The problem and solution

Welcome,

Let’s get started.

Man is a great creation of God, but we have a big problem.
Sin.
Along with that we have the problem of being, from the time we are born, on a trajectory toward a place in which we will be eternally separated from God. This place has many names, but is universally referred to (in Christendom), as the “Lake of Fire”.
Why are we headed there?
Because we sin?
That’s what we are taught relentlessly from an early age, but that isn’t exactly right.
If the fact that we commit sins would cause us to end up in hell, then if we do righteous acts the same would cause us to end up with God in heaven right? Ask anyone on the street, Christian or non-Christian and that is pretty much what they will tell you. Neither is true as the scriptures show us time and time again.
So what is the answer?

Imagine you are hiking in the woods, and going happily on your way, enjoying yourself and enjoying the scenery when seemingly out of no where you say to yourself, “Hey… I think I’m lost.” One of two things will happen. Either you will get your baring, or else you realize uncomfortably that… oh my goodness… I am lost. That’s when the enjoyment stops and a strategy for getting out of the lost situation begins to develop. Either you will lull yourself into a false sense of security by telling yourself that you aren't really lost and if you just keep moving you will find your way back or, you will get scared and start searching for a way to positively resolve your situation.

The same thing happens in life as it pertains to spirituality.

At some point each one of us realizes, "hey… I think I’m lost", and then as we try to get some kind of baring so that we can know for sure if we are indeed lost.

Before a person can be saved, they must first understand they are lost. Before a man can come to Christ, he (or she) must understand their need for Christ. We must know and understand our need for a savior and that He can be found and known.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6 (KJV)

How do we get faith?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (KJV)

We must actively seek God because it is us who is lost, not God… just as the scripture says… we must seek Him. Going back to the lost in the woods analogy… if you realized you are lost you will take your walkie talkie, or cell phone and try to reach someone. Why? Because you know that whoever you reach will most likely be in a stationary location and that they are not lost and can guide you to safty. But here is where we must be careful. What if the person you reach on the communication device is just as lost as you are and trying to find direction? Or what if you reach someone who for some reason wants you to continue to be lost and wandering aimlessly? Or you reach someone who is at a safe position but has no idea how to give directions? You must know you are reaching a reliable party! God through His Word is that reliable party. Jesus Christ is the only one on whom we can rely!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 (KJV)

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV)

I digress. What causes us to know we are lost? God in His infinite wisdom, love and mercy gave us several ways to know He exists and that we are lost and need to be brought back into right relationship with Him. Not the least of which is the LAW. Not just the Ten Commandments, but all the law of God. Sin is the transgression of Gods law. The law leads us to salvation through a knowledge that we are in sin… but the law can not, will not and never has saved anyone… as a matter of fact the law has the power ONLY to condemn. The Word of God says:

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. I Corinthians 15:56 (KJV)

THE POINT OF THE LAW IS TO PROVE TO US THE UTTER IMPOSSIBILITY OF KEEPING THE LAW!

We are destined for hell because of the sin of Adam. When Adam sinned against God, and abdicated his authority to the devil, sin became part of the human experience.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12 (KJV)

That is why we are bound for hell unless we repent and come to faith in Jesus Christ!
It is NOT our individual acts of sin which will cause us to be lost. So does that mean we can just do what we want to do and still be saved? Does that mean it’s alright to sin? Just as Paul said…

GOD FORBID!!!

Knowing the law has no effect on our salvation isn’t license to live lawlessly.
I often tell people that if someone told me TODAY that crack cocaine was no longer illegal that wouldn’t make me go out and start using it just because now I know there is no law against it! I’m 46 years old… well above drinking and smoking age… both of which are legal. I don’t do either one… why? Because I have a conviction about it NOT because there is some law telling me I can't. There are many things in the lives of Christians that God wants to work out in us, and as the time comes… if we truly love and seek God and desire to live upright before Him we will allow the pruning process as God does it. What tree or bush has anyone ever completely pruned with one clip of a pruning shear? There is a constant pruning and shaping. Let God be God and teach Christians they are loved by God, and how to love Him and desire more of Him and these other matters will take care of themselves. Overall however, (I got away from my main premise a little bit). It is NOT our individual sin which has made us destined for eternal separation from God. It is the sin of Adam.

Alright, here’s the breakdown:

Because of the sin of Adam we are ALL sinners.

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 5:12 (KJV)

Therefore according to that scripture, (if we don’t receive salvation through Jesus Christ), no matter how many individual acts of sin we commit, we are bound for hell (because we are bound for hell anyway). AND No matter how many acts of righteousness, we are still bound for hell.

Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Romans 5:14 (KJV)

Those passages show that our trajectory toward hell is based upon the sin of Adam and NOT our individual (personal) acts of sin or righteousness!

By that same model:
Once we have come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, no matter how many individual acts of righteousness we do, we are bound for heaven, (because we are bound for heaven anyway after repenting and accepting Christ). (No one will disagree with that… but HERE is the part on which the majority of the modern church has gotten stuck and needs to address), if ALL of what was just stated is true then the following statement MUST be TRUE… I can’t emphasize this strongly enough… IF ALL THAT WAS SAID BEFORE WAS TRUE THEN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT MUST BE TRUE…

Once we have come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what individual (personal) acts of unrighteousness we do… we are STILL bound for heaven.
Why?
The scriptures show that our trajectory toward heaven is based upon the righteousness of Christ and NOT our individual acts of sin or righteousness!

That is a hard pill to swallow, and even to this day I feel a twinge of resistance within my own flesh just to state it, (I pray for and look forward to the day when I am totally delivered from that). There is something in the nature of man which makes us resist that truth but:

Please don’t take my word for it… NEVER just take my or anyone elses word for anything! Read the scriptures (and then get your OWN Bible and read it to make sure it hasn’t been misquoted, added to, taken from, or taken out of context! Again… it is SO important to study that way!:

Romans 5:15-21
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:15-21 (KJV)
(Bold letters highlighted by me).

The next verse brings it home:

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Romans 6:1-2 (KJV)

Why was Paul compelled to make the statement of Romans 6 after all he had just said? Because when teaching salvation and the Grace of God… if taught correctly… IT WILL BEG THAT QUESTION! If no one ever says to you… “...then what are you trying to say? It’s alright to just live any way I want to and still be saved?” Then you are not properly teaching or preaching the gospel. Set aside the answer for a moment… I repeat. If you are teaching the gospel properly, then it will BEG that question! If that question doesn’t arise, then you are NOT hearing the full gospel.
(By the way... the answer to the question, just as Paul said is, "Of course not! Knowing you are not under the law doesn't mean it's alright with God if we sin, OR that we are at liberty to sin in any way!")

I am closing the lesson for today. In my next lesson I will go deeper into scripture to continue to show the true nature of the salvation plan as God created it and set it forth… I will of course use much more scripture to show it. (If I can not show truth using scripture, then it is in effect, only my own perception or opinion, which is ultimately worthless). What I say or write only has strength and authority if it is FIRMLY rooted in the Word of God... that's it. NOTHING else. If something is my personal opinion, I will state it as such and you can take it or leave it... but when it comes to scripture, then, "Thus saith the Lord" and therein lies the power and the difference. All I care about is the Bible and what it says. Not “proof text”, but teaching line upon line:

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: Isaiah 28:10 (KJV)

Peace be with you and may God bless and keep you.