Sin? Why?

This is something that I wrote at the beginning of last year right before the wreck. I wanted to share it.

Romans 6:14 ¹⁴For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

I have a question that has been on my mind today; what’s a deeper purpose of not sinning then what the majority of people would tell you (things others may tell you: because it’s not the right thing to do. The bible tells us not to. We won’t have as many blessings if we sin. Etc.) Some of the answers people will give you are great answers but they are the basic answers. They don’t go very deep unless you put forth the effort to really search them yourselves. These answers won’t keep ME motivated for the rest of my life if I don’t really search and find out why I do what I do… or why I don’t do what I want to do.

So, why shouldn’t I sin? Sometimes I have a desire to, but why shouldn’t I? To tell you the truth, I’m not writing this because I know the deep answers that I’m looking for and I’m not writing this for the specific reason to inform you of my beliefs. I’m writing this to see what God will reveal to ME because in all reality I’m not sure what the answers are. I do believe God was telling me to write this to really search what I believe and what God wants me to act upon. I could be writing this because I don’t have the patience to sit there and think all this up. It could be that I’m writing this because God knows that if I just thought up answers I would say to myself, “Oh, this is the reason, it has to be because this is what I’ve always been told” and God knows, for me, that wouldn’t be enough…that wouldn’t help me for any period of time. However, if I really search God’s word and really try to find out what I believe, then write it down, that would help me for the future. That would help me “the rest of my life”.

But what do I believe? So, back to my initial question, “What’s the purpose of not sinning? What’s deeper than what everyone says? What hits a home run in my heart?”

Let’s find out. “God, I pray that you would speak to me as I search your word to find what I believe. I pray that you would find glory in what I chose to believe and that your word would be my foundation. I pray that you would help me take to heart what you speak to me. Help me find you. Amen.”

What I believe

I do believe in the Bible that it was written by men but inspired by the one and ONLY God. I do believe that what it says is how we as believers are called to live by.

Now after saying that, I would like to focus more on sin and why we as followers of Christ shouldn’t sin. I searched “sin” in the bible and found this: Romans 6:2 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” Now, I have asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and to be the boss of my heart and life. I believe that Jesus has saved me from hell because of the faith I have in Him and the choice I have made to be a Christian (a Christ Follower). As a Christ follower I have chosen to “die to my sin” and now I am called to live in it no longer. I should never continue in sin with the defense that God’s grace is sufficient and that He will forgive me. I say I have died to my sin; therefore, I should not participate in it.

The bible says in 1 John 1, “⁵This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” Okay, that lays it out. God is light. In him there is no darkness AT ALL (which means he does not know or participate in any sin at all, PERIOD.) Then it basically says that no matter how much you say to yourself that you have fellowship with God, if you are walking in your own ways, which is naturally sin, then you lie to yourself if you say you have fellowship with God. There is no way you can have fellowship with God and walk in sin, PERIOD.

When Jesus died on the cross, He took all of our sins upon Himself so he became “sinful” and was in darkness. God turned His back on His very own son. Jesus suffered more than any one of us could comprehend and He did it for His father’s creation, and His Father turned His back on Him. (Mark 15:33-34 ³³Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”)

Pause for a second and think about all this. Jesus suffered, hanging on a cross for our sins. On top of all the physical suffering Jesus endured, God the Father forsook Jesus. Jesus spent His entire life with a purpose to proclaim the name of His Father, but then God forsook Him because He took my sin…He became MY sin. It makes me angry. Not particularly that God forsook Jesus, but that I choose to sin and live in darkness. Jesus was forsaken by God because of my choice to sin. When I sin, I am choosing to be forsaken by God, and I am the reason Jesus was forsaken by God.

In the bible I have found that it does say how we can have fellowship and a relationship with God. This is how. 1 John 1:7-10 “⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

Walking in light means to reflect God’s perfection. If we “walk in the light” the results will be fellowship and communion with God and progressive cleansing from all sin. The devil or the world may contribute to us sinning, but in the end each person bears responsibility for his or her own sin. As followers of Christ we MUST confess our sins to receive salvation and to have fellowship with God. God is “slow to anger and is abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression”. Basically God will forgive us if we ask Him to; however, we can’t use God’s grace as a way for us to fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We may have heard the gospel message (the good news of Christ) and may have even acted upon it, but until we have truly acknowledged that we have sinned, it hasn’t really taken root in our heart.

