In a fallen world of good and evil, innocence is inevitably lost—it’s the inevitable cost of living amid sin’s pervasive influence. Yet God offers redemption for what seems irretrievable.
The gospel is the power of God for salvation (Roman
s 1:16). Through faith in Christ, we receive forgiveness and new life, restoring our standing before Him.
Salvation begins the journey of spiritual purity—not through self-effort or rules, but progressive sanctification under the Holy Spirit’s control (1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Peter 1:2). This ongoing work conforms us to Christ’s image, guarding against the extremes of legalism (rigid self-righteousness) or lasciviousness (lawless indulgence).
Innocence cannot be shielded in this evil-dominated world without pursuing spiritual purity. Only the indwelling Holy Spirit empowers true holiness, enabling us to live blamelessly and joyfully for God’s glory.
The position of an individual along this path is known by the fruit they bear—good fruit unto holiness and eternal life, or works of the flesh leading to shame and death (Matthew 7:15-20; Romans 6:21-23; Galatians 5:19-23).
This path is not assigned by fate; it is chosen by intention. We freely enter through the narrow gate or the wide one (Matthew 7:13-14). The wide path of evil is easy and well-traveled because it promises no true resistance—yet its end is destruction. There is no lasting pain or suffering that deters the many who follow it, for it caters to the flesh.
In contrast, the narrow path of righteousness is difficult, marked by trials and tribulations—yet Jesus Himself teaches that these produce perseverance, maturity, and completeness (James 1:2-4). Trials refine us in progressive sanctification, pruning us to bear more fruit as branches abiding in the true Vine (John 15:1-8).
God supports, guides, and blesses those who choose the hard way of righteousness, leading them to life. But He abandons those who persist on the broad road of evil, leaving them to its inevitable end.
Choose wisely—your intention determines your destiny. The narrow path, though challenging, is the way to true life and eternal reward.
The greatest and highest calling is to guide others into the path of eternal life and righteousness. This is a double anointing bestowed upon true believers at the moment of salvation—a gift of God’s grace to rescue them from the eternal condemnation into which all humanity is born (Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-3).
All our children are born spiritually dead and condemned to an eternity separated from God and heaven (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:1). The gospel of salvation is easy to understand and easy to teach (Romans 10:9-10). God is the author of order, not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33), and every good work He begins in a soul He will bring to completion (Philippians 1:6).
We have an obligation to recognize that we are sick, lost, and condemned due to the sin nature inherited at birth (Romans 3:23). God does not will that any should perish, but that all come to repentance and the knowledge of Christ (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4). We then have a duty to rescue our youth from the evil of this world that seeks to ensnare them and lead them down the path of eternal destruction (Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:6).
The evil at work in this fallen world is cunning and alluring, targeting the innocent especially (1 Peter 5:8). The blind cannot lead the blind, lest both fall into the pit (Matthew 15:14; Luke 6:39). The condemned cannot liberate the condemned.
Ignorance is not evil, nor is self-delusion or self-deception. But ignorance, self-delusion, and self-deception are the first steps on the path of evil and destruction. Using deception to cause harm to others is absolutely evil and a fruit of the self-condemned.
The Holy Spirit, who searches hearts and knows the end from the beginning, will not dwell in a heart rooted in immorality and deception (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 4:30). A person who is sick, lost, and condemned can only lead others to the same destiny.
Let us heed this call: Share the simple gospel boldly, guide the lost to Christ, and trust God to complete His work in every soul that turns to Him.
Spiritual purity is the mirror of innocence. Temporal life in this fallen world steals, kills, and destroys our innocence (John 10:10). Yet life in the Spirit frees us from the power of sin (Romans 8:2), guides us into all truth (John 16:13), convicts us of sin leading to confession (John 16:8), convinces us of God’s righteousness (John 16:10), and gives us a light inside that shines out to lead others in the path of godliness (Matthew 5:14-16).
The indwelling Holy Spirit protects us in the presence of sin, consoles and comforts us (John 14:16-17), advocates for us before the Father (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 7:25), strengthens us in the struggle against the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17), provides God’s logistical grace and support (Philippians 4:19), grants blessings in time and eternity (Ephesians 1:3), and adds joy to our obedience (John 15:11).
All that is required is to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to us (Matthew 6:33).
Eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ (John 6:53-56)—what does this mean? The Word became flesh (John 1:14), so we must know and understand the Word of God (John 1:1; Psalm 119:105). The blood of God the Son cleanses us from all sin for salvation (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 9:22). Through confession of sin, we receive forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), are filled afresh with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), and restored to full fellowship with God the Father (1 John 1:3-7).
In this way, spiritual purity restores the reflection of innocence lost, as we abide in Christ and walk by the Spirit.
Ignorance of the truth is a sin when it is selectively intentional for self-justification (Romans 1:18-20). When people suppress the truth in unrighteousness, they are without excuse, for God has made it evident to them.
Self-justification leads ultimately to self-condemnation, because you will be judged by your own imperfect standard—and condemned by merely human standards (Romans 2:1-3). The measure you use will be used against you (Matthew 7:1-2). God’s grace covers the ignorance of innocence (Acts 17:30; Hebrews 5:2), but not the willful ignorance that arises from legalism or lasciviousness—deliberate rebellion against known truth (Hebrews 10:26-27).
When the Word of truth is known, the standard of judgment becomes absolute and inescapable. “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin” (John 15:22). Once light has come, those who love darkness rather than light are condemned already (John 3:19-20).
Let us not harden our hearts or justify ourselves. The truth sets us free (John 8:32), and God’s grace is sufficient to cover every sincere heart that turns to Him.