Why should Christians turn away from darkness?
Why should we stop sinning when we have grace and redemption, the forgiveness of sins? That would be a good question if you did not know the scriptures. Watch the following video and learn the scriptures for yourself.
The question answered in this article is should we stop sinning now that we know that Christians can stop, and what will happen if we do not stop sinning?
Why even try to stop sinning? Lots of reasons
Why try to stop sinning, number one because there are many sins that lead to death. What I mean by that is certain sins will prevent a Christian from inheriting the Kingdom of God in the end (Galatians 5:19-21, below).
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. NKJV
“Those who practice such sins will not inherit the Kingdom of God” (verse 21 above). That’s the problem with continuing in sin, not to mention that we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7-10). Which means that those sow to please their flesh will reap corruption, and who can use more of that?
Another reason is because even though God has great plans for us according to Jeremiah 29:11, our sins withhold those plans. So there is no telling how many things we have already missed out on.
Jeremiah 5:25
25 Your iniquities have turned these things away, And your sins have withheld good from you. NKJV
Most Christians believe its just obvious sins like some sexual sins, or an obvious addiction that can prevent a Christian from having and inheritance in the Kingdom of God, but there are many what I call “socially acceptable” sins such as being “self seeking” that are just as deadly (verse 8 below).
Romans 2:5-10
5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness— indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. NKJV
I focus on helping believers, people who believe the Word of God, to be set free from sins that leads to death, which is sin that will prevent a Christian from inheriting the Kingdom of God, but sin doesn’t prevent a person from getting saved.
Sin does not prevent a person from getting saved
Some preachers say that if a person continues in sin after they got saved, then they never got saved to begin with, but that is false.
We were saved while we were in sin. We can’t possibly clean up so to speak before we are saved. While we were still dead in trespasses and sins God made us alive (Ephesians 2:1.
Ephesians 2:4-5
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), NKJV
God justifies the wicked (Romans 4:5), but we are expected to use grace to learn righteousness after we are saved (Isaiah 26:10, Titus 2:11-14). However, most use grace as a license to continue in sin (Jude 1:4, Hebrews 10:26).
If a Christian is caught up in sins that lead to death a few years after they are saved, it is not because they didn’t get saved. It’s because they never learned the truth to the point of being set free from sin’s control (John 8:31-37, John 17:17).
We can be forgiven for sin because we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, but if we continue in certain sins known as “sins that lead to death,” then those sins will prevent us from inheriting the Kingdom of God in the end. Here is another list of such sins that will lead to death.
Ephesians 5:5-7
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. NKJV
Imagine attending church all your life and never hearing verses like the one above. You are not alone. I’ve met hundreds of well-meaning Christians who have only heard bits and pieces of the truth, and they attended church services every time the doors opened. That one verse could change your view of everything you believed about the Christian life.
It is our responsibility to put to death whatever belongs to our earthly nature (Colossians 3:5-9), and we can do that if we allow the Spirit to lead us (Romans 8:12-14). Notice I said “if” we allow the Spirit to lead us. That’s not an automatic thing as some proclaim.
The following verse makes it clear that we “have to sow to please the Spirit, in order to reap eternal life.” If I told you the exact opposite of what that verse says, then I too would be a false teacher.
Galatians 6:7-8
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. NKJV
Many Christians today have been deceived into thinking that the Christian life is an automatic thing as long as we get saved, but at any time we can refuse to follow, grieving the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30), and by doing so, make Him jealous to the point of becoming God’s enemy (James 4:4-5, Philippians 3:17-19, Romans 8:5-8).
Yeah, a Christian attending church services every week can be an enemy of the cross and not even know it by keeping his mind set on the things of this world.
Philippians 3:17-19
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. NKJVMatthew 16:23
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” NKJV
It is our responsibility after we come to the Lord to cast off the works of darkness and put on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:12-14), put to death our sinful nature with its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24), be transformed by not conforming to this world and renewing our mind with the truth (Romans 12:1-2), and to walk in the Spirit so that we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Those verses should be so common to Christians that we should be able to quote them from memory because they are a part of our every day instructions.
For more information on who will inherit the Kingdom of God, see the videos “Sin that leads to death,” and “Who will inherit the Kingdom of God,” which can be found in my Sunday School class, and on my YouTube channel.
For more inför nation on why we should stop sinning, even though we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, watch my video “Why Put To Death the Flesh When We Have Redemption.”
You don’t have to believe me, but be sure and look the verses up in your own Bible and believe them. There are so many false teachers today in keeping with 2 Timothy 4:1-4, so you’re going to have to know the truth for yourself (Ephesians 4:13-14). That’s the only sure way to keep from being deceived.
Ministering to Christians controlled by sin
The passages of scripture above are good examples as to why we should stop sinning, and we have touched on what will happen if we do not stop certain sins, but most of the time while ministering to Christians, who are controlled by sin, we have to start over.
