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Christian you never have to sin again
CHRISTIAN, YOU NEVER HAVE TO SIN AGAIN
or
VOLITIONAL PERFECTION
Thesis statement: God has provided the means whereby no Church Age believer ever has to sin again.
A Disclaimer
The content of this booklet is not meant to be critical of anyone. It is written because the author believes in its truth. He does not claim to possess all truth on the subject. He claims only to be led of the Spirit to set forth his ideas as he understands them today. He does not claim to be sinlessly perfect. He claims only to practice what he teaches at the level of his own understanding and personal yieldedness. He knows his goal and yields as best he knows how. He realizes that any personal weakness or failure that he might have is only an opportunity to apply the truth about which he writes. He also realizes that personal weakness or failure does not negate the truth. His greatest desire is to be an example to all who know him and to allow them to see that the truth about which he writes will work for all who will yield to that truth. His prayer is that the contents of this booklet will challenge the conscience of every Christian reader who believes that personal sin is unavoidable in their Christian life.
INTRODUCTION
Several introductory thoughts will be presented before our central theme is considered. These thoughts include the following topics: 1) Three Categories of Sin; 2) Personal Sin Is a Matter of Personal Choice; 3) Some Christians Believe That Personal Sin Is Unavoidable; 4) Disposing of Two False Arguments; and 5) The David Syndrome.
Since our thesis statement raises the issue of sin, we must know something about the categories of sin found in the Word of God; therefore, we will begin with a review of the three categories of sin found in the Bible.
Three Categories of Sin
The Bible teaches three categories of sin, namely, 1) Adam's original sin imputed; 2) the old-sin-nature; and 3) personal sins.
Adam's Original Sin Imputed: The concept is found in Romans 5:12. The word "imputed" means "to credit something to someone's account." Theologically, God the Father credits the original (first) sin of Adam to each member of the human race the very moment each person is born. This booklet is not about Adam's original sin imputed.
The Old-Sin-Nature: The concept is found in Romans 7:17. The old-sin-nature, also called "flesh" in the Bible, is the source of all personal sins. Every time a person sins that sin comes from the old-sin-nature. Adam was not created with an old-sin-nature, but God the Father gave him one the moment he sinned in the Garden of Eden. In other words, Adam acquired an old-sin-nature, and now, it is genetically passed from father to child through the sperm cell of the father. Therefore, every member of the human race receives a genetically prepared old-sin-nature from his human father. Jesus Christ did not have an old-sin-nature because He had no earthly father. This booklet is about the old-sin-nature.
Personal Sins: The concept is found in such passages as Galatians 5:19-21; Proverbs 6:16-19; Romans 1:29-31; 2 Timothy 3:2-5; and Revelation 21:8. Personal sins are manifestations of choices that violate God's standards which are revealed in the Bible. Personal sins are sometimes categorized as mental attitude sins, verbal sins, and overt sins. The following lists are examples. They are representative, but not exhaustive.
Mental Verbal Overt
anger gossip adultery
jealousy maligning fornication
arrogance criticism drug addiction
vindictiveness alcoholism
hatred
envy
implacability
Mental attitude sins are sins of the mind, that is, thinking sins. Verbal sins are sins of the tongue, that is, spoken sins. Overt sins are sins that do not fall into the categories mental or verbal. Generally, overt sins involve some function of the human body.
In addition, personal sins include "sins of omission." For example, if God tells us to do something and we fail to do what He says, we are guilty of a sin of omission.
Finally, personal sins include "liberty sins." This concept is taught in 1 Corinthians 8:9-12.
1 Corinthians 8: 9 But take care lest this liberty of yours somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.
1 Corinthians 8:10 For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?
1 Corinthians 8:11 For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
1 Corinthians 8:12 And thus, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. (NAS)
The concept of "liberty sins" can be taught under the title, "When Eating Carrots Can Be Sinful." Liberty sins are committed when the exercise of our Christian liberty causes a weak believer to sin by following our example in violation of his own conscience. For example, if we know that eating carrots is not sinful, but our Christian friend thinks that it is, and he eats carrots in violation of his own conscience because he follows our example, he is guilty of sin for violating his own conscience, and we are guilty of sin for causing him to violate his conscience. In other words, the exercise of our liberty has become sinful to us because we caused our weaker brother to stumble. These are "liberty sins" that fall within the category known as personal sins. This booklet is about personal sins.
