The Road to Destruction

Romans 6:23

“For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, but the free gift of God is eternal life THROUGH Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God calls us to live HOLY lives.

We are required to be perfect to have eternal life.

But, most Christians misunderstand what this perfection means.

There are two types of "perfections;"

➡️ WORLDLY perfection means never making mistakes, knowing everything, being the smartest, and knowing how to do everything without missing a step. Being "above" anyone else. Having perfect looks and a perfect job, with a picture-perfect family.

Giving glory to yourself ("I did it by myself").

➡️ GODLY perfection starts with genuine REPENTANCE. Nailing sinful nature to the cross by the POWER OF GOD and being obedient to God. Not loving the world, but loving God and other people, and being humble. It's living blameless lives and doing what pleases God. NEVER repeating SINS.

Giving glory to God ("God is the One doing it through me")

Matthew‬ 5‬:48‬

“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

I have repented and turned from my sins in September 2022.

Does it mean that;

• I know everything? NO.

• I know how to cook perfect meals? NO.

• I'm in a perfect chirpy mood every day? NO.

• I don't get tired? NO.

• My desk is always organized? NO.

• My hair falls in perfect locks? NO.

• I got rich? NO. (the opposite actually)

• Everyone likes me? NO.

• All my problems disappeared? NO.

It means;

• I DO NOT SIN.

• I do not struggle with resisting Satan. I WON over him.

• My SINFUL NATURE has been CUTAWAY. IT NO LONGER EXISTS.

• God removed my guilt and shame. IT'S GONE.

• God gave me The Spirit of His Son, whom I saw with my eyes.

• My life is no longer about me, but about serving God.

• The Holy Spirit works through my blameless body.

• I DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN, WHOM I LOVE MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE.

• I love other people; I see them differently than I used to.

• God gave me peace and joy I never experienced before.

The temptation of sin still exists, but I'm not weak to it. It has no power over me. I'm not its slave anymore.

1 John 2:12-14

"I am writing to you who are GOD'S CHILDREN because your sins have been FORGIVEN THROUGH JESUS. I am writing to you who are mature in the faith because YOU KNOW CHRIST, who existed from the beginning. I am writing to you who are young in the faith because you have WON YOUR BATTLE WITH THE EVIL ONE. I have written to you who are God’s children because YOU KNOW THE FATHER. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. GOD'S WORD LIVES IN YOUR HEARTS, and you have won your battle with the evil one."

Colossians 2:9-12

“For IN CHRIST LIVES all the fullness of God IN A HUMAN BODY. So you also are complete through your UNION WITH CHRIST, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a SPIRITUAL CIRCUMCISION—THE CUTTING AWAY OF YOUR SINFUL NATURE. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to NEW LIFE BECAUSE YOU TRUSTED THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD, who raised Christ from the dead.”

Jeremiah 9:25-26

“A time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will punish ALL those who are circumcised in body BUT NOT IN THE SPIRIT—the Egyptians, Edomites, Ammonites, Moabites, the people who live in the desert in remote places, and yes, even the people of Judah. And like all these pagan nations, the people of Israel also have UNCIRCUMCISED HEARTS."

How Christians Twist the Scripture:

This statement could not be more FALSE.

1. Jesus Christ died on the cross to make the way to perfect, faultless lives in Him.

2. We can NEVER make enough "effort" to get there by ourselves; it ONLY happens by FAITH, NOT BY HUMAN EFFORT! If human effort could ever achieve it, there would be no need for Christ to die on the cross!

This kind of (dis)belief is no different than what Pharisees believed. They thought they can be saved by "making the effort" in obeying the law.

Romans‬ 3‬:23‬-24‬

“For EVERYONE HAS SINNED; we ALL fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”

• It's an acknowledgment of having sinful nature.

• Being aware of this fact is the 1st step to repentance.

• It is NOT permission to continue sinning!

Romans 6:1-2

“Well then, SHOULD WE KEEP ON SINNING so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? OF COURSE NOT! SINCE WE HAVE DIED TO SIN, HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO LIVE IN IT?"

Matthew 5:17-20

Teaching about the Law

“Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. NO, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will NEVER enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”

James 2:12

“So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free.”

• If you don’t believe in God’s power to make you “brand new,” “born again" or "perfect" - you are FAITHLESS. And if you think you are saved but continue sinning - you are lying to yourself and others. People who make such claims have no idea who Jesus Christ is and don't understand the power of God. Sadly, MOST "Christians" share this false belief.

