The Sinner And Saint Swap

 

Sinner And Saint Swap

Ezekiel 18:21,24 "But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."

Let us put things right. Once a saint, does not guarantee that one will remain a saint. There must be a continuation of the things that keeps one a saint. 

Hebrews 10:26 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,..."

Wilful sinning by the saint will make him loose his or her place. For the sinner coming to repentance from sin to righteousness, he gains acceptance into the family of the saints. There is a rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents (Luke 15: 7). What makes a sinner to be called a sinner is sin in the heart without God. There is a repentance for a sinner.

"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins..."

The sinner must turn away from the sin he committed and not the sin others committed. It is a personal thing. Yes, a group of people can repent but of what use if individuals are not restored back to God.

Turning from sin does not happen without the help of God. The help comes from hearing the gospel i.e preaching and teaching of the word of God. The word of God disengages a sinner from sin. The power of God is in His word. The sinner must disengage from all his sins (and the sinful nature in the heart). Holding to sin will not guarantee a sinner a secure place in the heart of God.

"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed,..."

Having secret sins is not true repentance. There must be freedom from all sin. Is it possible to be free from all sin? Yes it is possible. If were not possible, it would not have been mentioned.

"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.'

It is not enough to turn away from all sin. There must be something that will substitute the sin.

"...keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right..."

Keeping God's commands secures the sinner in righteousness away from sin. Where can the new saint find the laws of God? It is from the word of God i.e. the Bible. God will impress the heart of the saint with vital and relevant scriptures to obey as he or she reads daily. Behind every instruction, there is a blessing.

"...he shall surely live, he shall not die..."

This blessing comes by obedience to the word of God. Simply said, a sinner can repent and become a saint. In a similar situation, a saint can turn away from right living to sinful lifestyle. This is a dangerous situation in the sense that hell and damnation awaits the saint who drifts away into sin.

"... when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, ... his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: ...in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."

The saint must continually get filled with grace to keep the fire burning. Wilful sinning is not an option.

Hebrews 10:26 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,..."

The saint must not make any provision for sin. Burn the sin bridge behind and do not go back to it any longer. Always find pleasure in doing righteousness. What of the case of sin that is not wilful? If a sinner sins not habitual, not planned, what becomes of him or her?

1 John 2:1 "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:.."

Sin should not drive the saint away from God rather, the saint should run back to God for repentance. The power of sin can make the saint (or sinner) to drift further away from God.

"...there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,..."

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is final and complete. Expecting another sacrifice will be a waist of time. It is better not to sin than to sin expecting all will go well.

"...write I unto you, that ye sin not..."

Keep away from sin by paying attention to what is written to us as instruction in the word of God.

"...And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:.."

Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who paid the price for our sins. He opened the door for all to come in and get salvation from sin.

The swap from sinner to sainthood and from saint to sinner does not suggest that for every sinner that repents, there is a saint that backslides. There is more than enough room for everyone to repent and be a child of God.

What could possibly make a saint to backslide? The problems of this life and desires of the things of this world and prayerlessness all adds up to pull the saint into sin and backsliding. There could also be an arrangement by father of sin i.e satan to pull the saint into error. Little disobedience can make a man or woman to drift away.

2 Timothy 4:10 "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."

Demas is an example of a man who drifted away. He forsook all that he had learned. He loved the things of this world which took his heart away from God. Such men like Demas are not interested in following through what God has said. They have fixed their hearts from daily and continually applying the Principles of the word of God. They quickly forget to pray and ask God for direction and provision. They choose to follow the old way of sin. The end for them is unfortunate.

St. Matthew 20:16 "So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."

What is your situation like? Are you a sinner praying that God should make you a saint? God has you covered in Christ. Repent and accept the truth of the word of God.

Are you a saint and not seeing anything good in doing the will of God? Keep away from things that blindfolds your eyes from seeing the truth, good and benefit of being a saint.

Are you a saint on fire every day for God? Keep the fire burning. You will enjoy the benefit of your labour in Christ Jesus.

Pray:

My Lord and God, I pray that you destroy the appetite for sin in me and give me success in my journey in my walk with and for You. Step into my life in a bigger way and disengage sin far away from me. This I pray in Jesus name. Amen!