PERILOUS TIMES! WHEN THEY DENY THE POWER OF GOD–2Tim.3:1-5

Free from sin

Is that even possible? Is there any scriptural basis for freedom from sin? Especially right now? While we are in these bodies? And what if we reject this? Does the scripture describe such a person?

I contend that it does. And when it does it makes it abundantly clear that it is what causes the perilous times that Paul prophesied were to come when men become "lovers of selves more than lovers of God".

Here's what Paul said about this in 2Tim.3, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away",

he was speaking of a time exactly like the one we are in now.

What does it mean that a man has a form of godliness while denying it's power? And how is this time in which we are now living a fulfillment of Paul's prophetic statement in 2Tim.3:5? It is through teachings that cement mankind to sin in such a way that they can never be free from it while they live in these mortal bodies.

Do you know of any teaching that does this? I ask this question facetiously because if you attend any of the churches today you certainly do. And if you don't know it's either because you don't understand where what you are being taught comes from. Or because you don't understand what you are being taught.

Because the people Paul was speaking about here are those who have believed the doctrine of original sin and sin nature. Which is taught in pretty much every religion that calls itself a church. Because it is based upon their gnostic belief that the flesh is in and of itself evil so that it's nature is so connected to sin that it makes them one and the same. 

It matters not to them that the Bible says we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Nor that 1Cor.15:47,48 says all men are born with the exact same body Adam had when he was made a living soul. Nor that the Bible teaches that sin has no dominion over those who are under grace. Nor that all who have believed in Jesus are free from sin. Nor even that in 2Cor.3 Paul tells us "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

From what is Paul saying these here have now been liberated? It is from the law they are liberated, to a personal relationship with Jesus. The law because it is from the law that Paul says sin derives it's power to enslave men. Sins that are defined by any transgression of the law. Law that without which Paul says in Rom.5:13 sin is not imputed.

So like he said in Rom.6:14 regarding freedom, ie liberty from sin, is to be under grace and not under the law. So here too in 2Cor.3 Paul says, "But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?"

Making it known that the ministration of the law given for Israel has been done away. So that the ministration of the Spirit, which is the ministration or dispensation of grace, can set Israelites free from the law of sin and death when they place their trust in Jesus.

This is why he also said in Rom.8:1,2 that "there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death."

So part of the problem those who believe the doctrine of original sin and sin nature have is that it teaches them to believe they are still under the law. But, what is also a very critical part of this false teaching that gives them a form of godliness while denying it's power is their belief that the body is evil. That it is a slave to sin by it's very nature. Because this creates for them the conundrum that they can never be free from sin, regardless of how many times and how many ways Paul says otherwise, as long as they remain in the mortal body.

So freedom from sin has 2 aspects to it that we need to know that will help us so that we are not of those who deny God's power in salvation to set us free from it. 1. That it's the Jew's trust in the law that keeps the Jew under sin's dominion where "the letter kills". And 2. That the doctrine of original sin or any other teaching that says the body is evil in and of itself being a sinner by nature is what keeps those who attend churches from the liberty that is in Christ.

Because those who believe the body is evil and that this is the cause of their need for Jesus deny the power of the cross to free them from sin. Thus fulfilling Paul's prophetic statement to Timothy about the perilous times that were to come.

Perilous because men would no longer hear the sound doctrine that tells them they are free from sin by the power of God. But, instead only have a form of godliness that denies Jesus' sacrifice wields such power.

So if you ever hear someone saying that men have a sin nature, or that Adam's nature changed from a godly nature to a sinful nature when he ate the fruit. Realize that these people are those who fulfill Paul's prophecy about the perilous times.

Times marked by people who have a form of godliness attending meetings, lifting their hands in song, partaking of a communion, listening to teaching, and all sorts of things done in churches today. While denying God's power shown forth in Jesus' death and resurrection that liberates men from sin itself when they believe in Jesus.

Because when Jesus said it is not believing in Him that is the sin of the world He sent the Holy Spirit to reprove the world of, He was telling us the only sin that can keep a person from going to heaven. So that it is when we believe in Him that we are no longer in sin or subject to it's power. We are free from sin and liberated by Jesus so that we can love and worship God in spirit and in truth.

No longer constrained by the flesh that being natural and not spiritual can only relate to that which has been made and not to spiritual things. But, free by the power of the spirit that is birthed in us when we trust in Jesus to now live as children of God and heirs to His kingdom. Children who can relate to God spiritually. Which is in fact the only way anyone can truly know God because God is a spirit.

This does not mean the flesh is evil as these gnostic deceivers proclaim. To the contrary, it means that the flesh functions exactly as God intended it to do when He made Adam. By free will and dominion.

So get saved and join with those of us who have a personal and loving and intimate relationship with our Creator. Having confessed with our mouth that Jesus is Lord. And believed in our heart that He has raised from the dead. And have so joined with Him in His life after He conquered our mortality by His resurrection.

Do this and you will be free from sin. Do this and you will see the kingdom of God. Do this and you will be a child of the living God and heir to His kingdom. Trust in Jesus... and I will see you there or in the air! This message can also be heard at: https://rumble.com/v32wp1u-perilous-times-denying-the-power-of-god-2tim.31-5.html