What steps can we take to avoid being "utterly cut off" spiritually? Opening Verse “Because he has despised the word of the LORD and broken His commandment, that person must surely be cut off; his guilt remains on him.” — Numbers 15:31 What “utterly cut off” Looks Like • Separation from God’s covenant blessings • Loss of fellowship with His people • A standing guilt that is never lifted Root Cause Highlighted in the Verse • Despising the word of the LORD • Willful, defiant breaking of His command Step 1 — Treasure and Obey God’s Word • Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” • James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” • Prioritize daily, prayerful reading and immediate obedience. Step 2 — Live a Lifestyle of Repentance • Acts 3:19: “Repent therefore and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away.” • 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” • Keep short accounts with God; don’t allow sin to harden the heart. Step 3 — Abide in Christ Continually • John 15:5-6: “He who abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit… If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown out like a branch and withers.” • Colossians 2:6-7: “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him.” • Consciously depend on Christ for every decision and desire. Step 4 — Stay Connected to the Body • Hebrews 10:24-25: “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” • Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” • Seek mutual encouragement, accountability, and correction within a healthy local church. Step 5 — Walk by the Spirit, Not the Flesh • Galatians 5:16: “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” • Jude 20-21: “Build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God.” • Rely on the Spirit’s power to produce holy desires and sustained obedience. Step 6 — Persevere in Grace • Philippians 2:12-13: “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act.” • 2 Peter 1:10: “Be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these things you will never stumble.” • Combine diligent effort with unwavering trust in God’s enabling grace. Safe Anchors in God’s Promises • John 10:28-29: “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.” • Romans 8:38-39: Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” • Confidence rests in His faithfulness, not self-reliance. Staying Secure, Never Utterly Cut Off By revering God’s Word, practicing ongoing repentance, abiding in Christ, engaging the church, walking by the Spirit, and persevering in grace, believers remain securely joined to the Lord and far from the tragedy of being “utterly cut off.” |
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