how to stop sinning

Are you sure that your faith is in Jesus Christ, or is it in someone else? Listen to what Jesus said according to Matthew 13:47-51 below.

Matthew 13:47-51

47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind,  48 which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away.  49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just,  50 and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” 51 Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” NKJV

If your faith was in Jesus Christ, you would believe what He has said. At the end of the age, the angels will separate the wicked from the just, and cast the wicked into the fire to be burned.

Does that say that He will separate the saved from the un-saved? No it doesn’t. Does it say He will separate the churched from the un-churched? No it does not. The wicked will be separated from the just. Do the tares not grow among the wheat (Matthew 13:30)?

So, who are the wicked and who are the just? Can a saved person be among the wicked? Yes a saved person can be among the wicked. Allow the Word of God to speak for itself.

Jesus called the servant who was forgiven wicked because he did not forgive his fellow servant (Matthew 18:21-35). Faith in Jesus Christ will make us forgive everyone just as faith in God made Noah build a boat called the ark (Hebrews 11:7).

Matthew 6:14-15

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. NKJV

In this way, faith leads to obedience (Romans 1:5), since those who believe Jesus do not remain (abide) in darkness, and those who follow Jesus, do not walk in darkness.

 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

If you believe Jesus, you will not abide in darkness, and if you are following Jesus, you will not walk in darkness. In this way, the results of your faith can be seen as evidence that you are living by faith in Jesus Christ. The “just” live by faith, and that is a part of the Gospel message that you should know (Romans 1:16-17). Check the verses!

The servant who was forgiven, but did not forgive, obviously did not live by faith in Jesus Christ. He was a servant of the Lord, but he did not live by faith. Therefore, he could not possibly be justified by faith, and only those who are justified by faith have access to grace (Romans 5:1-2). Check the verses!

Also in the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the servant who did not use what the Lord had given was considered wicked and assigned a place among the unbelievers.

Matthew 25:26-30

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.  27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.  28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.  30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ NKJV

In the parable of the talents, the lazy servant did not do what he was called to do, and therefore, he was assigned a place with the unbelievers. In both examples, the parable of the unforgiving servant and the parable of the talents, we see “fellow servants” who did not receive what they thought they were going to receive in the end, and so it is today.

Why? It is because they did not mix faith with what they heard. If we do not mix faith with the message of the Gospel, things will not work out like we expect. Check the verse below.

Hebrews 4:2

2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. NKJV

If you are among the people considered to be “just” in God’s eyes, then you “live by” faith in Jesus Christ, and you have “died to” the Laws of Moses point, blank, period. Getting saved, and attending church services three times a week for the next 40 years does not guarantee that you will live by faith or die to the Law.

Galatians 2:19-21

19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” NKJV

 Galatians 3:10-12

10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”  11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”   12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”  NKJV

The righteousness of God, which is what all Christians should be seeking (Matthew 6:33), comes through faith in Jesus Christ and is separate from the Laws of Moses. Check the verse below.

Romans 3:21-22

21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference NKJV

There is no such thing as “once saved, always saved,” when speaking in terms of getting saved and then remaining in the Kingdom. If you do not continue in your faith, you will not receive what is promised.

Hebrews 10:36-39

36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. NKJV

Just as the servant who was forgiven, but did not forgive others, and just as the servant who did not use his talents for the Kingdom of God, so it is with those who get saved, but do not live by faith, and do not continue in their faith (Colossians 1:21-23).

According to verse 39 above, they draw back to perdition; the destruction of the soul. The goal of our faith is the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1:9). No faith, no salvation of the soul.

1 Peter 1:9

9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls. NKJV

This is how I know that James 2:14-17 is truth. It fits like a hand in a glove with the rest of the New Testament for those who can see. However, for those who cannot see, nothing is pure (Titus 1:15).

James 2:14-17

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. NKJV

Please do not allow those who seem to be something in the Kingdom of God to talk you out of what is written in your Bible. The things I am mentioning to you are “hidden from the wise and learned.”

Matthew 11:25

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. NKJV

Very few from among the wise are called by God (1 Corinthians 1:26-29), but they are simply called by men to fill buildings (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Their own Bible identifies them as “not understanding what they say, nor the things that they confirm (1 Timothy 1:7), since they force people to remain under the Law rather than to seek the righteousness which is by faith in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:3-11). Check the verses!

The Law is not made for the righteous (1 Timothy 1:9), and those who do not die to the Law cannot serve in the new way of the Spirit (Romans 7:4-7). In fact, through Law, no flesh shall be justified (Romans 3:20), and therefore those who remain under the Law now that Christ has come cannot be heirs, but only receive wrath (Romans 4:13-15).

Romans 4:13-15

13 For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. NKJV

That is why so many in the church today are sick. They are still under the Law, because they are being forced to remain under it by men without understanding, who require people to tithe according to the Law, but when they get the tithe they do with it as they please and reject the Law. In doing so, they rob God, and boldly declare to you that you are robbing God when you stop feeding their greed. Jesus warns us to beware of the doctrine of hypocrites (Luke 12:1).

I suggest that you give a tenth, but give it to the New High Priest Jesus Christ, who said whatever you do for the least of His brothers and sisters, you do for Him (Matthew 25:31-46). Now that the priesthood has changed, there has certainly been a change in Law for those who believe (Hebrews 7:12). Just as the Apostle Paul was under Christ’s law and not the Laws of Moses, so am I (1 Corinthians 9:21).

If you can hear what I am saying then you are blessed, but not everyone can hear. Let this be a warning to you. If you speak against the faith, you too will eventually fall away from it and land among those who cannot hear (1 Timothy 6:20-21, Ephesians 4:17-19). At that point, I will be to you just a babbler; ranting and raving about things that you will not understand.

Tell me this. Jesus came to save the people of this world, but did He not rebuke the people who did not repent, nor receive His Words? What will their end be?

Matthew 10:14-15

14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.  15 Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city! NKJV

Matthew 11:20-24

20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done, because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you.  23 And you, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, will be brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  24 But I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.” NKJV

So, can we hear the Word and do nothing? No, those who do not “do the will of the Father,” nor “sow to please the Spirit” will make it.

Matthew 7:21

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. NKJV

 Galatians 6:7-10

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. NKJV

If you have a question, ask, and I will answer you in accordance with what is written, and not according to philosophy (Colossians 2:8), or the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 1:17). As the Lord gives me the wisdom to speak, so I will speak. I’m Alan Ballou; just another servant like you.