them how to come to know Jesus and see if the answer is anywhere close to Ephesians 4:20-24 (above), and if not you will know what to do after the praise and worship stops; run! Being online is good though, since you don’t have to waste a whole Sunday listening to a man’s doctrine, or feel held down when the preaching is bad.

Is there a church somewhere with an open discussion, kind of like a gathering of the saints of old rather than a herding of the cattle? Let me know.