We often think living the Christian life is hard, but the Bible says, "The way of transgressors (sinners) is hard" (Proverbs 13:15). Jesus said, "My yoke is easy." (Matthew 11:30) A yoke is a wooden bar with harnesses placed on two work animals such as oxen, to enable them to pull together in their work and accomplish more. A yoking of our will to God's will was what Jesus meant. To transgress is to go beyond God's law, thus "sin is the transgression of the law," (I John 3:4) and is a difficult life.

WHY A TRANSGRESSOR'S LIFE IS HARD

The w-a-g-e-s are so poor - How would you like to work a lifetime and receive no reward for it or no pay? When we apply for a job, one of the first things we ask is, "How much do you pay?" Then we ask, "What are the benefits such as hospitalization, retirement, etc.?" The rewards of a lifetime committed to serving God are eternal life and an abundant life here on this earth. The pleasures of sin are but "for a season" - just missing heaven would be bad enough,- but the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not" (Proverbs 1:10).

 

We m-i-s-s the "spiritual blessings." - As children of God, we enjoy many blessings in God's family. "AR spiritual blessings" are in living for Christ. God "heareth no sinners" (John 9:31). Not only does God not hear the sinner, but God says, "I will laugh at him in his day of calamity" (Proverbs 1:26). When a person rejects God's invitation of salvation over and over and "scoffs at God's word" and then expects God to welcome him when "it's a convenient time" for himself; he's very unwise. When people laugh at you, remember you can take their laughter easier than God's laughter. God is loving and patient but we cannot reject him and expect to enjoy the blessings of sonship.

"But whoso HEARKENETH UNTO ME shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear and evil" (Proverbs 1:33).

 

It doesn't bring fulfillment. - Sin cannot fulfill its promise of satisfaction. Did you ever do something "naughty" and it was sort of fun while you were doing it and later you felt bad and unsatisfied and afraid someone would find out? More sin was added to try and satisfy but you only felt worse about having let God and others down? Jesus said the water he gives us will cause us to "never thirst again." The Christian life satisfies. That's why Paul and Silas could sit in prison and sing praises to God. They had drunk of the "living water" (Jesus Christ) and they knew God was still in control of their lives behind prison bars.

"For he SATISFIETH the longing soul and filleth the hungry soul with goodness (Psalms 107:9).

God never loses. - The Bible only, gives us two choices, no middle ground. The Bible names the "works of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16-21) and warns that "they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." A contrasting life of living for God and "being led by God's spirit" produces the fruit of the spirit, for "they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Galatians 5:24). If we are finding the yoke of Christ too hard it may be we are not fully committed to serving God for "no man can serve two masters" - he win love one and hate the other (Matthew 6:24). We cannot serve "self" and our "fleshly desires" and serve God's interest too. If we are really being led by God's spirit we win bear fruit such as:

... love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Galatians 5:22-23).

Willful sin - Knowing what is right and just refusing to do it due to stubbornness, laziness or disinterest is willful sin. One example is in the book of Hebrews concerning the "assembling of the saints" to worship with other Christians. A refusal to do what God has commanded even though others have encouraged you to be there is "willful sin" (see Acts 20:7).

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another. and so much the more as you see the day approaching. "

"For if we SIN WILLFULLY after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sin "

"But a certain fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation. . . " (Hebrews 10:2&27).

Sin of Ignorance - The Apostle Paul before his conversion was actively hauling Christians into prison, while others were being put to death. Once he even held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr, to death. Paul declares of himself:

"Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it IGNORANTLY IN UNBELIEF" (I Timothy 1:13).

Sin of Omission - Another sin we find in the book of James is simply knowing the good we should do and failing to do it. An example would be the story of the "Good Samaritan" that Jesus told. The injured man was passed up by two men as he lay dying. They failed to render assistance (Luke 10:30-37).

"To him that KNOWETH TO DO GOOD, and doeth it not to him it is SIN" (James 4:17).

