Tag: Sin

In This Issue:
Die, Old Nature! Die!
Remarried

Volume: 854     April 11, 2022
Theme: Our Sinful Nature

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Die, Old Nature! Die!
Bill Brinkworth

When a person is saved, he becomes a different, “new” person. One may be “new” on the inside, but all have the same “flesh” they were born with. Those fleshly, worldly desires may be tucked away out of sight for now, but they will always be waiting for their chance to make an appearance. If the indwelling “new man” does not keep them in check, they will ruin one’s life and cause one to be in the same miserable state, or worse, than before.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17

No, one does not get unsaved because he does not follow the “new,” Holy Spirit’s guidance. However, his life may not appear much different than an unsaved person’s life. He will not have the joy he could have had, and he will not be all he could have been. He will go through many hardships that he would not normally go through, and God will not use that person the way He desired.

All have to battle the pull from the old nature’s stranglehold to rule and get its way. Many of our personal and social problems are because someone’s “old man” is trying to rule the roost — again. It is that old man that is prevailing when the green-eyed monster of jealousy raises its unruly head between brother and sister, or when one gets angry quickly with another. He surfaces again when a lie is offered to get one out of trouble.

It is the “old man” (the old self) that creates power struggles between peers, becomes selfish, and it is that same villain that spreads gossip to defame one’s testimony because someone hurt the gossiper’s feelings.

The “old man” exposes himself when a mouth spews out hurtful words and filthy talk. The old nature gets control again when we allow it to criticize someone that is not doing something our way, or when we are scared others are not accepting us, and other countless ways. The “old man” will always haunt our lives, until we do what God commands we do to our old, could-be-dominating nature. Our “old man” must die, sometimes even daily.  He must be forgotten and ignored!

No, do not even suggest one’s committing sin and taking one’s life. That is definitely letting the “old man” have his lecherous control on one’s life. Everyone, if they want to please God, must put the “old man” of the flesh to “death” and let the new, spiritual man lead. The old nature must have as little control of one’s life as possible.

 Here is some of what the Bible says about the subject:
When one is saved, he is a new, different person with new needs, desires, and purpose. His second “birth” creates in him a new part of him that never existed before.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3   Also:  II Cor. 5:17 (see above).
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” Galatians 6:15  Religious ceremonies, traditions, and works should not be the governing factor in one’s life, but a new, spiritual life in accordance with God’s Word should be guiding him.

Do not live for “self.”  Let the “new man” in you be your life’s leader. Put self-ambition, self-goals, and self-desires behind you and let your leading force be the desire to be obedient to God’s commandments found in His Word and to be a godly testimony (example). Listen to the indwelling Holy Spirit. Let many of your self-motivated desires “die,” and not have any control in your life. In so doing, God will live through you. The “new man” has a new mind, new spirit, new master, new goals, and a new joy.
“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:24
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” Colossians 3:9-10  

Let your “old man die”. Self-will will have less dominance when the “new man” is leading.
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6

Do not let worldly desires and habits rule and reign in your life. Being born-again is being born into the family of God. What kind of child are you that, while a member of one family, acts like and wishes you were a member of another family? That is what those that are living for the world, by living the world’s way, are doing. By their actions, they are telling God, “I love you Father, BUT I like how the unsaved live; and I will behave, have the same goals, and strive to be like them.” That is what Christians do to their own Creator!

We are on the winning side!  Why would anyone ever want to act and live like those on the losing side?
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts … And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. … Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:22-32
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:14
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; ….” Isaiah 43:18-19
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” Romans 8:9
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Colossians 3:9  

You are not your own anymore, if you are saved. “I’m born again, but I don’t want to do all God wants me to do,” is what too many say by their actions and words to God. You are not your own, you are purchased by God when you are saved. The blood that Christ shed on the cross purchased you. You did not like how you were before, and how you were headed to Hell claim many when they got saved. He has done great things for you, including rescuing you from an eternal Hell. Don’t you want to do something for Him? Live the life He wants you to live!
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” I Corinthians 3:16
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2
“Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3

If all the children of God would obey the “new man,” and let their “old man” “die”, their lives would be much different. There would be fewer disagreements, tensions, and disunity in churches, families, schools, and even the workplace. All would have the same godly purpose and direction when the “new” creature guides them through life. If you want the “new” life God desires you to have, let your “old man” die — and please, don’t ever let him be resurrected!

