“Stop Sinning” Pt 4:
There are a number of reasons a person would give as to why they choose not to surrender their life to Christ and become a Christian. I struggled with this choice much longer than I should have. This was in the day when people were told, “If you become a Christian, you have to stop doing this and start doing that.” For me, it would have been much easier if just told to come to Jesus and trust Him to do whatever pruning in your life that’s necessary.
Some people continue to live a life of sin because they’ve heard the gospel message and how much Jesus loves them but if they gave their heart to Jesus, they aren’t confident they could live the Christian life. And of course, some are so deceived by the Devil’s lies they feel secure in the life they are leading. Another thought about individuals rejecting Christ or even some who once became Christians but returned to a lifestyle of sin is dissatisfaction with God’s plan for their lives.
The fact is, there are two Master’s in the world. The Lord and Satan. Every day we choose which one we’ll serve, and the Bible is explicitly clear – we can’t serve both. We are saved or lost. We’re headed to Heaven or Hell. This is a very personal and individual choice. Jesus asks, “Do you believe in me?” This is not a multiple choice question!
For the believer, God offers hope, help, and security. For the non-Christian, Satan offers images of happiness, success, and a great life, but in the end, there will be sorrow and heartache because of his deception and lies. Let’s forget Satan and discover how the Lord can deliver us from sin and keep us on the right path.
The first step is asking Jesus in a simple (but repentant) prayer to forgive you of all sin and accept Him into your heart. At that moment you become a Christian. You are now a child of God. You’re thinking that sounds good – what then? The next step is to start spending time each day reading some passages from the Bible (don’t worry about things you don’t understand – there will be plenty you do). Spend time talking to God in prayer – don’t be concerned about the words, just be sincere and seek His guidance. Find a good Bible preaching church and develop relationships with other Christians. Beware, because Satan attacks new Christians in powerful ways because he doesn’t want to let go of you. But you don’t have to fight spiritual battles alone, God is with you!
The Bible teaches us to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 5:10-18). Verse 14 says “stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist. This means to trust the Word of God (Bible) completely and refute the lies and lure of Satan. Secondly, put on the “Breastplate of Righteousness.”
Satan attacks our minds and especially our hearts – the seat of our emotions, our self – worth, and trust. God’s righteousness is the breastplate that protects our hearts and ensures his approval. He approves of us because he loves us and sent his Son to die for us. He will never leave us, because we are His child. (Part 5 tomorrow).
Pastor Carnes
