Sin Is Not The Real Barrier [Between Us And Our God]; In Fact, It’s Not Even His Main Issue With Us This Day
This particular document is being written because of errant teaching that is coming forth, out of the mouths of many teachers who bear the name of the Lord. They wail away at the debauchery of the sinners in the world around them, with all their terrible and hot desires, and their nasty ways which keep them separated from God and the kind salvation He offers. As though they are not also struggling with sinful desires, they proclaim that these sadly lost souls would rather die in their sinful ways than let that sin go and come to God, because their desires for sin burn so hot. These teachers make it appear that those who cannot let go of the desire for sin have no hope; because they would rather cling to their desires than come to God, they forfeit the gift of God, the salvation of their eternal souls, and an escape from a very real judgment in hell.
It is a lengthy discussion to get into, but suffice it to say simply that according to Scriptures, and the direct teachings of our Lord, Jesus the Christ, this struggle with desires for sin is actually due to such false teachings by the leaders of religion: it is the fruit of their doings, teachings such as this very one [Matt 7:15-23; Jer 50:6-7; Hag 2:14; Gal 6:7]. This is why so many truly do struggle with a very real desire for sin [whether we realize we do or not, we all do]. But these errant teachers desire to bring God’s curses upon those whom He wishes to set free instead. They do not recognize the true plan of God, and in their error have themselves gone so far astray.
2 Peter 2:15-16 [see also Num 22]
15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man's voice restrained the madness of the prophet. NKJV™
Therefore, this statement really needs to be clearly made, and fully understood this day: man’s sin, and his desire for sin in it’s various forms, will not prove to be the barrier between us and our God that these teachers would make us believe, robbing virtually all of us of any real hope. Our sinful desires are not even the focus of God’s issues with us this day; we learn all about this fact in the Resurrected Word. study series. But this false focus on our struggles with sin keeps us from coming to God in a manner He will accept, leaving us separated from the very One we most need today. It leaves us either without hope, or in a false hope, by living the lie about what His true issues are with us, either of which are conditions of our current separation from Him.
This hopelessness prevails because all of us actually do desire sin of one kind or another, and struggle with those desires almost daily [that is what Scriptures say; we will discuss this more deeply further on]. But this special day God is fully prepared for and offering to help us with this struggle, in a most phenomenal offer of kindness, and one we desperately need, while we deal with His real issues with us. The question will not be if we desire to sin [and thus often fall in sin], since we all are lost together in this problem, even our leaders. The question He is asking today is so simple, and is based on the choice we now have set before us, for the first time since the Garden of Eden: which doctrine do we truly want to rule in our lives? Do we choose His Word, His ways and precepts; or do we prefer Satan’s ways, his counsels, his system of approach to life? In spite of what these leaders and teachers try to tell us, God already knows which doctrines truly rule in our lives this day, because it is written: both man and woman chose Satan’s words over God’s in Eden, and they have ruled our lives ever since. And if that were not enough, all the history of mankind clearly demonstrates which doctrines we live under, a history of blood and atrocities, and a lack of lasting peace.
God is not asking what our desires are; He knows better than we do ourselves, that we are quite captive to our desires for sin, of any and all types. And some people will end up wanting to remain in their lives of sin; they really do not wish to let it go, especially for a hope they do not really believe in. Yet, a lot of others would like to change, but they just cannot truthfully escape that desire for sin.
We actually cannot even be expected to escape that desire for sin until we are healed. The good news is that this will be no problem for God this time, in this special offer He is placing before us this day. He has plenty of power to conquer what we are too weak to defend ourselves from, and He already has a plan in place for this whole event, prophetically written in His Word. His central question regarding sin is this:
John 5:6
6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" NKJV™
So, though we will also take a longer look at the truth of our struggles with our sinful desires, all the while it must be remembered that our desire for sin is not God’s focus for this day. He has the power to deal with our weakness in this area; but first we must study what His real issue with us even is. It will almost be like our sins will be dealt with as a secondary thought, on the side, almost without our even realizing it. Instead of focusing on our sins, which is what all these teachers tend to do, God wants us to focus on what matters most to Him this day; that is why The Promise Of The Resurrected Word study series is absolutely necessary: without that insight our focus ends up being in the wrong place [consumed with our struggles with sin], instead of what He wants. He will only accept us when we get to the correct focus. It is true that our struggles with sin are a big issue: it is just that this moment our sin is not what He wants to discuss with us. And here is the clincher, my friends: if we do not deal with what He truly wants us to face this day, we will not be acceptable before His face, regardless of our level of sinful desires, contrary to popular teaching.
Rom 3:20
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. NKJV™
This is truly a phenomenal day, and a gift we have never before seen. From the beginning, mankind has struggled with this problem of desire for sin, even when we truly wanted righteousness in our lives instead. We have always been quick to slip into sinful desires, which would then bring quick and hot wrath of our God, like this scene with Moses on the mountain before God:
Ex 32:7-10
7 And the Lord said to Moses, "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!'" 9 And the Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! 10 Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation." NKJV™
Though Moses intervened for the people, and God relented for that moment, our ongoing desire for sin has simply kept us under God’s wrath [cutting off His real blessings all these years], as seen in this little note He made to Moses to close out the matter:
Ex 32:33-35
33 And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. 34 Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin."
