We Must First Know About Our Sins To Be Redeemed (Mark 7:8-9, 20-23) (The Baptism of Jesus)

 Hello everyone,
I`d like to talk about sin based on the Bible study titled "We Must First Know about our sins to be Redeemed" from the New Life Mission website www.bjnewlife.org

What is sin? Do we know what sin is? Most people think it is sin to smoke, drink alcohol, have relationships before marriage, or for women to wear makeup or trousers etc. They adamantly quote Deuteronomy chapter 22 verse 5 which indeed says, "A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man nor shall a man put on a woman`s garments for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God." But there are 613 such articles of the law written throughout Genesis to Deuteronomy. Who can possibly keep them all? And doesn`t it say in James chapter 2 verse 10 "For whoever shall keep the whole law and yet stumble in one point he is guilty of all."? Undoubtedly, all human beings have their own standard of what sin is based on their own consciences, cultural backgrounds, society, morality, and such like. And typically, human beings tend to judge by looking at people`s outward appearances and actions. But God says in first Samuel chapter 16 verse 7, "The Lord does not see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart."
The lawless deeds that originated from our weaknesses are mere iniquities. The mistakes we make and the wrongs we commit due to our imperfections are not fundamental sins but faults. God distinguishes sins from iniquities. By having our own standard of what sin is we only end up being hypocrites like the Pharisees who Jesus often scolded. Addressing them in Mark chapter 7 verse 8 to 9 He said, "For laying aside the Commandments of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pitchers and cups and many other such things you do. All too well, you reject the Commandments of God that you may keep your tradition."
The correct definition of sin is to disobey God`s orders. Can we human beings obey God`s orders? Most Christians claim to be able to keep them. In fact, they claim that that is how they have been saved, by believing in Jesus and obeying His Commandments. They quote scriptures such as first John chapter 2 verse 3 that says, "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments."
But here, the Apostle John is addressing the born-again brethren. The Commandments he is speaking of are the Commandments to believe in the gospel of the water and the spirit and to preach it.
It is impossible for any human being born only once into this world to be able to keep any of God`s holy laws perfectly. Why? We can find the answer to that in Mark chapter 7 verses 20 to 23. He says, "And He said, `What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man." And again, in Psalm chapter 51 verse 5 the King David says, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me." Do you understand? Do you believe God`s Word telling you, This is who you are? All human beings are Adam and Eve`s descendants who have inherited our ancestors sins. So do you still think it is possible for sinful human beings to keep any of God`s holy laws? Whoever claims to do so are deceiving themselves, others, and they are even trying to deceive God! Furthermore, Galatians chapter 3 verse 10 to 11 says, "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse for it is written, `Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.` But that no one is justified by the law in the sights of God is evident, for the just shall live by faith."
Cursed! Who are cursed? Those who are trying to be saved by keeping God`s law are cursed! Trying to be saved by keeping God`s law is arrogance born from ignorance of the Gospel of the water and the spirit. Romans chapter 3 verse 20 says, "Therefore, by the deeds of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
These Christians are still sinners even after believing in Jesus because no one can be saved by keeping the law. But human beings don`t know their true sinful nature, but we all live as though we do. This is why God gave us His law. God did not give us His Law to force us to keep them. He gave us the law to show us our sinfulness, our inability to keep them, and the punishments for those sins in hell. Romans chapter 3 verse 27 to 28 says, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of Works? No. But by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude, that a man is justified apart from the deeds of the law."
Realizing the true purpose of the law, brings us to Christ. As it says in Galatians chapter 3 verse 24, "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ that we may be justified by faith."
So, exactly how are we saved? Many Christians quote, "Romans chapter 10 verse 9 says, `If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you will be saved.`
And this is true. But, the True confession God requires from us, is that of admitting our true sinful self, first, then, we must ask for His Mercy.
Because we can do nothing of ourselves to save ourselves, we must know, if He doesn`t save us we will end up in Hell according to His law that says, "The wages of sin is death", in Romans chapter 6 verse 23. This is our born-destiny. Even if we didn`t commit a single sinful act we will still end up in Hell due to our inherent sin.
Will you still pretend that you are holy? If you were clearly aware of yourself, you would give up trying to be holy and believe in the water and the blood of Jesus to be saved instead.
In first John chapter 5 verses 6 to 8 says, "This is He who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ. Not only by water but by water and blood and it is the Spirit who bears witness because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father the Word and the Holy Spirit and these three are one and there are three that bear witness on earth; the Spirit the water and the blood and these three agree as one."
What is the water? It is the baptism Jesus received from John the Baptist in the Jordan River. By this laying on of hands baptism performed by John the Baptist, all our sins were passed on to Jesus.
What is the blood? It is the blood Jesus shed on the Cross to atone for our sins He had received when He was baptized by John.
What is the Spirit? It is the fact that Jesus is God and that Jesus resurrected from the dead again after three days and now sits at the right-hand side of God in heaven.
God has saved us by His Word, the gospel of the water and the Spirit. It is how God planned from before the foundation of the world to save us from all our sins once and for all. We must believe in it with our hearts and confess it with our mouths as it says in Romans chapter 10 verse 10, "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation"
You can learn more about it at www.bjnewlife.org where you can read the Bible studies and download any of the 68 free Christian books that all explain the gospel of the water and the spirit in strict accordance with both the Old and New Testament Scriptures.
God bless you, and thank you for watching.
Sarah Nartey, UK