Hereinafter, every reference to sin or sins is a reference to personal sins, unless otherwise designated.
Personal Sin Is a Matter of Personal Choice
Personal sin is a matter of personal choice. If a believer chooses to sin, he will sin, and if a believer chooses not to sin, he will not sin. God doesn't make you sin, and neither does Satan. Personal sin is a matter of choice, and if a believer should choose not to sin every time the opportunity arises, that believer would never sin again. This concept may be called volitional perfection. It will be defined on page 4.
Some Christians Believe That Personal Sin Is Unavoidable
Some Christians believe that they have to sin. They even go so far as to say that it is unavoidable. This booklet is written to dispel that notion, and while different rationales may be used to justify sin, no rationale will stand the scrutiny of Scripture.
God has a plan and since that plan includes the means whereby sin may be overcome, no sin can be justified and no sin must be committed. Every Christian stands before God without excuse for any sinful activity.
If a person believes that sin is unavoidable, that person should be required to answer the following question. How just is a just God Who would punish His children for something that is unavoidable?
The next introductory thought deals with two arguments that are thought by some to prove the inevitability of sin after salvation.
Disposing of Two False Arguments
Two verses are often quoted to support the notion that Christians have to sin after salvation. A close look at both verses will demonstrate that neither teaches the inevitability of sin after salvation.
I John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
By interpretation, the word "sin" in this verse refers to the old-sin-nature. An interpretive translation of this same verse would read in this manner: "If we say that we have no old-sin-nature, . . ." Every believer has one, and will continue to have one until he dies physically. If, however, the word "sin" should be misinterpreted to mean personal sin, this would imply that there could be no time in the believer's life when he could ever say that he is free from personal sin. Because God has provided a plan whereby personal sin can be overcome in the daily life of every believer, that statement would be totally inaccurate. Therefore, it must be understood that the word "sin" in 1 John 1:8 refers to the old-sin-nature, and not personal sin.
Conclusion: This verse teaches that every believer will have an old-sin-nature until the day he dies. It does not teach the future inevitability of personal sin in the life of any believer.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (KJV)
This verse is also quoted to prove the inevitability to sin. Those who quote it quote it correctly. They say, "If we say we have not sinned . . . ." However, with a few well-chosen leading comments and the right type of body language, this verse is quoted as though the listener should be hearing, "If we say that we will never sin again." Grammatically, the verb phrase "we have not sinned" is a PERFECT, active, INDICATIVE, but it is quoted as though you should be hearing a FUTURE, active indicative. Brethren, that is spiritual hocus-pocus, and no amount of leading comments, or body language, or innuendo, or anything else will ever change the PERFECT INDICATIVE into a FUTURE INDICATIVE.
A Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament, by Dana and Mantey, p. 200, comments on the perfect indicative:
"The perfect tense is the tense of complete action. . . .In the indicative the perfect signifies action as complete from the point of view of present time."
By interpretation, then, 1 John 1:10 deals only with past sinning. This verse teaches that if a believer ever says that he has not committed a sin at some time in the past, he makes God a liar, and God's Word is not in him. This verse speaks of past action only and leaves the door wide open to present and future victory over personal sin in the daily life of every believer.
Conclusion: 1 John 1:10 teaches that every believer has committed at least one personal sin at sometime in the past, and if he says he hasn't, he makes God a liar and God's Word is not in him. This verse does not, and for emphasis, it does NOT teach the future inevitability of personal sin in the life of any believer.
The David Syndrome
It is not uncommon for Christians to justify sinful activity by appealing to David as their example. David was both a murderer and an adulterer, and yet, he is said to have been a man after God's own heart.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. (KJV)
Sometimes Christians whose sins are no more grievous than David's begin to rationalize. They say, "If David could do the things that he did and still be a man after God's own heart, then it must be all right for us to do the things that we are doing because our sins aren't any worse than David's." This type of reasoning might be labeled "The David Syndrome." It finds no support in the Word of God.
