Let us go to James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” And “good” here means everything that comes from God, for that which is not of God is not good. So when it says “to do good”, it means “to do that which comes from God”, which means the reality of God, which means true faith. Therefore, to him who knows the reality of God, who knows the good from God, who has the faith and does it not, to him it is sin. And why is it sin? Because he does not do the reality that the Lord has shown him. He opposes God and His Reality and His desires.
Therefore I say that it is better for Christians not to know! For once they have received light from God and they neglect it, it is greater sin to them than if they did not receive it at all, for then they are not accountable to God for that light. But if He gives us light and we neglect it, or reject it, or do not act on it even though we know that light — it is a sin unto us. (see also 2Pet.2:21, Lk.12:47-48)
Let us go to another scripture in Romans chpt.14. These are not pleasant verses for our “old man”, but this is the truth of God, you see. This is the reality of God which may not exactly produce praises on our lips and yet it is the reality of God. Romans 14:23, at the end: “For whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”! That exactly fits this revelation from the Lord. Whatsoever does not agree with the reality which the Lord shows is unreal and is sinful. We are not talking here only about the “faith”, for example, of not eating meat on Good Friday (Catholics), or not eating ham for a Jew, or not drinking wine for a Pentecostal, seventh day Adventist or other Christian. (I put “faith” in quotes because this is not a reality from God but rather a human belief based on reasoning, feeling or commandments of men).
We are not only talking about this faith, and this verse follows a certain topic where Paul talks about eating and drinking. But the Lord brought me to this verse that this verse applies generally, where faith is the reality that He gives to His children through revelation. It is a light from God, and so whatsoever is outside of the reality of God, outside of the Truth of God, is unrighteousness, is darkness, is unreal, is sin. All unrighteousness is sin.
I would like to say that the Lord is bringing us into new depths of this “Mystery of Faith and Will”, because one day we have to get there and we have to recognize the depth of the Scripture, because the Lord has granted us already plentifully. We thanked Him for it, didn’t we? We praised Him. Now the Lord asks: “How much of that light that I have granted to you have you turned into living faith?” And furthermore, the Lord says: “Whatever light I have granted you and you have neglected, you have sinned.” Now, that’s not very pleasing to our poor souls, but this is the Truth of the Lord and the Truth, as we know, is able to set us free. (Jn.8:32) And I don’t believe that we should start now frantically searching where we have sinned. I don’t think the Lord is asking that tonight, but the truth is that whatever light He has granted to us and we have neglected, we have sinned.
Now, we should not be surprised or shocked that we are sinning. We are sinning daily. But the Lord is just uncovering now certain types of sin that we should not be sinning anymore. And, of course, as it is also written, “to him that hears, (which means buys My gold) more shall be given.” (see Mk.4:24) We should recognize this in our heart, and soul, and mind, that when more is given to us it will also mean more doing on our part.
True faith also comforts and purifies the heart. Let us go back to Romans 1:11-12: “For I [Paul] long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.” And that is also trading of the talents, if that faith is a gift. But if that faith is a fruit also, then when we share that faith we are mutually comforted, and there is probably no greater comfort than that.
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To be continued next week
brother Hanola
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