One woman commented on this post Take Porn By The Horn and said some mean things about Michael Pearl. We are to speak evil of no man so I won't allow comments that speak evil of others on my blog. We are to speak out about sin and evil but not speak evil of any one man in particular.
She was upset that Michael Pearl would tell people that he never looked at porn. For some reason, she thinks this is the wrong information to tell others. We need to give them steps to overcoming their sins and be sympathetic instead.
I was raised in churches that preached that gospel, the "ragamuffin gospel" and frankly, I'm sick of it. "Oh, you sin, so do I" and "I am just a sinner saved by grace" type of nonsense. I want to be reminded who I am in Christ. I want to hear I am freed from sin and dead to sin and I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.
I want to be encouraged to walk blamelessly as Paul said he did. I want to adorn the gospel by being obedient and not blaspheme it by being disobedient. I want hope of being able to overcome any sin by the blood that was shed for me and the power that raised Christ from the dead that lives inside of me.
Michael preaches this. Paul preaches this. Paul never calls believers sinners. He calls us saints. We are new creatures who can choose to walk in holiness. Yes, we will chose to sin at times but it is no longer who we are or how we live our lives. Sin doesn't define us anymore.
We are called to be salt and light to a dark and decaying world. I love having preachers who walk the talk and aren't afraid of saying it and admonishing their listeners to do the same. We have the Creator of the universe living inside of us. If our gospel can't free us from sin, it is a weak gospel indeed.
My gospel is powerful! My God lives inside of me and has given me everything I need for life and godliness. I believe Him! His Word is truth. I rejoice that I no longer have to walk in sin and be a slave to sin, but I can walk in holiness and be a slave to righteousness.
Read your Bible. Read Ephesians and see how many times it says, "in Christ." Read Romans 6 and 8 and who it says we are now that we believe. Now, start believing who you are in Christ and start living it. You can, you know! Oh, to God be all the glory!
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit,
if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you...
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;
but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;
but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
