Balancing The Doctine

Often there is much confusion about becoming a child and living as a child of God.
People often confuse being a child of God with living as a child of God.

A. It is to disobey the voice of God. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).

B. It is what is done in the heart. “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28).

C. Whatsoever is not of faith is sin. “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23).

D. Fearful individuals and liars are also included. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8).

A. The prophecy. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

B. Jesus died for the whole world. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

1. It is more than knowing who Jesus is. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).

2. It is submitting your life to Jesus as Lord. “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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

3. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12). Our receiving salvation is based upon our faith commitment to Jesus as Lord; however, God is responsible for the keeping of our salvation.

A. God sanctifies (sits apart) us. “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called ~~to be~~ saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours” (I Corinthians 1:2). God takes us out of the kingdom of darkness and translates unto the Kingdom of Jesus. “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).

B. God justifies us. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). Justified = just as though we have never sinned.

C. God gives us the righteousness of Jesus. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21). This puts us in “right standing with God.”

D. God gives us an earnest of His Spirit. “Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (II Corinthians 1:22). “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit” (II Corinthians 5:5). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

E. We are born again. “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

F. We become a new creation. “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).

G. He gives us eternal life. “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28).

H. We are born of incorruptible seed. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (I Peter 1:23). This means that Believers do not corrupt their spirit-man when they sin within their will.

I. We are adopted into the household of God. "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15).

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any" (I Corinthians 6:9-12). Paul hear distinguishes the PAST and the PRESENT situation. The people WERE unrighteous, but now have been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of the Lord Jesus.

A. We should understand that there are two aspects of the kingdom of God.

a."In my Father's house are may mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).

b. In Heaven there is no sin, no sorrow, and no pain. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

c. We are to be eternally in God's presence. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Revelation 21:3).

2. There is also the kingdom of God on earth. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Here on earth, kingdom living is to become our daily experience. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

B. There is a difference is being and doing.

1. There is a difference between our soul and our spirit. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

2. There is a difference between relationship and fellowship. Jesus said to the church of the Laodiceans, “Behold, I stand at the door , and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). Jesus is speaking here about fellowship, not relationship. We have a good relationship with someone without having a proper fellowship.

3. We are to take off the old man and put on the new man. “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24).

4. We are to live by the Word of God. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). The en-grafted word is able to save our minds from wrong thoughts, our wills from wrong decisions, and our emotions from being out of control.

C. There are always consequences for sin.“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2). “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (I Corinthians 6:12).

1. Sin always brings consequences in our lives. “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come” (Proverbs 26:2).

2. It also effects the lives of others. Remember the 10 spies. (Numbers 13:32).

3. Sin will also hinder or destroy our witness of Jesus. (Job 34:8).

4. Sin may also keep us from receiving the crowns that we might otherwise could have received.

a. The Incorruptible Crown for purity. I Corinthians 9:25.

b. The Crown Of Life for being a martyr for Christ. James 1:12.

c. The Crown Of Righteousness for living a righteous life. II Timothy 4:8.

d. The Crown Of Glory for shepherding. I Peter 5:4.

e. The Crown Of Joy for soul winning. Daniel 12:3, Philippians 4:1.

D. We also need to remember the discipline of God.

1. Rebuke / reprove is a strong confrontation. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19). "This is witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they be sound in faith" (Titus 1:13).

2. Chastisement is God teaching us. “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him” (Hebrews 12:5). It may mean the Lord allowing the enemy to bring consequence in our lives for a season. (I Timothy 1:20). “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Hebrews 12:11).

3. Scourging is that of whipping. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Hebrews 12:6). See Matthew 20:19. The same word "scourging" was used about Jesus being beaten as with a whip.

4. Physical Destruction or Death. “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done” (Acts 8:13). However, Simon offered to pay for the gift of the Holy Spirit. “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou has through that the gift of God may be purchased with money” (Acts 8:20). Paul also records that there was a man in the church, but the man was sleeping with his father's wife. Paul tells the church that it was to kick out the man for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit was to be saved. “To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus” (I Corinthians 5:5).

ILLUSTRATION: The speed limit is 75 mph. You are a Believer, but you are in a hurry and run your car up to 78 mph to get to your destination. (Rebuke) > You are caught by radar and pulled over. The State Trouper, gives you a lecture and a warning ticket. Now you are even later to you appointment, so you speed away and run up to 82 mph. (Chastisement) > This time, you are pulled over by a very rude and harsh patrolman. This time, the officer writes you a speeding ticket for $175.00. Now, you are really angry and have even less time to make it to the appointment and feel you must get that appointment on time. This time, you, as soon a the officer is out of sight, you run the car up to 90 mph. (Scourging) > However, you miss the sharp curve ahead and spin out off the road hitting gravel and brushes which scratches up and dents you new car. Now, you are even more angry because of the damage to your car and speed away driving so fast do not notice the warning signs about the bridge being out ahead. (Death) >You can’t stop because of your speed and you drive into the river and drown. This does not mean that you do not go to Heaven, but does mean that you miss out on part of God's purpose for you here on earth.