Are There Sinning Christians? - W. D. McCraw

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” —Matt. 7:15

It is not always true that a man is “inwardly” what he professes, or appears to be, outwardly. Sheep’s clothing” here means religious profession. While he professes to be a Christian, inwardly he is wicked and sinful. How are we to discern “between him that serveth God and him the serveth Him not? Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Vss. 16,17. Solomon said, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” —Prov. 4:23. Jesus said again, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man.”—Matt. 15:19,20 What a man does proves what he is. If he sins, he is a sinner. If he steals, he is a thief. If he commits murder, he is a murderer. If he lies, he is a liar. John says, “He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He [God] is righteous.”—1 Jn. 3:7 Doing righteousness and unrighteousness are opposites that one cannot do at one time. So one can not be a sinning Christian, for if he does righteousness he cannot do unrighteousness, and “whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God (1 Jn. 3:10). Hence the grace of God enables us to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.”—Titus 2:12 [That same grace that brings salvation also teaches us to live “godly in this present world”. Vs. 11] The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations,…—2 Pet. 2:9

Some claim that while the spirit is cleansed and pure, yet the “old body,” “these vile bodies,” sin constantly. According to Jesus Christ, the responsibility for sin of every form is charged to the heart, or the inner man. He said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”—Mark 7:21-23 It is said that we shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body.—Rom. 2:5 and 6 It would be a terrible thing for our spirits to be judged and sentenced to eternal perdition in that day over which the soul had no control. But the fact is, “Every sin that a man doeth is without the body;—1 Cor. 6:18. It is all conceived in the soul and the body is only the instrument of the soul in carrying it out. God said, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”—Ezek. 18:4

Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” —Matt. 5:8 If the heart is pure, the life will be pure; for out of the heart are the issues of life and “out of the heart the mouth speaketh.” So the tongue is not responsible, but the heart. Get the heart cleansed and the life will be clean. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.”—Matt 23:25, 26 Again Jesus said, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”—Matt. 12:34, 35 Here, Jesus declares that the reason for all the evil thoughts and words of the Pharisees concerning Him was that they were evil themselves.

The prophet said that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”—Jer. 17:9 Such is the unregenerate heart, and for that very cause God said He would give us a “new heart.” The new heart is a clean heart. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”—Ps. 51:10 “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”—1 Pet. 1:22, 23 Thus we see that God made provision in the plan of salvation for the purification of men’s hearts or souls. Since no fountain can send forth bitter water and sweet, and out of the mouth proceed the issues of life, and out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, it is necessary to purify the fountain of life, if the stream is to be pure. So God has provided for such cleansing. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”—1 Jn. 1:7

In 1 Jn 1:8 many are confused because it seems to contradict all the Scriptures that I have cited in defense of a sinless life. Not only so, but it seems to contradict all the Scriptures in the Bible that affirm that Christians can and do live without sinning in this world. It would be a sad thing indeed if the Word of God contradicted itself. Then we should be like a ship without a rudder, left to drift about the stormy sea of life and finally be wrecked on the awful breakers of eternal despair. The Word of God does not contradict itself.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 Jn.1:8 Taken apart from the context this verse would teach that we all have sin, or are sinners; but taken in connection with the context it is as simple as a-b-c. John is telling us that “if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin;” then he says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves” that also is true. The Scriptures teach that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” —Rom. 3:23 (Through the fall of Adam) Since all have sinned, anyone thinking himself pure without the cleansing blood of Christ would certainly be deceived; but if we, as is stated in the next verse, “if we confess our sins, He (Christ the second Adam) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The real truth as taught by John here is simply this: No man is pure of himself, but all have sinned, and our only hope for deliverance is the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And if we confess that we are sinners and repent and turn away from our sins, God will cleanse us from all sin. Now, after we are cleansed from all sin [unrighteousness], how much is there left? None. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.—1 Jn. 1:9 Now, until the blood is applied and we are cleansed from all sin, if we should say, or even think, that we have no sin, we would certainly be deceived; but, on the other hand, if after the blood is applied and we are cleansed from all sin if we should still think or say that we are sinners, we would be deceived also. If we are cleansed (and the word “cleanseth” means cleansed and kept clean as long as we walk in the light and are obedient to the Word of God), we are not defiled, and since the blood cleanses from all sin, then it is taken away, and our souls are pure, and the life is pure also. “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”—Rev. 1:5

Surely it would be a bad job of washing if He should leave some of the little sins, or dirt spots on our souls. “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”—2 Pet.3:13,14 “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” —Rev. 3:4 After John had said that the blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, he said, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”—1 John 2:1, 2 The Advocate avails nothing except a man forsake his sins. To live in sin and depend on the Advocate, is to be deceived. The command is, “sin not,” “sin no more,” 1 Jn. 2:1; 1 Cor. 15:34; Jn. 5:14; Jn. 8:11. This same John proclaims, “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”—1 Jn.3:6 and, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”—1 Jn. 3:9 Hence, there are—NO SINNING CHRISTIANS.