It is possible that those who suffer from this malady have never discovered that God has a plan whereby the believer never has to sin again. It is also possible that they have heard of His plan, but reject it because there is pleasure in sin -- for a season! (Hebrews 11:25)
Conclusion: "The David Syndrome" is a tool of Satan who has deceived any believer who would think that God could possibly be pleased with any type of sinful activity in the life of any Church Age believer.
This concludes our introductory thoughts, all of which have some bearing on the proper understanding of our thesis. We now move on to our main body of thought. In this section we will deal with several thesis related topics, such as the Old-Man vs. the Inner Man; the Concept of Volitional Perfection; the Relationship between the Old-Sin-Nature and Personal Sins; Victory Over Personal Sins: In Search of an Answer; "Operation KRY" Is the Answer; Reckoning and Yielding Produce Suffering; Confession vs. "Operation KRY;" Mortify Your Members; Summary Principles; and Some Concluding Thoughts.
As a reminder, let's state the thesis once again. Thesis: God has provided the means whereby no Church Age believer ever has to sin again.
THE OLD MAN VS. THE INNER MAN
Each Church Age believer has two persons living on the inside of him. One is called the "old man" (Romans 6:6) and the other is called the "inner man." (Romans 7:22; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Ephesians 3:16)
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (KJV)
Romans 7:22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, (NAS)
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. (NAS)
Ephesians 3:16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; (NAS)
The term "old-man" is used to describe the believer's focus when yielded to the old-sin-nature, and the term "inner man" is used to describe the believer's focus when yielded to God. The issue is always this. Which "man" is being entertained by the believer's choices? When the old-man is entertained, personal sin is being committed. When the inner man is being entertained, victory over personal sin is being achieved.
Conclusion: If a believer wants victory over personal sin in his life, he must stop entertaining his old-man.
Our next topic is the concept of volitional perfection. It is recommended that each reader take time to understand the definition as defined by the author. Don't just read it. Try to understand it. Yes, the vocabulary term, "volitional perfection," belongs to the author, but the concept it designates belongs to God. If perhaps the reader would be more comfortable with a different designation, there is no need to wrestle with the author. Freedom permits the reader to name the concept whatever he desires; however, he is cautioned not to change the concept, unless, of course, he concludes that the concept does not exist. Then he must wrestle with God.
THE CONCEPT OF VOLITIONAL PERFECTION
Volitional perfection defined and described: The word "perfection" is used, here, to mean free from the present activity of personal sin in the Christian life. This freedom can be momentary or continual. It can be interrupted or uninterrupted. The word "volitional" means capacity to exercise choice. Volitional perfection, then, is a spiritual condition, both real and potential, available to every Christian. Its reality is attained by any believer who chooses to apply a divinely provided technique that the author calls "Operation KRY." Volitional perfection is the status quo of any believer who is using "Operation KRY" to overcome present temptation to sin. Volitional perfection is the status quo of a single victory or a string of uninterrupted victories over temptation to sin. Volitional perfection is lost the moment a personal sin is committed. At that same moment, volitional perfection once again becomes potential, awaiting the application of "Operation KRY." The mechanics of "Operation KRY" will be explained beginning on page 9.
Are You Understanding Correctly?: Objection is raised almost immediately, and from all avenues, when the statement is made that the Christian never has to sin again. Sometimes people hear only what they want to hear, and this means that they do not hear what they might need to hear. For this reason, please notice carefully what has been said. The Christian never has to sin again. This does not say that the Christian will never sin again. That's overwhelmingly naive. And it does not say that the Christian cannot sin again. That would be heresy. What it does say is that the Christian never has to sin again! This implies that God has made provision for the believer to overcome personal sin, whether that believer knows it or not. Failure to know or to acknowledge this truth does not negate the truth, nor does it excuse sinful failure.
A Foreign Concept? The concept of volitional perfection may be foreign to many Christians, but it is not foreign to the Bible. Many who think it is foreign cast it aside as nonsense and turn a deaf ear to their own spiritual detriment. God plans for the Church Age believer to be set apart from personal sins. Theologically, this is referred to as experiential sanctification. The believer who fails to acknowledge this, or fails to learn how to enter into volitional perfection, lives a defeated Christian life and never develops the character of Christ for which goal salvation is the intended springboard.