“There is but one question, and that is, what is the will of God? That settles all other questions.”  — William E. Gladstone

Remarried
Bill Brinkworth

In Romans 6, Paul lets us know that when we trust Christ as Saviour, our “old man” is “dead” (Rom. 6:6). The part of us that was once unrestrained, did whatever it wanted to, even things that were against God’s desires for us, is “dead”.  Once we are saved, we no longer have to serve our sin nature.

Romans 7 takes that understanding and explains how we are no longer under sin’s dominion, and the Old Testament laws that identified the sins. Paul likens the new arrangement of being saved to a new marriage (Romans 7:2-3).  Like a marriage, one is bound to one spouse as long as they are alive. Before we were saved, we were bound to sin, until that nature died. It led us where we allowed it to take us: into bars, into adulterous relationships, into bitterness, into blasphemy, and hosts of other places. Our sin nature was in control.

Like a marriage, we are no longer bound to the first spouse, when that spouse dies.  Our first “spouse” died when we got saved. That first “husband” contained over 600 Old Testament laws. A saved person is “… dead to the law by the body of Christ …” (Romans 7:6).

The law is important, however.  It shows us what God likes and dislikes.  From it we learned that lying is wrong; as is adultery, deceitfulness, disobedience, rebellion, hatred, and on and on the list goes (Romans 7: 7).  Without the law of God we would not have known the whole mind of God concerning sin.

The law is very hard, however.  It curses and condemns us for the sins we have committed.  Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, when accepted, pays for our sins, and now we can have grace and mercy.  As Matthew Henry put it, “The sentence of the law against us is vacated and reversed by the death of Christ to all true believers.”

For the believer, the “old man” is dead.  We can be “married” to another.  The second spouse is Christ.  We are not bound to the “old man” and his laws.  Yes, the old nature and new nature will still battle for control (Romans 7:18-19),  but with the new mind a Christian has, he can be free from the control of sin (Romans 6:7).

“If you are saved, you sin by choice, not by chance.” — Barbara Brinkworth

In This Issue:
If Eve said, “No!”
Clouds and Sin
The Curse of Sin
The Tree-killing Worm
The Love of Sin

Volume: 843       January 24, 2022
Theme: Sin

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If Eve Had Said, “NO!”
Bill Brinkworth

Genesis 3:1-19 tells the well-known story of Eve and Adam’s disobeying God.  Because of this first sin, humanity has been plagued with iniquity and its consequences.  One wrong decision changed all mankind and the Earth.  Sin has a terrible price tag.  No one gets away from its costly wages.

What happened when Eve disobeyed:

• She thought God was not right.  The fruit did taste good, and they did not die — right away.
• Adam and Eve had to be clothed.  Innocent animals lost their lives so that the couple’s nakedness was covered.
• Adam and Eve could not have fellowship with God anymore.  The one-on-one conversations with the Creator in the Garden ceased.
• Eve, and all women after her, have had pain in childbirth.  Women would not have that experience if sin did not enter the human race.
• The ground was cursed.  Now, there are weeds that overcome most crops.  Before God cursed the land, there were none.
• Work would not have been as hard.  There would have been no sweat in hard labor.
• Physical death entered into our lives.
• All people now commit sin

What happened when King David sinned:

• King David’s wrong decision started with his staying home from battle.
• He did not obey God by going to war.  He tarried.
• He looked at a bathing woman.  His peeping led to adultery between him and Bathsheba.
• David conceived a child out of wedlock with her.
• The King deceived Uriah, his faithful soldier and husband of Bathsheba.
• David was involved in Uriah’s death.
• David and Bathsheba’s baby died.
• David’s sons were disobedient, and some died early deaths.

