MORTALITY AND PERSONAL SINS
This prepares the way for the consideration of mortality and our personal sins. And concerning this subject, the Scriptures not only reveal that "through one man (Adam), sin entered into the world," but they also make known that through his disobedience, we were "constituted (made) sinners." Now this speaks of our personal sins, which the Scriptures term "our sins," or literally, "THE misses OF-US". Now the cause of "our sins," is explained as follows: " and thus DEATH passed through into all mankind, ON WHICH (on the account of which) ALL SINNED." This Scripture makes known that our mortality or dying condition, received through Adam, is the ebbing out or expiring process which devitalizes, depletes and debilitates man and robs him of the power, strength and vitality of SPIRIT for maintaining God's standard of righteousness, holiness, honor, glory and life. Therefore, our personal sins, "THE misses OF-US," are "NOT IN THE LIKENESS ('similitude') OF THE TRANSGRESSION OF ADAM," because they result from the lack or want of the glory of God. Now "wanting of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), being infirm or "without strength" (Rom. 5:6), and "estranged from the life of God" (Eph4:18), is the deficiency and impotence, infirmity and weakness which results in "our sins." For lacking in the power, strength and vitality of SPIRIT, "sins" or "misses" are "conceived" and "brought forth" out of the seductive and wicked desires, lusts, passions and will of the flesh ( James 1:14-15; Eph. 2:1-5; Col. 3:5-7), in which we miss the mark or fail of God's standard of righteousness, holiness, honor, glory and life. Therefore, we have confirmed for our understanding and faith, that transmitted, indwelling "Sin,: produces mortality---our dying condition---which, in turn, results in our personal "sins," or "THE misses OF-US."
PERSONAL SINS VS. EVIL ACTS
We now come to the supremely important consideration fro quickening our minds to the clear comprehension of the difference between our personal "sins" and the consequent, resultant evil "acts" deeds or works done and put into practice through the body. And fro clarifying the distinctions between the thoughts expressed in the words "sins" and "acts", it should be recognized and remembered that an "act" or deed denote the exertion of power by which something is done. Moreover, an "act" or deed may be either GOOD, that is, having admirable, beneficent, excellent and useful qualities, or it may be EVIL, that is, producing calamity and demolition, injury and injustice, misery and suffering. Now with these thoughts held clearly and distinctly in mind, we will be able to recognize the teaching of the Scriptures that the EVIL which we do and put into practice through the body, is EFFECTED by SIN making its home or dwelling in us (Rom. 7:17,20). This is the inevitable, invariable law and effect of SIN, whether it be transmitted, indwelling "Sin," or our personal "sins". Therefore, it is supremely important that we clearly recognize and retain in our understanding and thinking at all times the difference between the effecting CAUSE: "Sin" or "our sins," and the RESULTS: the consequent, resultant evil " acts" or deeds we do and put into practice through the body. "Our sins" are NOT evil "acts" and evil "acts" are NOT "our sins." "Our sins" EFFECT the evil "acts" which we do and put into practice through the body. Therefore, our personal "sins, " being "conceived" and "brought forth" out of the seductive and wicked desires, lusts, passions and will of the flesh, consequently stand in relation to God, because in them we miss the or fail of the ideal or standard of His righteousness, holiness, honor, glory and life. Resultantly, then, "our sins" or "misses" produce or EFFECT the evil "acts" or works of the flesh, which are adultery, prostitution, uncleanness, wantonness, idolatry, enchantment, enmities, strife, jealousies, furies, factions, dissentions, sects, envies, strife, murder, drunkenness, revelries and the like of these, done and put into practice through the body, causing injury and injustice, misery and suffering to our fellow-man in the world.
SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES
The Scriptures provide us with plain, unmistakable examples by which we should clearly discern and distinguish the difference between our personal "sins" or "misses" "conceived" and "brought forth
out of the seductive and wicked desires, lusts, passions and will of the flesh, and the consequent, resultant evil "acts" or works of the flesh which are done and put into practice through the body. First, there is the case of David's "sin" and the consequent, resultant evil "act" which he did by having Uriah placed in the front of battle and killed in order to have his wife, Bath-sheba (2 Sam. 11 and 12). When confronted by the prophet Nathan concerning al this, David make a clear and unmistakable distinction between his "sin" and the consequent evil "act" which he had done, saying,
Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned,
And done that which is evil in Thy sight.