Question: Do you understand the author's definition of volitional perfection? You are not being asked if you agree with the concept. You are only being asked if you understand his definition?
Our next major topic is the relationship between the old-sin-nature and personal sins. If any believer fails to understand this relationship, it is a guarantee that that believer will never achieve victory over personal sins in his life. Personal victory demands an understanding of this relationship.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE OLD-SIN-NATURE
AND PERSONAL SINS
An analogy: Analogy is one way to illustrate the relationship between the old-sin-nature and personal sins. Notice the relationship between the source and its product in the following two columns.
Source Product
old-sin-nature personal sins
root fruit
fountain stream of water
spider web
By analogy, the old-sin-nature is to personal sins as a root is to its fruit. By analogy, the old-sin-nature is to personal sins as a fountain is to its stream of water. By analogy, the old-sin-nature is to personal sins as a spider is to its web.
The old-sin-nature, the root, the fountain, and the spider have at least one thing in common. All four produce something. The old-sin-nature produces personal sins. The root produces fruit. The fountain produces a stream of water, and the spider produces a web.
Now, let's say all this another way. Fruit comes from a root. A stream of water comes from a fountain. A web comes from a spider, and personal sins come from the old-sin-nature. The
point is this. Personal sins have a source, just as the fruit, the stream of water, and the web have a source. The source of all personal sins is the old-sin-nature, and if we continue to follow our analogy, God's plan will unfold for the Christian to see how he never has to sin again.
The Analogy Continued: Suppose that you decide to destroy the fruit of a tree. The fruit can be destroyed in at least two ways. First, you can pick the tree's fruit and throw it away, or second, you can kill its root. If you choose to pick its fruit, the fruit will come back year after year; but if you choose to kill its root, the fruit is permanently destroyed.
Suppose that you decide to shut off the flow of water through a fountain. The flow can be shut off in at least two ways. First, you can release the flow-lever that causes the water to flow from the fountain, or second, you can shut off the water supply to the fountain. If you choose to release the flow-lever that causes the water to flow from the fountain, the water's flow will stop only until the flow-button is pushed again. However, if you shut off the water at its source, that is, before it reaches the fountain, water will never flow from that fountain again as long as it is shut off at its source.
Suppose that you decide to destroy a spider web. The web can be destroyed in at least two ways. First, you can sweep away the web with a broom, or second, you can kill the spider. If you choose to sweep away the web, the spider will spin again and again, but if you choose to kill the spider, that spider will never spin again.
Now, let's apply all this. Suppose that you decide to destroy personal sins in your life. Personal sins can be destroyed in at least two ways. First, you can confess your sins, or second, you can apply "Operation KRY. If you choose to confess your sins, you will receive forgiveness and cleansing, and will be restored to fellowship, but you may choose to sin again at any time in the future; however, if you choose to use "Operation KRY," you will consider yourself dead with reference to the old-sin-nature, and you will never sin again as long as you continue to consider yourself dead. (Again, "Operation KRY" will be explained beginning on page 9.)
Conclusion: "Operation KRY" is the only God honoring means by which personal sin is overcome in the believer's life.
Our next major topic is victory over personal sins -- in search of an answer. In this section, the reader will be challenged to learn why confession and just saying "no" will not solve the sin problem that only "Operation KRY" will solve.
VICTORY OVER PERSONAL SINS: IN SEARCH OF AN ANSWER
To experience victory over personal sins in one's own Christian life, the believer must deal directly with his old-sin-nature, and not with his personal sins themselves. This one statement is so crucial to personal victory over sin that it bears repeating with an emboldened emphasis.
To experience victory over personal sins in one's own Christian life, the believer must deal directly with his old-sin-nature, and not with his personal sins themselves.
Victory over personal sins is never achieved by a frontal attack on personal sins themselves. Victory over personal sins is achieved only by dealing with them at their source. This means that the believer must learn how to deal with his own old-sin-nature; and if the believer fails to learn this, it can again be guaranteed that there will be no victory over personal sin in the life of that believer!
Confession Is Not the Answer: The concept of confession is found in 1 John 1:9. This verse teaches that confession is the means by which the Christian receives forgiveness and cleansing, and is restored to fellowship, if he sins after he is saved.