So I have written all this as a deeper reason that I shouldn’t sin. As Christians we are called to stay pure and to stay in the light. We must walk in the light to have fellowship with God.

I want to have fellowship with God. I think this is why God wanted me to write this; because I have thought that I could have fellowship with God and do some of the sins my flesh desires...then ask for forgiveness. That’s using God’s grace as a way to do what my flesh desires. That is wrong. I now know why I can’t have fellowship with God AND fulfill the lusts of the flesh. That would be serving two gods. It’s either one god or the other: the god of lies or the God of truth. So we have a choice to make. Which one will we choose? Will we choose to live in the light and have fellowship with God, or choose to live in darkness and fulfill the lusts of the flesh? I know that when I find fulfillment in life it’s only when I am living in light and when I have fellowship with God. I also know by experience that the lusts of the flesh will NEVER be satisfied.

This is a deeper reason why I shouldn’t sin.

Romans 6:14 ¹⁴For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Many Blessings!

To YOU I Owe It All

April 10th 2010 my dad (Greg Werner) and I were having a normal day and a normal drive. While we were traveling down the road everything changed and that normal day now seemed like a nightmare.



A tire came off a pickup truck driving down the highway the opposite direction and hit the side of our vehicle. As many know the story of what happened you may not know my story. I would like to tell you...



It was a normal Saturday and my dad and I had much to do. We were driving down the highway when all before I could even blink our lives changed forever. I remember seeing a tire coming directly at our vehicle. I remember it hitting our car and hearing the glass shatter then I came to an unconscious state. I vaguely remember opening my eyes in the ambulance that was taking me to OU Presbyterian. I forgot what all had happened and I thought to myself, "This is a dream". When I have a bad dream what I normally do is try to stay still and let the dream play through. Because I thought this was all a dream, I stayed still and tried to let it play through. This, I believe, was the peace of God. I remember them pushing me down a hall in the hospital to the ER room where they would be doing further work on me. I remember hearing my brother’s voice and saying, "Jon, is that you?" and him replying, "Yes Justin, you're going to be okay." While they were working on me a nurse asked me a few questions. A few questions down the list she asked me, "Were you driving the car?" and I replied, "No.....my dad was." At that point I remembered my dad was in the car with me. I became nervous and my heart sank and I asked, "How is my dad?" the nurse said, "I don't know, he's in God's hands." A doctor not telling me that my dad was even alive or dead, but rather "In God's hand's" made me scared of what I later might hear, but at the same time it brought me peace, because that's when I knew God would help me get through not only what the future was going to hold, but more that very second..then the next second...then the next minute.



There's much more details to this story, but I would like to stop there and tell you about what God has done for ME through all this turmoil and what he offers to do for YOU.



In the hospital I slept most of the day every day; therefore, I wasn't too anxious about anything that was going on. That was the blessing and peace of God.


Let's skip forward to me staying at the Myers house after I was released from the hospital. [Let me say one thing; there are no words to express my gratitude for my second family’s (the Myers) love toward me. They took me in as I was there own child and provided everything I needed. I pray blessings from Heaven for ALL of the Myers.] At times when I was living at the Myers, I began to realize the HUGE road for recovery that was ahead for me, but specifically for my dad. "Why is all of this happening to me and my family? Why would God allow all of this to happen? Why is my mentor, coach, and dad in a coma? Why me?" These were my selfish thoughts I had...until I got passed that selfishness and focused on the Cause of Christ. My brother Brandon preached a message on the Cause of Christ. The One True Cause. The Cause that kept my family focused. The Cause to tell the people that are destined for Hell about Jesus Christ and His redeeming power.


Before I heard Brandon preach that message on the Cause of Christ, I could feel personally that I had that indescribable focus on the Cause. I remember riding home with Rachel Myers one Wednesday night when I lived at their house and as I passed a basketball court where many guys were playing ball. I had a heart for them that I don't think I ever would have if this "turmoil" hadn’t happened. I said to Rachel, "See those guys playing basketball? If I don't tell them about Jesus and His saving grace, will they go to Hell for eternity? Will they ever hear about Christ?" At the time, I didn't know the Cause was so strong in my immediate family, but I knew I had a heart for the lost that was stronger in my life than it ever had been. And all the “turmoil” I thought I was having, seemed so miniscule after thinking that people could suffer in Hell forever.