We have to start over because we have to check and see if we are on the same page so to speak; thinking the same thing, since many believe their problem is caused by someone, or something other than themselves.
If you walked into a room full of 100 Christians and you wanted to know where each one of them were in the faith, then you would NOT start by asking what denomination they attend, if they believe that Jesus is God, or even if they were saved. None of those will tell you where they are in the faith.
Living by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-22) is a part of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17), and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
Therefore, the question to ask is if they are hearing the Word of God from the New Testament, and believing it in their heart? That will tell you exactly where they are in the faith.
John 5:24
24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. NKJV
If they are not hearing the Word of God as they read then that’s the first mistake. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
If they are not reading from the New Testament on a daily bases, then that’s the second mistake (Matthew 6:33 below). That scripture works both ways; if we seek those things first place in our lives then God will give us the things we worry about (Matthew 6:25-34), but if we do not seek those things first place in our life, then we will live with plenty of things to worry about.
Matthew 6:33
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
Both God’s Kingdom and God’s righteousness, two things that Christians are supposed to be seeking first place in their life, are found in the New Testament scriptures. The Kingdom of God has been preached since John the Baptist (Luke 16:16), and God’s righteousness is revealed in the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17).
If only one person in the room answers with “Yes, I read my Bible every day from the New Testament, out loud so that I can hear it in my ears, and believe it in my heart,” then that will be the one you will want to cling to, and pray for you, if he will have anything to do with you (Proverbs 12:26, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14, Ephesians 5:6-7, 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1 Corinthians 5:9-11).
Millions of Christians have been deceived into thinking that saying a sinner’s prayer is the beginning and the end of their ticket to Heaven, but that’s not written in scripture.
In fact, there is no passage of scripture that instructs us to go out and get people saved, but to preach the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16, below), and make disciples of Jesus Christ, by baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20, below).
Mark 16:15-16
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. NKJVMatthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. NKJV
If we were following our instructions written in scripture, we wouldn’t have the problems we have today in the church. Every Christian would be seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first place in their life (Matthew 6:33), and so the church would be a place where people could go to have their needs met.
Another example is that we would never meet a Christian who didn’t know that we have to obey what Jesus commanded us to do (John 13:34-35) in order to abide in His love (John 15:9-10). We abide in Jesus’ love by obeying what He commanded us to do.
John 15:10
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. NKJVIn fact, Jesus will only be our friend “if” we obey what He commanded us to do. That may sound strange, but if you do not believe the Word of God, and you refuse to hear it, then you will not make it (Mark 16:16, John 5:24 above).
John 15:14
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. NKJVI guess you can see why people that I minister to from every denomination are shocked to find out that obeying Jesus Christ is not only a part of stopping sin from reigning in our mortal bodies, but those who don’t will burn according to Jesus Christ. Check the verses below before you speak against the Lord.
John 15:4-6
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. NKJV
Another reason why obeying Jesus so important is because He is the source of eternal salvation for those who obey Him. Like I said before, if we do not obey Him, we will not make it.
Hebrews 5:9
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” NKJV
Those who do not “obey” Jesus, do not abide in Jesus according to what Jesus said in John 15:10 (above), and those who do not abide in Jesus will burn in the fire in the end, according to the Words of Jesus Christ written in John 15:4-6 (above).
So, what would be the most important question to ask a room full of Christians, who believe that they are in the faith because they attend a certain church, or because they were baptized a certain way, or because they use a certain Bible, or because they believe a certain scripture they have pick out of their Bible, that the denomination across the street doesn’t believe?
None of those things mean that any of them are in the faith or even that they are holy in God’s sight. We only remain holy in God’s sight “if” we continue in our faith according to the Word of the Lord written in Colossians 1;21-23, and again, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).
Now you can see why I start from the beginning when I minister to people. All of us, even me, can come to believe that by attending church, or believing a certain made-made up thing is evidence of living by faith in Jesus Christ, but its not.
Very few Christians today live by faith in Jesus Christ because we have been taught that other things are important, depending on the denomination, but no denomination teaches faith in Jesus Christ according to scripture. Therefore, all need help with sin problems.
What would happen if we learned to abide in Jesus Christ as I have mentioned above, according to the scriptures below?
1 John 3:6-9
6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. NKJV
As a church, if we would have learned how to abide in Jesus from the beginning as a part of making disciples of Jesus Christ, rather than just having people say a sinner’s prayer, then the church would be a totally different place. It would be a place where sinner’s would go to stop sinning.
Which denomination has not rejected God’s instructions found in their own Bible? That would be the denomination that could say something about the denomination across the street. The rest are surely hypocrites if they say anything against Catholics or Jehovah’s Witnesses.