I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)
Among other things, the word "confess" means "to name;" therefore, "to confess one's sins" means "to name one's sins." For example, "Father, I lied." "Father, I stole." "Father, I am jealous." Confession names sins to God the Father, not to inform Him of something about which He has no knowledge, but to affirm to Him that we know that we have sinned against Him.
Conclusion: Confession deals with personal sin after sin has been committed, but the Christian should be interested in dealing with sin before it is committed.
Just Saying "NO" Is Not the Answer: There are two ways to gain victory over sin: 1) Just say "no" to temptation and 2) the use of "Operation KRY" when temptation arises. The results are the same no matter which option is used; however, the motivation behind the results is not the same, and be sure that God is equally as interested in motivation as He is in results. Let's illustrate the motivation factor.
When a believer is tempted to sin, he can achieve victory by saying "no" to that temptation. In effect, by saying "no," he has gained victory over temptation and victory over the personal sin that would have been committed had temptation conceived; however, there is a question that should be asked. What motivated the person to say "no?"
Obviously, it is one thing to say "no" to fornication because one fears contracting "AIDS," but it's an entirely different thing to say "no" to fornication because it dishonors God. In the first case, man is honored. In the second case, God is honored, and God is in the business of honoring Himself. Therefore, there is a right motivation and a wrong motivation in dealing with personal sins, and God is honored only by right motivation.
Again, it is one thing to say "no" to drunkenness because one fears cirrhosis of the liver, but it's an entirely different thing to say "no" to drunkenness because it dishonors God. In the first case, man is honored. In the second case, God is honored, and God is in the business of honoring Himself. Therefore, there is a right motivation and a wrong motivation in dealing with personal sins, and God is honored only by right motivation.
And again, it is one thing to say "no" to lying because one fears retaliation, but it is an entirely different thing to say "no" to lying because lying dishonors God. In the first case, man is honored. In the second case, God is honored, and God is in the business of honoring Himself. Therefore, there is a right motivation and a wrong motivation in dealing with personal sins, and God is honored only by right motivation.
If motivation is not correct, the believer may have gained victory over temptation and personal sin, but there is no advance in spiritual growth because the victory was gained in the energy of the flesh.
Conclusion: Saying "no" is not the answer if the answer is not attended by right motivation.
The next major topic is "Operation KRY" which is God's solution to the personal sin problem that plagues every believer. Study this area carefully, for herein lies the solution to "the sin that doth so easily beset us."
"OPERATION KRY" IS THE ANSWER
"Operation KRY" is an acrostic that stands for "Know, Reckon, and Yield." The concept is found in the language of Romans 6:6, 11, 13 in the King James Version.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (KJV)
Romans 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (KJV)
Romans 6:13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (KJV)
First Paul tells us in Romans 6:6 that Christians should know something.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this [ namely, that our old man was crucified with Him ], that our [ Church Age believer's ] old man [ the product of yieldedness to the old-sin-nature ] is [ literally, "was" ] crucified [ put to death ] with [ in association with; at the same time in history as ] him [ Christ ], that the body [ containing the old-man ] of [ possessing ] sin [ the old-sin-nature ] might be destroyed [ rendered inoperative ], that [ introduces the purpose for which the old man was crucified with Christ ] henceforth [ from that time forward ] we [ Church Age believers ] should not [ should no longer be required to ] serve [ be slaves to ] sin [ the old-sin-nature ]. (KJV)
In God the Father's eyes, Jesus was not alone on His cross. Every Church Age believer's old man was hanging on that cross with Him. Do not miss that point! It's crucial to your understanding and victory over personal sin. Your old-man is the man within you that yields to your old-sin-nature. The very fact that God sees our old-man as dead is the basis for victory over personal sins because this enables the believer to shut off personal sins at their source. Understand this. God says our old-man is dead. In terms of our analogy, this means that God sees every old-man as a dead root that can produce no fruit. It means that He sees every old-man as a dead water fountain that can produce no stream of water. It means that He sees every old-man as a dead spider that can produce no spider web. Knowing, then, is the first step in the Christian life toward victory over personal sin. The believer cannot have victory if he doesn't know what God knows. Therefore, KNOW that your old-man has been crucified with Christ.
Second, Paul tells us in Romans 6:11 that Christians should reckon themselves dead unto sin.
