"To put an end to sin."

God's plan is to make an end of sin, not just forgive sin. If God only forgives sin, but does not make an end of it, there is a bleak future ahead of us.

It is obvious forgiving sin does not solve God's problem of a rebellious creation or the problem with sin that people have. If everyone on earth were forgiven and taken to Heaven, it would not benefit God or people.

Sin entered God's creation when Satan chose to usurp the Father's authority. The heaven and the earth will be in chaos until God has put an end to sin.

It is not our death or the return of Jesus that will put an end to the sin in our own life. The only manner by which we can be delivered from the bondages of sin is through the Lord Jesus Christ. That deliverance takes place here and now in a specific, scriptural manner.

We are not speaking of an instantaneous sinlessness. We are referring to a process which includes our confessing, denouncing, and renouncing our sins in the name of Jesus Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit walking each day in victory. This we can do and have been commanded to do.

And because the sin in us is not infinite in quantity, the day will come when we have the upper hand over all that displeases God. Through Jesus Christ we can please God and do His will, on earth, in Heaven, or anywhere else in the creation.

Throughout the Epistles we are warned against continuing in sin. The entire sixth chapter of the Book of Romans warns us if we, as a baptized Christian, choose to continue as the servant of sin, we shall die.

The gift of God is eternal life meaning, in context, that if we keep on choosing to be the slave of righteousness, we will attain eternal life.

Eternal life is not an undemanding gift. It is, rather, the gift of an opportunity to gain eternal life. We must lay hold on eternal life each day, for the forces of death continually are attacking us, seeking to turn us away from Him who is the Resurrection and the Life.

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come to earth to forgive the works of the devil but to destroy the works of the devil. He can and He will destroy all the works of the devil in you and in me, if we will be faithful to walk in the Spirit of God each day of our discipleship.

There is enough power in the Holy Spirit to enable us to put to death the actions of our sinful nature. We are not obligated, under the new covenant, to keep on sinning.

And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. (Leviticus 4:26)

It is preached today that sins were not actually forgiven under the Law of Moses, but now, under the new covenant, sins actually are forgiven.

However, sins indeed were forgiven under the old covenant, according to the Word of God, as we see in the above verse.

To be continued.