Those "barred" from the city of God.
A) It is not the sinner who is barred; Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
B) The one who is barred is the one who quite deliberately and with open eyes continues to sin, the one who, knowing Christ's way, and with the offer of Christs grace open to him/her, still takes his/her/own way, still refuses the grace which could cleanse him/her from sin.
C) There is a sinner who hates his/her sin; and there is a sinner who loves his/her sin. There is a sinner who sins against his/her will; there is a sinner who deliberately sins. Sooooo
D) It is not the repentant sinner, but the defiant sinner, who is barred from the city of God.
The good news is, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." I John 1:9
J.
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus-
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus-
O precious is the flow
That washes white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus |
