JACQUES GAUVIN, RELIGION

Balanced Religion

We all inherited sin from Adam and Eve because through their sin death entered the world and we are subject to death as the wages of sin is death and we are all sinners as sin is the transgression of God"s law and all fail to wholly obey it.

However, God the Father and Jesus Christ created us to grow Their family, not to fulfill Their law of death to sinners.

Romans 5:12 to 21 (NKJV)
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned, (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man"s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man"s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man"s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man"s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man"s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man"s obedience many will be made righteous. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God is very pleased to give us His gift of life, His crown of life.

Luke 12:32 (NKJV)
Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father"s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Let no one take away your crown.

Revelation 3:11 (NKJV)
Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

The blind man, blind from birth, was not blind because of his sins nor the sins of his parents, he was blind so that the miracle of God could be performed on him and for him at that time.

John 9:1 to 3 (NKJV)
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

So are many of our shortcomings and tribulations, our failures and sins once brought to God by humbly admitting, confessing and repenting are forgiven and our crowns are not lost. The penalty of death is not executed.

There is much sin that does not lead to death lest salvation be impossible and the sacrifice of Christ a farce.

1 John 5:17 (NKJV)
All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.

Certainly we have our failures to live by every word of God twenty four hours a day seven days a week but sometimes it is just that we do not know what to do.

2 Chronicles 20:12 (GNB)
You are our God! Punish them, for we are helpless in the face of this large army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but we look to you for help.

The ways of the world were often presented in a physical sense in the old testament but we know that they were symbols of what the true enemy is as is explained in the new testament.

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

But we do often find ourselves not knowing what to do and in being overwhelmed with a feeling of having to do something we err at times.

It is easy to say that we must live a life free from sin but only a fool would claim to be able to do it.

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Nevertheless our crown of life is not lost. We do not despair, we do not capitulate. We fall but are not crushed. We pick ourselves up and keep going always striving to do better at living the way of God according to His commandments and according to His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ who has redeemed us and holds the gift of life.

2 Corinthians 4:8 to 15 (NKJV)
We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus" sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you. And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

One last scripture describing the end of the matter and a new beginning.

Revelation 21:6 to 8 (NKJV)
And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

2016 Jacques Gauvin

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