making no provision for sin

©2020 dan bulkley | ask@lifechurchco.com

making no provision for sin: “radical amputation”

Radical Amputation is the self-imposed restrictions on known, potentially tempting factors. It is a concrete act of stopping, placing barriers, or cutting off freedoms, relationships, etc… that might be a venue for sin, whether the venue is inherently sinful or not. The question you must ask yourself is, “Do you want to be well?” john 5:6 You must guard your heart proverbs 4:23 as your part in participating with God as He changes your heart ezekiel 36:26-27 .

supporting scriptures

john 5:6

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

proverbs 4:23

Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.

ezekiel 36:26-27

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

key principle: matthew 18:7-9

matthew 18:7-9

“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! 8 And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

Temptation is to be expected. We should plan ahead i peter 1:13 isaiah 32:8 to place barriers between ourselves and fulfilling that known temptation matthew 5:27-30 mark 9:43-48 . You cannot plan for others or the world system to adjust for you; you must bear up and plan to take your stand in the spiritual warfare of this world i peter 2:11 romans 15:1-3 ephesians 6:10-18 .

supporting scriptures

i peter 1:13

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

isaiah 32:8

But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands.

matthew 5:27-30

“You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

mark 9:43-48

And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’

i peter 2:11

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

romans 15:1-3

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”

my notes:

ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

key principle: i timothy 1:18-19

i timothy 1:18-19

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith,

If we do not want to see our faith shipwrecked, then we need to make every effort to be resting in the grace of God’s love and truth ii peter 1:3-11 hebrews 4:11 . We should take great pains to keep our conscience clear acts 24:16 because His grace cleanses us from all unrighteousness when we are walking open-heartedly i john 1:7-9 . So because of that grace we should avoid apathy proverbs 1:32 isaiah 26:10 and instead avoid sin intentionally while pursuing boldly the Lord’s ways ii timothy 2:22 .

supporting scriptures

ii peter 1:3-11

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

hebrews 4:11

Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

acts 24:16

So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.

i john 1:7-9

But 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.

proverbs 1:32

For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

isaiah 26:10

If favor is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness he deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the Lord.

ii timothy 2:22

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

key principle: matthew 15:17-20

matthew 15:17-20

Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”

Radical Amputation that Christ speaks of is figurative; it is the heart where sin is found. One will continue to sin whether your eye, hand, foot, etc. is gone colossians 2:23 . Freedoms, repetitive situations, hobbies, even relationships i corinthians 15:33 , etc. must be planned for and even done away with if they are continually a venue for sin proverbs 22:3 27:12 . For righteousness of our own heart’s sake we must make radical changes to avoid sinning to serve God effectively proverbs 22:5 i peter 2:11 .

my notes:

supporting scriptures

colossians 2:23

These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

i corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

proverbs 22:3

The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

proverbs 27:12

The prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

proverbs 22:5

Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;

whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

i peter 2:11

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

my notes:

key principle: hosea 10:12-13

hosea 10:12-13

Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies. Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors,

You reap what you sow galatians 6:7-9 as you will either reap life or destruction by the decision of which seed you plant NOW hosea 8:7 . Radical amputation is not THE cure colossians 2:20-23 , but it is our practical participation in reseeding the garden of the heart. The Lord will heal us, but we are to tend the Garden as He makes it grow with true life instead of weeds jeremiah 3:22-4:4 i corinthians 3:7 .

supporting scriptures

galatians 6:7-9

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

hosea 8:7

For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it shall yield no flour; if it were to yield, strangers would devour it.

colossians 2:20-23

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— 21 “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” 22 (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? 23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

jeremiah 3:22-4:4

“Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness. Behold, we come to you, for you are the Lord our God.

23 Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.

24 “But from our youth the shameful thing has devoured all for which our fathers labored, their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

25 Let us lie down in our shame, and let our dishonor cover us. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and we have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God.”

1 “If you return, O Israel, declares the Lord, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver,

2 and if you swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.”

3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord; remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your deeds.”

i corinthians 3:7

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth

key principle: hebrews 12:1-3

hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

If we want to be made well by the Lord then we must take the Great Physician’s prescriptions galatians 6:14-16 . We should throw off ALL that hinders our walk with the Lord, because the little entanglements become traps in our lives proverbs 5:22 ecclesiastes 8:8 . Although it is hard, keep Christ’s endurance for your sake in mind as you endure even just self-discipline for Him ii corinthians 5:15 for such hardships free us from sin i peter 4:1-2 .

supporting scriptures

galatians 6:14-16

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

proverbs 5:22

The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.

my notes:

ecclesiastes 8:8

No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

ii corinthians 5:15

and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

i peter 4:1-2

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

what are you sowing for yourself?

Joseph

vs.

titus 2:12

David

Intentionally serving

genesis 39:2-6

Irresponsible

ii samuel 11:1

Refused

genesis 39:7-8

Inquired

ii samuel 11:2-3

Ran from

genesis 39:12

Sought out

ii samuel 11:4

Hardship to blessings in time

genesis 41

Consequences for life

ii samuel 12:9-10

God gave grace

genesis 39:21-23

God opposed

ii samuel 12:11-12

my notes:

supporting scriptures

titus 2:12

training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age

Intentionally serving

genesis 39:2-6

The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate.

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

Irresponsible

ii samuel 11:1

In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

Refused

genesis 39:7-8

And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge.

Inquired

ii samuel 11:2-3

It happened, late one afternoon, when David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, that he saw from the roof a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful. 3 And David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?”

Ran from

genesis 39:12

she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

Sought out

ii samuel 11:4

So David sent messengers and took her, and she came to him, and he lay with her. (Now she had been purifying herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned to her house.

Hardship to blessings in time

genesis 41:39-42

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.

my notes:

Consequences for life

ii samuel 12:9-10

Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

God Gave Grace

genesis 39:21-23

But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.

God Opposed

ii samuel 12:11-12

Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”

my notes: