The Walk part 3: Freedom from Sin

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him. 1 John 3:2-6

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 47-48; 1 John 3

It’s dope that we have forgiveness, but why is there this focus on sin? Why does sin matter so much if we have been forgiven?

The Walk part 2: Forgiveness

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 2: 1-2

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 45-46; 1 John 2

We have forgiveness.

Forgiveness is an amazing thing. What it does is it allows for the possibility of developing a relationship.

This is true in any relationship. Can you think of a single person in your life that hasn’t let you down at least once? What happened when they hurt you?

The Walk part 1: It's About Relationship

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:5-10

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 42-44; 1 John 1

I’ve heard some folks say that Christianity can be hypocritical. That the whole forgiveness thing means that Christians can just act a fool and do what they want and then go to church and pray for forgiveness. How does this work? Why do Christians believe that they don’t have to be responsible for their actions?

A Day Is Like 1000 Years? Not Exactly

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 40-41; 2 Peter 3

So with the Lord a thousands years can be like a day and a day like a thousand years huh? That makes me think…

So you know the whole bit about God being omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent? It makes sense to me in this context, at least the omniscient and omnipresent part.

So imagine if you were in all places at the same time with the ability to take in all of the information that you experienced.

Celestial Naysayers

…Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord. But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. 2 Peter 2:10-12

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 37-39; 2 Peter 2

The more and more that I think about it, the more I don’t understand people who are quick to speak badly of God.

We Can't Destroy The World

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to Israel’s plea and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed festivals. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD.” – Ezekiel 36:37-38

Today’s Reading: Ezekiel 35-36; 2 Peter 1

The ruined cities will be filled with flocks of people huh? Flocks…what an interesting choice of words... What if that’s how God sees us? What if we are to God what flocks of sheep are to us? Maybe we aren’t even at that level. Maybe we are like one big ant colony digging up the ground trying to make sense of the world around us by rearranging bits of gravel.