Romans 6:11 Likewise [ in the same manner as God the Father thinks ] reckon [ consider ] ye [ Church Age believers ] also yourselves [ Church Age believers ] to be dead [ incapable of producing personal sins; this is the experiential side of Romans 6:6; this is the believer treating his old-man as dead because God says it is dead ] indeed unto sin [ the old-sin-nature ], but alive [ spiritually ] unto God [ the Father ] through Jesus Christ our [ Church Age believers ] Lord. (KJV)
The word reckon means to consider, to think the same way God thinks. If He says our old man is dead, we should reckon our old man dead because He says it is. In terms of our analogy, this means that every Christian is to reckon his old-man as a dead root that can produce no fruit. It means that every Christian is to reckon his old-man as a dead water fountain that can produce no water. It means that every Christian is to reckon his old-man as a dead spider that can produce no web. Reckoning, then, is the second step in the believer's life toward victory over personal sin. First, he knows from God's viewpoint that his old man has been crucified (put to death) with Christ; and second, he reckons his old man dead because God says it is dead. Even though the believer knows that God says his old-man is dead, there can be no victory over personal sins if the believer does not consider his old-man to be dead as God considers it dead. There can be no victory over personal sin apart from KNOWING and RECKONING.
Third, Paul tells us in Romans 6:13 that Christians should yield themselves unto God, and their members (body parts) as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Romans 6:13 Neither [ do not ] yield [ present ] ye [ Church Age believers ] your [ Church Age believer's ] members [ body parts: hands, feet, eyes, ears, tongue, etc. ] as instruments [ tools ] of unrighteousness [ that which is contrary to the goodness of God ] unto sin [ the old-sin-nature ]: but yield [ present ] yourselves [ Church Age believers ] unto God [ the Father ], as those [ Church Age believers ] that [ who ] are [[ spiritually ]] alive from the [[ spiritually ]] dead, and [[ present ]] your [ Church Age believer's ] members [body parts: hands, feet, eyes, ears, tongue, etc. ] as instruments [ tools ] of [ associated with ] righteousness [ the absolute goodness of God ] unto God [ God the Father ]. (KJV)
Note that the believer can yield in one of two directions. First, he can yield to sin, that is, unto the old-sin-nature, or second, he can yield to God. To yield to sin is described as yielding your body parts as tools of unrighteousness. This means presenting your body parts to the old-sin-nature so that they can be used as tools to produce personal sins. To yield to God is described as yielding your body parts to God as tools of righteousness. This means presenting your body parts to God so that they can be used as tools to produce righteousness.
Even though the believer knows that God says his old-man is dead, and even though the believer reckons his old-man dead, there can be no victory over personal sin unless the believer makes a decision to yield himself and his body parts to God. The believer must KNOW, RECKON, and YIELD.
Conclusion: Knowing, reckoning and yielding are the mechanics of "Operation KRY" and "Operation KRY" is the only divine tool given to the believer whereby God is honored when victory is gained over personal sin in the life of the believer.
The next major topic deals with the suffering associated with reckoning and yielding. Here, we'll learn that all suffering does not mean that you are doing something wrong.
RECKONING AND YIELDING PRODUCE SUFFERING
It must be understood that the believer will suffer while reckoning and yielding. Listen and comprehend that statement. The believer will suffer while reckoning and yielding. Suffering is experienced because something is being done right, not because something is being done wrong. When the old-man is being put to death, he doesn't die easily. He struggles to stay alive, and it is this struggle that causes the believer to suffer. If the old-man would just roll over and die, the battle would be won without suffering, but it doesn't happen that way. The suffering associated with reckoning and yielding is a clear indication that God plans for the old-man to be put to death without spiritual anesthesia. Therefore, reckoning and yielding spontaneously produce the suffering of death and the joy of victory.
Conclusion: Suffering is sometimes associated with doing something right.
The next major topic deals with the difference between confession and "Operation KRY."
CONFESSION VS. "OPERATION KRY"
Remember that both confession and "Operation KRY" have a relationship to personal sin. Confession is the remedy for personal sin after the sin has been committed. "Operation KRY" is the remedy for personal sin before the sin has been committed. Confession restores lost fellowship. "Operation KRY" maintains fellowship already in progress. It should be clear that God desires the Church Age believer to deal with personal sin before the fact, rather than after the fact.
