April 27, 2008 - AM Service
1 John 2:1-2 - Good News for Sinners
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

April 20, 2008 - AM Service
1 John 1:5-10 - Sin, The Believer’s Enemy
Pastor Kevin | Higgins Lake Baptist Church

Do you mortify; do you make it your daily work; be always at it while you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you. –John Owen

I’ll be speaking tomorrow morning of the enemy of every follower of Christ, sin. This is a good time to share this timeless quote from John Owen’s writing and at the same time recommend you read his three books compiled in one volume entitled Overcoming Sin And Temptation.

In the latest “Ask Pastor John“, John Piper answers the question “Is it a sin to smoke or eat junk food?”

Christmas sugar cookies. Do you remember the fun you had as a child making sugar cookies with your family at Christmas? Do you remember the enjoyment of cutting out the shapes, little snowman, the star and Christmas tree shapes with the cookie cutters in the gooey white dough? I know it’s fun because I’ve watched my children and the joy with which they cut the shapes and spread the frosting and add the sprinkles and other decorations after the cookies come out of the oven. Great fun — great memories.
—Read the Rest of the Entry…

Reading…

Overcoming Sin and Temptation
Three Classic Works by John Owen

I have at times heard folks say that people need to feel good about themselves or folks need to think more highly of themselves–“it is not good for people to think of themselves too lowly.”

Charles Spurgeon has said well that, “At the very outset of the Christian life these two things should be very distinct with you–sin which has ruined you, and Christ who has saved you.” [1] True–as God’s Word makes very clear that we are all sinners who “fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)–I’d say we’re pretty worthless–were it not for God’s goodness.

Incapable of saving ourselves I kind of think we shouldn’t feel so good about ourselves. What would be good for us all is to have a very clear understanding of our own sinfulness and unworthiness in receiving any of God’s grace. This realization ought to overwhelm us with God’s goodness to save us when we are so unworthy.

Let’s be clear that telling ourselves that we’re basically good people is compltely opposed to scripture. God is good, we are not. Though we can boast in the goodness of God to save us and redeem us for His own. Thank God for His goodness.

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:15 ESV

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 ESV

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 1 Peter 3:18 ESV

[1] Hold Fast - C. H. Spurgeon