Not Sinning – We Need A Miracle

Virtue of Not Sinning

March 31, 2026Ken

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV). The vanity of trying to do it right but not succeeding was felt even by the Apostle Paul. “19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:19, 24). Is there deliverance from sinning? Yes! Paul answers the question. “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (7:25). And, immediately tells how. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (8:1). Walking after the Spirit is either a mystical, theological description of what every Christian has-but-doesn’t-know or we really don’t understand, since too many Professed Christians still identify with the camp of Desperately Seeking Deliverance from sinning. If that isn’t true, why don’t we hear more testimonies of overcoming sin in the daily life than testimonies of the dramatic change, when first becoming a disciple?

Quite simply, Jesus Christ our Advocate is and should be the reason we do not sin, for the very name of Jesus means “YHWH delivers,” from the penalty of sin and the necessity to sin. “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” (1John 2:1). Jesus Christ is our Advocate or Paraklete with the Father. He functions in us through the work of the Blessed Holy Spirit. This is what Paul began to tell the Romans in Romans 8. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). Paul explained the liberation from sinning was needed, because of past vain attempts to render obedience to the law of sin and death. The Jews already proved that method of rendering obedience and not sinning didn’t work, for they ended up crucifying the very Messiah, who was sent to set them free. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).

The virtue of not sinning is clearly the victory that overcomes the world. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1John 5:4). Our pisteuō commitment of faith to Jesus is our sense of abiding or remaining in Christ, which understanding Jesus was especially trying to impart to His inner circle in the days immediately before His crucifixion. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me” (John 15:4).

We do not immediately think of the virtue of not sinning, since it is an inverse method of reflecting on faith, obedience, and knowing Christ. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6). The mental gymnastics of how only a present tense abiding in Christ can yield a present tense condition of not sinning, must actually and more firmly be a part of the foundational thinking of every disciple, or else we will develop the alarming condition of reassuring ourselves of having come to know Jesus, even while we are continuing in present sin and disobedience.

This weakness will especially be exploited by the Man of Sin before the soon reappearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, for he knows the uselessness of a faith, which does not produce the work of the abiding fruit of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness [gentleness], temperance [self-control]” (Galatians 5:22-23), for he will re-explain all of reality to those left behind after the Harpazō Rapture. Your faith was only an illusion of which I am now your present, powerful, and awe inspiring reality. “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (1John 2:18).

Not sinning is virtuous, since it is part of our wholehearted pisteuō commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the antithesis of the works of the devil. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1John 3:8). Destroying the works of the devil and destabilizing the future foundation of the Antichrist requires us to be campaigning to not sin, as much as our need to abide in Christ. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not” (3:6).

O be careful little heart whom you trust

For the Father up above

He’s looking down in love

So, be careful little heart whom you trust.

Father, You are the One who sets the agenda for how we should act in these Last Days. May we enlarge our thinking that we will perceive more of the reality of what is fast unfolding before our eyes. May we do our small part of destroying the works of the devil by not sinning. Increase the understanding of the Body of Christ of how not sinning must be part of abiding in Christ. We know we cannot stop all sin or the embrace of the world for Antichrist, but help us to give our last full measure in promoting and embracing Jesus, the only Way, Truth, and Life. Lord Jesus, return quickly. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

Not Sin Against Thee (Psalm 119:11)

December 3, 2024January 26, 2025Ken

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee” (Psalm 119:11 KJV). Perfect sentiment. Not just rule keeping — Thou shalt, Thou shalt not — but maintaining our sacred relationship with God. We often confuse rote memory of Scripture with hiding God’s Word in our heart because it helped us to encourage our children to memorize Scripture — which is still important. But, we always knew hiding God’s Word in our heart meant more. Our relationship to the person of God is our relationship with the Word of God. A physical Bible is not our relationship. An intellectual Bible is not the goal. A living relationship with the One Who Is the Word is our quest (John 1:1; Revelation 19:13). Only then can we achieve the Psalmist’s goal — “that I might not sin against Thee” (119:11). Sin prevention is only possible through absolute dependence upon God Himself. “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth” (John 17:17). Father, You are worthy of our deepest love, for You care for us. You gave us Your Son. You know our relationship to You must be protected from the corrosiveness of sin. May we learn to cling to You harder than any abstract attempt of memorizing Scripture, hoping that will be enough to prevent sin. Break through the false assumptions of sin prevention by merely reading or memorizing Scripture. Cause us to have a living, vibrant relationship with You that prevents the presence of sin. Lord Jesus, return quickly. Amen.

Conscience: God Speaking in Our Thoughts

February 10, 2024January 27, 2024Ken

Conscience is God communicating with everyone’s thoughts. Of course, we can stifle and overrule conscience, but not without injuring ourselves and becoming less able to hear God. Perhaps the best way to understand the voice of God speaking to us is the promised Holy Spirit quickening our conscience. “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on Me; Of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:8-11 KJV). The Holy Spirit admonishes us about sin, righteousness, and judgment through our thoughts. Because we are loath to admit ourselves to be of so tender conscience, we resist. Thus, ourselves, our families, our churches, and society become hardened and jaded to our own hurt.

Only Those Who Abide in Obedience Have a Right to Claim They Know Him

September 1, 2023September 5, 2023Ken

Only those who abide in obedience have a right to claim they know Him. “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1John 2:3-4). If human nature was naturally sinful, then how could anyone rightly claim to walk in obedience? A naturally sinful nature is only an excuse for sinning, not a good explanation. “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth [Greek, hamartanei, sins or is sinning, present tense] hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (1John 3:6 KJV). Whoever is abiding in Christ is not sinning. Whoever is not abiding in Christ is sinning. Whoever is sinning is supernaturally assured in the most forceful language, that person “hath not seen Him, neither known Him” (3:6). God supernaturally chooses not to be known by us, when we are presently sinning. That withholds assurance of salvation from us, while we are in rebellion against Him. The language of the First Epistle of John requires the Holy Spirit to supernaturally teach, interpret, and understand. “But the anointing [Holy Spirit] which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him” (1John 2:27 KJV). May Christ bless all the disciples of His supernatural religion! “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love” (John 15:10 KJV).

Like Jesus

November 20, 2021September 5, 2023Ken1 Comment

Growing up as a teenaged, American youth in the late 1960s to early 1970s, I witnessed from a Middle America, Southern California perspective, the counterculture’s effect upon mainline, evangelical Christianity. Pianos and organs of traditional Christian music were introduced to guitars and drums of popular music. White shirts and ties gave way to leisure suits. Hal Lindsey’s “Late, Great Planet Earth” (1970) was preparing for the Rapture. The Charismatic Movement was promoting the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in both Protestant and Roman Catholic circles. Chuck Smith’s Calvary Chapel movement was making headway in emphasizing personal evangelism, planting local churches, and promoting Bible study. Fundamentalists were resisting the tides of change. The Crossroads Church of Christ (FL) — later the ICOC — was emphasizing the necessity of baptism to be saved, partly responding to an emphasis on Easy Believism Salvation. Anti-war (Vietnam), drugs, sex, and rebellion were responses not only to society’s morality, but the Professed Church’s failure. Not all change was bad; and, upon reflection, the Jesus People (sometimes called Jesus Freaks) seemed to best epitomize that period’s struggle to return to a more primitive Christianity. “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6 KJV).

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