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There is only one explanation for evil in the world today. When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden they acquired a carnal nature and every human being born since then has inherited this dread nature. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12). The carnal nature is what causes man to sin. “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Romans 8:7). Here we face one of the most solemn facts of human experience. Natural men are “by nature the children of wrath.” (Ephesians 2:3). NATURAL MAN IS BORN INTO THIS WORLD WITH A BENT TOWARD SINNING. HE IS SPIRITUALLY IN UNION WITH THE DEVIL!

Man down at the dawn of human history became a partaker of Satan’s nature, and that nature was poured into his spirit by the devil, and man became a subject of Satan. THIS IS THE ONLY EXPLANATION FOR THE POWER OF THE DEVIL IN THE WORLD TODAY. Satan is called “the god of this world” because he is in control of the vast majority of the human race through the carnal nature. Natural man’s desires, attitudes and behavior are corrupt and his ways are evil. Satan is declared to be "a murderer and a liar;" the two outstanding characteristics of the human race are lying and murder.

Redemption must emanate from God. Natural man is a broken, helpless slave without resources, and in the hands of an enemy who rules him without mercy. Man needs a Mediator, a Redeemer, a Sin Bearer, someone who can stand betwixt him and God; someone who can meet every demand of justice; someone patterned after the first man, Adam, yet conceived and born in such a manner as to not be a subject of the devil. There is only One who can meet those requirements and His name is Jesus Christ! “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

Man is the crown of God’s creation and God’s love for man is displayed by His unspeakable gift. John tells us very clearly: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

The Angel of the Lord told Joseph: “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21). The carnal nature is “the works of the devil,” but the Word of God tells us: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8).

It is the carnal nature that must be rooted out and changed before man can regain his fellowship with God. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6). Many refuse to believe that the Blood of Christ can change their carnal nature, but Paul says: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is not our memory, emotions or free will that must be changed. It is our old man; the old sin nature that must be rooted out and changed to make us new creatures is Christ. Paul says: “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Romans 6:6).

Salvation starts with the new birth. Jesus said: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). The new birth is regeneration. It removes the old stony heart, changes the carnal nature and produces a new heart of flesh that loves righteousness and has dominion over willful sin. The new birth requires faith: “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” (1 John 5:1). We are not talking here about some ambiguous measure of faith that trusts God to get sinners into Heaven, nor are we talking about God calling sinners righteous when they are still sinners. God is a miracle working God, so what we are talking about is a real, dynamic, miracle working change of nature that gives man the desire and power to obey God’s commandments, power to walk in the Light, and power to resist Satan’s temptations. REAL SALVATION IS NOT SOME FAIRY TALE, MAGIC WAND TYPE OF BELIEF THAT CHRIST IS GOING TO WRAP HIS WHITE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AROUND YOU SO THAT GOD CANNOT SEE THE SINS YOU COMMIT EVERYDAY! IT MEANS THAT GOD IS GOING TO CHANGE YOU SO THAT YOU CAN LIVE WITHOUT WILLFUL SIN!

John writes: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13). You must receive Jesus Christ into your life to become a son of God. Jesus is the Holy Spirit clothed in human flesh. The importance of having Jesus living in us cannot be overstated. “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1 John 5:11-12). Man does not receive eternal life independent of Christ. It is Jesus Christ living in us that gives us eternal life, but He will not live in those who commit willful sin! “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (1 John 3:6). God is more than able to give us the power to become sons of God, but that implies that there is something we must do.

Jesus said: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3). Peter said: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” (Acts 3:19). REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF BEHAVIOR RESULTING FROM A CHANGE OF MIND REGARDING SIN! To be saved from sin you must change your behavior. NO ONE HAS EVER CHANGED THEIR BEHAVIOR WITHOUT FIRST CHANGING THEIR BELIEFS!

To repent is to change your beliefs about sin – to agree with God against sin. Sin causes spiritual death. “The wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23). Spiritual death is separation from God. The new birth is by the power of God. It gives dominion over sin, but it does not eliminate the possibility of sin. Willful sin always separates the believer from Christ because, “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” (1 John 3:8).

Repentance requires godly sorrow. “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10). Godly sorrow produces a real change of attitude, character and behavior because Christ was whipped, beaten and nailed to a cross for our sins. Worldly sorrow feels no anguish. Those who sin willfully are effectively driving more nails into the hands and feet of Christ with every sin. Those who die in their sins will hear those fateful words: “I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” (Luke 13:27).

John writes: “If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). God did not create man omniscient therefore He does not hold man responsible for sins of ignorance, error or omission. Anyone can walk in the Light and not know that they are committing a sin of ignorance, error or omission, but sin against the known will of God is willful sin. Sins of ignorance, error and omission are covered by the Blood of Christ, but “if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27). The Blood of Christ is the only sacrifice that can save from willful sin, but failure to repent of willful sin leads to fiery judgment.

God can regenerate the human being by changing his nature, but man is a free moral agent and regeneration does not eliminate free will. Here is where the problem lies in understanding salvation. God can regenerate man by changing his nature and setting him apart from unbelievers, but if God invades man’s free will then man becomes a robot. Without free will there can be no such thing as real love, therefore it is man’s responsibility to repent and love God. Only those who keep God’s commandments love God! “This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments…” (1 John 5:3). “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me…” (John 14:21).

God will give you power to love Him, but He cannot do the loving for you. God will give you power to obey His commandments, but He cannot do the obeying for you. He will give you power to walk in the Light, but He cannot do the walking for you. He will give you power to resist Satan, but He cannot do the resisting for you. Jesus Christ has done everything necessary to recover man from his lost condition.

