SIN AND SACRIFICE

By Lahry Sibley

One of satan’s devices in the great deception that abounds in this hour (the
Apostasy), is that he will dilute and pollute sound doctrine and Biblical terminology
in order to bring confusion among people who assemble frequently and call it
church. Now the reason I have to word what I just said the way that I did is because
most of what is “called church” today, is not CHURCH. They are deceived, and they
are not born again. They think they are “saved” when according to the Word of God,
they are not.

I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes here. I’m merely reacting to what I see
before me every day. Please understand, that what I see grieves me to the depths
of my soul. I write not from a pedestal of pride, but from a dungeon of sorrow and
anguish over lost souls who profess to be saved.

My sorrow is that I have many friends who live in the GREAT LIE and think all is well.
They are fully expecting a welcome reception when they arrive at eternity. But
comparing their testimony with what the Word of God actually says, and the way
they live their lives, I am in agony of fear for them…..and for many of you who may
read this.

Satan’s ploy in the Garden of Eden has not changed. He stirred up excitement in
Eve’s heart by exciting the desires of the eyes, the desires of the flesh, and pride.
The second and deadly thing that he challenged here with is in effect, “that’s not
what God said”. He challenged the clear Word of God! Now remember, that Eve was
not there when God gave the commandment to her husband. She got it from the
husband and not directly from God. So when satan hit her with “that’s not what
God said”, a twinge of doubt sunk deep in her heart. Temptation.

Please dear reader understand. Temptation is NOT SIN!!!! Jesus was tempted. I dare
say no sane person would ever accuse the Lord of sin. Thank you. So we must
understand that a bad thought or desire in our sensual appetites for what the Bible
says is sin, is NOT SIN until it becomes a willful act. Eve acted upon the temptation
excited by the hypothesis of satan. Her act of eating the forbidden fruit became her
sin.

What is sin? Well, we must let the Bible tell us what sin is. 1 John 3 has the clearest
definition, and our relationship to sin as true believers. So let’s take a look……

1Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
1Jn 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the
law.
1Jn 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
1Jn 3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither
known him.
1Jn 3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as
he is righteous.
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this
purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he
cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Sin then, is a willful act of breaking or transgressing God’s law. One of the interesting
characteristics of the old testament definition is a “misstep or slip of the foot”. Now “slips” can
be unforeseen, or they can be a deliberate act. Let’s say you are walking on a trail, and you put
your foot down and the ground gives way. That would be an unforeseen misstep. But as you go
along, and you see this sign “keep out, soft footing” and you ignored the sign and willfully
stepped into that area, whatever consequences you incur will find little sympathy from others,
even God. Sin is a trespass of God’s law. God’s law comes in two forms. One is a directive, or “go
this way”, Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Keep Holy the Sabbath Day.
Honor your father and mother. All of these are directives to do. The others are “keep out” signs.
Or “No Trespassing” signs.

If a man puts up a NO TRESPASSING, QUICK SAND SIGN, it generally means do not proceed
beyond that point. Is the sign evil? Was it put there will malice intent? No! It was put there
because the one who placed it there had your well being in mind. He loved you enough to warn
you that what was just beyond that point was not good for you, even could be fatal if you
proceeded. So the law, the sign post of prohibition is not to keep us from something good, but
something evil. Do not attempt to make a graven image of God. Do not use the Holy Name of
God in vain. Do not bear false witness. To do so brings evil upon us and our hearer. Do not steal.
To do so brings evil upon our life. Do not murder. Wrath is waiting for those who do. Don’t do
that! Do not allow your flesh to become immoral in sexual activity. Do not envy and desire with
disdain toward your neighbor for the goods he may possess or the wife he is joined too.

God loved us enough to warn us of the dangers and death that await those who go beyond His
clear warning signs. Again, are the signs evil? No!!! Is God our enemy for putting them in place?
NO!!!! Both are good because both are there as a demonstration of love and prevention from loss
of life. To transgress God’s law is DEATH!

Now, I want to make it clear that I am speaking to those who call themselves “born again”, or
“church members”, ….”saved”. Why? Because that is who John is speaking to above. His letter is
written to churches.

According to this beloved Apostle, those who “say” they are Christians and yet walk in willful
transgression of God’s law are in fact of the devil. Can my agony be any deeper than this? People
who tell themselves and others, admitting that they “sin” willfully every day, and yet say they are
Christians? What kind of witness is that, in the light of what our Apostle and brother gave us so
long ago? It is a lie! And we know who is the father of all lies!

