03/14/14 THE EVIDENCE OF SALVATION

03/14/14 THE EVIDENCE OF SALVATION

The evidence of salvation is a life saved from sin. A life saved from sin is not a life of self righteousness or legalism. A life saved from sin is a life of hope, faith and love.

Hope sees the unseeable, Faith secures the unseeable and Love shows the unseeable.

Most people never get to the point of faith because they give up hope, and when you give up hope, you are hopeless.

Even new Christians, when they listen to false doctrine, instead of the word of God (Ro. 10:17), quit hoping for deliverance from sin, and therefore never have faith to secure holiness of heart and life. But when a person holds onto hope, and exercises faith, love will show the fruit of salvation.

The life of Victory is the work of the Holy Spirit.
Saved people are Born of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:5).
Saved people are Delivered from Sinning by the Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 3:9, 5:4, 5:19).
Saved people are Led by the Holy Spirit (Ro. 8:14).
Saved people Live and Walk in the Holy Spirit (Ro. 8:12-13).
Saved people Bear the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Ga. 5:22-23).
Saved people are Purified by the Holy Spirit (Ac. 15:8-9).
Saved people are Filled with the Holy Spirit (Ep. 5:18).
Saved people are Anointed with and by the Holy Spirit Lk. 4:18).
Saved people are Taught by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:26).
Saved people are Gifted by the Holy Spirit (He. 2:4; 1 Co. 12:4).
Saved people are Empowered by the Holy Spirit (Ac. 1:8).
Saved people have the Seal of the Holy Spirit (2 Tm. 2:19; Jn. 6:27; 2 Co. 1:22;

BEING IGNORANT OF THE "SIN OF IGNORANCE" CAN LEAD TO SIN.

THE ACCUSATION
One of the arguments leveled against those who believe God can, will and does save from all sin in this present evil world, is the idea that we all commit, “sins of ignorance,” which, they say, are unavoidable, because we are sinful human beings. Of course sinning religionists claim their position is found in the Bible. WRONG. Their errant position is an erroneous understanding of the Bible.

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND
The Bible passages that refer to the "sin of ignorance" are all in the Old Testament. In fact, all seven verses are found in either Leviticus or Numbers. This does not make them invalid, but it does mean we should find out why they are not in other parts of the Bible, especially the New Testament.

The verses refer to the breaking of Mosaic laws given to Israel. Remember, not all laws that God gave to Moses were inherently moral laws. Some were ceremonial, dietary, sacrificial and civil. With hundreds of these laws, it was possible for a person to commit an infraction, either because of forgetfulness. mistake or accident. For instance, a person might unknowingly, unintentionally touch a dead mouse and then perform a religious duty. This would be a “sin of ignorance.” There was a distinct difference between a “sin of ignorance” and sin that was known as "high handed," "presumptuous sin" or "willful sin."

A "Sin of ignorance" in the Torah was not the result of yielding to temptation, since it was basically unintentional. It must have been unintentional, otherwise it would not be a sin of ignorance. As soon as the person realized he had sinned, he was required to make a "sin sacrifice," to obtain cleansing. Actually, if the same sin had been done intentionally it could have resulted in capital punishment, with no chance of atonement.

BUT WE ARE CHRISTIANS
Christians are not required to keep the Mosaic law, though all men are obligated to keep the moral law of God. Christians are saved from past sins (moral infractions) and saved from sinning (moral failure) at the present. The New Testament does not impose the Mosaic law on Christians (including Sabbath laws, passover and circumcision), yet the moral law is reiterated in the New Testament. Therefore, the basis of the "sin of ignorance" does not apply to Christians.

NOT SECRET SINS
People often confuse or equate a "sin of ignorance" (which is found in the Torah) with "secret sins" in the Writings, which are known sins that are being hidden, or old sins that have been forgotten.

HOLY SPIRIT REVEALS
Those who promote a sinning religion claim that we sin without knowing it. Even the Mosaic "sin of ignorance" did not go unrevealed, otherwise there would be no directive to make a sacrifice. But in the New Testament we are promised that God will lead us into all truth and He will not lead us into temptation. Part of the work of the Holy Spirit is to deliver us from evil, before we fall into it. To say that we all have sins of ignorance is to accuse the Holy Spirit of failing to do His work. The Holy Spirit is doing what He promised. The person who is walking in the light, as He is in the light, is not going to be led astray or abandoned along the way.

AVOIDING WILLFUL SIN
A careless person can miss God's leading, but he who follows fully will see sin before he falls into it. Also, if a person falls into sin, it will not be a "sin of ignorance" for long, because the Holy Spirit will convict the person immediately, so that he can repent. If the person continues in sin, it is not unintentional, it is willful, presumptuous and high handed, therefore the "sin of ignorance" argument fails. If a person is walking in the light, the Holy Spirit will warn him about coming temptation, will strengthen him to overcome temptation and will lead him into a life of holiness.

SUBTLE ENSLAVEMENT
If a person believes that everyone has "sins of ignorance," he will not expect the Holy Spirit to lead him into all truth and away from sin and temptation. He will grow comfortable with the idea of constant and continuous sin in his life. He will presume that these sins are paid for, without need to repent or actively trust the blood of Jesus. He will not be repulsed by sin, but rather will accept it as part of the Christian experience. After all, he is told by the proponents of sinning religion, that we all sin, every day, in word, thought and deed.

GOD'S SOLUTION TO SIN
Also, the notion that believers harbor "sins of ignorance" is counter productive to faith. God says clearly that His blood cleanses from all sin and unrighteousness; Jesus came to save His people from their sins; believers can be pure, holy and righteous, even as God is pure, holy and righteous; believers can be conformed to the image of Jesus. The Bible clearly says that the Holy Spirit will convict of sin and lead us not into temptation. There is not one place in the New Testament that says believers have sins of ignorance, but rather we are told that we can have a heart of full assurance of faith, and an evil conscience removed, being void of offense, living a life that gives no offense. None of this agrees with a person who is guilty sins of ignorance.

JESUS SAVES
One more thought before I close. The Bible teaches that we can be delivered from all sin, in this present evil world. It does not teach that any man is inherently or independently righteous. Walking in the light keeps us clean. Faith in the blood of Jesus keeps us clean. He will lead us out of temptation and sin, and He will also be our Advocate if we sin.