This is dedicated to a facebook friend who asked why pastors always preach that we live in sin.
Perhaps because it is our common ground, it is a personal battle that we fight daily until we pass away and are released from flesh to go home to Jesus.
Let us take a closer look at mankind’s fallen state:
As many will know it all started with Adam when he decided to disobey God and ate from the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Through the seed of Adam, which is the flesh sin was passed to all of mankind. Apostle Paul, best clarifies this fallen state and the battle that is within us in Romans chapter 7, where our spirit and flesh are locked in a continuous battle.
Now Jesus was not born from the seed of Adam, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, born of spirit directly from the seed of God. He came as whiteness for man to reveal what God attended man to be without sin. Then through his sacrifice on the cross he bridged the gap created from sin so all can experience a real relationship with God. Through our relationship with God we are given the power to defeat sin in our personal life.
These two events caused two works in us, one of flesh and one of spirit. From birth to death we gain knowledge on what is good and evil. On the day of our salvation to our death we gain knowledge of the true nature of God and grow spiritually in our relationship with God. So those who are saved are born twice, one of flesh and one of spirit thanks to Jesus and his work on the cross.
The first and most pernicious lie is when Satan told Adam and Eve that you will not surely die if you eat of the fruit. But in reality they did die a spiritual death, when their sin separated man from God. Scripture calls Satan the father of lies, in which he continues to deceive man in many ways. Scripture also highlights the root of all sin. Lucifer was cast out of heaven for his sin of pride and his desire to be God. It goes on further to say his pride caused all kinds of matters of iniquity.
In contrast, the greatest prophet other than Jesus was Moses, and they both had one trait in common. Now this man Moses he was very humble, more so than anyone on earth. Numbers 12:3. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mathew 11:29. As we see both are humble, the exact polar opposite of pride.
In answer to my friend’s question, pastors often speak of us as sinners because it is the first step to understanding our need for salvation and this is best accomplished with a large audience. If you are saved these sermons may sound redundant to you. If this is the case, then may I suggest small groups that most churches offer or engage yourself in bible study. Remember God works in seasons and our growth in Christ is a lifetime journey. Personally I love the sermons concerning our fallen state. They myriad of ways I have witnessed the gospel preached has both enlightened me, encouraged me, and has given me a better standing on what it is to be a child of God.
Clearly humility should be sought after, for even though God is God he is not your God until you humble yourself to him. I will leave you with passage in hopes you will start to train your mind by thinking of higher thoughts, wholesome thoughts.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8
In text links have been provided for further study and as a reference to what is written here.
Hey share what you just read with a friend!
James Wise a humble servant of Jesus Christ.
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