(Psa. 51:4, Am. R. V.
Concordantly translated, the verse reads,
Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned,
The evil in Thine eyes have I done.
This Scripture, with its context. And the account in Samuel, makes it definitely clear that David's "sin" was against God, and against Him only, while the consequent, resultant evil "act" or deed which he did was against Uriah. David's "sin" was "put away," yet, because of the evil "act" or deed which he had done, he had to suffer God's adjudication, namely, the "raising up of evil against him in his own house" and the "death" of the child that was born (2 Sam. 12: 11-14).
Another example of the clear distinction between "sins" and "acts" is found in the case of Zachaeus. The Lord, when passing through Jericho, called him down from the tree and brought "salvation to his house." Zachaeus immediately responded, saying, "Lord, …If from anyone I got anything by blackmail, I am giving back fourfold" (Luck 19: 1-10). Here we have the crystal clear distinction between "sins" and "acts." Zachacus' salvation, through Christ, put away his "sins" and gave him a restored relationship with God, but it was up to him to adjudicate (amend and compensate) any evil "acts" or deeds of injustice he had done and put into practice through the body against his fellow-man.
Then, we lave the case of Saul of Tarsus, who devastated the church in Jerusalem and breathed out threatening and murder against the disciples of the Lord, pursuing them even unto Damascus. Yet, when he was met by the Lord on his evil mission, we hear the distinguishing question of the Lord, saying, "Saul, Saul, whey are you persecuting Me?" Here, again, it is clearly evident the Saul's "sins" were against the Lord, while the consequent, resultant evil "acts" or deeds he was effecting and putting into practice through the body, were against the saints. Saul's "sins" were put away in his salvation, but the evil "acts," which he effected against the saints, await judging (setting right) at the dais or "judgment seat" of Christ ( 2 Cor. 5:9-10).
Therefore, by these scriptural examples we should be able to clearly discern and recognize, that when "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures," He died for "THE misses OF-US" which are "conceived" and "brought forth" out of the seductive and wicked desires, lusts, passions and will of the flesh, in which we missed or failed of the standard of God's righteousness, holiness, honor, glory and life; and NOT for what we have done--- the consequent, resultant evil "acts" or works of the flesh, done and put into practice through the body, which have caused injury and injustice, misery and suffering to our fellow-man in the world.
OUR STANDING AND STATE
The clear recognition of the distinction between "sins" and "acts" will also clarify for the assurance of understanding and faith our standing "in Christ" and our state "in the Lord." The standing of the believer "in Christ" is that of a "son," hallowed and sanctified of the Spirit (2 Thes. 3: 13-14), justified by God, through faith in the blood f Christ (Rom. 3: 24-25), sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise for the day of deliverance ( Eph. 1: 13-14; 4: 30) , and, "Nothing, consequently, is now condemnation to those in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). All this speaks of the believer's settled, inalienable, inviolable standing "in Christ Jesus" in His relationship to God, the Father, as a "son." On the other hand, our state, "in the Lord' speaks of conduct---our "acts" or works, good and bad ---and our service, which we do and put into practice through the body. Our "acts" or works, if bad or evil, must be adjudicated (amended and compensated), by us here in this life, or they will be set right in the just judgment to come, when God, with whom there is on partiality, will be paying each one in accord with his "acts" or works. Now the truth of all this is certified and confirmed for our understanding and faith in the following Scriptures.
Rejoice, engage man, in your boyhood,
And your heart will do you good in the days of
Your engagement:
So go in the ways of your heart,
And by the sight of your heart,
Yet know that for all these God will bring you into Judgment,
* * * * * * *
For every DEED will God bring into judgment
over all that is obscured (or eonian).
(Ecc. 11: 9-10; 12: 14, C.V.
Specifically, then, we find it written concerning believers in 2 Cor. 5:9-10, which reads,
Wherefore we are ambitious also,…to be well pleasing to Him.