Brandon said in his message that he could see that the Cause was going throughout the entire family the day of the car accident and the day after that…and the days after that, and that Cause is what kept them going. That Cause was also keeping me going even if I didn’t know exactly what was. That Cause is the one thing I knew for sure God was calling me to fulfill (Matthew 28:16-20). It was the number one thing that kept me pushing through, and it was the one thing I knew was in God's plan.

One day I wrote this in my journal while I was lying in the hospital bed:

“Because of how God had His hand on me and protected me from death, God must have a plan. God must have purpose for my life. He must have a big and mighty plan in store for me. What is that plan? How do I find out? How do I know what direction to take after I find out? What happens if I never find out?
These are all very difficult questions to answer and I wouldn’t be the least surprised if I didn’t have answers by the end of today. However, I do know God has a plan for me and He will reveal it at His time…the best time. I also know that God has called me to fulfill the Great Commission: Go into the world and make disciples of all nations. So that’s a really good start. That’s what I can do. I can reach the lost. That’s what I’m here for. That’s what God is calling me to do. God has a might plan for you too! You may say, “Well I haven’t been in a bad car wreck like you. I’m not a walking miracle like you are.” No! That’s a lie. Look at yourself. Think about how you entered this world. Think about how you can walk, talk, move your fingers, build muscle, eat, drink, and so many more amazing things. You ARE a walking miracle. God does have purpose for your life! You just have to constantly ask Him what His purpose is. And he will reveal it to you. That’s just how God is!”
Justin Werner
4-24-10
2 Week anniversary of wreck


God showed me that he does have a plan and I just got to trust Him. One way God confirmed to me that he does have a plan is when I read back on that day in my journal, on the page I was writing on, the scripture that was printed on the top left corner of the page was Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

How better way that God show me that He has a plan then to point me to His own word the day I write about God having a plan! If you don't think God is alive...you're wrong.


I would like to end this story by telling you how God changed my life 3 weeks before the wreck.
I believe I was saved from Hell when I was 7 years old; however, I don't believe I understood what it meant to fully trust in God and to make Jesus the boss of my life.
After a YOUGROW one Monday night God really convicted me of many sins that were in my life. I confessed those sins to my dad and we had a great spiritual talk that night in our living room. That night, kneeling on our living room floor, with tears pouring out of my eyes and sweat coming off my face, I didn't ask God to just save me from Hell as I did when I was 7, but I begged Jesus to be the boss of my life and I told Him that whatever happens I would TRUST IN HIM. God changed my life that night.

Because I believe in my heart that Jesus is real and I asked Him to be the boss of my life, and because I trust in Him as my savior, I know I am going to Heaven when I die. When the wreck happened, I knew that I was going to Heaven if I died.
In the moment the tire hit our car, I didn't even have time to blink, let alone ask God to save me from my sins. So YOU got to be sure you are a Christian because you never know when your life could end. I never thought any of this would truly happen, but if it did, like it did, I was (and I am) prepared for any trial or even death. My dad always says, "The blessings of God is a man's greatest asset." God has blessed me so much in so many ways, but the number one blessing is the assurance of salvation.
Because Jesus came to this earth as a man then died on a cross and took our sins, and finally rose from the dead to free us of our sin, we can be saved and go to Heaven when we die. It's this easy: “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

If we had to pay a 10th percent of the bills our insurance has covered we would be bankrupt; therefore, I believe very strongly that you should have life insurance. Believing in Jesus Christ as your savior and making Him your boss is the ultimate life insurance… and a major blessing is it’s free for our grabs. If you don’t have Him, you will suffer in Hell for eternity. So pray and ask God to be your boss and trust in God no matter what. Follow Romans 10:9 and be saved!

That’s what God did for me, and that’s what he promises to do for you! Just believe.

This free gift of salvation is your choice. You can take it or leave it…what is your choice?