Other great men and women sinned and “paid” its terrible consequences:

• If Samson had not sinned, he would not have lost his strength, sight, and position to judge Israel.
• If the people of Israel had not sinned, they would not have been attacked by serpents, faced starvation, and would have been allowed to see the Promised Land.
• If Moses had spoken to the rock as God commanded him, he would have entered the Promised Land.
• If Herod had not boasted, he would not have been eaten by worms.
• If Aaron and Miriam had not talked about Moses, Miriam would not have had leprosy.
• If Jonah had obeyed God, he would not have ended up in the belly of a whale.
• If Haman had not been bitter against Mordecai, he might not have died by hanging.
• If Judas had not “given place to the devil,” he would not have been used to identify Jesus so He could be killed.
• If the soldiers had gotten saved, they would not have nailed Jesus to the cross.
• … and on the list could go from biblical examples of sin’s wages.

As the Bible confirms, there is a price tag for committing what God forbids. No one gets away with sin. Those guilty of iniquity will have their lives changed because of it:

• Some will have a divorce because they did not wait on God’s choice of a mate.
• Some will flunk in school because they would not learn the right way and cheated through school.
• Some may end up in jail because they cheated on their taxes, stole cars, did drugs, etc.
• Some may hurt someone physically because they watched the wrong TV shows and got desensitized about harming others.
• Someone may be addicted or killed by drugs because their desensitization to sin started with a sip of daddy’s beer.
• Some may be killed in a car accident because they disobeyed their parents and snuck out at night.
• Some girls may have children out of wedlock because they would not listen to their parents about how, who, or when to date.
• Some may be crippled by fighting because they did not listen to their parents and stay away from the wrong people.
• Some may not graduate high school because they are too lazy to study.
• Some may go to Hell and burn forever because they worried about what their friends would think if they got saved and lived according to God’s will and way.

If Eve had said “no” to sin then, we might not be battling its tempting grip today. All sin has consequences — either here or in eternity.  Most know this because they have seen what others have reaped by sowing iniquity and have seen the damage it has done in their lives.  Why do we willingly commit it and think we can get away with it?

“God hates the sin, but He loves the sinner.”  — D. L. Moody

Clouds and Sin
John Bate

• Clouds sometimes obstruct the beneficial influences of Heaven coming upon the Earth.  Sin also prevents the blessings of God from flowing into the hearts and lives of men.
• Clouds have their origin on the Earth.  Sin originates from below and never from Heaven.
• Clouds can create a powerful, damaging electric field.  Sin also damages humanity, and ruins lives with the storm it can bring.
• Clouds assume every variety of shape, color, and duration.  Sin has no set form but varies according to persons, circumstances, times, and places.
• Clouds cannot be dispersed by any human force.  Sin also cannot be forgiven by any power except by One that is Divine!

“Oh, what authority and show of truth
Can cunning sin cover itself withal!” — Shakespeare

The Curse of Sin
Dr. J. Parker

O sin!  How it has cursed us!  It has thrown up a barrier between ourselves and God.  With its chilling breath, it has extinguished the light of our household joys.  It has robbed us of joys and filled the air with discordant cries.  Sin has unsheathed the sword and bathed itself in human blood.  It has dug every grave on the Earth.

Without it, we should not have known the name of a widow or orphan, tear or sigh, and sorrow.  Because of sin, our hearts are torn by pain and anguish, and our joy is gone!

“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”  II Timothy 2:22

The Tree-killing Worm
Author Unknown

While touring a park of towering trees, a guide pointed out one.  “That fine tree,” he said, “was killed by a single worm.”

We learned that the tree was as healthy as any in the park two years ago.  A wood-worm, about three inches long, was observed to be forcing its way under the bark of the trunk.  It caught the eye of our guide.  Although he was warned that the worm could kill the tree, our guide left it alone as it seemed improbable to him that the black-headed worm could do such damage.

After a time, it was found that his assumption was wrong.  The worm indeed had tunneled its way a considerable distance under the bark.  The following summer, the tree’s leaves dropped off very early, and in the succeeding year, it was a dead, rotten tree.

I am reminded that there is a lesson to be learned from that tree’s demise.  How many have ruined their lives by a single, harmlessly-appearing sin!

“To cover sin with a layer of earnest efforts to do right will not take the sin away.  The underlying sin will assimilate all the dead works that may be heaped upon it, and the result will be a greater mass of sin.”  — Arnot

Love of Sin
T. Watson

It is worse to love sin than to commit it.  A man may commit sin through temptation or ignorance, and when he knows it to be sin, he is sorry for it.  He that loves sin, however, puts his will into the sin and heaps the danger onto one’s life.  The heart allows it to continue, and sin’s consequences will reap much havoc.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

In This Issue:
Not Even Ten
We Have Lost Our Way

Volume: 842     January 17, 2022
Theme:  Sin’s Consequences

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Not Even Ten!
Bill Brinkworth

Lot and his uncle, Abram, had amassed great wealth and belongings.  Their servants and laborers lived and worked together.  As expected, there was strife between the two companies.

Abram, in his wisdom, realized that the two groups, their livestock, and workers, should separate.    The patriarch allowed his brother’s son to pick (Gen.  13) where he, his possessions, and workers would go.  Lot chose the choicest land.

Although the city Lot picked was prosperous, and the surrounding lands were lush,  it turned out to be a terrible, costly choice.  He chose to inhabit Sodom.

There was great wickedness in the city and included violence and rampant homosexuality.  Its indulgence in iniquity angered God Almighty.  So much was the Creator outraged by the out-of-control lasciviousness and other sins, he planned to destroy it and other surrounding cities.

The Lord shared His plans (Gen. 18) for the city with Abram (at this time known as Abraham).  On hearing that God was to destroy where his nephew dwelt, he pleaded with the Lord to spare Lot’s dwelling place.  At first, he reasoned with God to spare the city if 50 righteous people were found among those committing grievous sins.

Perhaps Abraham thought some and then remembered the rumors of atrocities occurring in the city.  He lowered his request to 45.  More consideration was most likely given to the community’s wickedness.  Then he dropped his plea to God for 40, then 30, then 20, and finally asked God if He would spare the city if only ten righteous people were found.

God’s angels went to the city and warned Lot of Sodom’s soon demise.  On hearing of the impending destruction, he pleaded with his daughter’s husbands to get their family’s to flee.  They would not.  Ten righteous people could not be found.  All he could gather to leave were his wife and two daughters.

As they took flight, perhaps by being so enamored with Sodom’s worldly pleasures and luxuries,  Lot’s wife looked back one more time at the place she would miss.  Because she disobeyed God’s commandment not to look back, she was turned into a pillar of salt.

The two young ladies may have escaped destruction from raining fire and brimstone, but their minds were corrupted by the ideas and sights they had experienced in Sodom.  Without his knowing, they committed incest with their father.

Lot, who knew what was righteous, got too close to sin and paid an outrageous price for it.   Because of his poor decision, he lost his married daughters, sons-in-law, wife,  wealth, and his virgin daughters were spoiled by the city’s behavior to which they were exposed.  His focus on the trinkets that fluttered before his eyes cost him more than he ever imagined his temptation and toleration for worldliness and sin would cost him.  The man was in a place a godly person should never have been.

Many shake their head and wonder why a man who had “it all” would make such a poor decision and lose the important things in his life.  Unfortunately, most, including many Christians, make similar poor choices, as did Lot.   They choose to live in, work around, or associate with ungodly “Sodom”s and do not consider what damage it may do to them and their relationship with the Lord.

Soon, because they allow themselves to be exposed to ungodly activities, they accept and are involved in the same things the ungodly are.  The Lord and His ways have been given a very back seat because of their love for “things,” fixation on entertainment, and all the attractive things this world offers.  So many, including “Christians,” give little thought to obeying God’s commandments,  if any at all.

A quick examination of the lives of even Christians today reveals little difference than the ungodly.  Many have allowed themselves to be contaminated by sin’s enticing grip.

People have allowed themselves to be enamored by the cares and things of this world so much that they never intend to leave the “Sodom” they chose.  Dishonesty, sexual sins, adultery, substance abuse, no regard to the sanctity of life, violence, laziness, and most sins God hates are no longer viewed as evil.  Those iniquities are so accepted that they are themes in movies and literature and are sought as entertainment.

Not only is it sinful to be involved in what God hates, but it does other damage.  As happened to the daughters of Lot, daily seeing and hearing iniquity eventually desensitizes the exposed to wrong-doing.  It no longer bothers most, as they get used to depravity and soon tolerate it.  The constant bombardment of accepting wrong-doing from all forms of media has done that to the majority today.

