Sin is Lawlessness

Sin is lawlessness.  Lawlessness is human attempts to control what belongs only to God to control.  We mostly try to deal with sin with more control!  That IS sin.  The only way to deal with sin, because we are corrupt top to bottom, is yielding control to God.  Corrupt humans, knowing the right things about sin, cannot rightly extricate ourselves from sin... Because we are corrupt. We don't do what we want to do!

Romans 7:14-16 NKJV — For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

Religion, or using a formula to abstain from, or atone for, sin cannot save.  Only a right relationship with God... A submitted relationship... Can save.

All of the in pain in life comes from human control.  God is looking for a very specific type of person: one who will give Him control, especially in the most weighty decisions in life.

God will not force us out of controlling our own lives, even into our own demise. But, He will help anyone who gives Him control.

Most who claim to be followers of Jesus aren't followers at all.  They spend their time amassing information so they can control more of their lives and they end up browbeating those around them with what they think they know, thinking that somehow pleases God. It doesn't.

God is pleased when I yield my life to Him.  He made me just to care for me.  He literally fabricated every human to provide for them, direct them, help them and satisfy them.

The human experience was perfect until we stepped out of that right relationship with the creator of mankind.

If I want back in to love, peace, satisfaction, purpose and identity that frees me from shame, pride, selfishness, striving and fear, then I need to learn how to give circumstances to God and trust Him in what He says to do.  

God is always orchestrating the circumstances in every human life to give us the best possible scenario to give up control and abide in His mind, will, and emotions.  We mostly miss the point and try to control more as our situations change.  This is the hardness of human fear, shame, and pride that keeps our heart from believing God is safe and good no matter what is happening, and simply obeying Him no matter the perceived cost/loss that may result.

That means priority #1 in my life is learning to hear and know God... To spend time just listening to His voice and looking at His countenance... Not to control my life more, but to obey Him more specifically and more quickly.  That is true growth in God.

The Bible will never save anyone.  Bible knowledge won't save anyone.  Even knowing who God is won't save anyone, in and of, itself.

James 2:19-20 NKJV — You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Giving control of my life to Jesus, who gave up control of His life for me is the only thing that saves.  The only person to ever live a perfect life died for everyone who can only live imperfect lives, and He beat the power of death.

Everything a person should be was on the cross.  God knows how to lead me to live life well.  To the extent I give Him control, even into a cross, I will live forever in peace.

To the extent I refuse to give God control, but keep satiating my heart in knowledge and self righteousness, I'll be miserable inside, and miserable to live with.  That is the only way life really works.

Meet a truly satisfied person, and you have met a truly led person.

Colossians 2:8-23 NKJV — Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.