If you care to read this, this is a poem I wrote the night I made Jesus my boss:
My God, My Lord. To You I owe it all.
You saved me, You redeemed me,
Through Your grace and love You changed me.
I once was lost, was living in darkness.
I couldn’t find the light my soul longed to see.
Choices I chose, deliberately despising Christ;
My God stilled loved me,
My savior to all be praised.


My hope and life to Thee I give.
Willingly choosing to follow You.
Your Spirit always by my side, I chose to follow you.
I give my pleasures, friends, and desires;
I give my pride to follow You.
You saved me from my deepest struggles,
All I have I give to You.


Jesus, my Lord, I pray to receive You.
Your Kingdom shall come, Your will shall be done.
The worldly pleasure all forsaken,
You I search, want, and find!
The things I wanted; I didn’t do,
the things I didn’t want, I did.
Yet You still loved me and You changed me . . .
Praise be to You.


Your love is unconditional, unchangeable; unstoppable . . .
To You I owe it all.








Hummmm

I'm so busy!!!

We had two games today (3/5/10). We won them both! We're in the championship game for OCIT! Go Knights!!

Many blessings!

Well...

Hello people! Just a quick update on life...

School is going great! I'm keeping my grades up and learning a lot!

We just won our last regular season basketball game 46-14! It was awesome! :) Upcoming is regionals, then the OCIT tournament (OKC Liberty’s Tournament) following that, and last but certainly not least, nationals! Nationals should be a lot of fun! It's located in Springfield Missouri and will be during spring break! It will be fantabulous!!

YOUGROW and Mission Day are awesome! I'm missing a few YOUGROW's due to basketball, but the several I've been to are amazing! Brandon does such a great job teaching the youth (including myself) through worship, teachings, and challenges. He's awesome! This Sunday (2-14-10) we (the Mission Day team) sang a song and quoted Matthew 28:16-20 to the congregation before Pastor Wells Sermon. It went really well!

The Glory Seals are reading a book called Do Hard Things. It's an amazing book written by twin teens. It's written towards teens and it's about rebelling against rebelling. If you haven't already read the book, I would encourage you to. (Go to their website and learn more: http://www.therebelution.com/)

I had the privilege of eating lunch with my whole family (Nathan included :) today. I got to play with my adorably amazing nieces :) It was fun!

Well, that's about all I can think of to post...

Many Blessings!

Basketball!

We had a basketball game today and lost 30 - 39 to Tulsa Noah. :(

Dallas Cowboys play Vikings tomorrow!! Go Cowboys! :)


Many blessings!

My Utmost for His Highest

Will You Go Out Without Knowing?

Have you ever "gone out" in this way? If so, there is no logical answer possible when anyone asks you what you are doing. On of the most difficult question to answer in Christian work is "What do you expect to do?" You don't know what you are going to do. The only thing you know is that God knows what He is doing. Continually examine you attitude toward God to see if you are willing to "go out" in every area of you life, trusting in God entirely. It is this attitude that keeps you in constant wonder, because you don't know what God is going to do next. Each morning as you wake, there is a new opportunity to "go out," building you confidence in God. ". . . do no worry about your life . . . nor about the body . . ." (Luke 12:22). In other words, don't worry about the thing that concerned you before you did "go out."
Have you been asking God what he is going to do? He will never tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do--He reveals to you who He is. Do you believe in a miracle-working God, and will you "go out" in complete surrender to Him until you are not surprised on iota by anything He does?
Believe God is always the God you know Him to be when you are nearest to Him. Then think how unnecessary and disrespectful worry is! Le the attitude of you life be a continual willingness to "go out" in dependence upon God, and your life will have a sacred and inexpressible charm about it that is very satisfying to Jesus. you must learn to "go out" through your convictions, creeds, or experiences until you come to the point in you faith where there is nothing between yourself and God.

-My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers


Many Blessings!

MERRY (early) CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas is almost here!!! (look at the Christmas countdown to the right)

I am so excited about Christmas because the presents, the time I can spend with my amazing/awesome/wonderful family, and the reminder and celebration of Jesus Christ's birth! :)

Merry CHRISTmas!

(This is a funny Christmas video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ)

Many blessings!