It is man’s responsibility to believe God, repent and take up his cross and follow Jesus Christ, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8).

To love God you must obey His will! “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:5-6).

Virtually everyone knows that Jesus Christ died for man’s sins, but very few understand the full meaning of that sacrifice. Many think that salvation is just a matter of being forgiven. They think that all of their sins will be forgiven because they believe in Jesus. They effectively believe that Christ died to save them in their sins - the exact opposite of what the Bible says: “Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21).

Sin cannot enter Heaven: “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.” (Revelation 21:27). To be saved from sin one must stop sinning. That requires repentance. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18).

Those who commit the works of the flesh have not repented. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21).

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THERE WAS NO SACRIFICE FOR WILLFUL SIN! “He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses.” (Hebrews 10:28). The problem was that the animal sacrifices had no power to change man’s nature. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4). But in the New Testament THE BLOOD OF CHRIST HAS MIRACLE WORKING POWER. IT HAS THE POWER TO REGENERATE AND TRANSFORM THE SINNER’S NATURE! The animal sacrifices could not take away sins because the animals had no moral culpability. The only sacrifice that could save from sin had to be a free moral agent capable of sinning, yet without sin. Only Jesus Christ could fulfill those conditions! He was a human being, yet the Son of God - a free moral agent capable of sinning, yet without sin – a man born of a woman, yet without a human father.

The animal sacrifices were types and shadows of things to come. They pointed toward Christ. Those who committed willful sin in the Old Testament were stoned to death like Achan or burnt like Nadab and Abihu to rid the nation of sin. But in the New Testament the Blood of Christ gives man the opportunity to repent of willful sin without being stoned to death or burnt to a crisp because the Blood of Christ has the power to change man’s carnal nature. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrews 9:14).

You may not have noticed, but ever since Christ died and rose from the dead, God has not been commanding willful sinners to be stoned to death and neither has He been scorching church pews with burnt bodies. It is the Blood of Christ that is staying God’s wrath, but Judgment Day is coming. “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29).

Willful sin is deadly rebellion against God. Those who sin willfully are crucifying Christ afresh. They are murderers like Satan – servants of Satan! They separate themselves from Christ with their willful sin and without Christ they have no eternal life. If you reverse 1 John 1:7, you can easily see that those who sin willfully are living in open rebellion to the known will of God, and they cannot benefit from the cleansing power of the Blood because they have no fellowship with Christ!

The writer to the Hebrews utters one of the most profound statements of the New Testament. He tells us very clearly: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14). This totally annihilates the idea that the willful sins of those who believe in Christ are automatically forgiven! It is sin that makes one unholy - sin that separates man from God - sin that caused God to send His only begotten Son to die for us, and nowhere in the Bible does God say that He will forgive willful sin without repentance. Neither does God force man to repent. “Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1).

GOD’S DEMAND THAT HIS PEOPLE BE HOLY IS ABSOLUTE PROOF THAT SALVATION IS NOT JUST A MATTER OF FORGIVENESS. HOLINESS REQUIRES A REAL CHANGE OF ATTITUDES, CHARACTER AND BEHAVIOR! MAN MUST WALK IN THE LIGHT TO HAVE JESUS CHRIST LIVING IN HIM! MAN MUST HAVE JESUS CHRIST LIVING IN HIM TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE! THEREFORE, WILLFUL SIN CUTS OFF MAN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AND CAUSES THE LOSS OF ETERNAL LIFE!

Dear friends, Judgment Day is coming and sin cannot enter Heaven. It is faith in the Word of God that causes men to repent and walk in the Light! It is faith that will keep you out of the Lake of Fire. Many try to circumvent the need to be holy by claiming that Jesus kept the laws for them, but there are numerous scriptures in the Word of God which say the exact opposite. “Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” (1 John 3:6). “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9). “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:7-8).

IF YOU ARE STILL SINNING WILLFULLY, YOU ARE NOT HOLY AND YOU ARE NOT SAVED! IF YOU DO NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER SIN, YOU ARE NOT EVEN BORN AGAIN! Paul said: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Salvation is a gift. It cannot be purchased with money and it cannot be earned by good works, but neither can it be received without walking in the Light. Dear friend, do you claim to believe in Jesus while you commit willful sin? Can you imagine how fast you would repent if you were going to be stoned to death or burnt to a crisp for your sins? IT IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST THAT IS STAYING GOD’S WRATH AGAINST YOU. IT IS THE BLOOD OF CHRIST THAT IS GIVING YOU ANOTHER CHANCE TO REPENT, BUT JUDGMENT DAY IS COMING!

The Lake of fire is the eternal destination for all those who will not obey Christ. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36). This verse from the King James Bible should be translated: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

In the Greek language, “believeth not” is from the root word meaning “obeyeth not.” The Jews had no trouble understanding the connection between believe and obey, but in the English language “believeth not” must be translated “obeyeth not” to give a clear understanding.

You may think that living without willful sin is impossible, but listen to Jude: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25). Dear friend, God can give you the grace to walk in the Light. He can keep you from falling, but you must cooperate with Him. You must repent and you must make a commitment to obey. Salvation is an ongoing process. The saved are being kept from falling into sin every minute of every day by the power of God because they keep themselves turned over to Him. “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Hebrews 5:9). It is obedience that brings peace, happiness and eternal security. “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1).

Camp Refuge is located approximately 80 miles southwest of Indianapolis, Indiana. We have beautiful year-round, rustic cabins with forced air heat and central air conditioning. Each cabin has 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We are surrounded by over 1,400 fishing lakes and thousands of acres of wilderness. Call now and make plans to enjoy a vacation at Camp Refuge.