Ok, now here is where I’m severely jumped on and accused of “sinless perfection”. So let me
address that right here and now, if I may.
We all yet live in these corrupted bodies, the body or flesh of man will never be converted. Its
heart is infinitely wicked, according to the prophet Jeremiah. It is corrupt to God’s will and
desire for us as it can be. Amen. It is. You and I know it. So in our everyday life, yes, we all do
things reactive that we later remember and understand that God’s Word prohibits such
behavior. They are spur of the moment acts and yes they transgress sound Biblical teaching.
Repent and be forgiven, by grace. This is not an act of the will. This is precisely where grace
comes in and the blood of Jesus cleanses us. But the sin that John is speaking of above is a
willful act of “I know it’s God’s law and it says I cannot and must not do this, but I’m going to do
it anyway”. That is sin unto death!!!! If you wander and worry about every little act and omission
in paranoia, you have not entered in the REST OF CHRIST. Many folks are living in this kind of
fear. That is not REST.

Then there is the other crowd who says no matter what I do, willful or not, grace covers it all.
This, beloved cannot be proven in scripture, and the above passage and so many others like it
prove you a liar. You are deceived and your are teaching others your deception when you open
your mouth and speak of it.

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Well? Guess what? God does forbid. How can you be dead to something that is still
alive in your life? Hello? Now the sin spoken of here is willful transgression, not
mistakes and omissions. But to know it’s wrong and do it is willful sin, beloved. And
its wages are still death, for saint and sinner alike.

Rom 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts
thereof.

You’ve heard the old expression “curiosity killed the cat”? Well, beloved, curiosity can kill the
saint, too. “I know it’s wrong, but I’m going to just see what will happen.” Kiss your eternal life
goodbye. That’s what will happen. Ask Adam how many sins are too many. Ask Cain. Ask Achan
how many was too many. Ask Moses how many was too many. And the list goes on and on,
beloved. We have a great cloud of witnesses. We have been set free from the dominion of sin.
How is it you keep running back to it, except you be reprobate? Your testimony divulges your
believing what is not true to be true. I do not doubt your sincerity. I do proclaim by the Word of
God that you are sincerely wrong!!!

Let not sin therefore reign (have authority to rule) in your mortal body! If “I’m under grace, not
under the law, no problem” is how you live and who you are, you are now without excuse
because God has sent you a witness to tell you that you do not know the truth and you are living
deceived and lost. REPENT!!! Or PERISH!!!!!

God’s Word says what it says. Just because you bend it and break it to suit yourself and your
lusts does not affect what is waiting for you on judgment day. To hell with your words! Only
God’s Word will stand. What you thought or what you were taught means nothing! You willfully
break God’s laws, you will DIE! ETERNALLY!!!!!
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word
with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

You have a personal responsibility to search the scriptures and know the Word of God for
yourself. Now what others tell you it says. But what the Holy Spirit opens to you, that is what is
rock solid.

Some pastors are just as big of liars as the devil. Why? Because like so many of you who will read
this and cry “stone him, stone him”, they are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. Selah.

Oh “true born again child of God”, listen to what the Word says….

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the
heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
Heb 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
Heb 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to
themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

You who boast of your daily sin, does this not make you tremble and shake inside? If you have
understood the true Gospel and you have been crucified with Christ by faith and are walking in
the newness of life, and you willfully transgress God’s law, you have trampled the blood of Jesus
under foot and you are HOPELESSLY LOST!!! For there is no more sacrifice for you sins. Oh
my, can anything be more pathetically horrible than this? If there is, I know not what it would
be. Oh dear one, listen to God. He is speaking to YOU right now. Never mind what others say,
what God’s Word says is what counts, for death, or life eternal with Him.

Maybe you did not fully understand this until now. I hope that somehow I have made this clear.
Now you know. So you must make a choice, here and now. You are without excuse, beloved.
From this moment on, no excuse. You will either obey God and not willfully transgress His law,
or you will perish if you do. Please seek Him while He is yet to be found. Run to Him and
REPENT……or you will surely PERISH. Not my Word…..but God’s Word. It will remain and
direct all of creation forever and ever and ever and ever. Amen. - Lahry