When Christians Sin

By Ron Boatwright

     When we are baptized for the forgiveness of our sins (Acts 2:38), in order to be saved (Mark 16:16), God takes away every sin we have ever committed (Acts 22:16).  He wipes our slate clean (1 Corinthians 6:11).  He gives us a new beginning and we are born again (John 3:3,5) and we are raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:3-4).

     But after we have been baptized and God has taken away all of our sins, what do we do when we commit other sins?  How do we get forgiveness of these sins?  For the answer to this let us look at the Epistle of First John.  First John was written to Christians who had been baptized for the forgiveness of their sins, just as you and I have been.

     1 John 1:7 says, "But 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 cleanses us from all sin."  Here this verse says we must be doing two things so that the blood of Jesus Christ will continue to cleanse us of all our sins.  1) We must "walk in the light", that is we must be following God’s word in the Bible.  2) Also must "have fellowship one with another", that is we must be regularly worshipping God in His church and working with other Christians.  The original Greek word that is translated "cleanses" in this verse means that there is a continual cleansing going on.  Herein lies the problem with those who have become unfaithful in their worship.  Because they are not having fellowship one with another, they are not longer receiving forgiveness of their sins.

     Then we continue to read the next verse 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  We must repent and ask God to forgive us, and He will.  When we stand before the Lord on Judgment Day we will have no sins and we will go to Heaven.  This is very comforting to know that we are being continually cleansed.

 

GOING TO HEAVEN

Going To Heaven
By Ron Boatwright

      Our number one priority in this life must be to go to Heaven.  Nothing else is as important.  Jesus says in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."  Our soul is the most precious thing we have.  There is nothing that can equal its value.  We read in Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"  One certainly does not profit in the tragic loss of his soul.

     It is easy in today’s materialistic society to get caught up in the pursuit of materialism if we are not careful.  Our Lord says in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.  But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is there will your heart be also."  Our bank account needs to be in heaven.

     Everyday we need to tell ourselves that the main thing in this life is to go to Heaven.  We read in Colossians 3:2, "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."  We should regularly think about going to Heaven.

     Heaven is a prepared place (John 14:2-3) for a prepared people.  It will be such a wonderful place, which is beyond our wildest dreams.  Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him."  There is no way that Heaven can be described so we as mortal human beings can understand how wonderful it will be.

     A person will not accidentally go to Heaven.  Going to Heaven is a lifelong race as we read in Hebrews 12:1, "Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."  Going to Heaven requires endurance, patience, and persistence.  We must finish the race.