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.—1 Corinthians 15:34

Dying To Self —Unknown Author

When you are forgotten, or neglected, or purposely set at naught, and you don't sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ, that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient, loving silence, that is dying to self.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, and climate, any society, any raiment, any interruption by the will of God, that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation, or to record your own good works, or itch after commendations, when you can truly love to be unknown, that is dying to self.

When you can see your brother prosper and have his needs met and can honestly rejoice with him in spirit and feel no envy, nor question God, while your own needs are far greater and in desperate circumstances, that is dying to self.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than your self and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart, that is dying to self.


“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” —Matthew 16:24-25

“GOD DO YOU CARE”?

I was born in a parsonage. My father had pastored the city Church of God. He and mother prayed that God would give them a daughter-a daughter who would play the piano and sing. When I was born, they rejoiced and named Joyce.

I loved music and before reaching my eight year, I knew that I wanted to be a concert pianist. I wasn’t leaving God out-and yet I was! I sang and played in Church, but I was not really saved. My supposed Christianity consisted only to a list of “do’s” and “don’t’s”.

At the age of fifteen, I told my parents, “Let me love God in my own way. I don’t want to be a Christian fanatic”. I thought I could run my own life and in case of emergencies, God could “help me out”-but I must not be hindered in my ambitions.

I put my career at the top of the list. Then I found a man I could love. When he asked me to be his wife, my ready answer was there. We started our home, we thought on the promise of loving God. We both become active in the church. Eighteen months later came our blue-eyed Ricky. Two years later, lovely Laurie joined our family.

A handsome husband, two lovely children and a singing career should have been enough to make any woman happy, but I was mistaken! I was neurotic and miserable. Our marriage, only years old, was in trouble.

I couldn’t convince Dick my husband that I enjoy and love my career and I have to continue it. He insisted that I should care for the children; wash dishes, and keep the house clean. That caused all our troubles.

By this time, neither of us was devoted to God. Our prayers were stopped. We talk very little with one another. Our hearts were far apart and never discussed the real issues of life.

Soon there was no hope and I knew it. There was no love-only hate. I was disgusted for living. I was through!

“Hell could be no worse”. I hated by stubborn, good looking husband. I didn’t like being a mother. Life became just one horrible day after another. I decided that suicide was the only way out. I got a razor blade and as I lowered the sharp blade, ready to slash my wrist, the telephone rang. I let it ring; it kept ringing. But the caller was insistent. I picked up the phone & answered, “Hello”. She was the Christian Young lady I met when singing for the Christian Youth Festival and said, “I don’t know what you are doing, Joyce, but whatever it is, stop and listen to me”. Sensing that I was not in the mood to listen, she shouted, “Joyce, the Bible says, having done all, to stand”.

She was still talking as I slammed down the receiver. I took the razor blade again, intended to end it all. But my strength was gone.

I put down the razor blade and asked, “God do you care about me?”.

The Lord answered with a Bible verse I had learned as a child, “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost”.

In the living room I dropped to my knees by a chair and prayed, “Merciful God, forgive me. I know now you care for me. I might have committed an unpardonable sin by taking my own life”. The Lord showed me that I have rebelled against Him, my parents, my home and children. Tenderly He spoke to me, assuring me that I was forgiven of my sins. I rose to my feet a new girl, a new Joyce Landorf!

A question came to my mind, “But what about Dick? Can love once dead live again?”

I was cooking supper when Dick came in. I turned off the oven, with a joy of tears, told him what happened to me. He moved closer and put his arms around me also with tears of joy. “Joyce”, he said. “I want to tell you about the miracle that happened to me also today. With the words of a defeated man on the envelope I wrote, “To Joyce: when you find this letter I will be dead”.

“But Joyce, as I sealed that letter, the Lord said, “Dick suicide is not the answer. I am the answer. I am all you need. I will give you abundant life.

We both knelt down in prayer, thanking God for His restoring mercy.

From than on, Dick and I with our lovely children live together happily in our home!

The Selfish Giant

Every afternoon, as they were coming from school, the children used to go and play in the Giant's garden.