35 So the Lord plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made.
NKJV™
And, this has been man’s relationship with God since the beginning: our quick and ongoing desire for sin resulting in God’s hot wrath, instead of the fulness of His blessings, throughout all these years. This is true because, being under Satan’s doctrines, we truly do desire sin. The results are plainly seen in our long legacy of wars, crimes of many types, and a general lack of true and lasting peace and prosperity. This day He promises things can be different: we do not need to fear His hot wrath this time [even if His corrective disciplines remain, which is different from punitive wrath].
Prov 3:11-12
11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
Nor detest His correction;
12 For whom the Lord loves He corrects,
Just as a father the son in whom he delights. NKJV™
Paul’s discussion of this problem in Romans 7 did not actually resolve the issue, because our desire for sin was not conquered, as we now clearly see from the history of man [and especially the history of the Church for the last 2,000 years]. That is because this fact is true: if we continue to desire sin, we eventually end up falling in actual sin, and thus incurring God’s wrath. The problem has always been that we would try to come to God, but would not be cured of our desire for sin, and thus would end up in the wrath part with God every time. We could not be pleasing to God, because we needed to be healed of that desire first.
This offer is totally new: He is willing to offer us temporary remission for our sinful desires [and thus our continual state of falling into sin], until we can get healed of them, because it takes time to fix such deeply rooted problems. We simply need to first deal with what truly is His agenda for us this day, and He will work out the healing part. The studies help us to be acceptably prepared for our presentation before God. The key is what He will accept, not what the leaders teach. And God already laid it all out in His Word, which never changed. This day of phenomenal good news He has finally broken the seals He had on His Word, to reveal to us what His plan for this day always was.
So, looking at the Word of God more deeply, to see if this dilemma is actually true, turn to Rom 8, and we find ourselves caught between a rock and a hard place:
Rom 8:1-17
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors — not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. NKJV™
But now we see that we have returned to the carnal mind, and have all fallen together, having denied the Lord, our first faith, having stolen from God our rightful vows, and the honor due His name [Is 53:6]. So, this passage comes against us, not for us; and we now find ourselves fully captive, pinned to crosses of righteous judgment, by the mighty power of His Word, which did not say in vain these things would come upon us if we forsook our vows to the Lord. Just like Israel prophetically played out before us, we are back in Babylon; that is what the Word says, and the Word of God stands forever:
Ezek 6:10
10 And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them." NKJV™
Even so, this day of "good news" we are now entering is a special kindness from our Lord. In times past we were under tremendous pressures if we wished to be near to God, because not many of us were able to escape the power of sin, and thus God’s ensuing wrath, bringing upon us this passage, among others:
Heb 10:26-31
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." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. NKJV™
This one passage from Hebrews will prove to have far-reaching implications today, especially for the many who do not believe they are truly sinners before the God they think they serve. But this day God is extending His hand of kindness to us once more, to help His captive people, for the sake and glory of His great name:
Isa 61:1-6
1 "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."
4 And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, And the sons of the foreigner Shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, NKJV™
For those who insist that they already call upon the name of the Lord [Joel 2:32], and therefore God has no issues with them, consider this passage, in light of Peter’s testimony in Matt 16:16, and yet his eventual denial of our Lord [Matt 26:75]:
Prov 16:1
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. NKJV™
Then remember these words from our Lord:
Matt 8:12
12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." NKJV™
Matt 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™
Keep this in mind, those who do not fear God’s agenda in this matter: He is also the One Who spoke those words to Moses, which we have already examined:
Ex 32:33
33 And the Lord said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.
NKJV™
We desperately need that atonement, because we are always struggling with sinful desires; fortunately for us His atonement is already in place. God knows our true condition already; and our sins are not to keep us from coming to Him, and dealing with His issues this day, submitting to His plan for all these things. Then consider also:
Ps 95:6-11
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.
Today, if you will hear His voice:
8 "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.'
11 So I swore in My wrath,
'They shall not enter My rest.'" NKJV™
And finally:
Luke 7:29-30
29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. NKJV™
This submersion study series is that baptism prophesied in this passage; submit to God’s plan for us this day, so that we can properly deal with His issues with us, and then He will accept us. But if we refuse to, then it may not go so well for us:
Gen 4:7
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." NKJV™
I remind the ‘believing’ readers about what happened in this scene with Cain, after he denied the gentle counsel of the Lord: his brother ended up dead.
The real dividing wall between our God and His people will prove to be not submitting to His plan for us this day, this call to come and be baptized. As for our sinful desires, He has already prophesied to this issue, that He will do great things for His people, who are captive to those desires, which have held us so long in the darkness and terror of the shadow of death:
Luke 1:76-79
76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace." NKJV™
John 13:8
8 Peter said to Him, "You shall never wash my feet!"
Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." NKJV™
- see also the companion documents, "The Split Veil Prophecy," and "The Basics."
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