The Psalmist said, as instructed by the Holy Spirit, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee."
Some would have us believe that he meant,
"might not sin as a habit," or,
"might not sin as much as I have in the past," or,
"might not sin as much as other men," or,
"might not commit certain sins," or
"might not sin as obnoxiously as other people or at other times."
Humph. I think I will just believe it as it is written, "...that I might not sin against Thee." In fact, to explain it any other way than it is stated is to corrupt the word of God. And, since God said it, it is fact, therefore to deny it or change is to call God a liar.
Why is it that every time the Biblical truth of, "not sinning" comes up, someone feels compelled to point out that,
Why is it that every time the Biblical truth of, "not sinning" comes up, someone feels compelled to point out that,
"all have sinned," or,
"no one is absolutely perfect," or,
"there was only one perfect man, Jesus," or,
"no one can say he will never sin?"
Those statements do not change the Biblical truth that God saves us from all sin in this present evil world, but they do deaden the mind and harden the heart against God's salvation from sin.
Satan hates holiness of heart and life, and he wants to influence believers to hate it also (remember Eve?). The first step toward hating something is to relegate it to a place of lesser importance or to redefine it or to present it as a lie or being from Satan. It is better to promote holiness of heart and life than to demote it.
Satan hates holiness of heart and life, and he wants to influence believers to hate it also (remember Eve?). The first step toward hating something is to relegate it to a place of lesser importance or to redefine it or to present it as a lie or being from Satan. It is better to promote holiness of heart and life than to demote it.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
(7) For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
(8) He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
As I was writing this, I was thinking. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is, "speaking against the Holy Spirit," or crediting Satan with that which is the work of the Holy Spirit (Mt. 12:22-32). When a person refers to God's act of enabling believers to live in holiness, to live holy, righteous, pure, blameless and godly in this present evil world, when a person refers to this as the teachings of Satan or the lie of the devil, that person is guilty of blasphemy and may be in danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. They will attack God's message and His messengers, thinking they do the work of God (Jn. 16:2). God clearly says in His word that there is a specific holiness, sanctification, required for admission to the presence of God.
Hebrews 12:12-17
(12) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
(13) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
(14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness (Gr. the sanctification), without which no man shall see the Lord:
(15) Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
(16) Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
(17) For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
The question that needs to be addressed is not, "Can a man sin?"
The question is, "Can a man sin not?"
The answer to both questions is, "Yes," but, "sin not," is the miraculous work of God and His grace.