Perhaps this illustration will help. Suppose you had a horse that constantly escaped from its barn, and everytime it escaped it injured itself. Confession is like returning an escaped and injured horse to its barn. Continuing this same idea, "Operation KRY" is like locking the barn before the horse escapes so that it will not injure itself.
Conclusion: God is more interested in Christians locking their barn door than He is in them having to return their horse to its barn.
MORTIFY YOUR MEMBERS
The following two verses are quoted from three different versions of the Bible, the King James Version, the New American Standard Version, and the New International Version. Key words have been underlined. These words represent God's plan for dealing with personal sin in the life of the Church Age believer. They are synonymous with "Operation KRY."
Colossians 3:5
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (KJV)
Colossians 3:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (NAS)
Colossians 3:5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. (NIV)
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul has listed certain personal sins. Compare the three versions:
KJV NAS NIV
fornication immorality sexual immorality
uncleanness impurity impurity
inordinate affection passion lust
evil concupiscence evil desire evil desires
covetousness greed greed
Paul then declares God's plan for dealing with them.
KJV NAS NIV
mortify consider as dead put to death
Wuest's Word Studies, Volume 1, "Colossians," p. 219, addresses this verse:
"God in salvation has broken the power of the evil nature over the believer's physical body. Now, the believer is charged with the responsibility of maintaining in his experience that state of liberation, and, as the behests of the evil nature come before him, he is to put them to death, that is refuse to obey them."
A close examination of this statement will disclose that Wuest is saying, "Christian, you never have to sin again!"
Romans 8:13
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (KJV)
Romans 8:13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (NAS)
Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, (NIV)
Both Colossians 3:5 and Romans 8:13 in the King James Version use the word mortify to describe the means by which the believer is to deal with personal sin in his life. The New American Standard says, "consider as dead" and "putting to death." The New International Version says, "put to death." All of these terms are synonymous with "Operation KRY."
SUMMARY PRINCIPLES
The following thoughts summarize this booklet:
1. The Bible teaches three categories of sin. Of the three, the old-sin-nature and personal sins are issues in the daily life of the Christian.
2. Personal sins are a matter of personal choice. You can choose to sin or you can choose not to sin. The choice is yours.
3. Since personal sin is a matter of choice, if a believer should choose not to sin every time the opportunity arises, that believer would never sin again.
4. Some Christians erroneously believe personal sins are unavoidable after salvation.
5. Neither 1 John 1:8 nor 1 John 1:10 teach that personal sins are inevitable in the life of the believer after salvation.
6. The "David Syndrome" can be used as an excuse mechanism and/or a cover-up to commit personal sins while taking in doctrine.
7. Volitional perfection is the status quo of any believer who is using "Operation KRY" to overcome temptation to sin.
8. The definition of volitional perfection should be understood as defined by the author, and not as someone interprets him to mean.
9. Rejecting the concept of volitional perfection does not alter its truth or validity.
10. The old-sin-nature is the source of all personal sins.
11. Confession does not provide victory over personal sins.
12. Just saying "NO" does not provide supernatural victory over personal sins.
13. The use of "Operation KRY" produces supernatural victory of personal sins.
14. "Operation KRY" refers to KNOW, RECKON, YIELD as taught in Romans 6:6, 11, 13.
15. Every believer has an old-man and an inner man.
16. The old-man is the culprit and the Christian life should be lived for the inner man.
17. To "mortify" our members means to use "Operation KRY" for victory over personal sins that come from the old-sin-nature.
SOME CONCLUDING THOUGHTS: An honest attempt has been made to set forth truth about personal sins as they relate to the Christian life. If you are struggling with personal sins in your own life, the solution is found in the application of "Operation KRY" to your old-man. You do not need a supernatural experience, and you do not need to get the Holy Ghost. You need to apply "Operation KRY," and if you think you have applied it and still don't have victory, return to the three steps of "Operation KRY" and determine which of the three steps, or combinations of the three steps you have failed to apply correctly.
BELOVED BRETHREN, WE, AS CHRISTIANS, NEVER HAVE TO SIN AGAIN!