Page 26 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

“AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND DO NOT SIN; 1 Cor. 15:34
FOR SOME DO NOT HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. I SPEAK THIS TO YOUR SHAME.”

“…THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDS, HAVING THIS SEAL: ‘THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,’
AND, ‘LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY.’ ” 2 Tim.2:14-19

Notice that Paul does not present the solid foundation of God as based upon the likes of Spurgeon’s
logic of “pre-forgiveness of sins” or his modern-day disciples who teach not only pre-forgiveness of
sins,but also the added concepts of “Once Saved Always Saved,” and “Unconditional Eternal Security.”
The message to believers is clear: “…I write to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have
an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (mercy
seat) for our sins…” (1 Jn. 2:1-2). It is imperative that every believer read the chapter that leads up to
John’s exhortation to believers about not sinning. You won’t find any “pre-forgiveness of sins” in that
Chapter, but rather a conditional promise, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our
sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness…” (1 Jn. 1:9).

I highly recommend this previous newsletter (August 2009) in which I dealt in
depth with this doctrinal error of “pre-forgiveness of sins.” It is posted on my
website (PastorRandyShupe.com) under newsletters 2009.

The message about dealing with sin is a continuation of the one found in

Genesis: “SIN LIES AT THE DOOR “THEREFORE DO NOT LET SIN REIGN
IN YOUR MORTAL BODY,
AND ITS DESIRE IS FOR YOU,
BUT YOU SHOULD RULE OVER IT.” THAT YOU SHOULD OBEY IT
IN ITS LUSTS.”
Gen.4:7 Rom.6:12

God’s grace does not eliminate the danger of sin at work in our lives.

2 WE ARE TO MOURN OVER LOST

“…I HAVE GREAT SORROW AND CONTINUED GRIEF IN MY HEART….
MY HEART’S DESIRE AND PRAYER TO GOD FOR ISRAEL IS THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED.”

Rom. 9:2,10:1

The second area in which the Beatitude of “mourning” is defined is this expression
of grief and sorrow of heart of the apostle Paul over lost sinners among the Jewish
people. So intense is his grief for his lost brethren in the flesh (the Jews) that he
utters a sincere statement that few would be willing to make:

“FOR I COULD WISH THAT I MYSELF WERE ACCURSED FROM CHRIST FOR MY BRETHREN,
MY KINSMEN ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, WHO ARE ISRAELITES…” Rom. 9:3-4

Paul’s plea of desperation reminds me of another great saint of God willing
to sacrifice himself in exchange for the salvation of others:

“THEN MOSES RETURNED TO THE LORD AND SAID, "OH, THESE PEOPLE HAVE
COMMITTED A GREAT SIN, AND HAVE MADE FOR THEMSELVES A GOD OF GOLD!

YET NOW, IF YOU WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN -- BUT IF NOT, I PRAY,
BLOT ME OUT OF YOUR BOOK WHICH YOU HAVE WRITTEN.“ Ex. 32:31

On the other extreme end of the scale is the example of the care-less attitude of the prophet Jonah
who was angry at God for not smiting all the sinners in Nineveh. God challenged His reluctant prophet
with, “Is it right for you to be angry…? and he said, ‘It is right for me to be angry even to death!’” (Jonah
4:9-11). Sadly, I believe much of Christianity here in America is also choosing to focus upon being angry
at lost sinners. We lack the kind of compassion and mercy of the Lord who replied to Jonah these final
closing words:

“AND SHOULD I NOT PITY NINEVEH, THAT GREAT CITY,
IN WHICH ARE MORE THAN ONE-HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND PERSONS
WHO CANNOT DISCERN BETWEEN THEIR RIGHT HAND AND THEIR LEFT…?” Jonah 4:11