However, what was sin in Lot’s day is still sin today.  What ruined a person who should have known better then will do the same now.  God’s wrath was poured out on sinners then, and it will not be spared in our day.  There always will be a payday for iniquity someday.

We may not be able to flee to a faraway sin-free place, but we do not have to accept the sin and tolerate what we see or hears.  Avoid places and people that will soil minds and testimonies.  Speak up and let God’s morals and commandments be heard by many that have never been aware of what He hates. 

Christians should battle sin, not surrender to it.  We cannot stop all the evilness around us, but we can be an untolerating light that exposes it.

Christian, separate yourself from sin.  Do not look longingly to the ungodliness of this world, as did Lot’s wife.  It will cost you more than you would want to pay if tolerated.

We must be the steadfast example of what the world needs to see.  They also need to hear what is right in God’s eyes from our lips.  We may not be able to save an entire city or nation from reaping the consequences of their sin, but if just ten or more escape the ultimate punishment of Hell, then it will be worth any hardship or trials we will endure.  If we do not tell or show others, who will?

We Have Lost Our Way
Bill Brinkworth

Since America’s inception in 1620, God has always been One whom the country’s citizens relied on and followed.  Most knew, and many followed, His written commandments in the Bible.  His standards enabled people to dwell together.

There was always a clear understanding of right and wrong, as many laws and practices were derived from biblical principles.  Legislations were made and followed.  Crimes were quickly recognized and punished.  It was understood that if the violation of law went undealt with, it would not be a deterrent for future law-breaking.

The butchering of unborn babies would not have been even considered sixty years ago.  Torture was something the ungodly did, not a Christian nation.  Work was something that people were proud to do, and it was a shame not to have a job or even take someone else’s aid when one was not employed.

There were clear understandings of the differences in sexes and their abilities and responsibilities.  Marriage was special, and most decent folks would not even consider pre-marital sex as they knew it could lead to social ruin, lack of respect, and other shameful situations.

Teachers were known for their outstanding, moral examples, and their decisions and discipline were rarely questioned.  Police were honored and respected.  Citizens were usually treated equally as a whole, and not different treatments for different groups.  Christians usually were better examples of behavior and showed others how to face difficulties.

After having clearly defined social standards for centuries, something changed.  One by one, the standards were slowly eroded.  Perhaps they were ignored because those guilty of doing something not socially accepted ignored ridicule or publicly encouraged others to tolerate their sin.  Soon, convicting consciences no longer had control of people’s characters, and people did what changing standards allowed.  Moral boundaries were moved further to the left or obliterated completely.

It was not long until unprincipled people gained governmental powers.  They helped society legislate what was once recognized as immoral.  These leaders passed unbiblical laws.  Perhaps it was just a means to get more votes, but it pushed overall morality further down the slope of decline.  The public allowed these changes and rarely balked at such legislation.

Since moral measurements were changed, many immoral philosophies crept into public bully pulpits such as schools, radio, and television.  Thoughts that were previously taboo were now the center of television programs and movies.  Away from parental control and knowledge, public education became a means of indoctrination of unbiblical philosophies to children.

The saturation of social input continued to corrupt and confuse morality.   Forbidden practices were often initially introduced in comedy television programs.  Soon, unmentionable activities were now giggled at and accepted more readily.  Homosexuality, drunkenness, adultery, law-breaking, and other sins gained acceptance by constant brainwashing on television, movies, and even video games.  Those once forbidden practices were now no longer “bad”; they were “entertainment.”

After decades of watered-down morality and social engineering, a nation emerged that did not know right from wrong.  Men, women, and children now do what is right in their own eyes, as the moral compass God left for man to succeed was discarded.
“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6.  Also: Job 32:1, Prov.12:15, Prov. 16:2, Prov. 21:2.

Because of moral and social changes, our country and the world are in the situation they are in today.  Murder is not the fault of guns, nor is it totally the abortion clinic’s fault for butchering millions of young babies.  It also is not the fault of some chemicals that there are so many addictions.  One cannot blame the government for not having enough laws to stop or curb out-of-control crime.

