Before we examine the Killer F.A.R.T. that is poisoning vast numbers of religious people across the globe, we must first briefly discuss each characteristic that defines a F.A.R.T.
“F.” stands for False statement. In ancient times (i.e. when various explorers sailed across the Atlantic Ocean) many people would state emphatically that the earth was flat and that explorers were in danger of falling off the edge of the earth if they went too far. Doubtless, you are aware that this statement has been proven to be false.
“A.” stands for “Anti-Christian.” The statement above [that the earth is flat and that one can fall off the edge] is false. However, this statement of itself does not seek to destroy the Christian teachings as defined within the pages of the Holy Bible. However, there are some statements/ideas that are not only false, but that deny the essential biblical teachings of what it means to become a Christian. We will come back to the idea of Anti-Christian ideas momentarily. Now let us continue our definitions of the F.A.R.T. components.
“R.” stands for Repentance. In the case of a FART, the Anti-Christian ideas have to do with belief in False statements about the essence of “true repentance.” An example of these false notions about true repentance includes statements such as “I truly repented and was water baptized, so what I do or say does not matter to Christ.” John the Baptist commanded that the religious teachers of his day should: “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” See Matthew 3:8. The Living Bible puts this same verse as follows: “Before being baptized, prove that you have turned from sin by doing worthy deeds.”
“T.” stands for Theology. Many people not only accept False, Anti-Christian ideas regarding what Repentance really means, but they build up a whole belief system (or theology) based on false notions of repentance. Further, these individuals subvert and confuse the minds of would-be Christians by cunningly marketing their false Theology as honest biblical teaching.
So, you ask the question: “What is the Killer F.A.R.T. that is poisoning the lives of men and women, boys and girls?” The Killer FART that is destroying lives, families, and even religious organizations is the false theology that a person who truly repents and accepts Christ into their heart may possibly continue to practice sin and live a sinful lifestyle while continuing to be a true Christian. Within this theology the drug-user has no promise that he can be free from the use of illegal substances; the wife abuser has no hope that he can be free from committing abusive acts against his wife; the adulterous minister is doomed to continue his affair he carries on with the church’s correspondence secretary; and we must overlook the illegal money deals made between our “Christian” elected government officials and wealthy unethical citizens.
However, our gut feeling tells us that this theology cannot be true. More importantly, God’s book of truth called the Holy Bible tells us that this theology is false. I Corinthians 6:9-11 plainly states:
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
In this passage the Apostle Paul lets the Corinthians know that the Christians among them who were formerly involved in the wicked practices listed were now pure because God had cleansed their hearts and minds. Yet, Paul starts this passage by expressly stating that those who are still practicing unrighteous acts do not have a part in God’s Kingdom.
Many teachers improperly use the seventh chapter of the book of Romans in an attempt to prove that Christians will continue to practice sin. However, this passage of scripture does not say that Christians will continue to live in sin. What the seventh chapter demonstrates is that human beings, even those who have extensive knowledge concerning the laws and commandments of God, cannot overcome the human tendency to live sinfully by the strength of our own human will by itself. This sinful nature (see Romans 3:23) is something that every person is born with. So, one may ask: “How does one overcome the dominance our sinful human nature has over us? What can a person do if they don’t want to be controlled by sin?” The answer is very simple; Instead of stopping at the last verse of the seventh chapter of the book of Romans, continue reading into the first four verses of the eighth chapter of the same book. Specifically, Romans 8:1-4 reads as follows:
“THERE IS therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Let’s try to shed a little clarity on this passage of scripture by looking at the same passage in the Living Bible (the Living Bible is a more modern language paraphrase of the Holy Bible):
“SO THERE is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death. We aren’t saved from sin’s grasp by knowing the commandments of God, because we can’t and don’t keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours—except that ours are sinful—and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins. So now we can obey God’s laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit and no longer obey the old evil nature within us.”
Basically, if you
1 Ask God to forgive you of all your sins.
2 Make up your mind to turn from all your sins and not go back into
them
3 Accept Jesus as your Savior and God
You will be made free from sin. Do you think this “free from sin” stuff is just some baloney that ultra-starchy religious people made up. Well, lets look at the chapter preceding the seventh chapter of Romans:
Romans 6:16-23
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Is it possible for a Christian to allow himself/herself to be tempted into performing a sinful act? The answer to the question is “Yes.” I John 2:1 says: “MY LITTLE children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” The Christian who performs a sinful act should ask for Gods forgiveness and strength to overcome the sin which was performed. God will give strength to overcome sin. I John 1:9 says: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Christian who performs a sinful act should also ask God for wisdom to avoid consciously walking into tempting situations.
However, those poisoning individuals with their F.A.R.T. are not teaching that a Christian might possibly be tempted into performing a sin. What they are teaching is that Christians will continue to commit sin on a daily bases as a matter of normal practice. And here’s where the poison works its damage: A person who accepts the FART as gospel and begins to live the pattern of professing Christianity while continuing to practice sin (because that person has been tricked into thinking God accepts their sinful behavior) actually separates himself from God. While thinking he/she is a Christian, the person who has consumed the FART is actually disowned by Christ, the only one who can make a person a Christian. Need proof? I John 3:5-9″ says:
“And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
The same passage in the Living Bible reads as follows:
“And you know that he became a man so that he could take away our sins, and that there is no sin in him, no missing of God’s will at any time in any way. So if we stay close to him, obedient to him, we won’t be sinning either; but as for those who keep on sinning, they should realize this: They sin because they have never really known him or become his. Oh, dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: if you are constantly doing what is good, it is because you are good, even as he is. But if you keep on sinning, it shows that you belong to Satan, who since he first began to sin has kept steadily at it. But the Son of God came to destroy these works of the devil. The person who has been born into God’s family does not make a practice of sinning, because now God’s life is in him; so he can’t keep on sinning, for this new life has been born into him and controls him—he has been born again.”
Christ out of his own mouth said in Saint John 8:34 “…Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”
If you have consumed the poisonous FART and you want to be free from sin, there is hope for you. Right now, where you are, ask Jesus to forgive you for all of your sins; determine to turn your back on all sin (even the sins that you think aren’t so bad such as lying for so-called “good” reasons). Then ask Jesus to wash your heart and mind.
Now the Final step to be free from the effects of the poison FART is necessary and sometimes very difficult to swallow. This final step involves finding a church that teaches Romans 6:18: that you can be free from sin. If you continue to fellowship in a church that promotes the idea of Christians continuing to practice sin; or if you worship in a church that is silent about teaching being free from sin, then you and your family are more likely to fall back into practicing sin.
I beg of you, please make every effort to find a church that is faithful in teaching the Holy Scriptures contained in the Bible.
Yours truly,
Just A Brother