Mark 12:24

“Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.”

GOD’S LAW IN ITSELF IS PERFECT AND HOLY

• Can a sinner ever obey the law? NO!

• Only those who Repent and are transformed into the New Creation by being perfect and holy are able to obey God’s holy laws! They are then unable to break it - because God made them Holy - so they are freed from being its slave.

Romans 7:13–25

“But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

Struggling with Sin

So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, A SLAVE TO SIN. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is SIN LIVING IN ME that does it.

• The sin living in me = The sinful nature is still alive

And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, IN MY SINFUL NATURE. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

• This shows that good intentions aren’t enough, human effort is insufficient to obey God’s laws

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is ANOTHER POWER WITHIN ME that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.

• It’s powered by Satan, and repentance requires battle against him - resist the devil and reject the world.

Oh, what a miserable person I am! WHO WILL FREE ME from this life that is dominated by sin and death?

THANK GOD! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

REPENT, AND GIVE IT UP TO GOD TO REMOVE YOUR SINFUL NATURE!

• But first - HAVE FAITH!

A typical reaction when I correct;

1. Godly perfect - yes. The Holy Spirit is within me.

2. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. It's ego-driven, which only proves that sinful nature is still alive.

3. Those who refuse correction only hurt themselves.

• Proverbs 12:1 “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.”

Matthew 7:21-23

“NOT EVERYONE who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER IN HEAVEN will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I NEVER KNEW YOU. Get away from me, you who BREAK GOD'S LAWS.’”

➡️ If your "faith" hasn’t changed you, it hasn’t saved you!

And how can anyone say they are “saved by Grace” when they still sin and teach others that it's "normal" and impossible to be pure?!

1 John‬ 3‬:8‬-10‬

"See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because THEY DON'T KNOW HIM. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation WILL KEEP THEMSELVES PURE, JUST AS HE IS PURE.

EVERYONE WHO SINS is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. ANYONE WHO CONTINUES TO LIVE IN HIM WILL NOT SIN. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him OR UNDERSTAND WHO HE IS.

Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family DO NOT MAKE PRACTICE OF SINNING, BECAUSE GOD'S LIVE IS IN THEM. So they CAN'T keep on sinning, because they are CHILDREN OF GOD. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers DOES NOT BELONG TO GOD."

Romans‬ 6‬:6‬-11‬

“We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are NO LONGER slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since WE DIED with Christ, we know we will also live with him. We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. When he died, he died ONCE to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”

• Jesus didn’t have to repeat the crucifixion.

• The Cross is a symbol of repentance; successful repentance puts sinful nature to death.

• Jesus didn’t survive it, He died and then rose to Life.

• It’s the same with repentance. We put sinful nature to death by His power.

• It’s only done by faith.

• Faith and wishful thinking aren’t the same.

• Repeated sin is proof of wishful thinking.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31

“God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; HE MADE US PURE AND HOLY, AND HE FREED US FROM SIN. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast ONLY about the Lord.”

Matthew‬ 6‬:23‬

“But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!”

Hebrews 12:14 “Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for THOSE WHO ARE NOT HOLY WILL NOT SEE THE LORD."

Ezekiel 18:4-32

“For all people are mine to judge—both parents and children alike.

AND THIS IS MY RULE: THE PERSON WHO SINS IS THE ONE WHO WILL DIE.

“Suppose a certain man is righteous and does what is just and right. He does not feast in the mountains before Israel’s idols or worship them. He does not commit adultery or have intercourse with a woman during her menstrual period. He is a merciful creditor, not keeping the items given as security by poor debtors. He does not rob the poor but instead gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy. He grants loans without interest, stays away from injustice, is honest and fair when judging others, and faithfully obeys my decrees and regulations. Anyone who does these things is just and will surely live, says the Sovereign Lord.

“But suppose that man has a son who grows up to be a robber or murderer and refuses to do what is right. And that son does all the evil things his father would never do—he worships idols on the mountains, commits adultery, oppresses the poor and helpless, steals from debtors by refusing to let them redeem their security, worships idols, commits detestable sins, and lends money at excessive interest. Should such a sinful person live? No! He must die and must take full blame.