No church in this country has any room to judge the one across the street; no not one, and if they do they are simply pronouncing their own judgment (Matthew 7:1-2).
As you can see we Christians have something that we must do, after we get saved. That is the doctrine of abiding in Jesus that all preachers should be preaching today, but they are not because we are in the “falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 below). Jesus will not come back until after the falling away, and the man of sin is revealed, which is what is due to happen next.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. NKJV
We were warned not to receive anyone who does not bring the doctrine of abiding in Jesus, as I have mentioned above, and that is one of the reasons why we are way off track in this country (2 John 1:9-11, below). Because of it, we will welcome the man of sin with open arms when he comes.
2 John 9-11
9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; 11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. NKJV
We need to repent, and return to our instructions before it is too late. Millions, and millions have already died under false doctrines.
Jesus has appointed us to go and bear fruit (John 15:16), and those who do not are cast out (John 15:6, above). For more information on bearing fruit, and how to bear fruit, see the video “What is bearing fruit” in my Sunday School class.
Being saved and eternal salvation are two different things
Imagine the millions who only said a sinner’s prayer, thinking that was all they needed to do, because that is what they were told, and nobody tested what they heard in keeping with 2 Thessalonians 5:21. They just took it at face value.
Being saved (Romans 10:9) is not the same as eternal salvation (2 Thessalonians 2:13-15). We were simply “qualified to share in the inheritance at that point. Read Colossians 1:12 below and know the truth for yourself.
We are guaranteed an inheritance only after we hear the Gospel and believe it (Ephesians 1:13-14), and once you see what is contained in the Gospel, you will realize that there are very few preachers left in this country who actually preach the Gospel.
Colossians 1:12-14
12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. NKJV
Watch the video to learn Gospel verses that we never preach
At the point of being saved, which included redemption (verse 14 above), we were qualified to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints (verse 12 above). Now that we are saved, we are supposed to seek first God’s Kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
Most Christians do not believe Colossians 1:12 and 13 and so the Word that they have rejected has been taken from them (John 5:38, Matthew 13:18-20, Mark 4:24-25). Therefore, they speak against it. Learn the verses for yourself so that you will not be tricked.
Remember that Jesus Christ is the source of “eternal salvation” for those who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9 below). Therefore, those who say a sinner’s prayer, and continue to practice sins that lead to death will be the ones with gnashing teeth on the last day. Take another look at Hebrews 5:9 and ask yourself why no one ever preaches it?
Hebrews 5:9
9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” NKJV
Most Christians have never heard the Gospel in this country, and that’s a tragedy because eternal salvation is not the same as getting saved initially. Salvation is through the sanctifying word of the Spirit and belief in the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
If we sin willfully after knowing the truth, Hebrews 10:26
Another reason why we should learn to stop sinning is Hebrews 10:26-30. Jesus Christ is our sacrifice for sins, but not if we willfully continue in sins after receiving the knowledge of the truth. You see at some point in the Christian life we are expected to stop willful sins, because we can’t just use grace as a license to continue in sin.
Hebrews 10:26-30
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” NKJV
If we willfully continue in sin, no sacrifice for sins remains. Wow, imagine that. Jesus is our sacrifice for sins. Is Hebrews 10:26-30 above truth or myth? Would you bet your eternal future on it being a lie? Most do.
Either we believe the Word of God, or we don’t, it’s just that simple. We are either believers or unbelievers. Only unbelievers “kinda believe.”
Some people say that the letter of Hebrews is written to the Hebrews and not to us. That sounds good, but in that case, who is Romans written to?
Contrary to popular belief there aren’t two separate paths, but Jesus has made one new man out of the two, so that both Jews and Gentiles are members of the same body (Ephesians 2:11-3:7). Check the verses so that you will not be deceived by false teachers, and check out my video “Jews and Gentiles, what every Christian should know” for more info.
There is no such thing as “Once saved, Always saved” mentioned in the Bible. So be careful not to be taken captive by that philosophy (Colossians 2:8). The Bible says “Saved if” in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2. That one verse alone should reveal the false teachers who proclaim the “Once saved, Always saved” doctrine, not to mention many others such as 2 Peter 2:20-22, and James 5:19-20 below.
James 5:19-20
19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. NKJV
According to that passage of scripture, any of us including myself, can turn in the wrong direction and lose our soul if we continue in that direction. I’m open for correction that comes straight out of the Word of God according to the Bible I use (New King James Version), and any of us who correct others should be open for correction ourselves.
We are saved into the Kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13), but only those who are set free from sins abide (remain) according to John 8:35. That’s because in the end, Jesus is going to weed them out of His Kingdom (Matthew 13:40-41, 7:21-23). See the article, “What is sin that leads to death” for an explanation of how the Kingdom of Christ and the Kingdom of God are going to work in the end (verses included).
