· John 1:12…But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God
· 1 John 1:9…he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Because of sinful mans inherited negative side his natural understanding is darkened to a godly life. Outside of Christ man is blind to his moral need and change which only comes from above. Truth and power are only given to the human soul under the directive of the Holy Ghost. Only through the power of a living Christ is man able to change from the negative side of life to the positive. An unrighteous man is unable to gradually or progressively work himself into a right standing with God. With no possible way to obtain righteousness from God (except by faith in Christ alone) men still attempt to achieve righteousness through self justification and works. This mindset has caused many men to miss God and their salvation.
· Eph 4:18…Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart
Common temptations such as alcohol, lust of the flesh, gambling, and pornography are very much available to everyone this day and hour. The world, the flesh, and the devil constantly oppose the clean heart and the changed life of the child of God. If no line is drawn in the life of the child of God he becomes an easy prey to the dark side of life. For the child of God who realizes the power of a moral change from Christ and lives under the directive of the Holy Spirit, God provides him with a life of strength and victory. Through Christ, a believer is provided with everything needed to be an over comer in every area of this life. Steadfast and contented in Christ, the over comer will not step back across a line the Lord’s sanctification has drawn in his heart and mind.
· Heb 10:38-39… but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
· 2 Peter 3:17…beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
A wealth of knowledge is learned from the experience of being an over comer. There is growth and confidence that comes through this blessed state of being. The New Testament teaches a life of victory through Christ… never defeat. Many rewards come from living a life with victory over sin and disobedience. Many problems stem from dodging this truth. Society can never teach victory over sin nor can religion. The opinions of mans intellect will never teach it because the natural man does not think like the Spirit of God. So…where is victory over sin taught? The Holy Spirit teaches this truth to the soul of a believer. New Testament records confirm the truth that other men lived it before us.
· Rom 8:37…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
· 2 Cor 2:14…thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ
The power that changes and strengthens man inwardly was experienced and written about by writers of the New Testament. As witnesses they wanted the whole world to share this same blessed experience. Their lives were in harmony with God concerning the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ which they knew was the source of the changed heart and life. They tasted it, touched it, and experienced it. They wanted the whole world to have it. They learned from it. They grew in it and gave their lives for it.
No matter what is said or taught in the world today this same experience is offered anyone through the body of Christ. Nothing has changed since the early church except people. The condition of mans heart has never changed since the fall of Adam. The power of a living Christ is the still the same today; it’s the same Holy Spirit, and the same language of the Bible. So… is a line drawn between man and sin? The answer is, “Yes”.
· 2 Cor 6:17…Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
· Eph 5:8-12….For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth ;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Hubert Lindsey once told me, “A sanctified man should never apologize for living right and never compromise to living wrong.”
The verses used within context of this document are based on the language of the King James translation of the Holy Bible. Many modern versions of the Bible have changed the language concerning the operation of God in the heart of man to man’s attempt to progressively obtain salvation. This kind of language takes away from the instantaneous work of God and places emphasis on the progressive works of man. Words which relate to the operation of God in the heart and life of a believer like Sanctification, Justification, Redemption, Perfection, Grace,etc. are taken out of many modern translations
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