Death Angel Lurking


Dear Brethren,

As we draw near to Passover we are reminded of the death angel in Egypt who took the lives of so many.   The death angel passed over those who had spread the blood of the innocent lamb on their doorposts and the Israelite firstborn were spared.  Please do not think of this death angel as a distant Old Testament fable that has no relevance today – it has more significance today than it did back then.

Here is the question we should be asking ourselves today:  Am I availing myself of the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, that I might be saved?  Before we answer too hastily in the affirmative, let’s ask ourselves another question.  Have I committed any sin since I was baptized – or since last Passover?  Sin carries the death penalty (Romans 6:23).

We know that when we repented and were baptized all of our past sins were covered by the blood of Christ.  “God hath set [Jesus Christ] forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” (Romans 3:25)  But what of our lives today?  Do we yet sin?  We need to understand what God says.  Consider these verses:

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.”  (Hebrews 6:4-6)

This says that it is impossible for those who crucify Christ afresh to be renewed again unto repentance!  The death angel is lurking as we see in these following verses:

“For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries… Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?... It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  (Hebrews 10:26-31)

Have we sinned like that?  This is a most serious question.  Now, during this pre-Passover time is a time of self examination and admission that each of us has indeed sinned.  Yet, there is hope for sinners like you and me:

“If we say that we have fellowship with [God], and walk in darkness [continue to sin], we lie, and do not the truth:  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:6-9)

We understand that converted people do occasionally commit sin.

However, upon true repentance, and with the grace of God, and by the blood of Jesus Christ, those sins are able to be forgiven.  God knows our heart!  He knows when we are diligently walking with Him and are truly repentant and fully intend to overcome.

We were not perfect on the day we were baptized.  Conversion, and going on to perfection, is a lifelong process (Hebrews 6:1).

“Whoso keeps His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.  He that saith he abides in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked [sinlessly]… Everyone who is begotten by God does not routinely commit sin; because His seed resides within him he does not routinely continue to commit sin because he has been begotten by God.”   (1 John 2:5-6, 1 John 3:9)

We are the Children of God in an eternal covenant with Him.  We continue to rely on God’s grace to cover our sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ when we fall.  God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7).  Through Jesus Christ we conquer our sins and become like Him.  Brethren, we have no option – except to be overcomers.

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches; He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death… He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 2:11, 21:7)

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Sermon:  "Death Angel Lurking"
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