*Recognition goes to Donald Townsley for compiling the list, and Bro. Fred Liggin for including it in his book “Now that you are a Christian…What next?”
Usually, during the month of December preachers pay particular attention to preaching sermons relating in some way or form to resolutions. I have often considered why this is the case as we usually do not stick to resolutions.
We hold fast to resolutions for a couple of weeks or months and then we revert to our old habits again, or as I would like to put it, revert to our old selves.
The scripture in Colossians 3:10, says: “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him”
I have particularly bolded the words “put on”, “new man” and “renewed in knowledge” as these play an important role in how we approach our lives as Christians – in every aspect of Christianity.
So how do we create this new man? The answer you will find slightly above in the text in Colossians 3:5-7:
“Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.” – Col 3:5-7
We have to put to death our old selves, the old man that was once belonging to the world, because the consequence is clear – he will face the wrath of God.
The term – put to death – literally means dead. Biologically, no matter how hard I try I can never bring something back to life that is dead, and that is what Paul is saying here, we must kill our old selves that were once attached to this world and “put on” the new man – a new spiritual man.
This is a continuous process that comes through studying the scriptures daily – hence the renewed in knowledge.
So you see we cannot simply compare Christianity and being a Christian to a resolutions. This is not some new diet that we are trying for a few weeks then quit.
Furthermore, one does not need to wait until the turn of the New Year to take on the decision to become the new man, but immediately.
Bro. Fred Liggin to me is a great example of a Christian and I look up to him with all respect. I study with him weekly. In one of his books or materials that he has written – called – NOW THAT YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN – WHAT NEXT? He makes reference to another Christian and author Donald Townsley who wrote about forsaking the assembly. Donald Townsley passed on some years ago. He was a Christian. And in his note on wilfully forsaking the assembly he noted down 22 sins committee by a person who wilfully forsakes the assembly.
Note for the record that I give credit to this list for Donald Townsley for compiling it.
The 22 sins
He sins wilfully
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching – Heb 10:24-26
26 For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
Trampled the Son of God underfoot
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? – Heb 10:29
He counts the blood of the covenant and common thing / unholy thing
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? – Heb 10:29
Insults the spirit of Grace
29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? – Heb 10:29
These are things to be taken lightly!!! – However, there are other obligations.
The Lord’s Supper
Lords supper – on the Lord’s day, he forsakes the appointment the Lord has made with him, that they may commune together in the Lord’s Supper
7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. – Acts 20:7
16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the [a]communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? – 1 Cor 10:16
29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” – Matt 26:29
He forsakes being with the Lord in the assembly
20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” – Matt 18:20
He denies his allegiance to Christ that he confessed before baptism.
Acts 8:18-24; 27
He is not seeking first the kingdom and its righteousness
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. – Matt 6:33
He offends the church of God with his attitude and his actions
32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, – 1 Cor 10:32
He becomes a stumbling block to the babes in Christ
6 “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. – Matt 18:6
- People may say if it’s ok for one brother and his family to go away then its ok for me to.
- The standard we tend to then set is against each other and not against God’s expectations and what God wants.
He hinders special efforts to preach the gospel
If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. – 1 Cor 9:12
He Neglects worship that God seeks
23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. – John 4:23
- Where are His true worshipers on a Sunday? Gone on holiday? Is that placing God First?
- Going on a holiday is fine, if you have made provisions to worship God wherever you are going to?
- That is seeking the Kingdom of God first. Matt 6:33
He fails in his duty towards his children
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. – Eph 6:1-4
- This means that I must teach my son to be at Church on a Sunday. Nothing takes precedence. Not Peppa Pig concert, or anything. And we start mentioned it beforehand to him that Sunday is coming and we are going to Church. And he looks forward to his kiddies class every Sunday
- Prayer before food is a must
- Prayer before bedtime is a must
- Reading from his kiddy bible is a must
- Singing kiddy songs every night is a must
- Why? – Because this is our duty to the Lord first and then to Kyle.
- Your child will do what you do – not what you say.
He is not a light to the world around him
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.– MAtt 5:14-16
- How can you be a shining light to people who know you attend church on a Sunday yet see you on a golf course, or on the beach, or at some holiday place?
- How will you convince them that they should attend church on a Sunday as a priority?
- What impression am I giving to the word or to my unbelieving spouse?
that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, – Phil 2:15
- To shine as a light in this wicked and perverse world we are to be blameless.
He is not seeking those things that are above
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. – 1 Cor 3:1-2
He is becoming unfruitful in the Lords work
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. – Matt 13:22
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. – John 15:1-6
He knows to do good and fails to do it
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. He knows to do good and fails to do it – Jam 4:17
He fails to respect Gods local church because it cannot exist without assemblies
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, – 1 Cor 5:4
He is failing to grow as a mature Christian
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. – Heb 5:12-14
- Is teaching someone to not wilfully forsake the assembly returning to the first oracles – yes it is
- By this stage where we have members who have been Christians for 10, 15, 20 years and still wilfully forsake worship. Do we lack growth and maturity as basic principles of Christianity? Yes we do.
He is not putting Christ first in his life
He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.- Matt 10:37-38
He is not obeying them that have rule over him
Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. – Heb 13:7
- Rule also mean lead – some churches do have eldership, or a more mature Christian to guide and teach you. Consider these and the regard that you have over these men and women.
He has weakened himself spiritually or may even be dead
For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. – 1 Cor 11:30
This scripture is a reference to partaking of the Lords supper however the plea is to examine oneself.
Conclusion
Points for consideration and action
- After completing the study on the above, can you say that it is acceptable with God to wilfully miss a single worship service unless you are unavoidably hindered?
- Can we be so bold to wilfully miss a worship service?
- As Christians, we have a responsibility to God, to Jesus, to the Church and there is a lot at stake for wilfully skipping worship service.
- When I read through these notes in Fred’s book that Donald Townsley has written, I thought that this is certainly worth sharing.
- If anyone is caught up in these sins then there is no better time than now to make amends and set this right.
- My hope is for us all to take time to think on these verses and the impact it has on us and the church.
Remember – to overcome this we have to put to death the old man, the old ways, the things of the world, and put on the new man.