From a sermon on Deuteronomy 7:20—
Courage, courage! He has not brought you out of Egypt that you may be destroyed. What would the heathen say concerning your God, if after all you should fall and perish? You shall win the day, you shall have every inch of the promised land, only be ye strong and be very courageous, for the Lord will surely drive out your sins, and take your body, soul, and spirit, as a consecrated and holy possession for ever.
But there is a notion among some Christians, who are but little instructed, and who know nothing of experience, that sanctification is an instantaneous work. There are some who think that the moment they believe in Jesus they shall never be troubled with any sin again, whereas, it is then that the battle begins. The moment sin is forgiven it ceases to be my friend, and becomes my deadly foe. When the guilt of sin is gone, then the power of sin becomes obnoxious, and we begin to strive against it. Every now and then we hear of friends who cannot understand my teaching on this point. They say they do not feel anything of uprising sin within themselves. Oh, beloved, I wish you did, for I am afraid you know nothing of the gospel-life if you do not. I will not give a penny for your religion, if it has no inward conflict. Even virtuous heathens have got farther than that, for some of them have written that they felt themselves to be as two men contending or fighting; and surely Christians have got farther still, or ought to have done. This, I know, be it what it may with you, I have to fight every day to get but one inch nearer to heaven, and I feel it will be wrestling to the last moment, and that I shall have a scuffle upon Jordan’s brink with my corruptions.
From a sermon entitled “Secret Sins Driven Out By Driving Hornets,” (delivered 1866.)
Alexx Davey says
April 29, 2011 at 9:54 pmdig it…
Paul says
April 30, 2011 at 9:02 pmThank God he has provided his Holy Spirit to give us HIS strength to fight the good fight of faith.
Shay says
May 1, 2011 at 7:37 pmIt seems some pastors teach that the instant you are saved, you are not in danger of ever losing your eternal security in Heaven, no matter what sins you repeatedly commit. But if that is the case (which I hope it is) then why Gal 5:19-21 and Jude 12 and Heb 6? It seems that if we become mature in Christ and then turn away (rejecting Him) we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Could you clear this up for me? Anyone?
Juliet says
May 3, 2011 at 4:10 pmRead Colossians 1:21-23. Christians must persevere in the faith, abiding in Christ.
Col.1:21: And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight–if you indeed continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard…
Security comes through abiding in Christ. What security can there be for someone who doesn’t abide, and turns their back on Jesus (determined to have nothing more to do with Him–apostasy)? Read John 15:6 too:
‘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. 1Corinthians 6:9-11 is similar to Gal.5:19-21..if there is no change in us after receiving Christ, and we continually practice and live in sin, how can we be saved?
Consider Romans 6:1-2: ‘Shall we continue in sin, tht grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
In Rom.6:21b Paul says: ‘..the end of those things is death.’
Abide in Christ, who is able to keep you by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5…read this). Hope this helps…