For all of us must be manifested in front of the dais ("judgment seat") of Christ, that each should be requited (repaid) for that which he put into practice through the body, whether good or bad.
And I perceived the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And scrolls (books) were opened. And another scroll is opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts….And they were condemned each in accord with their acts.
Now these Scriptures clearly and unmistakably reveal that Christ did not die for the "acts" or works of mankind, which they have done and put into practice through the body, as they relate to each other in the world. Furthermore, it is supremely important that we note and clearly remember that "sins" are never mentioned in connection with the just judgment, but the "acts" or works, both good and bad, of each one, whether believer or unbeliever, are "written in the scrolls" or books, and will be taken up in judgment. Therefore, be not deceived by religious prattle about "repenting" and "getting forgiveness" or your evil "acts" or deeds as "sins." There is but one way to keep our evil "acts" or words, which we have done and put into practice through the body, from being "booked" against us for future judgment, and that is by "adjudicating ourselves", namely, by making amends and satisfactorily compensating here in this life, the injuries and injustices which we have committed or done to others.
Now concerning all this, we have clear and definite instructions given in the Scriptures, which I will quote at length for quickening the understanding and faith of all who are concerned to know about this supremely important subject. The first text calls for personal adjudication of wrong doing by believers, and reads,
For if we adjudicated (corrected and regulated) ourselves, we would not be judged (set right( (1 Cor 11:31).
Then we are admonished not to avenge ourselves of evil committed against us, as it is written,
Now to on one render evil for evil….your are not avenging yourselves, beloved, but be giving place to His indignation, for it is written, Mine is vengeance! I will repay! The Lord is saying (Rom. 12: 17,19).
Believers are instructed to do the will of God from the soul and do good, as the following Scripture reveals,
Slaves, be obeying your masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the singleness of your heart, as to Christ, not with eye slavery, as man-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God form the soul, with good humor slaving as to the Lord and not to men, having perceived that, whatsoever good each one should be doing, for this he will be requited (repaid) by the Lord, whether slave or free.
And, masters, be doing the same toward them, being lax in threatening, having perceived that their Master as well as yours is in the heavens, and there is no-partiality with Him (Eph. 6:5-9).
Moreover, believers are admonished against doing evil, for it is written,
Slaves, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye-slavery as mane-pleasers, but with singleness of heart, fearing the Lord. All, whatever you may be doing, work from the soul, as to the Lord and not to men, being aware that from the Lord you will be getting the compensation of the enjoyment of an allotment: for the Lord Christ are you slaving. For he who is injuring shall be requited (repaid) for that which he injures, and there is not partiality.
Masters, tender that which is just and equitable to your slaves, being aware that you also have a Master in heaven (Col. 3:22-25 and 4:1)
Then last, in 2 Tim. 4:14, we find a case of evil doing by a believer, which was not adjudicated (amended, rectified), consequently, it awaits judging (setting right) in that day, as the text reads,
Alexander the coppersmith displayed to me much evil: the Lord will be paying him in accord with his acts.
These Scriptures clearly, definitely and unmistakably reveal that if we would adjudicate (make amends and satisfactorily compensate) the injuries and injustices we have caused others through evil "acts" or works which we have done or put into practice through the body, we would not be judged (set right) for them at the just judgment of God. Otherwise, they are "booked" against us and will await our judgment to come, when God, with Whom there is no partiality, will be paying each one in accord with his "acts" or works (Rom. 2:5-11), either at the dais ('judgment seat') of Christ, for believers (1 Cor. 3:5-13; 2 Cor. 5:9-10), or at the great white throne judgment, for unbelievers (Rev. 20: 11-13).
There is so much more:
High lights:
CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS
HE WAS ENTOMED
3 HE HAS BEEN ROUSED
THE MEANING OF JUSTIFICATION
THE DEMAND OF THE GOSPEL
THE BLESSINGS OF OUR SALVATION
THE MEANING OF SALVATION
GOD'S GIFT OF SALVATION
THE BEGINNING OF OUR SALVATION
THE PROCESS OF OUR SALVATION
THE CONSUMMATION OF OUR SALVATION
