Welcome to today's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am very glad that you have decided to read the sermon this week. I hope and pray that all of you are doing well.
In today's message, we will be finishing James 4 concentrating on just one verse. James 4:17 states,
"So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin."
As Christians, when we think about sin, we usually think about the actions that we are not supposed to do. The Bible is quite clear that there are behaviors that the believer is not to be engaged in. For instance, the Ten Commandments tell us not to commit adultery, do not steal, do not kill, do not covet, do not practice idolatry, etc. There are many commandments given to us by Jesus telling us not to engage in certain behaviors. We are told by the Lord that holding hate in our heart for our brother or sister is wrong. We are told that lustfulness is wrong.
Most of us know that there are behaviors that the Christian is to avoid in order to live a sanctified life that is pleasing to the Lord. James is telling us in our passage today that sin has another dimension. When we don't do what we know we are to do, that is a sin as well.
Let us look at a few examples of this. Before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus gave us what is called the Great Commission. We are to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. We know that Jesus has told us to be witnesses for Him, so if we do not do that, that is a sin.
Jesus gave us a new commandment to love another even as He has loved us. If we do not love and care about our brothers and sisters in the faith, we are not doing what Jesus told us to do, and that is a sin.
Jesus was very clear in His teachings and in His actions that we are to be those who forgive others for the the wrongs that they commit against us. Jesus even asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him. Jesus said that if we are not willing to forgive others, we in turn will not be forgiven of our trespasses.
There are many hurting people in this world. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus says that He will judge based on how the least among us were treated. He said when you have done good to the least of these, you have done it unto me. If we fail to help the least among us, that is a sin.
This isn't a message to try to get people to feel down on themselves. James wants people to focus on the fact that we need to follow the teachings and commandments of the Lord Jesus. That is what it means to be a Christian who has Jesus as the Lord of their life.
If we sin by omission or by commission, the Word of the Lord tells us in I John that we can confess our sins. The Lord is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. He will empower us with the Holy Spirit in order to do what He requires of us in this world.
Now, I want to make a note about this verse. Some use this verse to claim that those who do not know that something is wrong are not guilty of sin. That is an incorrect interpretation. We have to interpret Scripture with Scripture. The Bible is clear that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are also told in Romans 2:15 that those who do not have the Law still have the law written in their hearts. No one has an excuse.
Anyone who has not accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord can do so. God's love and grace is available to all who believe. Whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I have not been feeling well lately. Please pray that I will begin to feel better. Thank you.
I want to thank the Lord that coronavirus cases are way down here in the United States. Please continue to pray for an end to the pandemic. India still really needs our prayers. Pray that the sick will completely recover.
Continue to pray for peace in this world. Israel still needs our prayers. Pray for peace in Chad, Central African Republic, Syria and Yemen.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us focus our attention on those living in the nations of Morocco and Vietnam. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will begin chapter five of James. I will post the verses on Monday, and I will post another part of my Life Changers series midweek. May God bless you all.
No comments:
Post a Comment