Walking-Standing-Sitting in Sin

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

Psalm 1:1-2

Our involvement with sin is one that is often entered into by degrees. As indicated in Psalm 1:1 man is warned against three stages of desire whereby his curiosity drives him into being comfortable with sin.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly.” Believe it or not but sin is often introduced to us when we begin to walk where we have no business walking. The moment we walk off the path of truth and righteousness we begin to walk where we ought not. “Nor stands in the path of sinners.” Have you ever been walking and all of a sudden something caught your eye and you just had to stop and watch? That is what sin is like. You transition from walking in the counsel of the ungodly to wanting to stop and take a look. Slowly but surely you begin to get more and more comfortable with the fellowship of sin. And while you are standing there, sin can’t help but notice you. So he walks over and introduces himself by a name that would be pleasant enough to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thus before you know it you are being invited to sit “in the seat of the scornful.”

Do you see the progression? David is warning us against making the journey that many have made that begins with walking and ends in death. Was this not the journey of the young man devoid of understanding in proverbs 7? Sin is crafty and it will make its move into our heart as slowly and progressively as it can.

My Justification

The point is made that in Adam we have all sinned. “Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because all sinned.” The result of our offense was condemnation. Such condemnation would eventually result in eternal damnation—complete separation from God.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

The legal requirement for our offense was condemnation. Against this condemnation we had no argument, plea, or scheme to deliver us. Man’s predicament was complete helplessness. Utterly lost in darkness.

This situation was so grave that we were enemies of God.

Our only hope of redemption is found in Christ Jesus.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace though the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23-24

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have; peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1

“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” Romans 5:9

I have been justified through the redemption found in Christ Jesus. And where I was once an enemy of God I have now become a friend of Christ, and have been adopted as a child into my Father’s house.

What a great redemption, that Christ would be the one to take on the condemnation and sin of the world so that God might demonstrate His own love toward us.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1

I conclude that any modern feelings of condemnation that try to arise themselves in my life from time to time are not of God. Because Jesus Christ has already taken care of my condemnation. Conviction may arise through the work of the Holy Spirit but not condemnation.

How awesome it is to be a justified man.

The Beginning of Knowledge

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7

In a day of such great volumes of information it appears that knowledge is a rare thing to come by. For if true-real knowledge is born in the fear of the Lord then we as a generation have little of it.

As the understanding and revelation of God increases in our life so also will knowledge and wisdom increase. Simply living our life and raking up experiences for ourselves will not suffice. We must fellowship with the giver of life if we wish to grow in knowledge.

Only through fellowship and intimacy will we really come to know what it means to genuinely fear God. It truly is a beautiful thing, but incomprehensible if we have never experienced the love of God.

Secrets

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“…..In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.” Romans 2:16


Who is man that he should think he can hide his secrets from God? To believe that there is something so top-secret that not even God should know about. Such ignorance is folly unto man, for all will one day be revealed.

When I die I don’t want there to be in any secrets hidden in my heart. I want all my secrets to be revealed and confessed if necessary. I say “Holy Spirit, search my heart for any secret thought or deed.”

I desire the judgment of Christ now while I still may repent. For when I stand before His judgment seat in heaven it will have been too late.