Chapter 4: The Danger of Sinning Against What God Has Convinced You of

Let us examine a sobering principle…

God knows when a person has become thoroughly convinced of the truth. There is a point at which there is no longer controversy within the individual concerning what God has shown them. They understand. They have received the principle. They may even have taught that principle to others. That creates accountability.

It is therefore dangerous to become convinced of righteousness and afterward deliberately act contrary to what God has established within your conscience. The issue is no longer ignorance. The individual knows the truth. In fact, he may have helped convince other people of the very truth he is now violating. This gives tremendous meaning to the principle: If I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

The transgression becomes particularly serious because the person is not merely contradicting another minister. He is defying what God Himself has already convinced him of.

Boldness in sin is so dangerous. A person can become bold against the truth he once defended. He can become bold against the righteousness he once preached. He can become bold against the very conviction God established within him. Ultimately, that boldness is directed toward God.

My heart grieves for those who become so bold as to mock God in this way. But what are the consequences of such a disposition? Believe me, it is something the enemy will not allow the individual to even consider.

Romans 1:18-19

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them;

Romans 1:28

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

The wrath of God is against those who know the truth, is not only severe, but it is also eternal. To be given over to a reprobate mind is to be cast away from the faith. This is eternal damnation. That mind will never repent and neither will God seek to draw that individual back to the truth. There is no seeking of forgiveness as the heart is moved away from all that is holy. There is also something very strange about a reprobate, many of them will not forsake going to church, even preaching the gospel. However, they will never submit to holiness. Consider the following passages.

2 Timothy 3:8

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Titus 1:16

16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.