We hear it all the time, “I’m a Christian, but God understands why I [am always drunk, why I use drugs, why I live with my boyfriend/girlfriend,” or insert your favorite sin here]. God does understand that all humans are sinners, but by blatantly embracing sin while claiming to be a Christian, you’re creating a god that suits you. You’re making a god that sees sin as something that’s no big deal. In spite of our sin, God loves us, but He doesn’t love our sin. He doesn’t want us to live sin-filled lives. By embracing sin, a Christian will live a defeated life and pull away from God.
God’s plan for marriage was established in the Garden of Eden. God created Adam first and gave Adam the first rule. Adam was expected to teach that rule to his wife. The rule was not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or else they would die. The Apostle Paul understood the need to obey God. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
Eve allowed herself to be beguiled by the voice of Satan and ignored God’s command. Adam dropped the ball by standing by and allowing Eve to contradict God’s plan. Of course, the serpent lied to her. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5).
This evil being convinced Eve that God lied and they wouldn’t die if they sinned. He said they would be as gods. Since that time, mankind has created gods that suited them; gods in mankind’s image instead of man in God’s image. Don’t be beguiled by Satan’s lies. Jesus is the only way into Heaven.
It seems as if the word of God has gone missing in many congregations. Instead of preaching line upon line and precept upon precept (beginning in Genesis), many pastors tickle ears and try not to bring up sin. Sin is serious. Jesus forgives repentant sinners, but a person must not hold onto the sin they claim to have repented of.
In order to recognize the sin in your life, you must study Scripture. Many pastors won’t teach from the Old Testament, but that is where the foundation of God’s truth is found. We will always wrestle with our sin nature while we live on this side of Heaven, but it’s God’s will that needs to be submitted to, not sin. Again, we can draw wisdom from Paul. “I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
It is reasonable that you submit your life to God and turn from sin when you repent and ask Jesus to forgive you. He gave His life for you. Your sins are nailed to the cross where Jesus died. He gave everything He could give, so why is it hard to give up the sin you hold so tightly to? Like Eve, do you think disobedience to God Almighty will make you a god? It didn’t work out so good for Adam and Eve, and we’ve been sinning ever since they were exiled from the Garden of Eden.
There is only one path that leads to eternal life, and that path is Jesus. “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).
Jesus had walked and talked with His disciples for 3 years, and had taught them what it meant to follow Him. Few pastors disciple new Christians and encourage them to turn from sin. They are expected to figure it out all on their own. Jesus loved people, and still does. He willingly gave His life so that we can live. So, why is it that many Christians insist on picking and choosing the parts of following Jesus that suit them? Why do they design a god that encourages their sin?
Many people want “fire insurance” by saying they are Christians but want to live by their own rules. Of course, we humans have a sin-nature that clouds our thinking, but we also have a brain to think with. If we study Scripture, we can understand what God considers sin, and make the choice to turn from sin.
The Ten Commandments give us a good solid idea of what God considers sin, but we can read more in the New Testament. Jesus explained some things that defile (make unclean) a person. “And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride foolishness: All these evil things come from within and defile the man” (Mark 7:20-23).
Some of those words aren’t common to our modern language, but the sins are all too common. I encourage you to look them up in a Strong’s Concordance or a good Bible dictionary.
Being “woke” isn’t approved by God. There is no sin that won’t be forgiven, but first you must recognize that you are a sinner, then change your mind about the sin(s) you embrace. Jesus is the only way to eternal life, and we need to follow the path He has shown us. There are various lists throughout the New Testament of evils that aren’t acceptable to God.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).
Again, look up the words that aren’t familiar to you; many of these are of a sexual nature. Remember God created Adam and Eve, and they are His example of marriage. One man and one woman.
Is there any hope for mankind? Yes, there is. The only hope is Jesus. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18).
You may make a god that suits you, but only God Almighty can save you. When you finally come to the realization that you’re a sinner in need of salvation, that’s when you ask for God to forgive you by the blood of Jesus and to cleanse you of all sin. You aren’t in the battle alone. You have the Holy Spirit sealed within you. No self-created god can do that. As you become stronger in your walk with Christ and draw closer to Him, you’ll notice that your desires have changed and people will notice. You’ll have begun to show the fruit of your faith.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25).
Any god that you think will suit your lusts cannot forgive your sin nor offer salvation.
Everyone will stand before God in judgment, so in that sense, whatever god you design or path you choose will lead to Him. There will be two thrones of judgment. Those who live by their own rules will face the Great White Throne judgment, where they will be judged by their works. They will have to have come up to God’s idea of perfection in every aspect of their life in order to obtain eternal life. That’s impossible. These souls will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.
Christians will face the Bema Seat judgment, where their works will be judged for rewards. Only a Christian will be found righteous, but not by our own efforts. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:21-24).
Christians are sinners just like the unsaved, but our righteousness is through our faith in Christ. A true Christian doesn’t dream up a god that doesn’t see sin as sin. Only Christ can make us righteous through our faith in His sacrifice on the cross.
The world, run by Satan, takes joy in sin, so the people of the world have contrived a god who finds no sin in carnal lifestyles. The world says it’s not a sin to be a drunkard or cheat on your wife. Much of worldly entertainment encourages and condones sinful behavior. The world has created a god that suits its lifestyle. The name of that god is Satan.
There is only one true God, and He has a very different view of sin than the world. God gave Moses a set of Commandments (not suggestions) which were written with God’s own finger on stone tablets. Which part of “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3) don’t you understand? Not all paths lead to salvation.
I’ve heard some very disturbing things directly from the lips of a famous pastor of a mega church. He said that he believes in Jesus but can’t say that people of other faiths aren’t saved. Obviously, he hasn’t read Scripture. Or, if he’s read it, he doesn’t believe it. What else could Jesus have meant when He said “…I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6b). That verse has never confused me, but apparently some pastors don’t understand plain English.
Also, on the night of His arrest, Jesus prayed that if there was any other way, that the cup would pass from Him. Jesus is the only way of salvation. It’s only by faith in His death, burial, and resurrection that we are saved. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
You can’t work for it, and you can’t buy it. Only faith brings salvation. If you follow a god you made up in your mind, then you are on the wrong path.
Time is running out. The time of great tribulation is soon to come upon the earth and all who dwell here. Don’t try to dream up a god that suits you. Only Jesus can save, and He is the same today, tomorrow, and forever.
God bless you all
Nathele Graham
Recommended prophecy sites:
All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.
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“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).