There is a dangerous thing happening within the body of Christ' people, whereby they do not confess their sins but actually are allowing their hearts to be hardened by sin and unwilling to acknowledge it.
7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, And saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, And said, 'They always go astray in [their] heart, And they have not known My ways.' 11 So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.' " Heb 3:7-11
Backsliding in God's people has always been an issue and remains so today. Sadly the people of God know how to sin even better than the world at times. I say this because Christians know the truth about sin and righteousness, truth and grace and yet they willfully harden their hearts in order to fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
The word sin in its simplest definition simply means to miss the mark, however, there are many more ways to define sin according to the word of God; such as transgression, rebellion, and iniquity to name a few. There are various forms of sin and each sin holds a consequence, some more than others. If we were to take an approach to sin as the Lord does we would stop saying "a sin is sin" because that is not really a true definition of sin. While it is true according to Romans 3 that all have sinned, and have fallen short of the glory of God, and 1 John 1 tells us that if one says they have not sinned then they are deceived and make God out to be a liar, therefore, we all have need of a Savior. However, 1 John 2:1 tells us there is a possibility to not sin, My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. If Jesus Christ did not sin then Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. Jo 2:6 NIV
No Excuse to Sin
According to Romans chapter 6 we have been set free from sin and it shall have no dominion over us. Paul is actually making a case for followers of Jesus Christ to not sin 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [Him], that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. Rom 6:6-7 And verse 12 tells us “do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.”
Those who practice sin, who continue in the way of the world and unrighteousness and say they are believers of Christ Jesus are not really acknowledging the power and purpose of the Cross and in turn may not have had a true conversion.
If it is true that we are set free from sin and no longer in bondage to it then why are Christians still living a lifestyle of sin? 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 1Cor 6:9-10
Evil and Unbelieving
The truth is that we as humans’ desire what we cannot or should not have. We desire to feel the pleasures of sin, yes sin can bring pleasure but only for a brief period of time before the effects of that sin become evident. God knew what would happen to a people if they continually lived a lifestyle of ineffective, flesh fulfilling, pleasure seeking sin, they would eventually die. Not only die by not inheriting the kingdom of God, eternity spent with Him, but die in various other ways.
Satan only comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy the works of the Lord but Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil! Here are some ways sexual sin in particular steals a person’s identity, destroys marriages and families and kills through disease.
Sexual sin causes
Sexually transmitted disease
Sexual identity disorders such as trans, pan, homo, bi-, sexual and at least 70 others
Divorce
Children born to unwed parents
The list of sin is exhaustive so I won’t go into that here, I wanted you to get a quick glimpse into a very few ways sexual sin kills, steals or destroys a life. All sin has a destructive effect on our relationship with God, Jesus came to heal sin and give us power to overcome it, He didn’t come to allow us to relish in it!
We are warned that an evil unbelieving heart will lead to a departing of the faith in various ways. We should live a lifestyle worthy of repentance and continuously walk towards holiness and towards receiving the prize of eternity with our God.
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:12-13
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, I thank You alone for the Cross and for the blood that serves as an atoning sacrifice for my sins. I repent for believing I could obtain righteousness on my own accord and for living a life that does not reflect holiness. I repent for taking the blood of Jesus Christ for granted by continuing in a lifestyle of sin. I choose to believe today that I, as a believer in Jesus Christ, have been set free from sin and given grace to overcome sin. I choose to walk out of the bondage I have lived in with sin and walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. I ask You Oh God to renew a steadfast spirit in me, give me a pure heart and clean hands so that I can be a holy vessel found useful for glorious works in King Jesus! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Jesus came 'to open their eyes, [in order] to turn [them] from darkness to light, and [from] the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.' Act 26:18