A Mark of a True Believer

As Christians, true disciples of the Lord, this constant battle with sin lingers on. Although we learn to ward it off in more creative and effective ways, until we meet our Maker in eternity we will struggle.

This Sunday at Compass, Pastor Mike spoke on a powerful topic: Our Fight With Sin...Recalling Why This Is SO Important"

Hebrews 12:14-17 says, " Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that {there be} no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a {single} meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.


1. Realize an All-Out Fight with Sin is REQUIRED

a. Salvation is by grace (v 15)
-To understand sanctification, you must first understand justification by Christ alone
-Titus 3:4-5 saved by grace and not works
-Galatians 5:2

b. Real Grace Fights Sin (v 14)
-Pursue holiness
-if you understand grace you will battle sin
-Ephesians 2:8-10
-Titus 2:11-14

c. Contradictions are Counterfeits (v 16-17)
-Titus 1:16
-1 John 3:6-10
-Don't be led astray
-The Devil's work is in the activity of sin in your life
-cannot interpret Word of God by your experiences only your experiences by the Word of God
-Matthew 7:16- recognized by fruits

2. Fear the Consequences of Ongoing Sin
-bitter bad-fruit will be growing in your life and cause trouble for you and others

a. Church will be hurt (v 15)
-defile-contaminate, little bit of bad makes a lot of impact on the big
-1 Peter 2:12-15

b. Church Goers Aren't Saved (v 14, 16-17)
-Matthew 7
-James 1:22
-you are an overseer and you are your brothers keeper!

3. Evaluate Yourself and CARE about others (v 15, 16a)
-Oversee the people that are around you
-Stop with the excuses
-Obey the passage and oversee the circle of influence put in your life
-Confront one another in love
-Have the Matthew 7 perspective
-2 Corinthians 5:10-11
-Galatians 6:1-3
-You have the Holy Spirit to help you!
-Hebrews 4:11-16, God is our Strength and He wants to help us

What do we take away from this powerful passage of scripture? As TRUE disciples of the Lord we will battle sin in our lives constantly. The Lord will help us in doing this. Although we will never be perfect we will fall less and less easily into those things that once tempted us the most. We need to fight the good fight and run the race of faith!!! :)