The fault for man’s decline falls rightly on each man, woman, and child for not knowing and obeying God’s preserved truths.  Society will always fail when God’s roadmap through life is ignored!  Only if His Word is believed and followed will mankind find His way again!

“Most often, today’s ‘morality’ is yesteryears immorality!  Morality’s measuring tool has been altered!” — B. Brinkworth

In This Issue:
Free the Slaves
Sin’s Damage

Volume: 839     December 20, 2021
Theme: Sin’s Grip

FREE Printable versions of THE BIBLE VIEW (including large print and church bulletin inserts) are available at https://www.openthoumineeyes.com/.

All should read the Bible daily!  While at your computer,  go to www.DevotionsFromTheBible.com and read a chapter each day, and learn something from what you read. SIGN-UP to have the FREE devotion e-mailed (Mon.-Sat.) and read a devotion and KJV chapter at your computer.

Free the Slaves
Bill Brinkworth

When speaking of slavery, most immediately think of those taken against their will from Africa and other countries in the early-to-mid 1800s. However, forced labor continues today and is more prevalent than in the 1800s. 

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated in 2013 that 20.9 million men, women, and children around the world are “forced to work for little or no pay and at the complete mercy of their ‘employer’” (www.antislavery.org, 11/2013). Some estimates make the count closer to 30 million.

Those forced to work in mental or physical slavery or controlled by an “employer” are not even close to the numbers of those in bondage in a different, less obvious way.  Those in this type of slavery outnumber the 30 million many times over.  To make matters worse, those in this popular type of bondage often do not realize they have lost their freedoms!

The Bible has much to say about this type of oppression:

• There are two choices in this world.  One can serve himself and one’s selfish desires, which are often sin and sometimes the devil’s destructive ploys or one can serve God.  There are only these two choices, whether man recognizes it or not.
  “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [the self-serving desires of our flesh].” Matthew 6:24  Also: Luke 16:13.

• Although sin is always an individual’s choice, it becomes “addictive” and leads to more iniquity.  Soon sin controls one’s thoughts and is a demanding and controlling force in one’s life.

Lying and deceitfulness oftenlead to more lies and alienation from others as one becomes mistrusted. Bitterness , unforgiveness, resentment, and jealousy rob many of peace and good relationships. Drinking, drugs, pornography, and most sins never fulfill one’s lust and often lead to committing more iniquities in hopes that their cravings will be satisfied. Sexual sins ruin lives and families, wreck relationships but leave the committer with a feeling of loneliness and failure.

On and on goes the list of the consequences of sin.  No one gets away without paying the horrible cost to one’s life because of sin. Iniquities leave one’s life changed and often physically damaged from its commission.  Iniquity never does anything but rob and destroys what is good in one’s life.  Its grasp robs one of joy and makes one a slave.  The committer of sin is led by desires and loses freedoms.

• When one chooses to do his own thing and ignore the life God desires one to have, the person will not only reap the terrible consequence of sin but will alienate himself from God.
  “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” I John 2:15
  “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4
  “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Gal. 1:10

• Jesus addressed a group of saved Jews and told them they could be free (John 8:31-32).  The believers responded that they were not in bondage.
  “They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” John 8:33

Then Jesus pointed out to them that they were indeed slaves to the sins they had committed.
“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34

• Those given over to sin have no permanent desire to live a life that pleases the Lord.
  “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” Rom. 6:20

• Trusting Christ’s payment for all our iniquities is the only way one can be free of sin’s control and from the ultimate price for committing them — the Lake of Fire!
  “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Rom. 8:2

• The choice is always up to the individual!  One does not have to serve sin, although many choose to continue committing it.  We have the liberty to do right.
  “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Gal. 5:1
  “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.” I Cor. 7:22

• When free from the desire to sin, one should strive to live righteously.  However, the longer one is involved in sin, the harder the battle will be against the temptations it will present.  Halting sin can be changed to a lifestyle that is pleasing to God.
  “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Rom. 6:18
  “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Rom. 6:22
  “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.” Mat. 12:18

• One freed from the desire to sin has the opportunity to serve God freely, and in so doing, one should get their sights off themselves and desire to help others.
  “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.” Mark 10:44

• Although one may choose to serve God, it is servitude out of gratitude and love, not out of forced bondage.  When one decides to surrender control of selfish desires and live the way God commands, one will have a life that is blessed and honored by God! God looks at his servant not as a bond slave but with special love — as a friend.
  “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15
  “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” John 12:26

• Jesus, our example, was this type of servant also.
  “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” Philippians 2:7
  “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Mat. 25:21   Also: Mat. 25:23.