“But suppose that sinful son, in turn, has a son who sees his father’s wickedness and decides against that kind of life. This son refuses to worship idols on the mountains and does not commit adultery. He does not exploit the poor, but instead is fair to debtors and does not rob them. He gives food to the hungry and provides clothes for the needy. He helps the poor, does not lend money at interest, and obeys all my regulations and decrees. Such a person will not die because of his father’s sins; he will surely live. But the father will die for his many sins—for being cruel, robbing people, and doing what was clearly wrong among his people.

“‘What?’ you ask. ‘Doesn’t the child pay for the parent’s sins?’ No! For if the child does what is just and right and keeps my decrees, that child will surely live. The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not be punished for the parent’s sins, and the parent will not be punished for the child’s sins. Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behavior, and wicked people will be punished for their own wickedness. But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.

“Do you think that I like to see wicked people die? says the Sovereign Lord. Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live.

However, if righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things and act like other sinners, should they be allowed to live? No, of course not! All their righteous acts will be forgotten, and they will die for their sins.

“Yet you say, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ Listen to me, O people of Israel. Am I the one not doing what’s right, or is it you?

When righteous people turn from their righteous behavior and start doing sinful things, they will die for it. Yes, they will die because of their sinful deeds. And if wicked people turn from their wickedness, obey the law, and do what is just and right, they will save their lives. They will live because they thought it over and decided to turn from their sins. Such people will not die.

And yet the people of Israel keep saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right!’ O people of Israel, it is you who are not doing what’s right, not I. “Therefore, I will judge each of you, O people of Israel, according to your actions, says the Sovereign Lord. REPENT, AND TURN FROM YOUR SINS. DON'T LET THEM DESTROY YOU! Put all your rebellion behind you, and find yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O people of Israel? I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign Lord. Turn back and live!”

1 John 5:16-21

"If you see a fellow believer sinning in a way that does not lead to death, you should pray, and God will give that person life. But there is a sin that leads to death, and I am not saying you should pray for those who commit it. All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death.

We know that God’s children DO NOT make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.

And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.”

1 John 2:18-29

Warning about Antichrists

"Dear children, the last hour is here. You have heard that the Antichrist is coming, and already many such antichrists have appeared. From this we know that the last hour has come. These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.

But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies. And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist. Anyone who denies the Son doesn’t have the Father, either. But anyone who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father. And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.

I am writing these things to warn you about those who want to lead you astray. But you have received the Holy Spirit, and HE LIVES WITHIN YOU, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

Living as Children of God

And now, dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame.

Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.”

Ephesians 2:1-10

“Once YOU WERE DEAD because of your DISOBEDIENCE AND YOUR MANY SINS. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who REFUSE to obey God. ALL OF US USED TO to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, HE GAVE US LIFE when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is ONLY by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are UNITED with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done FOR US WHO ARE UNITED WITH CHRIST JESUS.

• 2 Corinthians 6:15-16 “What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And YOU CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS; it is a gift from God. Salvation is NOT A REWARD FOR THE GOOD THINGS WE HAVE DONE, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. HE HAS CREATED US ANEW IN CHRIST JESUS, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Revelation 3:1-3

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars:

“I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—BUT YOU ARE DEAD. Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God. Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. REPENT AND TURN TO ME AGAIN. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.”

Hebrews 6:4-8

“For it is IMPOSSIBLE to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame.

When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.”

Hebrews 10:26-31

“Dear friends, IF WE DELIBERATELY CONTINUE SINNING after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is NO LONGER any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said,

“I will take revenge. I will pay them back.”

He also said, “The Lord will judge his own people.”

It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Psalm 50:16-23

But God says to the wicked: “Why bother reciting my decrees and pretending to obey my covenant? For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash. When you see thieves, you approve of them, and you spend your time with adulterers. Your mouth is filled with wickedness, and your tongue is full of lies. You sit around and slander your brother—your own mother’s son. While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you. REPENT, ALL OF YOU WHO FORGET ME, OR I WILL TEAR YOU APART, AND NO ONE WILL HELP YOU. But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you KEEP TO MY PATH, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

DO NOT WAIT TO DIE TO BE FORGIVEN

This is another misconception of "Christians." Repentance is only possible while you're still alive. If you die in your sins, you will remain in them and be judged by them. People can only be forgiven if they repent and stop sinning during their lifetime.

Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

“Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, BEFORE the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. DON'T WAIT until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.”

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

“As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.”

Indeed, the “RIGHT TIME” is NOW. TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.”

John 12:36

“Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.”

Amos 8:11

“The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord.”