Know The Truth – What Can I Do About My Sin?
“Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.” John 8:21-23. “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:31-34. From this we learn that a person who dies in sin is lost eternally. For one to be a disciple, a person must abide in the Word of Jesus. We also learn that the truth will make one free from sin. Paul wrote, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
These sinners were forgiven (washed /justified) of their sins. No one wants to go to the grave lost in sin. Each of us has a choice whom we will obey. Paul wrote, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:15-18. One cannot overcome sin if they do not believe in Jesus. John 8:24.
There were those in Jesus’ day who believed in Christ, but would not confess Him. John 12:42-43. Faith (belief) must come from a person’s heart, and confession of Jesus from the mouth. Romans 10:10. Jesus will deny those, before the Father, who will not confess Him before men. Matthew 10:32-33. Paul wrote, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10. Repentance is not the same as godly sorrow. Salvation is not the same as repentance. Those who refuse to repent will perish. Luke 13:3. God wants all people to repent. Acts 17:29-31. Repentance is more than feeling sorry. It is a change of mind that results in a change of action. If one does not change they have not repented. The goodness of God leads one to repentance. Romans 2:4. Those who are stubborn and refuse to repent of their sins will give an account to God in the judgment. Through the blood of Christ, we are justified and reconciled (brought back) to God. Romans 3:9, 23; 5:8-10.