The most dangerous and ever-present threat to anyone, even a saved person, is the commission of sin.  It always has a price tag that no one would ever dream would come when committing it.

The charge for getting involved in iniquity usually continues longer than anyone would ever want to pay.  Its bill often comes due when the sin’s commission is forgotten, but there is always a payday for sin.  No one avoids its cost.

When a believer sins, one can always go to the Father in prayer, seek forgiveness, and plead with God for strength not to commit the trespass again. The guilt may be gone, and one will not have to answer for the sin.  However, its temptation will often appear again in one’s life and be a future difficulty one must battle to avoid.

All the good intentions and halting of sin’s commission will not remove sin’s payment.  One must realize one is a sinner and trusts Christ’s death on the cross as the only payment God will recognize to cover one’s wrongdoings. When one does that and asks God to save him, the eternal wage for sin will be removed.  You must be born again (John 3:3) to have the free pardon from all sin.

Do you realize that your sin is against what God desires for your life?  Confess it to God. He knows about it already but wants you to humble yourself and admit it.  Seek to live the way God commands in His Word, the Bible.

Obeying God and living the way He desires you to live will break the chains of sin that are keeping you in bondaget.  You can be free.  There is hope!

“The way to keep the heart quiet is to keep ourselves in the love of God and to do nothing to offend him.”  — Henry

Sin’s Damage
Keach

Sin is composed of naught but subtle wiles,
It fawns and flatters and betrays by smiles;
‘Tis like the panther, or the crocodile,
It seems to love, and promises no wile,
It hides the soul and hates when it vows most love.
It plays the tyrant most by gilded pills (unpleasant people),
It secretly ensnares the souls it kills.
Sin’s promises they all deceitful be,
Does promise wealth, but pays us poverty;
Does promise pleasure, but doth pay us sorrow;
Does promise life today; pays death tomorrow.
No thief so vile, nor treacherous as sin,
Whom fools do hug and have much pleasure in.

“Sin will keep you from the Bible.  The Bible will keep you from sin.” — D. L. Moody

In This Issue:
It Will Turn Up
No Matter What They Decide
How to be Forgiven

Volume: 817    July 5, 2021
Theme: Sin

Free Daily Devotions, Bible Studies, Sunday School lessons and printed versions of The Bible View (including church bulletin insert and large print versions) are available at https://openthoumineeyes.com/ and http://www.devotionsfromthebible.com/.

View A NEW Facebook Video: Heaven or Hell? at https://www.facebook.com/bill.brinkworth.966/videos/534362997696494 AND share! (Make sure the sound is turned on.) There are so many headed to Hell. You CAN help them not go there!

It Will Turn Up
Bill Brinkworth

Twenty years previously, Aaron Giles lost a small identity bracelet he was wearing. He was about five years old and was never sure where he lost it.  Aaron believes he lost it when he was playing at his grandfather’s farm in Fairmont, Minnesota.

A lot of time has gone by since, and his grandfather’s farm is no longer standing.  How surprised he was when the piece of jewelry was returned to him. It was found by a meat cutter, who found it when removing a chicken’s gizzard. The object was in good condition, and the name was still legible. It was believed the animal came from a farm near where the boy had lost it 20 years previously. It was there the fowl swallowed the shiny object.

Many times, deeds done a long time ago rear their reminding head.  If it was a good deed, and we are reminded of it, we smile and remember happily.  If, however, the deed was something we are now ashamed of ever having done, we cringe at the remembrance that we were the ones who did the shameful act.

Again and again, crimes that were done a long time ago come under re-investigation. Surprised are the villains when the law arrives at their door to arrest them for a crime that they may have even forgotten they had done. 

