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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
CONTINUE NOT IN SIN
"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins," MAT 1:21.
In JOH 15:12-14 Jesus says, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." The Lord Jesus is stating the basic requirement if we are going to be His friend. We must be reconciled with Jesus. Are we in oneness of thinking, mind, purpose, and spirit? If we are not, remember this is the key to reconciliation with Christ.
These verses so clearly reveal that the gospel of Christ is the law of Mount Zion. The law that came from Mount Sinai was without mercy! It was unalterable, and it demanded the full satisfaction of God's justice. The same law of the Ten Commandments comes from Mount Zion as the law of love, God's justice having been fully satisfied in Christ.
We must realize there is a difference between the law of Mount Sinai and the law of Mount Zion. Mount Zion teaches the law of love in the Lord Jesus Christ where there is mercy—the law of Mount Sinai had no mercy. See HEB 12:18-24.
The Lord looks at our heart. Is it our heart's desire to do what is right? In JAM 3:2 we read, "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."
There is mercy in Mount Zion because the Lord understands our frame; He remembers that we are dust. He knows every trial and temptation to which we will be exposed, and as a result He can sympathize with us and have mercy.
HEB 12:18 and 22 tells us, "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest." In other words, we are not come unto the law that has absolutely no mercy. Now see what it says in Verse 22. "But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels." We are coming to a law that has mercy in it. It is a blessed place of peace and love.
The name Jesus does not mean "He shall save His people in their sin;" Just because there is mercy, it doesn't mean we can continue to live in sin. The law of the gospel says, "if ye do whatsoever I command you." In other words, we cannot continue in sin, but "He shall save His people from their sins," MAT 1:21. So what is sin? 1JO 3:4-6 says, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
Therefore, if Jesus came to save us from sin, He came to save us from the transgression of the law. He came to sanctify us; He came to work in us the work of regeneration to deliver us from the power of sin that we may no longer serve sin. Verse 5 continues, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."
Are we His friends? Are we friends of Jesus? We are if we do whatsoever He commands us. Amen.
Shall we go on to sin,
Because thy grace abounds?
Or crucify the Lord again,
And open all his wounds?Forbid it, mighty God!
Nor let it e’er be said
That we, whose sins are crucified,
Should raise them from the dead.
We will be slaves no more,
Since Christ has made us free;
Has nailed our tyrants to his cross,
And brought us liberty.
These on-lines sermons are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a book ministry and a daily devotion. See also our sermon notes. We pray this sermon has been a blessing to those who read it. If you share this sermon with a friend, please let us know. Thank you.