If (Blank) Causes You to Sin

Mark 9:42-48 ESV

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’”

In context, Jesus’ disciples had been arguing (discussing) with one another about who was the greatest. But Jesus responded to them by saying, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” And then to give them an example of what he meant, he took a child and he put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

But Jesus Christ wasn’t just speaking literally of actual physical children, but he was speaking of all those who received him as Lord and as Savior of their lives, who then became children of God. But he used children as an example of the kind of faith that we are to have in Christ for us to truly be in Christ by genuine faith in him. For we must humble ourselves before God, and we must trust Jesus Christ with our lives, and we must believe him that what he says he will do, he will do. And we must surrender to him, like a child.

Parallel Scriptures: Matthew 18:1-14; Luke 17:1-2

So, when Jesus said that “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,…” I believe he was speaking of those who, like children, turn (change, repent) and humble themselves before God/Christ with the innocence and trust of small children, who are those who believe in the Lord Jesus. And they are those who will enter the kingdom of heaven provided that they continue in these walks of faith, and in obedience, and that they do not turn back to living in sin and, thus, reject Christ as Lord of their lives.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15] 

For those who are of childlike faith in Jesus Christ may also be generally trusting people, especially in regard to trusting those in positions of authority over them, and so they might innocently trust in whatever is taught them, and they might be led into sin by those who are supposed to be leading them to truth and righteousness. Now they should still know right from wrong, and so this is not an excuse for doing what we know is wrong and for not doing what we know is right, but let me give an example.

Many people serving in position of “pastor” in what are called “churches” here in America are teaching a half-truth gospel message which is made to appear as though it is biblical. But what they do is they take Scriptures out of context and they twist them to make them say what the Scriptures, as a whole, do not teach. And so they are leading many people to believe that a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ is enough to secure them heaven when they die but regardless of how they live. 

Thus we have many professers of faith in Jesus Christ and/or those who are young in their faith, or who are very trusting and naïve, who are believing the lies thinking that they are believing the truth. I don’t believe they are in the majority. I believe that most who are buying into the lies have at least some idea that what they are believing and practicing is not the truth, for again we should all know right from wrong, but many are being convinced that their sins (present tense) will not count against them for eternity.

But what does this Scripture teach? And all those noted above? They teach that if sin is what we practice, and if righteousness and godliness and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, we will not inherit eternal life with God, but we will be cast into hell, instead. So, we are to cast off, not only the sin, but whatever is leading us into sin, too, which is hindering us from walking in obedience to our Lord (see Hebrews 12:1-29). For many people are led into sin because they leave the door to sin open.

So, the instruction here is that we are to cut out of our lives everything in our lives which is leading us into sin. Many people continue in sin because they won’t cut out of their lives what is leading them into sin, which is then a good indication of where their hearts are. But it is better to live in less comfort, which you may get via modern-day conveniences and electronic devices, than to continue to use those devices and to then continue to walk in sin because you are being led into sin via those devices.

For what this passage and others like them in the New Testament teach us is that if we walk in sin, making sin our practice, and if righteousness and godliness and holiness and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, we will not inherit eternal life with God, regardless of what faith we profess in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our lives. So one way in which many are being led into sin is via cheapened versions of God’s true grace, and of his gospel message, which are giving their adherents permission to keep on in their sins. So don’t buy into the lies. Obey Jesus with your lives.

My Sheep  

An Original Work / June 24, 2012  

Based off John 10:1-18 NIV

My sheep hear me. They know me.

They listen to my voice and obey.

I call them and lead them.

They know my voice, so they follow me.

They will never follow strangers.

They will run away from them.

The voice of a stranger they know not;

They do not follow him.

So, I tell you the truth that

I am the gate, so you enter in.

Whoever does enter

Will find forgiveness and will be saved.

Nonetheless whoever enters

Not by the gate; other way,

He is the thief and a robber.

Listen not, the sheep to him.

Oh, I am the Good Shepherd,

Who laid his own life down for the sheep.

I know them. They know me.

They will live with me eternally.

The thief only comes to steal and

Kill and to destroy the church.

I have come to give you life that

You may have it to the full… 

They know my voice, so they follow me.

https://vimeo.com/114938263