- Every time you sin you are lost until you ask forgiveness.
See here and here for examples of this teaching.
“For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” –Romans 6:14. Paul teaches that we live under forgiveness.
“12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14because by one sacrifice he hasmade perfect forever those who are being made holy.” –Hebrews 10
“23The words “it was credited to him [Abraham]” were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness–for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” –Romans 4
For more on this click here.
Having looked at the links (to Gospel Advocate and Truth Magazine), I noticed the links did not open to the desired location. Perhaps this is why there was some additional words within the thematic website (http://ex-churchofchrist.com/PhariseesCoc.htm) that addressed it. I find, however, since I have come to see how they handle the Bible to mistrust what they say in citing the writings of another. Be that as it may, let me address what was said and the reply to follow.
In an article in the Fulton County Gospel News, Mammoth Springs, AR (Nov. 2004) a writer states,
“If a person is to receive the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and if that person is to remain in a saved condition, he must ‘sin not.’ ‘But,’ many might interject, ‘don’t we all sin from time to time?’ To be sure…The remedy for individual, momentary acts of sin, of which every Christian who is blessed with life is guilty from time to time, is found in I John 1:9–penitent confession to God.”
Note the minimizing: “individual, momentary acts of sin”. The apostle Paul stated that “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). I don’t know about you, but I believe I fall short of the glory of God, and the example of Jesus’ life on earth, 100% of the time. I am convinced that sin is a much more pervasive and insidious issue in our lives than the Fulton County Gospel writer believes.
RT – The only critical remark made is that the critic believes sin is more pervasive than the lifted words of the Fulton County Gospel News. The critic did not say the writer was biblically wrong, only that sin is more insidious that the original post. The author of the original post did not deny Romans 3:23 (at least as far as the lifted-from-the-context remarks are concerned).
How did Paul use his remarks in Romans 3:23? In the larger context of his address to the church in Rome, Paul addressed his words to both Jews and Gentiles, declaring that all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory. The point of those words was (and is) in relation to the need for salvation, that is, the need for Jesus. It is later (in the same chapter) that Paul speaks to this precisely in relationship of faith contrasted by the purpose of the Law of Moses (3:20).
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it–the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one–who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (Romans 3:21-30, ESV)
Sin is pervasive and it is insidious, but Jesus is the remedy for sin. If one is to apply the teachings of the Lord to the behaviors of one’s personal life, is it not the case that the insidious nature of sin can be (and is) overcome? Certainly it is, otherwise, there is no power in the word (Romans 1:16-17).
I find it interesting that the web-article author cites Romans 6, Hebrews 10 and Romans 4 to make his case. Romans 6 speaks directly to the need of baptism, something the author makes no mention of; Hebrews 10 speaks to the Law of Moses and the role of the priest, not the obedience of one who fears and loves the Lord under the authority of the New Covenant; and Romans 4 makes the greater point that Abraham was saved by the Lord without obeying the Law of Moses because it had yet been brought to the people of Israel.
See what you can do when there is no regard to the context!
