COVENANT MINDED MINISTRIES

The Holy Bible identifies those in the world into two (2) specific classes: (1) saints, who are children of God, and (2) sinners, who are children of the devil. You're either one or the other in the eyes of God, regardless of your own rationale and/or philosophy.

A saint is one who has been born of the Holy Spirit.

A sinners is one who has not been born of the Holy Spirit.

It's just that simple; you are either one or the other; there is no inbetween or any other understanding of any value on this matter.  This is God's final answer.

The work of the Holy Spirit in the born-again process is the key factor in the identification process.  It's His work and He knows who He has rebirthed, regardless of who hypocrites claim to be.

No one can have love for God unless he or she has the love of God within, which is imperative (essentially necessary) to be a child of God, which is of the Holy Spirit.  Some try to fake it; but their way is hard, because forced love is not really love at all, and it's always failing the test when it's time to demonstrate genuine love.

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (2nd Timothy 2:19)

And above all things have fervent love for another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." (1st Peter 4:8)

A Christian’s main priority should be his or her desire to stay focused on practicing righteousness.  Whatever a person practices is more than likely what he or she will succeed.  Practicing righteousness is performed by believers because of their love for God, who imputed righteousness upon them apart from works (personal works), that through practicing righteousness, they may perform good works.  Your practice confirms your identity.

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (1st John 3:10)

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, (1st John 3:11)

not as Cain who was of the wicked one (devil) and murdered his brother.  And why did he murder him?  Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous. (1st John 3:12)

Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. (1st John 3:13)

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.  He who does not love his brother abides in death. (1st John 3:14)

Whoever hates his brother is a murder, and we know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (1st John 3:15)

My little children, let us not love in word or tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1st John 3:18)

And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. (1st John 3:19)

It is the love of God that motivites our love for Him and for one another, so that righteous practice is our primary goal and way of life.  Such practice produces good fruit, which glorifies our Father who is in heaven.

Even Though Not Perfect, We Should Strive for Perfection

God has revealed to us through His word how we should live in this world, so that He is glorified in our mind, body, and soul.  However, we know as a result of our imperfect nature that no one can live up to what God created us to, wherein, falling short of His glory.  Our inherited sinful nature makes it impossible for us to save ourselves, therefore, leaving our only hope of salvation being through faith in Jesus Christ.

All who believe in Jesus Christ are justified (declared righteous) freely, without cost, by God’s grace (favor), through Jesus Christ, who died to provide redemption (the price required by God to ransom sinners).  By paying the penalty for our sins through His death, Jesus frees all who believe in Him from their sins and transfers His righteousness unto them. 

Therefore, it is on the basis of Christ’s righteousness alone that believers can boldly approach God’s throne of grace and obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need.  No one, therefore, can boast about any works he or she has done that’s contributed to salvation, because it’s only through God’s initiative that we who believe have been restored (reconciled) to a proper relationship with Him.

Our personal righteousness when compared to the righteousness of God is like filthy rags, which precisely identifies why we’ve incapable of saving ourselves.  And, once we’ve come in contact with Jesus, acknowledging this inherited wretched condition and our total dependence upon Him, through belief and confession, we’re created a new creation in Christ Jesus.  This new creation is a renewed spirit born of the Holy Spirit, enabling us to possess the same mind through obedience that is in Christ Jesus.  Therefore, old things have passed away, and all things have become new through the transformation (renewing of our mind), that we are no longer conformed to this world (old things), but rather, proving what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

God’s righteousness is revealed in His children through their conduct.  It is impossible for one to have God’s righteousness imputed upon him or her and not produce the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control), but to continue producing the works of the flesh (adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like).  Righteous conduct does not product righteous character, but it does reveal its presence in believers.  Thus, if we claim to be Christians, but habitually sin in our own way, our status as children of God stands legitimately for questioning.

Habitually sinful conduct indicates an absence of the fellowship with Christ. Although, we are imperfect beings, involved in an inward war between the law of God and the law of sin, occasional sin is inevitable (incapable of being avoided; as is to be expected), however, a consistent life-style of sin should not be identified with Christians.  True believers practice righteousness because the One in whom they dwell is righteous.

Professing to be born-again and manifesting the same old sinful behavior practices is counter-productive (tending to hinder the attainment) to the practice of righteousness, making one’s profession of Christianity questionable, as such unacceptable behavior practices present a very poor witness to the body of Christ.  Furthermore, who one hangs out with is more than likely who one fellowships with.  Again, habitually sinful conduct indicates an absence of fellowship with Christ.

The habitual practice in which one is involved is either righteousness or unrighteousness.  Those who are Christians manifest their righteous nature by practicing righteousness.  On the other hand, those who are sinners (non-Christians) manifest their sinful nature by sinning or practicing unrighteousness.  The type of habitual practice uniquely identifies one as either a child of God or a child of the devil. 

Therefore, a person who sins, even a believer, is of the devil in the sense that he or she is participating in the devil’s activity; therefore, believers who sin are not expressing their renewed nature as children of God; instead, they are following the devil’s pattern.  If Christ is sinless and the purpose of His coming was to remove sin, then, whoever abides in Him does not sin.  If we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh, but perform the righteousness of God.

God’s seed (the Holy Spirit) is in and remains with those who truly belong to Christ, and by loving one another as He commanded is absolutely basic to living for Christ and advancing His kingdom.  One cannot be born of His Spirit and be barren (incapable of producing good fruits/works).

Habitually Sinful Conduct Indicates Christlessness

True Christians should continuously be producing good fruit from the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control).

Therefore, submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) 

Let those be put to shame and brought to dishonor Who seek after my life; Let those be turned back and brought to confusion Who plot my hurt. (Psalm 35:4)

Let them be like chaff before the wind, And let the angel of the LORD chase them. (Psalm 35:5)

For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.  (Psalm 91:11)

In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. (Psalm 91:12)

“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. (Leviticus 19:2)

Hibitual Sinful Conduct is an Addiction Whose End is Death !!!
 

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