Every time a Christian sins they do so knowing what they’re about to do AND that it is wrong AND that it is a sin against God. No Christian EVER commits a sin without full knowledge that their words and/or actions are to some degree wrong and should not be done. Thus, every sin every Christian commits is willful… chosen… and in full knowledge it a transgression against God Himself and His commands.
Why? Because the Holy Spirit resides in the believer and will… WILL… WILL… sound a warning in the believer’s heart, every time! It may be an early warning or a tenth of a second before the event. It may be a whisper or it might be loud. It might be a 2 x 4 to the forehead or a light tap on the shoulder, but it always happens. Every single time!
There CERTAINLY is conviction of sin and a feeling of guilt after committing sin IF A PERSON IS A BELIEVER. Why? Because the Holy Spirit resides in the believer. The Holy Spirit will NOT allow a genuine believer to sin without consequence of heart, conscience, and often temporally in the form of discipline. Don’t believe me? Consider Hebrews 12:5-8…
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children (“Bastard” in the KJV!) and not sons.
When Christian’s sin it is a conscious, willful, choice to ignore the Holy Spirit. Doing such is tantamount to defecating on Christ’s cross (If that offended you, consider Galatians 5:12 {Look up “emasculate’s” meaning!}; Heb 12:8 KJV {Surprised?}; Phil 3:8 {“Rubbish” literally means “Barnyard Dung,” or possibly other crass words}). Every time we sin there is an amount of presumption on God’s grace… especially if/when our sin does not grieve us. This is but a SMALL idea of how offensive sin is to God.
If we are not stricken in our conscience regarding sin, there is reason to question the validity of our salvation. The danger is we are all masters of rationalization and justification. We conveniently forget: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” “Love your enemies and do good unto them,” “Forgive your enemies 70 x 7,” and many other admonitions about conduct and words many so called believers have “forgotten.” Rather than do those things from the heart many attack, harm, and harass others… often times fellow believers. These things should not be!
If a person’s conscience does not bother them when they sin (If The Holy Spirit doesn’t move them to repentance), here’s why. They have either sinned so long, and ignored the Holy Spirit so often, their conscience is dead or they’re aren’t genuinely saved. As it is written in 1 Timothy 4:1-2…
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared…
Why are so many angry… vengeful… unforgiving… mean… manipulative… etc? Because they have long ignored the Holy Spirit’s call to repentance. They have continued in sin not caring their conduct is a transgression against the blood of Christ! They seem not to care that Jesus said, “As you have done it to the least of these YOU HAVE DONE IT TO ME.” OR it could be they aren’t genuinely saved…
My observation is that not only individuals are guilty, but congregations and committees of churches just as guilty of reprehensible conduct. I’m of the opinion this is a huge reason for people leaving local congregations. People don’t go to worship to hear all the drama, gossip, or fussing! They want to encounter God! They want to worship God! They want to hear a word from God! If they don’t get those three things, they’ll go somewhere else… or just quit.
So what is needed? Repentance. Honesty. Seeking God. Asking for forgiveness and forgiving. By individuals… committees/teams… congregations… and ministers. What is needed? God sent renewal, revival, and awakening.
Unless or until God sends those, people will continue to leave congregations because they’re tired of the drama and junk that goes on in congregations. Oh God please send renewal, revival, and awakening!
So timely to read this today. Thank you and God bless.