Are You a Liar?

Is it possible for a follower of Jesus to sin? God’s word declares this is not only possible but it is an absolute fact the gospel-born-again do indeed sin: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 Jn 1:8,10) These are strong words. For a follower of Jesus to say they have not sinned tells us that they are liars.

The question that I will ask you today is not if you are a sinner, you are, but what is your response to sin? The Apostle John, in this same discourse, explains what a follower of Jesus’ response to sin should be:

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1:9)

In God’s sight, we are lost sinners who have not confronted our sin nature or we are born-again sinners who confess our excursions into the darkness of sin. We who are born-again are not in and out of God’s Kingdom. We live in the light of the Gospel acknowledging God’s righteousness by confessing our sin.

A follower of Christ is not afforded a theology of moderation. The human soul exists in the darkness of the Evil One or in the light of the Eternal One. One does not need to be a bible scholar to prove the previous statement as true. A simple look at God’s word will be sufficient to validate this bible position.

The Apostle John makes this biblical truth abundantly clear:

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” (1 John 1:5-6)

To fully understand the gospel experience, we must distinguish how God views sin and sin’s effects on the lost sinner from how people often view sin and God’s righteousness. Jesus, speaking to the religious people, said:

“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12

When a lost sinner sees the light of Jesus through the power of the Gospel, the darkness of sin and death falls from their soul and they walk in the light of Jesus where no darkness of sin is allowed. As previously stated by the Apostle: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” (1 John 1:5-6)

The call of the Gospel brings about a new beginning, a new life and a new understanding of God and His righteousness. Jesus, speaking to the sinner who came in the cloak of the darkness of night and sin, said:

“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

For the seeker of the Kingdom of God to find it, he had to pass from the darkness of sin and be “born again” into the light of God.

The call of the gospel comes to God’s creation who are “dead in the wages of sin” and calls the sinner from the darkness of sin into the glorious light of God. The Gospel call to the lost sinner is to repent and “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Eph 5:14)

No neutralities can exist in a life lived by faith in Jesus. God’s word is clear; we are either dead in our sins “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Eph 2:1) or we are alive unto God:

“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:5-6)

Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote:

“We are either ranked under the banner of Prince Immanuel, to serve and fight his battles, or we are vassals of the black prince, Satan. To whom belongest thou?’” Therein lies the question; are you the friend of Jesus or are you His enemy?

Jesus, speaking about His relationship with you, said:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Jesus died on Calvary’s cross so you can be His friend. This relationship drew a line in the sand for Christians; you have chosen the life of righteousness over sin and death.