Adulterous acts have often been revealed to spouses many years after the sin was committed. Government officials running for office have had to resign from their race for office after it was discovered that they had cheated on a long-past college exam.  People have been rejected from getting jobs because of the discovery of their criminal activity many years before.

Like Mr. Gile’s bracelet recovery, the wages and the public exposure of sin can occur long after the act was done or performed.  There is a principle taught in the Bible about iniquity.  It is that no one gets away without paying a price tag for their transgressions. The act may have been done in secret, but it will not always be hidden. As Moses reminded His people, “… be sure your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23).

Many suffer in this life from a payday of sin long after the deed was committed.  Adulterers often pay for their trespass by eventually losing their families. Thieves’ salaries for their sin are often paid by jail time.  Liars pay time and a half for their dishonesty by separation from friends that no longer trust them.  All, if unsaved and not receiving Jesus’ death as payment for their sin, will suffer in a dark, lonely, painful, eternal Hell.

God wants no one to suffer the after-shocks of sin.  That is why His desire is for us to keep far from the damaging grasps of iniquity.  No matter who you are, your sin may be revealed – somewhere, sometime.  Its embarrassing reminder can turn up.

“Sin may open bright as the morning, but it will end dark as night.”
 – Talmage

No Matter What They Decide
Bill Brinkworth

Before Joshua’s death, the leader gathered the people of Israel together. He reminded them of all the great and mighty things God had done for them and their fathers. Joshua rehearsed how God took, gave, sent, plagued, brought, put, destroyed, and delivered for them in over 17 instances (Joshua 24:3-13).

Joshua also rehearsed all the failures of His people. He reminded them how they continued to backslide from God and repeatedly had to be saved from the consequences of their poor choices. Many of God’s rescues were because the people had not learned their lesson and were still of two beliefs.

Sometimes they served God, and other times they served the losing side and its false gods.  Trying to live for God was a constant struggle for them.  Their minds were not completely made up, or they would not have had made the same mistakes repeatedly.

No matter what Israel’s loyalty to God was, it was not a hard decision for Joshua.  The leader’s mind was made up.   He had previously decided who His God was and that he would be faithful in obedience to Him. It was no longer a struggle for Joshua to know whom he would serve.

“Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14-15

Israel’s leader used interesting terms in describing many of the people’s desire not to serve God.  He used: “… if it seem evil.”  This wording indicated that some people thought that serving their Creator and Protector was physically, socially, or morally bad for them. This thinking is not unlike the thoughts of many today.  Too many think serving God and obeying His commandments, as recorded in the Bible, is unprofitable to them because:

• They think they will miss all the “fun” if they follow God’s commandments.  Sin is only “fun” for a short time, however.  It usually has regrettable consequences that come at a later time.  Iniquity never gives genuine joy, only temporary satisfaction.
  “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” Hebrews 11:25. 

• They do not know that there is a price tag for sin. No one gets away with sin.
  “ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverb 28:13
  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

• His way is not the world’s way.  By following His way, they will appear different from others.  It is often more important to some to be like everyone else rather than pleasing God.

Yes, God’s way is different.  Yes, you will not fit in if you are obedient to God, but why do you want to be like the losing side, anyway?  God’s way is always better.  He has raised billions of children, and Father knows best.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

• They only see the now and forget the eternal.  There is life after death. There is an eternity in either Heaven or Hell.  What sense is there in missing an eternity in Heaven for temporary satisfaction for a relatively short time here on Earth?
  “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36

The world’s reasons for not serving God are not much different than those of Joshua’s day.  The excuses come from the same rebellious and disobedient heart. No matter the time, the answer to God can be the same as Joshua’s: “… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15.  No matter what others think or do, we can always be different and do right!

“Sin and dandelions are a lot alike; they’re a lifetime battle to control that you never quite win.”  —White

How to be Forgiven

• Know all have sinned — including you.
  “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23
• Know that eventually there is a cost for your sin that has to be paid.
  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
• Know that the price for your sin has already been paid — no matter what you have done.
  “ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
• Know that you can apply Jesus’ payment to your sin account and have ALL your sins forgiven.  You can have God’s promise of Heaven!
  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9
  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9  (“Confessing” is admitting your faults to God in prayer).

“God hates the sin, but He loves the sinner.”  — D. L. Moody