Other sins - Other sins are written about in the book of Galatians. Among these sins we find not only murder, but sins such as hatred (Galatians 5:19-21).We can sin with our thoughts when they become evil. Jesus said adultery is a sin, but "looking upon a woman to lust after her" is also sin in our minds, for he "hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). We can readily see we all have a problem with sin and need a Saviour and helper.

If we are willing to change, God is ready to forgive us and will help us with our new life in Christ. Repentance is a very important subject for us to study, for to fail to repent is to be lost. Repentance is simply changing our minds to change our lives and then doing it.

"I tell you, Nay; but except ye REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH" (Luke 13:3).

The price has been paid for our sins at Calvary. Once we hear the gospel story of how Jesus loved us and died for us we should never be the same. It should humble us and create in us a desire to live for God and put away those old sins for which Jesus died.

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: (sins) the chastisement of our peace was UPON HIM, and with his stripes we are healed " (Jesus bore our sin)

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him: he hath put him to grief- when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin" (Isaiah 53:5-10).

Repentance is not just being sorry but "Godly sorrow worketh repentance," (II Corinthians 7:8-10), but "Sorrow of the world worketh death." Repentance is not something we do just once when we become a Christian but something we must continue to do each time we find ourselves out of the will of God. This is what it means to "walk in the light" (truth of God's word). Since repentance is a "change of mind," as we learn more truth the mind must be constantly changing to agree with God and followed by a change in our lives.

We can cry great tears and never make needed changes. We can be sorry we "got caught" or "sorry we are suffering" as a result of our sins and still not repent. Judas, the apostle who betrayed Christ was sorry, he said, "I have sinned," (Matthew 27:4) and tried to return the money he took. When he couldn't he "hanged himself" (Matthew 27:5). Genuine sorrow and restitution if needed and willingness to change brings forgiveness of God. So repentance is sorrow to God, admission and forsaking of a wrong path.

"Repent and turn to God, and do works meet (suitable) for repentance. " (Acts 26:20) "REPENT and BE BAPTIZED everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).

We can have knowledge of sin and still not repent. Passing of time and good deeds will not remove sin "but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). Forgiveness takes place in God's mind and not just in our hearts. The prodigal son (1) reflected, (2) resolved, (3) returned and confessed, (4) resumed being a son and was restored to family fellowship. "My son was dead and is alive again; he was lost, and is found" (Luke 15:24).

Those who didn't repent. - The devils "believe and tremble" yet do not repent. They know there is a God. The book of James says, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:18-20). In the parable of the "publican and sinner" both of whom were praying (Luke 18:9-14) both confessed, one was not humble. The rich young ruler "went away sorrowful" but did not change (Matthew 19:16-22). Admitting sin, is not enough. The people at Pentecost asked, "What shall we do," and were told to repent (Acts 2:38). Jesus came to call "sinners to repentance" (Luke 24:47).

1. Transgressor means breaking God's law and the Bible tells us the "way of transgressors (sinners) is ______________" (Proverbs 13:15).

2. Jesus said his yoke is __________________ (Matthew 11:30).

3. If we as Christians are allowing God to direct our lives, we will produce the fruits of the spirit _______________, ________________, _________________, _______________, ______________, _______________, ________________, _________________, _______________, (Galatians 5:22-23).

4. In the book of Galatians in the New Testament, name the scripture in our lesson that lists the "works of the flesh" that show us we are not letting God lead us. _________________

5. Is forsaking the assembling of ourselves to worship God with other Christians willful sin? ___________ (Hebrews 10:25-27).

6. The Bible teaches that "to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is __________" (James 4:17).

7. One sin listed in Galatians 5:20 is hatred. (true or false) _____________

8. Is repentance (changing our lives) necessary to our salvation? _______________ (Luke 13:3).

9. In the book of James we are taught that "faith without works" will not save us for it is a dead faith. (true or false) __________________ (James 2:18-20).

10. Jesus came to call sinners to __________________ (Luke 24:47).

NAME__________________________ LESSON RECEIVED____________________

ADDRESS_______________________ LESSON RETURNED____________________

________________________________ GRADED BY____________ GRADE________

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