Text:            Isaiah 1:18, Revelation 3:20, James 1:21, Colossians 3:5,8

By:               Bro. Isaac Ekaragha

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• DISCARD: To discard is to have nothing to do with something.

It also means to get rid of, dispose or eliminate something that may no longer be useful to you. 

• GARMENT OF SIN: This is a metaphorical expression for catalogue of sins, a Christian may be struggling to deal with. 

According to the Bible, sin is unrighteousness or lawlessness or sin is the transgression of the law –                    I John 3:4; 5:17. 

INTRODUCTION

Right from creation, sin has been the greatest challenge of mankind. Humanity has often continued to contend with this challenge right from the first man ever created, then the Israelite nation and even to this present Christian era.

God hates sin and does not have anything to do with it. Whoever commits sin, also commits lawlessness and sin is lawlessness – I John 3:4.

Unfortunately, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death – James 1:15.

Regrettably, the more mankind is chastised to avoid committing sin, the more he romances with it until completely overwhelmed by it.

That singular act of sin through disobedience cost Adam his fall in the Garden of Eden. What about the Israelite nation? What about the contemporary Christian era today?

However, if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness – I John 1:8-9. 

HOWEVER, SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN?

However, while the foregoing passage is true, we find many Christians repeatedly committing a particular sin, having asked for forgiveness.

Must we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbids? Romans 6:1-2.

This admonition is a clarion call and invitation to those who are yet to surrender their lives to Christ and those who are already Christians still contending with one form of sin or the other.

Besides the catalogue of sins referred to as works of the flesh enumerated in the book of Gal. 5:19-21, I Cor. 6:9-10 and Colossians 3:5-9, are we still, still struggling with the following garment of sins – hypocrisy, backbiting, back-stabbing, murmuring, pride, unforgiving spirit, stealing, arrogant speech to brethren? Colossians 4:6.

Beloved visitors, friends and brethren, come out from lustful and dissipating pleasures of the world and serve the Lord faithfully to the end.

Remember the wise saying: there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Proverbs 14:12; Mark 8:36-37.

Jesus likened the end of this present world and His second coming as largely unpredictable to the days of Noah where immoral pleasures were the order of the day.

But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:37-39.

By this, Christ is extending His hands of invitation and consistent faithfulness to you today!

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Isaiah 1:18,        Rev 3:20, Matt 11:28-30. Reference Hymns 690, 638, 674 (Stanza 1 & 4). 

PANACEA FOR LAYING ASIDE GARMENT OF SINS

• Consistent prayers to God to renew and strengthen your personality to worship Him faithfully till the end – Revelation 2:10.
• Engage in daily study of the Bible to derive more knowledge and strength – II Timothy 2:15.
• Striving not to forsake the assembly of the saints as you draw inspirations from various teachers – Hebrews 10:25.
• Cultivate the habits of forgiveness for those who have wronged you – Matthew 6:14-15; 18:15-17.
• Making deliberate effort to forgo sin – I Corinthians 9:27. 

CONCLUSION

There is no repentance in the grave. This is the time to lay aside our garment of sins and worship God faithfully till death so that when the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, we all shall be saved – Revelation 2:10.

In addition, let us embrace and practise justice and righteousness always because Christ has prepared in heaven.

“I hate, I despise your feast days, and I do not savor your sacred assemblies. Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. John 14:1-3,  Amos 5:21-24.

May God bless this admonition in our hearts in Jesus Name.

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