OceanSide church of Christ

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WHAT TURNING FROM SIN LOOKS LIKE (2)

Victor M. Eskew

 

            Satan is an evil, deceitful, subtle being.  He is able to easily venture into our lives and tempt us to sin.  He makes sin look like it is good for us.  He makes sin look like it will make us happy.  He makes sin look like it has no down sides to it.  He certainly convinces us that sin will not destroy us.  Unfortunately, our desires are often stronger than our resistance.  Therefore, we transgress the will of God.  Instead of finding ourselves in God’s good graces, we are separated from Him.  It is imperative for us to turn from our sin when it enters into our lives.  God’s Word has graced us with many examples of those who have violated God’s commands, yet their turned back to Him.  We looked at three examples of this in our last article:  David, Peter, and Simon the sorcerer.  Let’s look at several other examples in this article.

            Two examples fall within the teachings of Jesus during His earthly ministry.  In Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus told the story of a father who had two sons to chief priests and elders of the Jews.  The first son is the one applicable to our study.  “But what think ye?  A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.  He answered, and said, I will not…” (vs. 28-29).  The father’s command was simple and straight forward:  “Go work to day in my vineyard.”  Immediately the son rebelled against his father’s will.  He responded:  “I will not.”  Whatever his reason for rejecting his father’s will, it was no excuse.  If he remained on this course of action, he would have fallen out of his father’s good pleasure.  The son, however, turned from his sin.  Matthew 21:29b tell us:  “…but afterward he repented, and went.”  The son completed two actions.  First, the son repented.  His repentance originated in his mind.  He regretted his decision not to go.  He understood that he should be an obedient child.  He thought about all the good things his father had done for him.  His repentance led to a change of action.  The text reveals that he went to the vineyard and worked.  All of us who find ourselves in sin need to learn from this father’s son.  We must change our minds to sin.  Then, we must cease doing the wrong thing and engage in the Father’s will.  When the father arrived home that evening, I am certain that he was pleased with his son’s actions. 

            A second example of turning from sin found in the teachings of Christ comes from Luke 15:11-32.  This story also involves a father who had two sons.  It is known to most by the title:  “The Prodigal Son.”  The narrative begins with the younger son asking his father for his inheritance.  The father “divided unto them his living” (Luke 15:11-12).  The younger son left the house and departed into a far country.  “…and there he wasted his substance with riotous living” (Luke 15:13).  This young man was soon in want (Luke 15:14).  “And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat:  and no man gave unto him” (Luke 15:15-16).  Here is the picture of a young man in sin.  He is apart from his father.  His life is in shambles.  He is living daily in want and humiliation.  What was he to do? 

            Fortunately, the text tells us.  As you read, realize that the change involved the young man not the father.  “And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son:  make me as one of thy hired servants” (Luke 15:17-18).  This man’s change began in his mind.  He admitted his transgressions.  That admission, however, was not going to be enough.  He had to change his behavior.  He had to leave the hog pit and return to his father.  There, he needed to confess his sins.  “And he arose, and came to his father.  But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.  And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son” (Luke 15:20-21).  All should be impressed with the young man’s actions.  It could not have been easy to return home and admit his sins unto his father, but he did.  This is what it takes.  A person cannot justify his sins and return to God.  A person cannot continue in his sins and return to God.  A person cannot be proud and rebellious and return to God.  The person must go to God with a broken and contrite heart and confess his sins before the Father’s throne.  If he is willing to do this, the Father will accept him.  “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:  for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he as lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:22-24).

            The third example is found at the hill called Calvary.  Two thieves were crucified on either side of Jesus (Luke 23:33).  At first both of these men ridiculed and railed on the Christ (Mark 15:32).  Something, however, softened the heart of one of these men.  Instead of continuing to belittle the Son of God, this thief came to His aid.  “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds:  but this man hath done nothing amiss” (Luke 23:39-41).  Not only did this man defend Jesus, he made a special request of Him.  “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” (Luke 23:42).  It is interesting that both men knew of Jesus’ claims to be the Christ.  Too, this thief knew something about the kingdom.  He may have heard John’s preaching on the subject.  In fact, he might have been baptized with John’s baptism at some point.  His knowledge now led to a request to be with Jesus in His kingdom.  This man admitted to his sin at a thief, and he noted that he no longer wanted to be in that state.  He longed to be on the Lord’s side.  “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).  This man’s change certainly put him into the blessings of the God’s dear Son.  Instead of perdition, this man was heading for paradise at death.

            Many, many people have turned from their sins in order to be right with God.  Most of the time the turning was not easy.  Every time it involved a sacrifice.  Too, every time it resulted in a blessing.  Dear reader, do you need to turn from sin?  The change begins by acknowledging your violation of God’s will.  Then, you must turn from the sin.  After leaving the sin, you must go the Father and humbly confess his transgressions.  The Father will receive you with open arms.  He will restore you immediately to a position of sonship.  Too, there will be rejoicing in the heavenly realm because a child who was dead is alive again.