Stop Sinning

But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” [John 5.14]

Jesus had just healed this guy. In fact, the man had not even sought Jesus out, but Jesus approached him.

What Jesus said to this man after healing him reveals much that we should give full consideration of. Jesus said, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.”

Wow, that little sentence sure puts a light on sickness ...if we will see it. Jesus, in no uncertain words, directly associates that man's infirmity with sin. Don't argue with me, Jesus said it.

Somehow, we believers today need to re-think our theology and doctrines. We MUST acknowledge curses for their cause - sin.

For the record, based on many people's false perception of "grace" today, one could ascertain that the man of this story, once he had encountered Jesus, was free from "works of the law." But that is not what Jesus Himself said, is it? Jesus said, "stop sinning."

People today have wrongly concluded that "salvation" relieves them of responsibility for what they do. Not true. Along with salvation - that blessed encounter with Jesus - there is the mandate to stop sinning.

Thank God, we have been given repentance. Repentance is our way to elicit the help of the Holy Spirit to do in us what we are unable to do ourselves - stop sinning. Repentance is better than vitamins.

Father, help us to understand that there is indeed a responsibility upon us to stop sinning. Thank You that Jesus has commissioned our Helper to accomplish that in us!