It was a large lovely garden, with soft green grass. Here and there over the grass stood beautiful flowers like stars, and there were twelve peach-trees that in the spring-time broke out into delicate blossoms of pink and pearl, and in the autumn bore rich fruit. The birds sat on the trees and sang so sweetly that the children used to stop their games in order to listen to them. 'How happy we are here!' they cried to each other.
One day the Giant came back. He had been to visit his friend the Cornish ogre, and had stayed with him for seven years. After the seven years were over he had said all that he had to say, for his conversation was limited, and he determined to return to his own castle. When he arrived he saw the children playing in the garden.
'What are you doing here?' he cried in a very gruff voice, and the children ran away.
'My own garden is my own garden,' said the Giant; 'any one can understand that, and I will allow nobody to play in it but myself.' So he built a high wall all round it, and put up a notice-board.

TRESPASSERS
WILL BE
PROSECUTED

He was a very selfish Giant.

The poor children had now nowhere to play. They tried to play on the road, but the road was very dusty and full of hard stones, and they did not like it. They used to wander round the high wall when their lessons were over, and talk about the beautiful garden inside. 'How happy we were there,' they said to each other.
Then the Spring came, and all over the country there were little blossoms and little birds. Only in the garden of the Selfish Giant it was still Winter. The birds did not care to sing in it as there were no children, and the trees forgot to blossom. Once a beautiful flower put its head out from the grass, but when it saw the notice-board it was so sorry for the children that it slipped back into the ground again, and went off to sleep. The only people who were pleased were the Snow and the Frost. 'Spring has forgotten this garden,' they cried, 'so we will live here all the year round.' The Snow covered up the grass with her great white cloak, and the Frost painted all the trees silver. Then they invited the North Wind to stay with them, and he came. He was wrapped in furs, and he roared all day about the garden, and blew the chimney-pots down. 'This is a delightful spot,' he said, 'we must ask the Hail on a visit.' So the Hail came. Every day for three hours he rattled on the roof of the castle till he broke most of the slates, and then he ran round and round the garden as fast as he could go. He was dressed in grey, and his breath was like ice.
'I cannot understand why the Spring is so late in coming,' said the Selfish Giant, as he sat at the window and looked out at his cold white garden; 'I hope there will be a change in the weather.'
But the Spring never came, nor the Summer. The Autumn gave golden fruit to every garden, but to the Giant's garden she gave none. 'He is too selfish,' she said. So it was always Winter there, and the North Wind, and the Hail, and the Frost, and the Snow danced about through the trees.

One morning the Giant was lying awake in bed when he heard some lovely music. It sounded so sweet to his ears that he thought it must be the King's musicians passing by. It was really only a little linnet singing outside his window, but it was so long since he had heard a bird sing in his garden that it seemed to him to be the most beautiful music in the world. Then the Hail stopped dancing over his head, and the North Wind ceased roaring, and a delicious perfume came to him through the open casement. 'I believe the Spring has come at last,' said the Giant; and he jumped out of bed and looked out.
What did he see?
He saw a most wonderful sight. Through a little hole in the wall the children had crept in, and they were sitting in the branches of the trees. In every tree that he could see there was a little child. And the trees were so glad to have the children back again that they had covered themselves with blossoms, and were waving their arms gently above the children's heads. The birds were flying about and twittering with delight, and the flowers were looking up through the green grass and laughing. It was a lovely scene, only in one corner it was still Winter. It was the farthest corner of the garden, and in it was standing a little boy. He was so small that he could not reach up to the branches of the tree, and he was wandering all round it, crying bitterly. The poor tree was still quite covered with frost and snow, and the North Wind was blowing and roaring above it. 'Climb up! little boy,' said the Tree, and it bent its branches down as low as it could; but the little boy was too tiny.
And the Giant's heart melted as he looked out. 'How selfish I have been!' he said; 'now I know why the Spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on the top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the children's playground for ever and ever.' He was really very sorry for what he had done.

So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly, and went out into the garden. But when the children saw him they were so frightened that they all ran away, and the garden became Winter again. Only the little boy did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he died not see the Giant coming. And the Giant stole up behind him and took him gently in his hand, and put him up into the tree. And the tree broke at once into blossom, and the birds came and sang on it, and the little boy stretched out his two arms and flung them round the Giant's neck, and kissed him. And the other children, when they saw that the Giant was not wicked any longer, came running back, and with them came the Spring. 'It is your garden now, little children,' said the Giant, and he took a great axe and knocked down the wall. And when the people were gong to market at twelve o'clock they found the Giant playing with the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen.
All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye.
'But where is your little companion?' he said: 'the boy I put into the tree.' The Giant loved him the best because he had kissed him. 'We don't know,' answered the children; 'he has gone away.'
'You must tell him to be sure and come here to-morrow,' said the Giant. But the children said that they did not know where he lived, and had never seen him before; and the Giant felt very sad.
Every afternoon, when school was over, the children came and played with the Giant. But the little boy whom the Giant loved was never seen again. The Giant was very kind to all the children, yet he longed for his first little friend, and often spoke of him. 'How I would like to see him!' he used to say.
Years went over, and the Giant grew very old and feeble. He could not play about any more, so he sat in a huge armchair, and watched the children at their games, and admired his garden. 'I have many beautiful flowers,' he said; 'but the children are the most beautiful flowers of all.'

One winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing. He did not hate the Winter now, for he knew that it was merely the Spring asleep, and that the flowers were resting.
Suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder, and looked and looked. It certainly was a marvelous sight. In the farthest corner of the garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms. Its branches were all golden, and silver fruit hung down from them, and underneath it stood the little boy he had loved.
Downstairs ran the Giant in great joy, and out into the garden. He hastened across the grass, and came near to the child. And when he came quite close his face grew red with anger, and he said, 'Who hath dared to wound thee?' For on the palms of the child's hands were the prints of two nails, and the prints of two nails were on the little feet. 'Who hath dared to wound thee?' cried the Giant; 'tell me, that I may take my big sword and slay him.' 'Nay!' answered the child; 'but these are the wounds of Love.' 'Who art thou?' said the Giant, and a strange awe fell on him, and he knelt before the little child. And the child smiled on the Giant, and said to him, 'You let me play once in your garden, to-day you shall come with me to my garden, which is Paradise.'

And when the children ran in that afternoon, they found the Giant lying dead under the tree, all covered with white blossoms.

The Weaver

The Weaver

My life is but a weaving

Between my Lord and me.

I cannot choose the colors,

He worketh steadily.

Oft-times He weaveth sorrow

And I, in foolish pride,

Forget He sees the upper

And I, the underside.

Not ‘til the loom is silent

And the shuttle ceases to fly,

Shall God unroll the canvas

And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful

In the Weaver’s skillful hand

As the treads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,

Nothing this truth can dim,

He gives His very best to those

Who leave the choice with Him.

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in

part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.—1 Corinthians 13:12

GOD’S PLANS ARE BETTER THAN OURS

For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!" (2 Corinthians 4:17)

I read a story about a radio exchange that took place some time ago between a U.S. Navy ship and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland. The Canadians warned the Americans, "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision." The Americans responded, "Recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid a collision."
The Canadians said, "Negative. You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid a collision." The Americans: "This is the captain of a U.S. Navy Ship. I say again, divert your course." "No. I say again, you divert your course." "This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north. I say again, that is 15 degrees north or countermeasures will be undertaken to assure the safety of our ship."

After brief moment of silence, the Canadians responded: "This is a lighthouse. It is your call."
Sometimes we don't like what God wants us to do, and we want Him to change course when, in reality, it is us who ought to change course.

We need to understand that God's plans are better than ours. Having said that, it does not mean that they are always the easiest or even the most appealing at the moment. There are times when we are going through life that we might not like the plan of God. But God's plans are always better for us in the long run.

*** LIFE COMEST OUT OF DEATH *

TEXT: JOHN 12:24

THEME: A fruitful spiritual life is only possible through the death of self.

INTRODUCTION: The Christians always make Jesus Christ as their example in their spiritual life, His sacrificial death brought forth many sons of God. If He did not die on the cross He abides the Son of God alone. This truth is seen in the life of a fully consecrated child of God. God uses only those that are dead to self, fully sanctified and living a life of holiness. Apostle Paul followed the steps of our Lord. He said, “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me.” Only when we die to self could Christ live in our lives. Christ living in us will result in a fruitful spiritual life.

I. HUMILITY COMES FIRST BEFORE EXALTATION – “EXCEPT A CORN OF WHEAT

FALL ON THE GROUND.”

A. “Falling on the ground” means humility.

B. Humility or “poor in spirit” must be felt before one comes to God. (Matt.5:3)

C. In humility is promised exaltation. (Luke 18:14)

II. DEATH IS GOING FARTHER FROM HUMILITY – “A CORN OF WHEAT FALL ON

THE GROUND AND DIE.”

A. Christ as our example, humbled Himself, carried His cross and died on it. (Phil. 2:8)

B. Christ died to redeem sinful men. (Rom. 5:8)

III. DEATH TO SELF WILL BRING FORTH MUCH FRUIT.

A. Death to self is made possible in full sanctification.

B. In full consecration there springs forth the fruit of the spirit. (gal. 5:22-23)

C. Holiness in life and the fullness of the Holy Spirit will give power and strength that will result in bringing forth much fruit. (Acts 1:8)

CONCLUSION:

My beloved young people and brethren, the apostle Peter exhorts us in his epistle saying, “for even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for us, leaving His steps,” (I Peter 2:21). WIll Jesus carry His cross alone? Should we not also carry our crosses? Should we let our Lord to die alone? Shall we not also die for Him? YES, WE WILL! Let us all die to ourselves that Christ can live in us. Real life comes out of death… Amen!